(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
(country music playing)
MAN: Straight eight-ball, Danny.
Buck a number.
Ten on the eight.
Your break.
DANNY: Yeah, the way I'm playing tonight, I need a break.
Ten in the side.
Twelve in the corner.
Two off the eight in the corner.
Damn!
Your shot.
Three in the corner.
♪ Don't talk to me ♪
♪ The way you used to do before ♪
An extra five says I run the table.
Six in the corner.
Two ball.
Fourteen.
(balls clinking)
I think you better
call it a night, Danny-boy.
Your luck's running out.
Yo, Jennifer.
Get me another shooter.
Danny. What? Come on, let's go.
Triple Tequila.
I'll take care of his tab, Rick.
WOMAN: Leave yourself a big tip.
He's having a bad night.
He's not usually like this.
No, he's usually worse.
And I'm not talking about his pool playing.
He has his good side.
Love is blind.
Thank you.
Look, you're just tired, hon.
Don't worry about it. "Don't worry about it"?
I got a pool tournament tomorrow,
you tell me not to worry about it.
Got any other great advice, huh?
Yeah. Come home with me tonight.
I'm gonna win that five grand.
Why don't you just get a job?
Eight ball, side pocket.
You owe me 50 bucks, old buddy.
Rack 'em up, double or nothing.
Put it on the table.
Give me your tip money.
That's our wedding money.
Look, forget about the stupid wedding, all right?!
Just give me the money, will you? Danny, please!
Look. Rack 'em!
I've got to take a leak.
Who's there?
♪ You don't talk to me ♪
♪ The way you used to do before ♪
(sighs): Oh, my God.
You scared me half to death.
What are you doing in here?
(gasps)
♪ ♪
Okay, four in...
One in the corner.
Four in the side.
You've got to live it up.
Six, bank to the side.
Five in the corner.
Three-seven combination.
Split the table.
Black beauty in the side.
(pool stick clatters)
(entrance bell jingling) Jack?
Ryan, your taxi's here!
I left the number for our lodge
by the telephone, Micki.
And we'll try to call in for messages.
Oh, don't worry about me.
The most strenuous thing I'll be doing is watching the store.
Good.
I'll remember that when we're freezing our tails off.
Cursed snowshoes.
I wish we could be chasing cursed surfboard.
Ryan, what about that cue stick
that you were after? Well, I haven't heard anything
about it yet, but that kid I met... Yeah, Johnny.
Yeah, I have him checking on all the pool halls.
He said he'd call me if he heard anything. That reminds me, Micki?
If you hear from a guy named Johnny,
give us a call, will you? Yeah, stay warm.
Yeah.
And be careful!
I'll get the door.
(entrance bell jingling)
I wish Mom were here to see this.
Do you know, the first time she met Danny,
she said "Jennifer, I just shook hands
with your future husband."
She told me he had "kind eyes
and a cute, little butt."
You can take it off now.
We're going to be so happy.
Jen, there's more to a man
than kind eyes and a cute rear end.
Danny been stringing you on about this wedding
for over a year now.
He has a lot on his mind.
Hurting his back, not being able to work...
If he was really serious,
nothing would have stopped him.
I've heard all the excuses.
We're setting a date,
right after he wins this tournament.
A pool tournament?
I take it back.
That is a new one.
Why are you being so hard on him?
Danny is not the marrying kind.
Can't you see that? If he loved you,
he would have married you by now.
Danny just has a confidence problem.
(scoffs) We're gonna do it this time, Christy.
I know it. Sure.
You know you've had me fit this dress twice this month.
Maybe you should start looking
for somebody else, like, find a life.
Look, I don't need advice from my little sister, okay?
Not about Danny.
Then at least stop eating so much.
You're putting on weight.
I gotta let this out again.
JENNIFER: I love white tuxedos.
Don't you, sweetheart?
It says that we're both faithful.
Tells the world that.
(gasps, heaves)
(toilet flushes)
What are you doing?
I'm okay, hon.
I just must've eaten something bad at work.
Yeah, just don't let it bother me.
♪ ♪
Hey, you never made a shot like that in your life.
Hey I thrive under pressure, huh?
♪ Hey, hey ♪ Magic.
♪ I like what you've got ♪
(cheering and applause)
Where the hell is Elizabeth?
Takes off last night and doesn't show up
on the busiest night of the year.
You doing okay?
It's a zoo.
But Danny's winning.
(phone ringing)
Curious Goods.
MAN: Is Ryan there?
Uh, no, I'm afraid he's out of town right now.
Tell him I think I've found his cue stick.
