Play 233: Wins Every Time

CHARACTERS
SAM, 18
JEFFREY, 17
BILL, 16
ANDREW, 18

(They are sitting around a table covered in cards and poker chips. Four cards are lying face up on the table, there is a small stack of facedown cards next to these, and each player has two cards face down in front of him. The deck of cards is in front of Sam.)

SAM
Anyone?

(Beat.)

JEFFREY
I’ll raise twenty.

(He throws some chips in the middle of the table, where there’s already a small pile.)

(The other three look to Bill.)

(Bill looks conflicted, and taps his fingers on the table.)

(He throws his cards towards the deck of them.)

BILL
Fold.

(Beat.)

ANDREW
I’ll see your twenty.

(He throws a few chips in.)

And raise you ten.

(He throws a couple more in.)

SAM
I’ll call.

(He slides some chips into the pile.)

(Beat.)

SAM
We good?

(They nod.)

(He puts one card face down on the stack near the cards that are face up, and then puts another card face up.)

BILL
Goddamn it.

ANDREW
Would’ve had something?

BILL
Straight.

JEFFREY
That sucks.

SAM
Your turn.

(He gestures to Jeffrey.)

JEFFREY
I know.

(Beat.)

Fifty.

(He throws in some chips.)

(Beat.)

ANDREW
Fifty huh?

(Beat.)

How about a hundred?

(He throws in a large amount of chips.)

(Sam hesitates.)

SAM
Well, I’ve put in so much already, why not?

(He slides a large stack of chips in.)

JEFFREY
What’s another fifty?

(He throws some more chips in.)

(Pause.)

SAM
Everyone cool?

JEFFREY
Yup.

ANDREW
Same here.

SAM
Okay.

(Beat.)

Who wants to go first?

ANDREW
Go ahead.

SAM
Sure.

(Beat.)

Two pair.

(He puts his hand down and smiles.)

JEFFREY
Oh yeah?

(Sam’s smile dissipates.)

(Jeffrey grins.)

JEFFREY
Straight.

(He lays his cards out.)

(Beat.)

Andrew?

(Andrew smiles.)

JEFFREY
Shit, you have a flush don’t you?

(Andrew grins, and drops his cards face up on the table without saying a word.)

(Sam and Jeffrey look down at it.)

SAM
What the fuck?

JEFFREY
You dick.

ANDREW
What?

JEFFREY
You only have two pair, I win.

ANDREW
Not so fast.

JEFFREY
(Confused.)
What?

(Beat.)

ANDREW
Two pair and…

(Beat.)

A gun.

(He pulls a handgun out of his coat.)

SAM
Holy fuck!

BILL
Chill man!

(Beat.)

JEFFREY
Take it!

(Andrew pulls the now quite large stack of chips to him.)

(Beat.)

ANDREW
Wins every time.

(He grins.)

(Blackout.)