Is that you?
The Amazing Abraham?
That's me in the Catskills back in the day.
I did two shows a night, seven nights a week.
I packed them in with five hundred people in a show.
I came this close to being a big star.
- What happened? - Magic changed.
I'm a slight of hand guy.
Everybody wanted bigger.
They wanted elephants disappearing.
- I don't make elephants disappear. - That's good!
Thank you.
- That's really good. - Yeah, I don't think that's magic but...
the Amazing Abraham's day will come again.
The amazing Abraham's time will come.
It's hardware store, you know.
That thing gave me a rash last time.
Stay cool. You start getting nervy...
just think of a beach in Hawaii and a pretty brown woman.
I can do that.
You do this right Augie, you're off the hook.
Why the sudden change of heart?
Well, I thought it over, Victor.
Retire in a few years, that sounds awfully good, man.
Besides, Murph wants out, so I'm going to play ball with you.
Well, that's wonderful news, Augie.
I knew you'd come around. You're a very smart man.
Victor, I need to know what you have in mind.
I need details...
about what I'm getting myself into here.
Of course.
Let's talk in the steam room.
It'll do wonders for your health.
Okay, guys. This thing's about to get a bath.
You and I, we work together. We carve out a business.
Ivan's not involved.
He'll kill us.
He never needs to know.
A year together, the two of us...
you'll be a millionaire.
That's an attractive offer.
Did you whack Wing Loh?
I'd understand if you did.
I mean, me and Murph we couldn't stand the guy.
You did, right?
Somebody had to do it.
Got you, motherfucker.
- Okay, I'm ready. Say something. - What?
Introduce me.
Introduce you.
What do you want me to say?
You're the writer.
Ladies and gentlemen...
let's give a warm welcome to this next performer.
The one... The only...
the mystical, the magical...
The Amazing...
Abraham!
Ah.. Carolyn...
my captive audience.
Ready for a shower of cards?
Hearts for you.
A heart, yes. There you are, my dear.
I love it!
Pan of fire.
- Hold that please. - All right.
I got to toast it a little bit.
put the lid on. Say the magic words.
- Oh, my gosh! - Look at them.
- Aren't they beautiful? - They're beautiful.
Pretty babies. Yes, I think they are.
Go. Go. Eat lunch
- They're beautiful. - Thank you. Thank you.
Look, Carolyn...
I'm going to need an assistant.
Not me.
You would be perfect.
Walter, no, no.
I am no magician's assistant.
I mean, they're...
they're alive and bubbly and happy and...
have big hair and big boobs. And, you know...
well, they do, okay?
Wait. Time out.
Have you looked in the mirror lately?
You are gorgeous. You are a knockout!
Walter, thank you so much. Really, thank you.
- But I am not that, okay? - Look. Look, Carolyn...
I'm planning on being on top again.
And I am extending the offer to you.
And I'm very honored, Walter, really I am.
- But I am no magician's assistant. - Here.
This is so embarrassing.
I'm mortified.
Just come out.
Come on. Come into the light.
I look like a moron.
You look spectacular.
This dress makes me look fat.
No. No, you look great.
I mean, the two of us we're going to be some team.
You're crazy.
I'll tell you something else.
I'm going to get you your money back.
His name is Ivan. He's big, Carolyn.
Powerful. And he's an old friend of mine.
And he's going to help us.
The money, how do I get it back?
I have to find Ivan first.
But he owes me big.
Oh, God.
Tom?
Mom, it's me. Can you come home?
No, honey. I can't right now.
Is your dad at home? Can you talk with him?
- Mom, I don't want dad to know. - Know what?
I'm asking you to come home, mother.
I can't just come home at the drop of a hat, Nicole.
It doesn't work like that.
Nicole?
Hello?
Thirteen-year old daughter. She's impossible.
Teenagers.
God's punishment for having sex.
Ivan, what about him?
We're going to find him. He's going to help us.
We'll get your money back.
I promise.
Carolyn, I'm taking Nicole to the emergency room.
It's ten o'clock.
- Hello? - Where you been?
I'm at home. Where are you?
What happened to Nicole?
We're pulling into the driveway right now.
- What happened? - Just leave me alone!
- What happened? Is she okay? - She's fine.
- What the hell happened? - Nichole's nipple is infected.
- What! - Carolyn, just leave her alone!
She doesn't want to talk to you. Trust me.
Melanie pierced her nipple for her. She did it because of Jeff.
Did it because of Jeff who?