Who is this?
My name's Johnny. Who's this?
Um, my name's Micki Foster.
I'm Ryan's partner.
Where are you, Johnny?
The Silver Dollar.
There's a pool tournament going on.
Stay there. I'm on my way.
Wait, hold on. What do you look like?
Um, I'll be wearing a red sweater.
What about you?
I hate red.
Just look for the best looking guy in the place.
Hey, you been hustling me!
You calling me a cheater? No.
You've just always been a loser when it counted.
Danny, no!
I'll bust his head, man.
Look, forget about him.
You're in the semifinals.
Oh, Danny, now we're gonna have enough money
to get married.
I take it back.
Red is my favorite color.
Johnny.
♪ I guess that I knew that I had to be cruel... ♪
So, uh, you'd said
that you had found the cue stick.
See that guy over there with the waitress?
Hasn't missed one shot all night.
It's unbelievable.
Well, thanks.
Um, I don't know what arrangement
you made with Ryan about money...
You guys married?
No, no, we're cousins.
We work together.
How come you're tracking down cue sticks?
We're collectors.
Good luck collecting that from him.
If he's on a streak, he's not gonna sell it.
Guess we're gonna have to try something else.
Hey.
Congratulations, man.
You playing for the trophy tomorrow?
50 bucks says I can beat you.
Yeah?
What is this, everybody's a hustler tonight?
Your break, kid.
♪ They say that love ain't easy ♪
♪ And it must be true ♪
♪ Love ain't easy... ♪
I'm better in the stretch.
What's wrong?
Just leave me alone.
Hey! Stop him!
Hey, hey, hey, come on.
Knock it off.
Jerk tried to rip me off.
That's no reason to bust up my place.
Now, you just get out of here, punk.
♪ Love ain't easy, but it's hard to keep away from you... ♪
You know that kid?
What kid?
The one you were just talking to.
Look, I ain't got no time
to play no bouncer in my place.
I got enough to do.
So, if I see his face in here again,
I'll call the cops.
♪ But it's hard to keep away from you... ♪
(horn honking in distance)
Are you okay?
Uh, one against ten I can handle,
but one against 11?
I don't know. Let me look at that.
I've got six sisters-- this is nothing.
(chuckling)
Listen, I appreciate what you tried
to do up there, but I'll take it from here.
Hey, maybe we could do it together,
you know, start out with a little dinner,
a little cha cha cha, huh?
A little cha cha cha?
No, I'm flattered, but no.
No. You don't date younger men?
You're not that much younger.
You haven't answered my question.
And I'm not going to.
(sighs)
I ain't apologizing.
You're his best friend, Gil.
He needs you right now. Only thing Danny needs
is his head screwed on straight.
You were supposed to be his best man at our wedding.
You know, sometimes I'm amazed at your stupidity.
Look, he's dangling this wedding
in front of you like a carrot.
It's not going to happen.
Everything is going to be fine once he wins this tournament.
Who you trying to kid?
He can't win.
He runs hot and cold, just like he does with you.
You could help him with that. No.
My days of helping Danny are over,
and yours should be, too.
Why don't you just grow some brains
and walk away from him?
Because I can't.
(gasping)
(laughing)
(phone ringing)
WOMAN: Number 37... three seven.
Jennifer Carpenter?
Congratulations, the rabbit died.
What?
Your tests were positive.
You're pregnant.
I hope that's good news.
(sighs)
Number 38... three eight.
WOMAN (over PA): Dr. Craig to lab four, Dr. Craig to lab four.
DANNY: Hey, Jen, that you?
Hey, where the hell you been?
I've been trying to call you all afternoon.
Oh, just hold me, baby. Hey, what are you...
no, no, no, I can't here, huh?
I just came to pick up my cue.
Got to put in some practice tonight.
Uh...
you all right?
I'm just really happy to see you.
I missed you last night.
Me, too.
You got any money?
Might want to buy a couple drinks later on.
Nothing's gonna stop us from getting married, is it?
Hey, come on, I got a lot on my mind.
What's with this wedding stuff?
See you.
Catch you later, honey.
(bluesy rock music playing)
Yeah, it's just that you seemed
so hassled the other night.
I thought you could use some help.
And, uh, I need the work.
Yeah, well, uh, you work in bars or...
Jennifer, you're late.
I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling very good.
Well, let's get cracking.
Gonna be a busy night.
Okay.
Um, minimum wage, tips.
All right.
That's the girl you'll be working with,
so, uh, why don't you go get us some ice
and introduce yourself.
Hi.
