The Hustler Page #2

CUT TO:

5EXT. GAS STATION - AFTERNOON

The door of the Packard coup� slams shut. Eddie Felson holds up his

stuffed billfold for his pal, Charlie Burns, to see. He tosses it on

the seat beside him and turns on the ignition.

QUICK FADE:

MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE

6 INT. AMES POOL HALL - MORNING

FADE IN:

Henry, the elderly Negro janitor, draws up the Venetian blinds to let

the early morning light flood into AMES POOL HALL. Henry is the janitor

of Ames, the sexton of this immense, shabby cathedral of pool, in which

the pews are pool tables covered with oilcloth slipcovers and the great

vault of a room is lit by brass-and-globe chandeliers. Henry ambles

through Ames righting overturned ashtrays and replacing yesterday's

abandoned cue sticks. The cashier enters. He looks at his watch, then

checks his time against that of the clock on the wall.

CASHIER:

Morning, Henry.

Henry nods, then steps up on a stool to fix the minute hand of the

clock. It now stands at ten o'clock.

DISSOLVE TO:

7INT. AMES POOL HALL - DAY

It is twelve-thirty when Eddie Felson and Charlie Burns first enter

into Ames. Only one table is in use; the hall is empty. In Eddie's hand

is his leather cue case. They stand before the swinging doors and look

around.

CHARLIE:

It's quiet.

EDDIE:

Yeah, like a church. Church of the Good Hustler.

CHARLIE:

Looks more like a morgue to me. Those pool

tables are the slabs they lay the stiffs on.

EDDIE:

I'll be alive when I get out, Charlie.

They saunter over to the cashier's cage. A sign on the brass bar reads

NO GAMBLING ALLOWED ...

EDDIE:

Any table?

CASHIER:

Any table.

Eddie's arrival is noted by Big John and Preacher, a gambler and an

addict, who hang out at Ames at all hours, waiting for action.

EDDIE:

(to the cashier)

No bar?

CASHIER:

(with some annoyance)

No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys.

Just pool. Nothing else. This is Ames, mister.

Eddie takes his cue ball from the cashier's cage and heads for a table.

As he passes Charlie, he mimics the cashier wickedly:

EDDIE:

This is Ames, mister.

The two go to a table. Eddie selects a house cue, then rolls it over

the table top to test the roll. He seems pleased. He runs his hand over

the green felt as if he were caressing it. His last test is to sweep

the cue ball into the corner pocket.

EDDIE:

Nice clean pocket drop.

Eddie takes some balls out of the return box and throws them on the

table.

EDDIE:

(chalks his cue)

How much am I gonna win tonight? Hm?

Charlie doesn't reply. But Big John and Preacher lean forward in their

chairs to listen in.

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