- What are you talking about? - Jeff! Jeff! Jeff! Jeff!
Jeff! The boy she's got a huge crush on!
The boy she talks about incessantly. Jeff!
- No, she doesn't. - Yes, she does, Carolyn.
You're just not listening.
Your daughter asked you to come home tonight.
Why didn't you?
She didn't mention anything. She didn't say anything to me...
- at all. - You know what? I'm tired of it.
I'm tired of this bullshit, Carolyn.
I'm tired of it.
And what the hell does that mean?
What does that mean, Tom?
Are you having an affair?
No.
Why would you ask me that?
I love you.
I love you and Nicole more than anything in the world.
You know that.
Hold...
Carolyn!
Hi...
you've reached Carolyn. Please leave me a message after the...
Oh, my God.
She's right over here.
She waited. She waited for me to leave.
She watched me. She watched me and she took my machine.
- I don't think she'd do that, honey. - You don't think she'd do that.
Of course she'd do that! I've been working that machine all day long.
And it's a winner. I know. I just know it's going to win.
- I don't think she's going to win. - How do you know that?
All right, look. Just take it easy, all right?
Calm down.
I don't want to calm down! I don't want to calm down!
- I'm gonna set you up with a nice meal. - I don't want a meal!
- A bottle of wine... - I don't want any wine!
- A stake... - I want that woman off the machine.
Doesn't that sound good?
- Tom? - Where are you!
- Working. - Where?
- The coffee shop. - Which one?
- Portfolio. - Bullshit, I'm coming over.
Nicole, I'll be right back.
Dad, wait. Where are you going?
I got to get a coffee. I'll be back in a jiffy.
Well, can I come?
Nicole, actually I got to talk to some colleagues about some students, okay?
- Wait. - Nicole, I'm late! What?
What?
Is mom having an affair?
No.
Come on!
Come on! Come on!
- You're here. - Where did you think I'd be?
- Could you stop typing for a minute? - Tom, I'm working.
Stop!
Don't shout at me.
I followed you today, Carolyn, to the casino.
Really? You followed me.
I followed you to the casino. What were you doing in the casino?
What were you doing in the casino?
Well, Tom, I like to play the slots.
It's fun. It's an adventure.
So what? Shoot me. I'm not perfect.
Nobody's perfect except you, of course.
- This has nothing to do with me. - Oh, he cooks. He's a fabulous husband.
A distinguished professor.
And he tells his wife he loves her every single day.
Oh, yes, you are perfect.
And you know what, Tom?
- It's boring. - I think you've got a gambling problem.
And I think you gambled away all of our money.
- I loaned it to a friend. - Who?
- He's an artist. - Yeah...
- are you fucking him? - Well, Tom, you'll meet him...
and then you can tell me if I'm fucking him.
You're kidding? Who is this guy? Wait! What's this artist's name?
What's his name?
Abraham.
The Amazing Abraham.
He's a magician.
He's going to be a really big star.
What did you say?
He's a fucking magician.
Well, maybe he'll make our money reappear.
You're so cynical. So critical.
- No imagination. - Well, what's that supposed to mean?
You don't have a creative bone in your body.
And you wouldn't know a real artist if he...
bit you in the ass.
Literary fucking criticism.
- It's a crock of shit. - Just watch it, Carolyn.
You sit around and analyze Shakespeare to death.
- Don't you... - Nobody cares.
Don't you dare try to tell me that what I do is worthless.
I'm a teacher and I'm proud of it.
Those kids could care less about Milton and Shakespeare...
and fucking Dante.
It doesn't help them in this world. It doesn't help them at all.
In this world they need it more than ever.
What the hell has happened to you, Carolyn?
I woke up, Tom.
And I realized...
I don't want our perfect little life.
It's mind numbing.
I want a life. My life.
Let me remind you of something.
Your life is intertwined with my life...
and with your daughter's life.
Don't do this to our daughter.
I won't allow it.
A year together, the two of us...
you'll be a millionaire.
That's an attractive offer.
Did you whack Wing Loh?
I'd understand if you did.
I mean, me and Murph, we couldn't stand the guy.
Somebody had to do it.
Is this the only copy?
Yeah.
Promise?
Absolutely.
Where's my money?
How about if I double your money?
What do I have to do?
Just take Augustine to dinner.
I know a lovely little restaurant where the food won't upset his stomach.
What are you doing here?
Murph.
What?
Augie's dead.
He died in his sleep.
Oh, my God.
I'm so sorry.
