Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner by Petra Michelle

FADE IN:

INT. CASINO. BLACKJACK TABLE - NIGHT

An entranced crowd of SPECTATORS engulf a young man who has been on a winning streak of thousands of dollars. A stunning WOMAN stands beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder.

A cocktail WAITRESS appears.

WAITRESS A drink, sir?

YOUNG MAN (without looking up) A martini. Shaken, not stirred.

The waitress nods, then disappears past the crowd. Penetrating the wall of spectators, a SENIOR COUPLE appears watching in amusement.

GRACIE I would love that Mardis Gras chicken dinner special, George. Five dollars just for tonight.

GEORGE (cigar in hand) And you shall have it, Gracie.

The waitress returns with the young man's drink.

WAITRESS Here you are, sir...a martini. Shaken, not stirred.

He hands her a one-hundred dollar chip.

GEORGE That sounds good. (waving to the waitress) Can I get one of those, miss?

The waitress nods, then disappears.

GRACIE Good luck, George.

GEORGE Thank you, Gracie.

DEALER Place your bets.

As George places his twenty-dollar chip, the young man moves all of his chips worth thousands of dollars into the betting circle.

GRACIE Look, George, aren't the colors pretty?

The crowd GIGGLES while the young man sips his martini, stone-faced.

The dealer deals him a Jack of Hearts; George, an Ace of Spades; and, himself, a hole card. He then deals the young man a Ten of Diamonds; George, a King of Diamonds; and, himself, a Nine of Hearts facing up.

CROWD Ooooooh!

The dealer reveals his hole card. An Eight of Spades.

CROWD (in unison) 21! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

As they pat George on the back, he looks perplexed.

GRACE (embracing him) You won, George! You won!

As the dealer pushes George's winning chips towards him, the young man clutches his martini glass so tight, it breaks. He then collapses forward onto the table.

YOUNG MAN I lost everything. My Maserati, my villa, my stocks. Everything. And my girl just left me. (his head buried in his hands) What am I going to do?

GRACIE (sympathetically) Would a chicken dinner help?

FADE TO BLACK