I'm Micki Foster, the new waitress.
Oh, well, haven't I seen you before?
Yeah, I was in the other night.
Um, Rick said that you'd show me what to do.
Oh, well, first rule
is not to get too close to the customers,
especially with that guy out there.
He's my fiancé.
Congratulations.
So, do you think he's gonna win tonight?
Yeah, and he's gonna win tomorrow night at Ruby's.
Ruby's?
Yeah, winners from all the bars play for city champ.
Danny and I are getting married
tomorrow night right after.
Well, I wanted a big wedding,
but Danny can't wait.
(chuckling)
Well what is this game of eight ball
these guys are playing?
Well, one guy shoots all the odd numbered balls.
One guy shoots all the even.
First guy to sink all of his balls and the eight wins.
Does Danny always use the same cue?
(chuckling)
Stupid question?
I don't know much about pool.
Well, there's a lot of things you're gonna learn
that you really don't want to know.
Look, let me take care of this.
No, it's all right.
No, no, no.
I'll do all this stuff.
You just worry about the customers.
(sighs)
Easy, baby, easy.
Mommy's right here.
And you're gonna have a daddy, too.
Only, he doesn't know about it.
I didn't want to scare him away.
Well, you don't want to grow up without a daddy...
like I did.
(indistinct conversations)
(cheering, applause)
Nine in the side.
(cheering)
Eight for the game.
(cheering)
Congratulations, Danny boy.
I knew you could do it this time.
(chuckling)
(cheering, applause)
All right, hold it down, hold it down.
Micki, line them up at the bar.
I'd like to buy a round for the house.
(loud cheering)
(both chuckling)
Hey, where you going?
A lot of thirsty customers here.
You all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
I knew you could do it.
Yeah, I think this is it.
You know, I-I-I can... I can feel it.
Yeah, so can I.
(whispering): Spend the night with me.
Not tonight, okay?
Okay.
♪ Some like it hot ♪
♪ Some like to dance ♪
♪ And nothing hits the spot ♪
♪ But when my baby holds me... ♪
Did you see Danny shoot?
He's something else.
♪ He says, "Please, I need more" ♪
♪ But I have to say I'm going too slow... ♪
Can you tell them to call me as soon as they get in?
Thank you.
(entrance bell jingling)
What are you doing here?
I was in the neighborhood,
so I thought I'd drop by.
Is this the stuff you collect?
Wow.
The Babe might have hit with this, huh?
Legend has it he did.
Who owned the cue stick, Minnesota Fats?
I don't know, Johnny.
Ryan will be back in a couple of days,
and he'll settle up with you then.
Okay?
Sure, and when he does,
I can pay you back for buying me lunch.
I'm sorry.
Not today.
Hey.
I ain't such a bad guy.
Some reason you don't want me hanging around?
Look,
I've got a lot to do,
and I have to do it alone.
I'm sorry.
How is that?
It's great.
How do I look?
You look beautiful.
Too beautiful to be spending your life
waiting for Danny.
Christy.
Look, the guy is not gonna marry you.
Can't you get that through your head?
The only person he's in love with is himself.
He's a selfish pig.
Don't say that.
He treats you like dirt,
and you let him get away with it.
You don't know how he treats me, okay?
DANNY: Hi, babe.
Oh, Danny, they're beautiful.
Yeah, well, I, uh, figured you deserved them.
I got to get going, Jen.
No, no!
I want Danny to see the maid of honor's dress.
I don't have time.
See ya, Danny.
This was so sweet.
Yeah, yeah.
I figured they'd get me more than a peck on the cheek, huh?
Look, there's this tuxedo
I want you to see in the magazine over there.
Who cares?
We got to talk about it now?
A wedding doesn't just happen.
We have to talk about it sometime.
Oh...
Danny, no. Come on!
Come on. I need to relax before tomorrow's game.
Okay, look, you're gonna win, okay?
I know you're gonna win.
Look, I won some stupid dumb trophy, that's it.
I mean, a guy like me doesn't win the big money.
I don't want to hear that kind of talk from you.
Not any more.
When we get married...
Oh, will you stop with the stupid wedding?
Okay, okay.
I'll take care of you, baby.
I'll always take care of you.
You think, uh, you know,
maybe we could, uh, start our honeymoon early?
Do you mean it?
Yeah, sure.
I mean, we'll tie the knot
the same night I win that five grand.
Oh.
We're going to be so happy.
Okay, I'm out of here.
Pick up your ball game there, Danny boy.
Jennifer, you show Micki how to lock up.
And I'm only gonna need one of you tomorrow, so...