You okay?
I got to know...
yes or no, are you with me or not?
Let's not do this right now, okay? You don't want to do this right now.
Please, I need to know.
- No. No. - Why not?
- I'm going inside. - Why not!
- Because you hurt people. - No. Veronica...
without me they got nothing.
At least with me they got...
maybe a dream.
Yeah, I give them dreams.
No, Murph.
You take their dreams away.
That's what you do.
It's all right.
Let's go.
Come on, Godfrey!
It's all you, baby.
Let's go. Let's go.
Push that. Push that.
It's all you. Push that.
- Hit the showers. - All right.
Coach.
I need you to get it.
I figured it out, boy.
All on my own.
Something was bothering me...
itching at me.
Now I know.
See...
I'm a wise old man.
And you're not.
See you are a stupid little boy. Now do we agree on that point, huh?
Do we agree on that point? Huh?
Yeah.
See, listen, I have seen it all in this life.
More than you will ever know or could even imagine.
But the one thing I've seen more than anything...
is men fucking up their lives all by themselves.
And I tell you that's the one thing that really makes me angry.
- Coach... - Just shut the fuck up!
Now listen, boy!
You listen to me!
Now you shaving points.
If you ever get it in your stupid little head to do something like that again...
I am not your coach no more!
I'm not your friend!
I am your enemy!
And boy...
so help me God...
don't make me your enemy.
What?
What's going on, man?
Your brother's going to lose the Conference Championship game, Clyde.
It doesn't matter by how much. The line's even.
But he's going to lose.
Come on, I mean, just leave my little brother out of this.
It's the championship game. It's everything he's ever lived for.
Do I need to pay a personal visit to your brother, Clyde?
No.
Maybe I should just pop in.
Say hello. Wish him luck.
No.
Just so we understand each other...
what's your brother doing on Sunday?
Losing.
Say it again.
He's...
losing.
Good boy.
Beautiful day out, huh?
You know...
I know who you are.
You're Carolyn Carver.
I read your book.
You're the one.
No, it was terrific.
Yeah, you're very talented.
You have a gift.
Well, thank you.
Tell me if, like, I'm out of line here, but...
could you like just give me a little hint...
about what your next book's going to be about?
I don't have a next book.
Okay. I understand.
It's a about a magician.
It's about a magician.
A washed up magician.
He's a...
he's a big dreamer.
And he's searching for this mysterious man named Ivan...
because he believes that Ivan holds the key to his future.
He's a really, really talented magician.
It's his story.
The Amazing Abraham.
You're unbelievable.
I want to be in business with Ivan.
It's the first door. Now watch your step.
You can trust me, Victor. I promise.
Well, this is very important to me, Walter.
You won't be disappointed.
All right. Well, the rags...
are in here.
And I want this car spotless.
Walter, I want it to shine.
I want to see my...
quite frankly...
beautiful face reflected...
in every surface.
Now do you think you can handle this, Walter?
I mean who knows? It may lead to bigger things?
Perhaps the SUV.
You think you're funny. You're a fucking asshole.
I'm offering you work, Walter, and you're declining...
- in this economic climate? - You're a piece of shit!
You're nothing like Ivan.
You're such a pain in the ass, Walter.
Look what you made me do.
Get up.
Come on.
Fuck.
Sunday.
St. Francis versus Loyola. The championship game.
St. Francis is losing.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Wait. You don't speak fucking English?
St. Francis...
is losing.
Get it?
Sunday...
bet on Loyola.
Or don't.
Your choice.
Now get up...
and fuck off.
What are you doing here?
You shouldn't be here.
I came to tell you something.
Something you're going to find out anyway but...
before I tell you I need you to promise me...
that you will do nothing.
What the fuck you looking at?
- Promise me. - Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Promise.
Can you do that? Can you do nothing for me?
Yeah.
Promise.
I promise.
It's in the paper.
Augie didn't die of natural causes.
He was poisoned.
What the fuck you talking about?
He was poisoned. That's what happened.
Tom.
Hi.
Carolyn.
Tom, I've got it.
I've got the novel.
You were right. There never was a novel.
But I've got it now. I really do have it.
It will be the best thing I've ever done...
by far.
It will be.
Feels like we've spent our whole lives together. Doesn't it?
Yes.
And it hasn't always been perfect.
No.
No, it hasn't.
Sometimes we can't stand each other.
But the one thing we always had, Carolyn, was trust.
- Right? - Right.
