Int. Monte Carlo – Night
It was Saturday night in Vegas. The crew headed towards the Monte Carlo. There was a Heavyweight Title fight that just ended so that’s where all the action was. As the group started to circle the floor, Ted headed straight towards the poker tables. With shoulder length dreadlocks, and bright orange glasses, Ted could not hide in this crowd if he tried. He stood out like a sore thumb. All eyes turned towards him as he approached the Usher.
Usher
Hi, how are you doing tonight?
Ted
Hi, I’m great. I’d like to play some cards.
Usher
Sure, I think I can find a seat for you. Right this way.
The Usher turns and head towards the back of the room. Ted follows.
Usher
I’ll be getting your chips for you. How much would you like to start?
Ted pulls out three crisp one hundred dollar bills recently withdrawn from a rival casinos ATM.
Ted
I’ll start with three hundred please.
Ted sits down at the table and introduces himself. There are 5 players sitting at this table, Ted makes 6. As Ted surveys the table, it appears these guys have been playing for awhile. They all call the dealer by name, and they all laugh with each other like they are playing with House’s money. The Usher returns with Ted’s stack of chips. Ted sits down.
Dealer
Hi Ted. Ever played with us before?
Ted
Nope. I sure haven’t
Dealer
Game is 7 Card Stud. Low card starts the bet, with a five dollar max. I’m Brad.
Ted
Sounds great. Thanks Brad. Let’s get started
Brad starts to deal the cards. Out of the first 5 hands, Ted wins 3. Ted is always beating the old man at the opposite end of the table with a slightly higher hand. He has snickered and sneered his way through these first 5 hands and finally decides he needs to speak up.
Old Man
(laughing) Sometimes I guess it is better to be lucky than good.
The Old Man does not direct the comment at Ted, but he knows he is the target. Ted quietly shakes his head and chuckles. Brad begins to deal a new hand. Ted’s up card is the 6 of hearts. His two down cards are the 3 of hearts and the 4 of hearts. A good start. Ted’s phone rings.
Ted
Can I answer my phone? This is kind of important.
Brad
You can, but you’d have to leave the table and this hand.
Ted
That’s what I thought. I’ll have to call them back.
Brad deals the next card. The 5 of Clubs. While it is not obvious that this card is helping anyone, it has just made Ted an open ended straight. He feels like he has the best hand and bets the 5 dollar max. Brad deals the next card. The 5 of hearts. Ted is showing a pair of 5′s. A few of the players fold. After a card that doesn’t seem to help anybody passes, everyone checks. Here comes the last card… it’s a heart. Ted has made his Flush. An intense, final round of betting occurs and everybody stays in. The Old Man at the end of the table is confident and thinks he has won.
Old Man
Great hand fellas, hope you can beat my Full House. Nines over Eights.
Brad begins to sort through all of the players hands when he gets to Ted. Ted’s cards are still face down.
Brad
Let’s see, we’ve got the six of hearts, the five of hearts… looks like we’ve got a Straight Flush over here.
One of the Pit Bosses instantly appears.
Pit Boss
(to himself)
Let’s see. We’ve got the 2, 3, 4, 5, and the 6 of hearts. How many we got Brad?
Brad counts all of the cards from the deck.
Brad
We’ve got 52.
Pit Boss
(to the Floor Boss)
We’ve got a Straight Flush over here on table 5.
Brad
That hand is going to win you the jackpot.
Brad points to the Jackpot board behind the table.
Pit Boss
Ok, this hand is going to pay you an additional $500. Congratulations! I’ll need to pay you out at the table for the cameras. Can you fill out this form?
Ted starts filling out the form, feeling slightly embarrassed about all of the attention
Pit Boss
(voice over)
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please? Congratulations goes out to Ted Franklin on table 5 who just hit a Straight Flush. That’s an extra $500 from the Jackpot board. Congratulations Ted!
The room applauds. Ted hold up his hand to acknowledge the crowd. The Pit Boss returns with two trays of chips.
Pit Boss
Here ya go Ted. Great hand!
Ted
Thanks!
Ted stands.
Ted(continued)
Wow, that was fun! (beat) But that phone call I missed unfortunately means I have to go. I wish I could stick around and give you a chance to win some of your money back but (beat) sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
Ted exits, trays in hand. The gentlemen at Table 5, especially the Old Man, sit with jaws on the table trying to figure out exactly what just happened.