Whole town's gonna be at Ruby's,
so, you work it out between you.
There's a lot of money on you, now.
Danny, careful.
Burn the damn thing, man.
It's your engagement present.
Look, it could be Christmas and my birthday.
I still can't make a shot with it.
JENNIFER: Look, you're just tense.
Come home with me, please?
Not tonight.
I'm tired.
You know, you-you wore me out.
Besides, you know, it's...
it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.
We'll have to do it again
tomorrow.
It's gonna be such a special day tomorrow.
You'll never regret it.
Yeah, sure.
Look, I'll, uh, catch you later, okay?
(siren blaring)
♪ I never felt... ♪
This is Danny and my favorite song.
My sister Christy's gonna sing it at our wedding.
How long have you known him?
Feels like all my life.
I've always known I was gonna marry him.
Well, he's very good.
I bet he spends more time with that cue stick
than he does with you.
(laughs)
Long as I've known him,
shooting pool is... all he's ever wanted to do.
MICKI: Has he ever won the trophy?
Uh, no, never.
Danny has a problem with his confidence.
Yeah?
Seems pretty confident to me.
Well, yeah, things are getting better now.
Well, that's the way it is.
Getting married makes you more stable.
Jennifer,
where did he find that cue stick?
Why do you want to know?
Just interested.
I don't know.
All I do know is that...
it's our ticket
to the happiness that we've always dreamed of.
You married?
Uh, no.
No, no, I was engaged once, but it didn't work out.
What happened?
I don't know.
Different priorities, I guess.
Or maybe you didn't love him enough.
JOHNNY: Hey, Micki, you in there?
Oh, my...
Hey, how you doing?
Hey, you're the punk that tried to steal Danny's cue stick.
Would you excuse us for a moment, please?
I told you I wasn't interested!
I've got a boyfriend.
Now get out of here!
You can't get rid of me that easy, sweetheart.
Watch.
Well, at least let me walk you to your car, okay?
Go ahead.
We're finished.
Good night.
I don't want to see you again ever!
I would have had that cue if it wasn't for you.
Now it's locked up in there.
So this means you're free for the rest of the night.
Listen to me!
You don't know what's going on, so stay out of it.
I think this is where I say I'm already in it.
Why won't you tell me what's going on?
You're driving me crazy.
Yeah, well, that's what all the girls say to me.
(alarm ringing)
(alarm continues ringing)
(loud pounding on door)
All right, all right, I'm coming!
(horn honking)
(entrance bell jingling)
I couldn't tell one from another,
so I brought 'em all.
Something else I found out.
A dead guy in the ice machine.
The one Danny was fighting with.
Now are you going to tell me what's going on?
(panting)
This isn't funny anymore.
Ryan never told me about people getting killed over this.
(sighs)
(wood breaking)
You wanted it so you could break it?
The one I want can't be broken.
What are you talking about?
Never mind. It's over your head.
I knock myself out for you, and this is what I get?
Stop treating me like I'm some dumb kid!
And I want to know why somebody did that to him.
'Cause I bet my life they're gonna do it again.
That cue stick is cursed.
What do you mean cursed?
Like by the devil?
Yes.
And I don't understand it,
because Danny didn't take it with him when he left.
Ryan had to have some reason
for sending you to bars and pool halls.
I guess he figured that's where it was.
Lewis sold that cue three years ago.
It could be anywhere by now.
Nope. He was onto something.
Hey, listen to this.
"A local cocktail waitress was released after questioning
"in the death of a burglar
"at O'Malley's Roadhouse last night.
Waitress Sheri McGrath was locking up when attacked by..."
She killed him with a pool stick.
Johnny, look.
JOHNNY: That's Jennifer.
Oh. That's how she knows what the cue can do.
(sighs)
She must have changed her name
and moved to another bar for work.
But why? Why is she doing this?
Killing people powers that stick.
And in return, it gives you something special.
You mean, those amazing shots Danny's been making?
She said it was an engagement present,
but he's been losing up until a few days ago...
We got to find Jennifer.
She'll be at Ruby's tonight.
By then, she'll have killed somebody else.
I was gonna tell Daddy this afternoon, honest.
It was just so beautiful.
I want to wait until tomorrow to tell him.
I'll do it then, I promise.
I promise.
I just... just want to make sure that he's all ours first, okay?
Okay, precious?
(sighs)
DANNY: Hello?
Honey, it's me.
Jen? Where are you?
I'm home.
I just wanted to tell you that I love you.
I have a lot to do tomorrow,
so I won't be able to see you until the tournament.