- We don't have that trust anymore. - Yes, we do.
- No, we don't. - Yes, we do.
- That's not true. - You spent all of our savings.
I know. I did that.
You lost Nicole's college fund.
- I know but... - Her college fund.
But you're right.
I have a problem. I'm a gambling addict.
I'm an addict, Tom.
You were right, I need help.
And I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Stop.
- Stop. Stop, stop. - No, Tom. Look, I need...
I need you. I need.
I need your help.
- I do. I need your help. - Carolyn.
- Help me. - Carolyn.
I want a divorce.
- No. No, you don't. - Yeah, I do.
No, Tom, you don't.
No, you don't.
You don't want a divorce.
- Tom, where are you going? - I don't know.
Oh, God.
- Tom? - Get over here as soon as possible.
I've got the answer.
Come on. Come on in.
- What happened? - Oh, nothing.
- What happened to your hand? - Oh, I burned it cooking.
- Talk to me. - Who am I, Carolyn?
Tell me who I am.
Don't fuck with me, Walter.
I am the Amazing Abraham.
And you're going to get every penny of your money back.
- You like sports? - What?
There is a basketball game between St. Francis and Loyola.
And the game is fixed.
St. Francis is going to lose.
- How do you know? - I got a tip.
I got a very reliable tip...
from an outstanding source.
- And you're betting? - Everything. Totally...
- everything. - No.
- Yes. - No.
Everything. My camper, my equipment...
- my costumes, my magic. Everything. - Walter, no.
You got to spend money to make money.
I don't know.
Maybe I can borrow from my agent.
I just want my savings back.
Yes, Carolyn. You got to get even.
That's it. We should all be even in life.
- What a world that would be. - I don't know.
- Yes. - I don't know!
This is it. I feel it.
We could make a fortune.
Maybe. Okay.
Okay.
So he let you off?
Didn't I just say that?
Ivan set me free.
I got nothing riding on tonight's game. All bets are off.
I'm out of it.
I don't know, it just... Why would he set you free?
Godfrey. Truth...
I don't mean nothing to him.
I'm out of it.
I'm free.
How you feeling? You nervous?
Yeah, a little bit.
That's a good thing. It's good to be nervous.
I mean, only fools aren't nervous.
But the question is...
Are you going to own it?
- Hell, yeah! - Exactly.
- I'm Godfrey Snow! - You Godfrey Snow.
Godfrey.
This is God.
You are bad.
You sure you're free?
What did I say to you? I'm free. All right?
I'm free.
All right.
Listen to me.
I'm trying to figure out how to say this.
You know what? I don't really say it enough to you.
All right?
So I'm going to say it.
I love you.
You're my brother. You know, it doesn't matter what happens tonight.
I don't give a shit if you win.
I don't give a shit if you lose.
I love you.
I need you to know that...
I love you.
You're the man.
Although I know you're going to win, right?
I love you too, bro.
I'm telling you...
I ain't going to win...
we going to win.
Me and you, Clyde, we're going to the big game!
Going to the big game!
Godfrey Snow!
College basketball at its very best.
Welcome everybody to Pearson arena. I'm Larry Burnett.
We've got Loyola...
and we've got St. Francis battling for the Conference Championship here today.
These two teams battled tooth and nail all through the regular season.
And now the season has come down to this one game.
- Relax, Carolyn. - Who wins tonight...
will go on to the NCAA tournament.
We've got a great match-up for you too.
Two of the top young guards in college basketball.
Talking about Darius Jackson for Loyola...
and Godfrey Snow for St. Francis.
Two top players to keep an eye on in our game here tonight.
Stay on your side of the court.
- Championship game. Don't choke. - The losers' side.
Matadors! Matadors!
Francis on three! One, two three!
Loyola controls the tip.
Peterson'll bring it up for the Matadors. They're in the maroon uniforms.
The St. Francis Eagles in the black. Jackson's got it.
Over the free throw line. He throws it.
- First two points of the game. - Two.
Loyola, getting first blood.
Miller will bring it up. He's across the time line.
Takes it down the right side.
He's picked up by Washington. Pass goes to Snow.
Do something with it! Do something!
Parks on the pick. Speeds in the paint! It's up in the air.
Godfrey!
Jackson's got the ball. The inside move...
- and the sweet shot for the bucket! - Let's go!
A pass to Snow and he scores inside.
You can't stop Godfrey Snow! Godfrey!
The slamdunk!
There's the catch, the turn. All tied!
All tied with time running out at the end of the first half!
