Cut to the Chase

Yeah, all right.

Get up.

I'm moving.

Lacks a little bit in here, huh.

Hey, take it easy.

All right.

Jesus.

- Do you like to smoke, Mr. chase?

Some.

I love to smoke.

It's one of life's singular pleasures.

But I'm gonna quit.

You know why?

Because it's bad for you?

Bingo.

When I find something's been bad for me,

I ask myself, is it worth it?

Is it worth it to lose a day, a week, a month,

or years off my life?

And I've decided it isn't.

I wanna live a long time.

But you don't seem to share that desire.

I just need another week.

What good is that gonna do?

A lot can happen in a week.

Not for a guy like you.

I deal with degenerate gamblers all the time

in my line of work.

You know what I peg you for?

A compulsive loser.

And I'd guess that just about sums you up.

What about her?

The world's a funny place, isn't it?

All kinds of people come into your life

for the strangest of reasons.

Don't they?

Today's your lucky day, Mr. chase.

You like cards?

- I'm more of a slots kind of guy.

That's pathetic.

Oh, you should not tell people that.

Okay.

High card wins.

You get it, and I'll cancel out your debt to me.

I get it, and you're gonna pay me double what you owe me.

But I'll give you an extra week.

Uh.

Who are you kidding?

I know you're gonna do it, you know you're gonna do it.

Cut the cards.

Travis came lookin' for you.

And what did you say?

What you think?

Said I ain't seen you.

Said maybe you in big d or somethin'.

- You know, you are a prince, Lazarus.

- The prince of shreveport, that's me.

Welcome to my fuckin' kingdom.

What the hell are you doing here, Max?

You owe the man money, and you a week late.

It's $3,000.

I can pull that together, that's no problem.

- You ain't never had $3,000 at one time in your whole life.

You shouldn't have taken the bet, Max.

I know.

And we ain't even talkin' about your shitty goddamn luck,

which most certainly is a thing.

This is the man.

Those cards were rigged.

The man don't play unless he know he's gonna win.

I know.

I know, all right.

I got it.

So, you know of anybody lookin' to crew up?

- I find anybody who's lookin' for a middle-aged thief

who gets busted every time he goes out to rob a joint,

I'll give your ass a call.

Who's the redhead?

- You got some fucked up priorities, Max.

You need to be drivin' your ass outta town,

not pickin' up women.

- I have my priorities, you have yours.

Send over two more shots.

Dumbass.

You new in town?

What makes you think that?

Small town.

It's not that small.

- It ain't big enough for me to miss a girl like you.

I'm Max.

- One for Max, and one for the new girl in town.

Amber Ann.

I just moved here from longview.

Longview?

Oh hell, this is a big city, isn't it?

Wife or girlfriend?

Not married, no girlfriend.

Sister.

Oh, she's cute.

Looks like you.

She's checkin' in in me.

She seems to be under the impression

that I make bad life decisions.

Really?

- Aw hell yes, I'm a troublemaker.

My sister says so.

Now, let's talk about you, longview.

Hey.

I said, you're late.

Now, Mr. chase, if you don't take this serious,

I can bounce ya right back to caddo correctional.

- Are you like mardi gras king or somethin'?

- I was on the court a few years back.

- Is that like, an elected position?

- I don't see how that's any of your business.

Your guardian was supposed to be here today.

- She's not my guardian, she's my sister.

- She's your legal guardian until I say she ain't.

So where's she at?

How the hell should I know?

- You're stayin' with her, ain't ya?

That's what the judge said.

That's no kind of answer.

You know,

I really like this coat.

They let you keep that coat?

Okay.

Guys.

Oh.

Oh, oh, that's a bad attitude.

- Man, get your stupid ass back in the car.

- You've reached assistant district attorney,

Isobel chase.

I'm not available at the moment, please leave a message.

Oh hi.

Remember me?

Remember that meeting we had

with my douche bag parole officer this morning?

Oh no, you forgot, didn't you?

That's all right.

I'll just sit there and get chewed out for an hour.

Oh, perfect.

You playin' hooky?

Isobel?

Iz?

Iz?

911, what's your emergency?

- Counselor, this man is a career criminal

and a drug addict with a history of violence.

I'm not a drug addict.

Shut up.

Your honor, he wants to make a clean start.

And I'm asking that you give him that chance.

I know your sister.

I respect her, and I consider her a friend.

I've never met you, but I've read your file.

And in my estimation, you're not worth a damn,

and your sister will regret this day.

Let me be clear.

Anything happens to her while you are under her care,

I will lock you up and throw away the key.

That son of a bitch.

You touch her again, and I'm gonna kill you.

You hear me?

She shows up with a bruise she can't explain,

I'm gonna show up at this door,

I'm gonna come into this pretty boy apartment,

and I'm gonna kick the shit outta you.

Do you hear me?

Shit!

Wait a second.

What did you do the her, huh?

Did you beat her up again?

Isobel!

I haven't seen her in weeks.

She spent the night at your place two nights ago.

No.

- I live with her, I know she spent the night with you.

She left me.

She left me for another fuckin' guy, okay.

Who?

Get off him.

Get off!

All right, all right.

Take it easy, huh.

Don't move, asshole.

I'm callin' the cops.

Jo Jo, if he moves, shoot him.

Jo Jo, that your name?

- Jody. - Jody.

Is this guy your boyfriend, Jody?

Because this guy is my kid sister's boyfriend.

Shut up.

Yeah, a guy just broke into my apartment

and assaulted me.

He beat you up yet?

He wouldn't do that.

- You beat all hell outta me kid sister, didn't ya?

Stop talking to her.

You can't trust this guy.