I have your cue stick, and I'll bring it, okay?
All right, sure, that sounds cool.
Danny, I want a family real soon.
How about you?
Yeah. Look, uh, just let me get some sleep, okay?
Okay.
I love you, baby.
(groaning)
(horn honking)
(dial tone)
See? He does want you.
I knew he would.
JOHNNY: What are you going to say to her?
As little as possible.
What about the police?
What, you think they'd believe me?
Nobody home.
Damn. I didn't bring the lock picks.
(laughs)
Who uses lock picks?
Over there.
Nothing.
She must have taken it with her.
Johnny.... What is it?
It's where some girls keep their dreams.
I don't think we're gonna find anything in here.
Isn't she a little old for this?
Maybe not.
I think she started killing
so that Danny will have enough money to marry her.
(knocking on door)
OFFICER: Miss Carpenter? Police.
Want to ask you a few questions.
They must have found the body.
Okay, listen, out the bathroom window.
They'll see us. They'll see me.
Go.
Hey, guys, what can I do for you?
(gasps): Jen!
What the hell you doing?
I told you never to come here without calling first!
We were supposed to be married.
You promised me.
Look, I just said it to make you happy.
CHRISTY: Danny, go make her a drink.
I'll handle this.
What are you doing with him?
He's fun.
Look, it's not the first time and I'm not the only one.
He'd never marry you.
And even if he did, he'd never change.
A dream I've had all my life
is about to come true...
...and you want to ruin it for me.
Why!?
No one is going to stop this wedding.
(groans)
Jennifer....
I've been doing it for you, sweetheart.
Well, this is how you win.
This is how I've been making you win.
You're gonna marry me, you bastard.
I've been waiting long enough.
(applause)
Five in the side.
(pool balls clacking)
(applause)
DANNY: Seven ball in the corner.
(applause)
Eight in the corner.
All right!
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,
your winner Mr. Danny Caviletti,
the Silver Dollar.
Mr. Caviletti moves to the final against Victor Russel
from The Devil's Elbow Pub. You did it, Danny!
You did it!
What, you're not happy?
I'm-I'm fine.
I'm just trying to concentrate.
I just won a cool 6,000 on that game.
The bartender from the Elbow just offered me
three to one on his guy.
We're gonna make a fortune!
Look, I don't know.
Maybe you shouldn't...
What? What are you kidding?
Hey, you're magic!
Half of what I make is gonna be yours.
Micki. Oh!
What're you doing here?
How'd you get out of jail?
I-I called my bail guy.
I mean, the only record they have on me
is I boosted a six pack of beer once.
They can't charge me unless they get Jennifer.
Well, it's too late.
She's used it again.
Let's go get it. No.
It'll be more than ten to one if you try anything now.
Ladies and gentlemen, we'll begin tonight's final
as soon as the players finish their practice shots.
He missed one.
He got cold the night I played him.
MICKI: That was the night Gil died.
She's gotta power it up for him to win the final.
Come on!
Danny, where you going?
Hurry, Johnny.
MICKI: Excuse me.
Okay, go that way.
(humming "Wedding March")
Only a few more minutes, precious.
Then daddy will be ours forever.
This isn't working.
It's over.
Okay, let's just, let's just get out of here.
Danny, the preacher's in the next room.
We're not getting out of here until you win this tournament!
Then we're going on our honeymoon.
Get it!
Where do you think you're going?
I have to get someone else.
Would you listen to me? I said, it's over.
No! (Johnny gasps)
DANNY: No!
(groans)
Excuse me.
Man, where the hell you been?
They're ready to go.
I'm depending on you, Danny!
There's a fortune on this!
(applause)
DANNY: Two ball in the side.
(applause)
Six in the corner.
JENNIFER (singsongy): You're not gonna win.
You didn't kill me.
I should have listened to everyone.
They said you were a loser.
(screams) (groans)
No!
(grunting)
Jennifer, no!
(entrance bell jingling)
Johnny.
The cue stick, you got it.
Johnny, what the hell happened to you?
Same thing that usually happens to one of us.
JOHNNY: It's okay.
Micki told me what you do.
I know.
Well, uh, who had it?
A woman.
A woman who...
loved not wisely, but too well.
Yeah.
That kind of love I can do without.
Makes a great movie but, in real life, it sucks.
Well, thank you for helping, Johnny.
But I'm not sure that anything we could pay you
would make up for that...
Oh, well, there's one thing.
Micki still owes me a dinner.
Then after that,
maybe there's some more weird things I can help you get back.
You'd want to do this again?
Why not?