- Yes, sir. - I got a little grease in this lining.
It'll take a half-hour to check it. You want me to fill her up, too?
- You better check the oil, too. - Yes, sir.
- You boys just passing through? - Yeah.
Pittsburgh? Coming in or going out?
- Going in, to a sales convention tomorrow. - What do you guys sell?
We sell drug supplies. He is going to get an award.
He sold $17,000 worth last month. Fastest boy in the territory.
Yeah. Fastest and the "bestest."
- Another round, one for him and yourself. - Thanks.
Sure is a hot day for driving.
Late afternoon is better. You have plenty of time.
You can make Pittsburgh in two or three hours.
He's right.
What do you say, Charlie?
Play a little pool? Wait out the heat?
It'll cost you money. Always does.
Come on, stop stalling. Grab yourself a cue.
Good thing he can afford it.
Keep them coming. J. T. S. Brown.
You miss again, you lose again.
What is the kid in hock for so far?
About $60, $70.
Next game, $10.
Nice looking boy, clean-cut. It's too bad he can't hold his liquor.
I made it, boy! I finally made it! Come on, pay up, pay up, sucker!
You ought to shoot craps with that luck!
- What do you mean, luck? - You know what I mean.
You couldn't make that shot again in a million years.
I couldn't? Okay, set them up the way they were before.
- Why? - Set them up the way they were before.
I'll bet you $20 that I make that shot the same way again.
Nobody can make that shot, not even a lucky lush.
How is that?
- Is that the way they were before? - Yeah, that's it.
Come on, put it up.
Set them up again.
Come on, set them up again.
You're drunk, boy. I'm not betting you anymore.
What do you mean?
Let's leave. We have to be at that convention in the morning.
Up the flagpole with the convention! Come on, I got my money on the table.
- I don't want it. - I'll try you.
Don't be a chump. Don't bet any more money on that damn fool shot!
You figure I'm a little drunk, I'm loaded on hemp...
... and you just want in real friendly while the money's still floating?
Okay.
Go ahead. Set them up.
You want some easy money? Here's $105. One week's commission.
You want to take the whole thing? Then you get a crack at your easy money.
- I'll take a piece of that action. - Me, too.
- No, I want him! - I'll take it out of the till.
I'll meet you in the car, chump!
'Morning, Henry.
Quiet.
Yeah, like a church.
The Church of the Good Hustler.
It looks like a morgue to me. Those tables are the slabs they lay the stiffs on.
I'll be alive when I get out.
- Any table? - Any table.
No bar?
No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool. Nothing else.
This is Ames, mister.
"This is Ames, mister."
Nice, clean pocket-drop.
How much am I going to win tonight?
$10,000. I'm going to win $10,000 in one night.
Who's going to beat me?
Come on, Charlie. Who's going to beat me?
Okay, nobody can beat you.
$10,000!
What other poolroom is there where a guy can win $10,000 in one night?
I can remember hustling an old man for a dime a game.
- We got company. - Are you looking for action?
- Maybe. Want to play? - No, hell, no.
- Are you Eddie Felson? - Who's he?
- What's your game? What do you shoot? - You name it, we shoot it.
Friend, I'm not trying to hustle.
I never hustle people that bring in leather satchels. Don't hustle me.
I'm Eddie Felson. I shoot straight pool. Got any straight pool shooters here?
- What straight pool game do you like? - The expensive kind.
You came to play pool with Minnesota Fats?
That's right.
- Want some free advice? - How much will it cost?
Who are you, his manager, friend, his stooge?
He's my partner.
- Well-heeled partner? - We got enough.
Take the boy home. Fats doesn't need your money. You can't beat him.
No one's beaten him in 15 years. He's the best in the country.
You got that wrong, mister. I am.
Okay, I told you about Minnesota Fats. You just go ahead and play him, friend.
Tell me where I can find him, friend.
He comes in this poolroom every night at 8:00 on the nose.
Stay here, he'll find you.
- You shoot a good stick. - Thank you.
- Do you shoot straight pool, mister? - Now and then, you know how it is.
You're Minnesota Fats, aren't you?
They say you're the best in the country, where I come from.
Is that a fact?
They say that old Fats shoots the eyes off them balls.
- Where are you from? - California. Oakland.
