The Cooler

Oh, yes!

Winner!

Oh, just look at that!

Where's Bernie?

They're killing us.

We need him here right away.

Yeah!

Aw!

Come on, baby.

Come on, come on!

Come on!

Aw!

Seven out.

Oh, man!

Come to papa.

Hell of a pity, what the hell?

Goddamn it, that's supposed to be an $800 jackpot!

Where's the goddamn--

Afternoon, Doris.

Hey.

Got any cream?

Sure.

Oh, shit.

Oh, it doesn't matter.

Dewar's and, um.

Fuck, Dewar's and water, please.

Hi, Natalie.

Hey.

Bernie.

Shit, motherfucker!

Yeah, Bernie.

Yo, Doris, have you seen Shelly around?

He promised to position me at the tables tonight.

I've been on skid row all week.

You didn't settle up with me last night.

No?

You sure?

Fuck, I was way under.

It's been like an AA Convention around here.

I'll make it up to you tonight, I promise.

Where have I heard that before?

If I see Shelly, I'll tell him.

Thanks.

That you're looking for him.

Conway, party of 11.

Please check your reservation in the Paradise Lounge.

Hey, Bernie, Shelly needs you on 11.

All right, let's do the Chivas Regal.

And have that,

have Natalie bring it over,

the one working the nickel slots by the Paradise.

I spoke to Shelly earlier.

He wants her out on the tables.

All right, I'll take care of it.

Come on, come on!

Come on, great shot, how about that?

Hi.

It's you, right?

Yeah, over here.

Joe said I should stick around.

You say something to Shelly?

Mm-hmm.

Wow, that was fast.

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

It's over here.

I'll win you a fortune on five and nine.

Did you order the Chivas Regal?

Hey, back off, will you, pal?

Can't you see I got a roll here?

54, 54.

Seven out, line away.

That motherfucker.

Thanks for the bet, folks.

- Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. - Please, collect your tickets

from the Paradise Lounge.

Oh, shoot!

Better luck next time.

Ah.

Shelly, they're here.

Relax, shorty.

Hey.

Nicky, you didn't tell me you were coming.

I'm having a manicure here, Nicky.

What do you think?

I don't wash up after going to the john, huh?

Forget about it.

You look like a million bucks.

How are you?

You should have called ahead.

I would have sent the car.

No, we figured we'd surprise you.

Anytime, Nicky, anytime.

I know that, partner.

Shelly, let me introduce you to our brightest VP here.

This is Larry Sokolov.

His numbers guy, Marty Goldfarb.

How do you do, Shelly?

Can I get you, fellas, something to drink?

I'd love a vodka tonic, thanks.

Comes out of the confessional and she says,

"Move over, I have to gargle."

So Nicky, what brings you to town?

Shelly, I've got a smart kid here.

He's got some good ideas

about how to revitalize the Shangri-La.

Revitalize?

What are you talking about?

We did $35 million last year.

Why don't you just hear the kid out, huh?

Shelly, I want you to know that I have nothing

but the utmost respect for you.

You've done a tremendous job with the Shangri-La

over the last 16 years.

I don't think anybody can dispute that.

Yeah, nobody doubts that, Shell.

But the business has changed.

Just take a look at the Strip,

you'll see what I'm talking about.

What?

You mean that Disneyland mookfest out there, huh?

Come on, you know what that is, huh?

That's a fucking violation is what that is.

It's something that used to be beautiful.

It used to have class, like a gorgeous high-priced hooker

with an exclusive clientele.

Then along comes that Steve Wynn cocksucker

and knocks her up and puts her in a fucking family way.

Now, she's nothing but a cheap fat whore

hiding behind too fucking much make-up.

I look at her and see her fucking stretch marks.

It makes me want to cry

because I remember the way she used to be.

Am I right?

Well, there's no arguing the bottom line.

Those places are raking it in

and the Shangri-La as she is now, can't compete with that.

You think I'm trying to compete with that?

You think that's what we're about,

trying to bring in the stroller crowd,

fresh off some E-ticket ride,

trying to break the house on red and black?

Fremont has never been about that bullshit.

This is where old time and real money come to play.

The numbers don't back you up on that, Shelly.

Don't get me wrong.

Nostalgia is great and we love nostalgia

but nostalgia belongs in a museum.

I think it comes a time to decide

whether you're running a museum or you're running a casino.

Bernie.

Mr. Cool, you got a minute?

I was just heading over to 14.

It can wait.

How's the knee?

I met this orthopedic surgeon at Vegas Memorial.

He tells me they can rebuild a man's entire kneecap

out of titanium.

Oh, of course it costs a shitload of money

but seeing as this gentleman is into us for 500 large,

I thought maybe--

I told you, I'm not gonna be here after Sunday.

Where are you gonna go, Bernie?

Where the fuck are you gonna go that's better than here?

I've got you covered in this town.

People know you work for me.

That's currency in your pocket.

That's fucking respect when you walk the floor.

Where are you gonna get that, anyplace else?

Seven days, Shelly.

I'm out from under.

Excuse me, sweetheart.

What's your name, darling?

Never mind.

This is who I am.

Yeah, that's right.

I like to know who's shopping it around in my neighborhood,

so, darling, what you do is be in my office

first thing tomorrow morning,

if you wanna continue to work here at the Shangri-La

and you and I will go over the rules together.

I also want you to bring me a clean bill of health.

All right, my dear?

Okay.

All right, thank you.

How'd you like to birdie that hole, huh?

You say the word, she's all yours anytime.

I'll keep a running tab for you.

Nah.

What?

What, she's not your type?

Are you kidding me?

I've got to go.

Things are heating up on 14.

Let's do it in the room.

Kim, I think we got our laundry mixed up.

I got,

I'll talk to you later.

Come on, come on, let's go back to the room.

$50 bucks only gets you 20 minutes, man.