Ralph...
make them cold.
Walter, it's so close.
They got to make it look close.
Come on. Let's go.
It's in the bag.
Second half action here in the Conference Championship game.
- Take it through, Godfrey. - He takes it down into the left corner.
Looks on top.
- Gets it to Snow. - You are strong?
That Snow and Jackson match-up has just been intense throughout this game.
Snow finds a seam!
Gets inside, scores!
Godfrey!
Jackson going against Snow, finds some room into the paint. The dish...
and down by Washington!
Wow, what a pass by Jackson!
I got it.
Snow from three-point range.
And St. Francis fired him up and nailed him down.
Tie game in the final seconds.
Who's going to get it? Who's going to win it?
Jackson wants it. Battle going on now with Snow.
He's inside. Gets it.
Oh, the fake, the move inside...
and the easy bucket. And that puts Loyola up by two.
Time out. Time out. Hey.
Coach Washington wants a timeout. And he needs one.
It's eighty-five, eighty-three, Matadors with less than ten seconds to play.
It's done, Carolyn. We're in the clear.
They have the ball, Walter.
He's not hitting it.
It's a sure thing.
Now we going for the win, okay?
We going for the win.
Now Godfrey, come off the single double...
and hit the shot. All right.
Listen, we worked all year for this. All right?
All right, now look, set, guard, screens. Okay?
All right, win on three.
One, two, three. Let's win! Let's go.
Let's go. Let's do it.
Hey Godfrey, come here. Listen.
Take the three, okay?
It's all right.
Own it.
What are you doing? Come on now.
Snow comes back out on the court.
You know St. Francis wants to get the ball to him.
But they've got to get the ball in bounds.
I think I remember this from before.
They're down by two with 9.4 seconds remaining in this game.
The Conference Championship is on the line.
Snow tries to free up, still battling with Jackson.
They've got to get him in! They've got to get the ball in!
Godfrey Snow. Godfrey Snow. Godfrey Snow.
Snow hit the shot! He hit the shot!
St. Francis wins the game!
St. Francis, the Eagles, win it, eighty-six to eighty-five...
and win the Conference Championship.
Yes! Yes!
St. Francis is hysteric about the win.
- This was not supposed to happen. - You pathetic little man!
I believed you!
I believed everything you said!
Let's talk about Snow's big shot.
The big shot.
We're here by the hero on the court right now.
It is a mob scene indeed and all centered on Snow.
Godfrey Snow, the highest flying eagle tonight.
He went to the bank and deposited St. Francis into the NCAA tournament.
That's right. That's right, baby. That's my little brother.
Godfrey Snow!
You owned it, G.
You owned it.
Big Clyde going to catch him some rays, some love in the sunshine.
- Francis! - Francis!
Hi, Sticks. What a pleasant surprise.
I just got a call.
- Clyde Snow is dead. - Really?
That's my bird.
You're under arrest.
- You got nothing on me. - You killed Wing Loh.
You killed Augustine. And now you've killed Clyde Snow.
- I'll be out of jail in two hours. - Turn around.
First one to the gun's a winner.
I'm winning, Brunner.
What the fuck are you doing here?
You do this, you're dead. Ivan will hunt you...
Go on, get out of here, Walter...
before I change my mind.
Stupid motherfucker.
Like I said...
we're all chasing something.
More money...
more love.
What we're really looking for...
is more life.
But sometimes...
you go looking for more...
and you wind up with less.
It's a beautiful world.
We ought to be satisfied.
But the truth is...
we all want more.
Ivan it's Elliot.
Hello?
Ivan knows this.
He knows...
that if you give a man his dream...
he might just do anything for you.
My angel, I'll be with you in a moment.
I'll be waiting on the terrace. But hurry.
Victor's replacement is working out, huh?
- So far. - That's wonderful.
Well, it's time for my nap.
- Chess at four? - Absolutely.
I'm going to beat your ass.
You probably will, Ivan.
Why do I work for Ivan? 'Cause I want more...
like everyone else.
Some take a chance for the rush of winning.
Some...
Sorry. I'm just going to get my stuff.
For love.
- Where are we going to eat? - How about Chinese?
Sounds great. I'm starving.
What?
But you can't have your dream...
without laying something on the line.
Who do I make this out to?
Me.
- I can't promise anything. - Okay.
The key is...
not to risk what you can't afford to lose.
You might think you're different.
But someday...
you're going to want more too.
The question is...
what are you willing to lay on the line?