California. Is your name Felson? Eddie Felson?
That's right.
I hear you've been looking for me.
Yeah, that's right, too.
Big John, do you think this boy is a hustler?
Do you like to gamble? Gamble money on pool games?
Let's shoot a game of straight pool.
$100?
You shoot bigtime pool. Everyone says you shoot bigtime pool.
Let's make it $200 a game.
Now I know why they call you "Fast Eddie." You talk my kind of talk.
Sausage, rack them up!
- How do you feel? - Fast and loose, man.
In the gut, I mean?
Tight but good.
Willie, hang on to that.
You break.
I didn't leave you much.
You left enough.
Six in the corner.
Fifteen, in the corner.
Ace, in the side.
Eight.
Ten.
Eleven.
He is great! That old fat man.
Look how he moves. Like a dancer!
Twelve, cross-eyed.
And those fingers, them chubby fingers...
... and that stroke...
... like he's playing a violin. - Five ball.
Eight ball.
Four long.
Cross corner.
Nice shot.
Safe.
Seven ball in the corner.
Six in the corner.
One twenty-five, game.
Thirteen.
Five.
Ten.
Game!
Two in the corner.
Thirteen.
One twenty-five, game.
Ace in the corner.
Three ball.
Quit. He's too good.
I'm going to take him!
Your shot.
You miss?
You don't leave much when you miss, do you?
That's what the game's all about.
Two ball, side pocket.
Very good shot.
I have a hunch, Fat Man, it's me from here on in.
One ball, corner pocket.
Did that ever happen to you? Suddenly you feel like you can't miss?
I've dreamed about this game, Fat Man, every night on the road.
Five ball.
This is my table, man, I own it!
Fifteen ball.
Seven ball.
Four ball.
Game!
Eleven ball.
Rack them!
Ten ball in the corner.
One ball in the corner pocket.
Game!
Pay the man again, Fats.
- How much are we ahead? - Approximately $1,000.
Fats, let's shoot for $1,000 a game.
Get me some White Tavern whiskey, a glass and some ice.
Preacher, get me some bourbon. J. T. S. Brown, no ice, no glass.
Get it at Johnny's.
You got a bet.
Cash me in.
Two in the corner.
Seven.
Ace in the corner.
Two ball, side pocket.
One twenty-five, game.
Ten ball.
Will you cut that sunshine out?
Hey, mister.
- The name's Gordon, Bert Gordon. - Mister!
You've been sitting in that spot for hours. Would you move? It bothers me.
Five ball.
That's game.
- How much we got? - We have $11, 400 cash, in my pocket.
Preacher, get me some breakfast. An egg sandwich and coffee.
You want something, Charlie?
Wait. You're coming with me to eat at the hotel. The pool game is over.
No, it isn't, Charlie. The game is over when Fats says so.
You wanted $10,000, you got it.
- Get with it, will you, Charlie? - Get with what?
You can't see it, can you, Charlie? You never have. I came after him.
And I'm going to get him.
I'm going with him all the way.
The game is not over until Fats says so. Is it over, Fats?
I'll beat him, mister. I beat him all night and I'll beat him all day.
I'm the best you've ever seen, Fats. Even if you beat me I'm still the best.
Stay with this kid. He's a loser.
What did he say?
Twenty-five hours. For twenty-five hours you've been playing straight.
- Get me a drink, will you? - You don't need a drink.
Shut up!
Just get me a drink!
$18,000, Eddie! We're ahead $18,000!
I thought this game was over when Fats said it was.
No. It's over now.
Fast Eddie, let's play some pool.
Let's go, Eddie.
You look beautiful, Fats.
Just like a baby, all pink and powdered up.
What are you trying to do, Eddie? You beat him bad. Want to kill yourself?
- Are you chicken, Charlie? - Maybe that's it. I'm chicken.
Go home. Just leave me the money.
Go to hell!
Give me that money!
Come on now. Give it to me. It is mine!
Here. Be a damn fool!
You really look beautiful, Fats.
I'll break.
Nine ball.
Fifteen.
One twenty-five.
Wake up, Eddie.
We lose again.
Is this all we have left?
If that's all you got, that's all we got left.
Willie, give me the stake money.
I have about $200 here.
