Croupier

(Man) 'Now he had become

'the still centre of that

spinning wheel of misfortune.

'The world turned round him,

leaving him miraculously untouched.

'The croupier had reached his goal.

'He no longer heard

the sound of the ball.'

(Thunderbolt)

'To begin with, he was Jack Manfred.'

- Now, then.

- I want a job, Giles.

I see. Well...

let me tell you

a little about our operation.

We like personality authors.

People the public recognises.

Celebrity's what sells books.

You can always find somebody

to do the writing.

What we need is the face.

Then the concept.

Right now I'm looking

for a soccer novel.

Something where a tycoon buys a

lousy team, takes it to the top.

Seven-figure transfer fees.

Corruption all down the line.

Violence on and off the pitch.

Steroids.

You got any concepts?

It could be a thug story.

I'll tell you what,

why don't you think about it?

Couple of pages.

With plenty of sex, of course.

Fiona!

Interesting, Giles.

I will think about it.

Let me give you

three words of advice, Jack.

Don't give up. Stick with it.

Who persists, wins. That's my motto.

Write, write, write.

'And Jack had three words for Giles.

'Go f*** yourself.

'Jack knew something was wrong.

'He'd forgotten Giles' advice,

Giles said three words.'

(Phone)

(Answerphone clicks on)

(Jack) 'Nobody around.

Leave a message after the beep.'

(Beep)

(Man) 'Jacko,

if you're there, pick up.

'I want to talk to you.

It's important.

'Jacko,

I've got some news for you.

'Come on, Jacko.'

- Yeah, Dad, it's me.

- 'How's it going? '

- Good, yeah.

- 'Found a job yet? '

- No.

- 'I've got something for you.'

In London.

I've been chatting with some friends.

Now, do you know

the Golden Lion casino?

'They're looking for a dealer.'

Yeah, that's not

what I wanna do, Dad.

I know you don't like

taking my advice...

No, it's not that.

'Listen, I've set this up for you.'

You call the Golden Lion

and ask to speak to Mr Reynolds.

That's the manager.

I don't know him personally

but I have spoken to his boss.

'Now, don't say no, Jacko.

Give yourself a break.'

All right, Dad.

Yeah, I'll think about it.

Reynolds at the Golden Lion.

Yeah. All right, Dad.

Yes. I'll call him.

'You do that. That's my boy.'

So how are you doing, Dad?

Great. Just started a new company.

(Fruit machines beeping)

Solid financing. It's good.

'Jacko,

you know I love you, don't you? '

- Yeah. I know that.

- 'Don't let yourself down.'

- I won't.

- 'I'll keep in touch.'

(Dialling tone)

Goodbye, Dad.

(Bird squawks)

(Woman) It was unbelievable.

I was in the room.

Uh-huh. Blackjack.

See you then, bye.

Sorry to have kept you.

What'll you have?

'No. Jack knew

it still wasn't quite right.'

(Taps keyboard)

(Man bawling outside)

(Man) I wanna f***

the whole world over!

Ha!

(Can clatters down stairs)

'He had just one word for Giles.'

(Buzzer)

(Scottish accent)

David Reynolds. The manager.

- Sit down, John.

- Jack.

You've been recommended

by the management here.

They knew your father.

He's a bit of a reputation,

hasn't he?

- Has he?

- In any case, I understand

you've had previous experience

in South Africa.

You'll find the rules here

a little different.

Before we start,

have got a police record?

- No.

- What school did you go to?

- I was at Bedales.

- Oh.

I don't think I know that one.

Private, I suppose.

There's three types of casino

in the UK.

High volume, small action

and middle of the road.

That's us. OK, Charlie.

- Do you have a salon prive?

- We tried.

Wasn't enough business.

Punters like company.

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