Scene XVllll

EXT. SCHWARTZ HOUSE - DAY

They show up at her parent’s door. Roxanne fidgets as she
tries to open the front door, but it's locked, so she rings
the doorbell.

Mick has flowers in his hand. Maura opens the door and sees
Roxanne -- Roxanne smiles -- Maura slams door in her face --
then reopens the door, kisses them both and cries.

INT. SCHWARTZ HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

The next morning Roxanne and Mick are having coffee.

ROXANNE
Well, I’ve paid my respects.
Introduced you to your future inlaws.
Slept in my old bed, and
made dopey conversation with my
parents. One night back in this
life and I'm ready to jump out of
my skin. Get on the phone and find
us a game somewhere.

LIVING ROOM

Mick gets on the phone.

MICK
(to Roxanne)
I’m calling The Palace Pool Hall.
They might know where we could go.

INT. PALACE POOL HALL - DAY

The houseman answers the phone.

HOUSEMAN #3
Palace, home of champions. If you
can’t play, stay away. What can I
do for you?

INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION - MICK AND HOUSEMAN

MICK
Bobby, this is Mick and Roxanne.
How you been doin’ Have you heard
of any big action anywhere?

HOUSEMAN #3
(covers the phone and calls to
Hippie Jesse)
You know of any action, Jesse?
I got Mick and Double-Smart Roxanne
on the phone, and he sounds hungry.

HIPPIE JESSE
Mick, eh?

Jesse lights up a cigarette. Ansel stands around as well.

HOUSEMAN #3
Well?

HIPPIE JESSE
Johnston City.

HOUSEMAN #3
Where?

HIPPIE JESSE
Johnston City -- by Fat’s place in
southern Illinois. It’s gonna be a
pool jamboree.

HOUSEMAN #3
-- Johnston City, Illinois, by
Fat’s place. A pool jamboree.

HIPPIE JESSE
The "Band of Brothers" will all be
there.

HOUSEMAN #3
Got that kid? Johnston City.
Southern Illinois. Everybody
there, big action. Okay, okay,
good luck.

Mick scratches the info down on a piece of paper.

INT. MAURA’S LIVING ROOM

Mick returns from phone call.

ROXANNE
(softly)
Hey.

MICK
Hey.

ROXANNE
I know it's hard here in
Valleyland, but I appreciate your
patience. I love you, you know?

MICK
I love you too, babe. And your
parents are fine. Real great,
putting us up and all.

Mick starts fumbling.

MICK
It’s just that, this past year...
the two of us... I’m just not used
to being in any one place for too
long. I love seeing new places,
new people... playing pool.

Mick grabs Roxanne’s shoulders and looks her in the eyes.

MICK
I’m never going to be able to
settle down. I need to keep
moving. That’s what makes me feel
good. That, and you with me.

Roxanne’s eyes light up, and she dreamily replies:

ROXANNE
I signed on for life, Mick.

Mick takes stock for a moment, then nods his head in
affirmation.

MICK
There’s big action down near Fat’s
farm. Johnston City, Illinois.
Everybody we know is gonna be
there. It’ll be like the Olympics
of Pool. Let’s blow this popstand!

BATHROOM

Roxanne washes up, pretties herself, goes into her bedroom to
pack alone while Mick is lying on the bed.

Maura knocks on door.

MAURA
We’re driving you away again,
aren’t we?

ROXANNE
You never drove me away, I was
always ready to leave. Ever since
I was little...
all those movies, magazines... I
always wanted to travel and walk
into smoky bars, bat my eyes like
Lauren Bacall and walk off into the
sunset...

MAURA
We can’t get you to stay a little
longer? Uncle Manny wanted to take
us all to dinner.

Roxanne shakes her head. Maura embraces her.

MAURA
Always send me postcards and call.
I love you my daughter, my gorgeous
daughter.

Roxanne smiles as they hug.

MAURA
-- Shot by drug addicts, gone for a
year, she finally comes back to her
loving mother.

Roxanne starts to laugh.

MAURA
-- Tear your mother’s heart out...

Maura reflects a second, seems to make up her mind and
continues.

MAURA
Okay. Well, I never told you this,
but your grandfather used to run
numbers in the neighborhood, back
in Brooklyn. So I guess you always
had some gambling in your blood...
And you make a living playing pool?

ROXANNE
Not that simple, but yes.

MAURA
And this makes you happy?

ROXANNE
Yes. Tell the neighbors I'm a
flight attendant -- the first
Jewish one.

Roxanne and Maura both laugh

INT. CAR - DAY

MICK
Ready?