The game is over, Eddie.
Fats, I got about $200 here. You can't run out on me.
Watch me.
Fats, come on.
I'm sorry, Charlie.
Give me a towel, will you?
Are you sure?
Can I get you something?
Later.
A long wait for a bus?
Yes.
How long have you been waiting?
What?
How long have you been waiting?
Since 4:00.
Just a cup of black coffee, please.
Ma'am, wait a minute.
Would you like another cup?
All right. Thanks.
What time does the bus leave?
What bus?
Your bus.
8:00.
That wouldn't give us much time.
You're right.
Hello and goodbye.
Have a nice trip.
Thanks. I will.
Give it to me.
- How much do I owe you? - It was paid for by the lady.
- Give me some bourbon, J. T. S. Brown. - Sure.
- Want a chaser? - No.
Did you have a nice trip?
Fair.
May I sit down?
Why not? We already know each other's secrets.
Thanks for the breakfast.
Two ships that pass in the night should always buy each other breakfast.
Can I buy you another drink?
Another one for me and the lady.
You look different...
... more relaxed.
It's the lights and the Scotch.
How come you didn't catch your bus?
I wasn't waiting for a bus.
Then why go to the station?
For the same reason you went.
At that hour, you haven't got much choice.
Besides, I only live three blocks from there.
Where do you live?
Around.
I know where you live.
In a locker in a bus station.
What's it like living in a locker?
Cramped.
Do you always drink like this so early in the morning?
Do you always ask so many questions?
Not always.
Sometimes I wake up and I can't sleep, not without a drink.
The bars don't open until 8:00.
Mac, over there, has faith in me. When I'm broke he trusts me.
Don't you trust me, Mac?
Check.
When I'm not broke, I usually have a bottle in my room...
... in which case I sleep very well indeed.
You talk kind of funny, but I like it.
I used to be an actress.
What do you do now?
I'm a college girl, two days a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to college.
You don't look like a college girl.
I'm the emancipated type, real emancipated.
I didn't mean that. Whatever that means. I mean you just don't look young enough.
I'm not.
Then why go to college?
Got nothing else to do on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
What do you do on the other days?
I drink.
No more.
I'm getting sleepy. Thank you very much, Mr...
Eddie, the name is Eddie.
The name should be Eddie.
What should my name be?
I don't know, whatever you like it to be.
I like it to be what it is, Sarah.
That's a Biblical name. Do you want to know its meaning?
I could always get us a bottle.
No.
A fifth of Scotch.
What do you want me to do, step out in the alley?
I'll take you home.
All right.
It's all right. I'm not drunk, I'm lame.
Why me?
Please! You're too hungry.
Take it. It's yours.
The room is $1. 50 a night, or $7 by the week.
- By the night. - In advance.
A bottle of beer.
Hey, mister, is it okay if I grab a cue?
- You're Eddie Felson! - Who is he?
I saw you play at Ames the other night.
I'll play you a game and keep one hand in my pocket.
Man, you're way out of our league.
- What are you stuck for? - A three. That's enough for me.
Thanks.
Can I buy you fellows a drink?
You know, you shoot good, but you also shoot lucky.
Yeah, I shoot lucky.
- Why did you do that? - I wanted to see what kind of day it is.
A day like any other.
- People come. People go. - Give me a drag.
- What time is it? - 11:00.
I'll be back later.
Why?
Come here.
You need a shave. You mustn't go looking like that.
There's a razor and shaving cream in the bathroom, compliments of the house.
Why did you say that, Sarah?
- How do you know my name was Sarah? - You told me.
I lie. When I'm drunk I lie.
So what's your name today?
It's Sarah.
Eddie...
... I've got troubles and I think maybe you've got troubles.
Maybe we should leave each other alone.
My things are at the hotel. I'll bring them over later.
I'm not sure.
I don't know.
What do you want to know, and why?
Thank you.
- Where have you been all day? - At school. It's Thursday.
Oh, I forgot.
You were asleep when I left. I didn't want to wake you.
Did you go out?
I went out for a couple of hours.
A present.
You know, I've been living here for almost three years.
Now, in three days, it seems like I know everybody.
When I pass people on the street...
... I want to stop them and say, "Listen, I've got a fellow!"
Thanks.
Eddie, where do you go when you go out?
Museums, art galleries, concerts.
I believe you when you say you go to school.
- Do you want to go with me? - Are you kidding?
See that book?
I began it when I first got here, I haven't finished the first chapter.
Did you read all those books?
Got it all in your head?
When I'm sober. They get a little mixed up when I'm drunk. Usually they're mixed up.
Stop talking about yourself like you're a lush. I don't like it.
You should go to a clinic, and get some treatment.
I'm getting treatment right here.
I'm hungry.
Take your choice.
I got enough so we won't have to leave the house till Tuesday.
What did all this stuff cost you?
- When you got money, you'll pay. - I want to know, to keep the score.
The bills are right here. You didn't say what you wanted.
- Don't you ever cook anything? - Eggs. How do you like them?
Raw.
I cut my finger.
- I got something in my bag. - It's not bad.
Eddie, what's in that case?
- Haven't you opened it? - No. Why should I? It's yours.
It's a machine gun.
A guy told me, in the big city I'd need a machine gun. So I bought one.
Where did you get the money to pay for all this?
I mean liquor and the groceries and the rent.
From a rich old man who used to be my lover.
Hello, Eddie.
Hello, Charlie.
Come on in.
- That's my girl. - Hello, Eddie's girl.
I looked all over for you.
- How did you find me? - I asked around.
- Do you want me to go? - No. Stick around.
- Can we get you a drink? - I don't want to be no bother.
Don't play it small. It don't look good on you.
- How do you want me to play? I'm broke. - So am I.
Sit down.
Would you get us a couple of drinks?
You walked out on me. No goodbye, no nothing. Like a thief in the dark.
We were partners, more than partners.
He was like a...
- A son. - Yes, like a son.
I've known him since he was 16. The first time I saw him in Oakland, I said:
"This is a talented boy. This is a smart boy."
Talk to me.
I want you to come back on the road with me.
I have no stomach for that kind of life anymore.
What is your life like here? Playing the small rooms, winning a few bucks a day.
I'll connect. I'll get your money back.
Do you intend to play Fats again at Ames? Is that what's on your mind?
Never been out of it. I'm going to beat that fat man...
... with that curly hair and those diamond rings and that carnation.
This boy is crazy! They wiped the floor with him and he wants to go back.
- What for? Another beating? - You'll get your money back!
He thinks I care about the money. I care about you.
Do you care about me, Eddie?
We were together a long time, night and day.
So how do you say goodbye?
You give me the car and $100.
Do you think I care about the dough or the car? I care about you.
This boy is the greatest pool hustler you ever saw.
A high-class con man. He can charm anybody into anything.
Did he tell you how well we did on the road? We had everything.
We ate well, we slept late...
... we had money to burn. Whiskey, dames... Excuse me.
I tell you what, take her along.
And if you don't want to start right away, we won't start right away.
We'll drive to Miami. Get it all out of your system.
Have a few laughs, a few weeks in the sun.
- With what? - Don't worry, I'll raise the money.
- Yeah? Where? - What's the difference? I'll raise it.
Could I have another drink?
Did you hold out on me, Charlie?
How much?
My 25%. Approximately $1, 500.
You crumb! With that much I could have beat him! That's all I needed.
Give me the money!
- What for, to play Fats again? - Yes, I'll play Fats again!
If you want to come back on the road, the money is yours...
... but not if you want to give it to Fats.
What do you say?
You still don't see, do you, Charlie? You're nothing but a small-time Charlie.
You would love to keep me hustling, wouldn't you?
In a couple more years, with me playing in those little towns...
... you might be able to buy a poolroom in Oakland...
... six tables and a handbook on the side.
Is that when you say goodbye to me?
- Is that what you think? - Yeah. That's what I think.
All right, that's what I want...
... a poolroom and a little handbook on the side.
I'm getting old.
Lay down and die by yourself. Don't take me with you.
- Just like that. - Yes, just like that!
Thanks for the drink, Eddie's girl.
Give me another drink.
Boy.
Everybody wants a piece of me!
Won't you have one?
What did he have to come back here for, anyway?
Come here.
- Are you going out? - For a little while.
Are you okay?
What are you writing?
It's a story. A story I'm making up.
Give it to me.