ROXANNE
(elated)
Yes!

Roxanne and Mick get back on the road and head to Johnston
City.

EXT. THEIR CAR

They turn off into the exit for Johnston City.

ROAD SIGN: JOHNSTON CITY, IL., POPULATION 3500

EXT. " LOUNGE" PARKING LOT - DAY

As the car pulls in, they see the marquee advertising:
"WORLDS ALL-AROUND POOL CHAMPIONSHIP," with the event dates.

INT. "SHOW LOUNGE"

Roxanne and Mick enter the lounge and run into The Filthy
Beast.

ANSEL
Jesse’s here and you’d better make
peace with him, if you know what’s
good for you. He’s in the back of
the bar.

As they walk past the bar they are treated to a rogue’s
gallery of the greatest hustlers in the country, FATS, DAPPER
DANNY, RAT POISON RONNIE, CHICAGO BUGS, THREE-FINGERED
FRANKIE, BROOKLYN JIMMY, SOAP AND WATER ARTIE, etc. (This
info could be displayed at bottom of screen like a series of
"Wanted" posters.)

HIPPIE JESSE
Well, well, look what the ill-wind
blew in. Pasadena Mick, the guy
who promised me one year on the
road -- provided I paid his mommy’s
bills -- and Double-Smart or
rather, Double-Cross Roxanne, his
treacherous side-kick.

MICK
I’m really sorry about that, Jesse.
We only have a six thousand dollar
bankroll, I can give you five.
We’ll pay you the rest, I promise.

HIPPIE JESSE
Too late. Your promise is no good
any more. I got another idea.

Roxanne and Mick cringe and steel themselves in anxious
anticipation.

HIPPIE JESSE
You owe me one year on the road and
about ten dimes -- with the
interest. I could have some
friends of mine wring you like a
rag for the money and force you to
come, but you might not play good --
with the broken bones and all.

Roxanne, in horror, digs her fingers in Mick’s arm.

HIPPIE JESSE
I want you to come on the road with
me of your own free will, so I’ll
gonna give you a chance to settle
our disagreement with a gamble.

A drizzle of hope passes through Roxanne and Mick.

HIPPIE JESSE
I want you to put up that six grand
and play my guy some One-Pocket.
You’re supposed to be one of the
best, so that shouldn't be a
problem. If you lose, you go on
the road with me for a year. Win?
We’re even. I’ll even put up two
thousand so you’ll only be laying
me three to one -- there has to be
some penalties for your crime. The
alternative? You can negotiate a
better deal with my two friends
over there, Sluggo and Boppo.

Jesse points to two menacing characters leaning against the
wall.

MICK
Alright, we’ll go for it. But not
because of the threats. I pay my
debts.

HIPPIE JESSE
Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just show up
in the back room at nine o’clock

Jesse walks away and Mick is confronted by Grady "The
Professor" Mathews, a tall, thin, totally bald, bespectacled
man in his thirties who resembles Dr. Silvana of Captain
Marvel Comics.

GRADY
What do you say, hot-shot? I been
hearing good things about your
game. Everybody says you’re a big
gun. Maybe you’re even ready to do
some serious gambling with me. How
‘bout it? Even up, of course. No
handicap.

MICK
Don’t worry, Grady, I’ll get to
your ass. First, I’ve got to
settle up with Hippie Jesse. I’m
tired of ducking him. I’m gonna
play a match that’s been brewing
for a long time. It’s some player
of his. It’s not you by any
chance?

GRADY
No it’s not me.
(wickedly)
But while you’re looking for
whoever the hell it is, maybe I
could keep an eye on your girl
friend for you.

MICK
No chance. I know all about you.
If I catch you anywhere near her
when I’m not around, I’ll have your
elbows removed.

GRADY
Okay, okay. Take it easy. Rumors
regarding my reputation have been
greatly exaggerated.

Grady walks away.

MICK
(to Roxanne)
Exaggerated, hell. That’s one of
the kinkiest pool players of all
time. You know what the title of
his autobiography is? Bet High and
Kiss Low!

Roxanne cracks up laughing.

INT. THE GAMBLING ROOM FOR THE TOURNAMENT - NIGHT

ROXANNE
Here comes Hippie Jesse and his
player. Holy shit, it’s Freddy,
pregnant wife and all.

Freddy and his pregnant wife approach Roxanne and Mick.

Mick is nattily attired with a flashy, golf cap.
Roxanne stares at Freddy’s wife’s swollen belly.

ROXANNE
(shocked)
You’re gonna play Mick?
to be continued....