"CASINO" (1995)

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JULY 28, 1994 DRAFT 14

Kristint..AtUkrstn.

LosAngt(u,CA 90077

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DRAFT 14 7/28/94

C A S I N 0

NICHOLAS PILEGGI/MARTIN SCORSESE

TITLE: LAS VEGAS, 1980

The Vegas casino skyline of gaudy casinos and signs behind him, HARRY "ACE" ROTHSTEIN, a tall, lean, immaculately dressed man approaches his car, opens the door and leans inside to turn on the ignition.

ACE cv.0.1 When you love someone, you've got to trust them. There's no other way. You've got to give them the key to everything that's yours. Otherwise, what's the point? And, for a while, I believed that's the kind of love I had.

Suddenly, the car explodes throwing Ace back about 30 feet as the flame and smoke and metal rise into the sky covering up the view of the Las Vegas casinos and their signs.

ACE'S BODY comes FLYING in from frame right against Las Vegas blue sky -- EXTREME SLOW MOTION -- FLAMES appear on bottom of the screen -- MUSIC IN -- "The Animals: House of the Rising sun." His body twists and turns through the frame like a soul about to tumble into the flames of damnation.

SUPER TITLES: OPENING TITLES

FADE OUT -- MUSIC OUT

2A OVAL VIGNETTE WITH DARKENED BORDERS OF ACE ROTHSTEIN 2A immaculately dressed and overseeing the casino •

THE MOVIE)

2B OVAL VIGNETTE OF REMO GAGGI, AMERICO CAPELLI, 2B VINCENT BORELLI, ARTIE PISCANO, ANO VINNY FORLANO. (HEADS OF THE MOB at a table surrounded by food and wine like the Gods of Olympus)

2C OVAL VIGNETTE OF NICKY SANTORO 2C

20 OVAL VIGNETTE OF GINGER MCKENNA 20

2E OVAL VIGNETTE OF ACE looking out over the casino 2E he ruled and CAMERA moves in on his face.

TITLE: 1970

A dapper, adult Ace presides over busy craps games and black jack tables. NICKY arrives with a brown paper bag. Ace and Nicky go to a corner of the room,

The bag is filled with cash. Nicky's hand is wrapped in a bloodied handkerchief. Ace give some cash to Nicky.

Mob boss, REMO GAGGI, and a mob COURIER, in their hats and coats, have dropped by to get the money bag from Ace and Nicky, Gaggi nods for the Courier to take the 'J)aperbagand leave. Ace follows the courier out to resume running the casino leaving Gaggi and Nicky alone.

Nicky, Ace with two GAMBLERS watching a basketball game on the bar TV. A couple of guys casually playing cards in BG. Black Jack and Craps tables empty.

GAMBLER fl (to Nicky) Nicky, what favorites? They were never the favorites.

GAMBLER fl Yeah. Absolutely.

GAMBLER fl (snarlsat Ace) Hey, mind your own fucking business, you Jew bastard.

Before Ace can react, Nicky grabs Gambler fl and instantly starts punching him in the head and Nicky keeps punching and kicking until the Gambler's mouth is filled with blood and he starts to •pologize in a high pitched voice. Ace looks on stunned.

s.

NICKY LOOKS RIGHT INTO THE LENS -- A COLO DEAD STARE,

6 PLAINCLOTHES COPS SUDDENLY RAID THE ILLEGAL CASINO 6 THROWING GAMBLERS, INCLUDING ACE, NICKY AND GAMBLER fl,AGAINST THE WALL. TWO COPS EMPTY THE CASH DRAWER.WHILE ANOTHER TAKES A BOTTLE OF RYE OFF THE SHELF AND PUTS IT IN HIS POCKET.

Two other plainclothes COPS shove Ace down the flight of stairs. The cops go down, help Ace up the stairs and throw him down, again. The two Cops repeat the exercise three times, or, until Ace lies at the foot of the steps in a heap.

same Cops frisk Ace, who is shoved against the wall. one of the cops takes Ace's wallet. Takes out the cash and ~•turns the wallet.

CLOSE UP OF ACE BEING FRISKED. MOVE IN ON HIS FACE.

Massive building in Chicago where the union's $8 billion-dollar pension fund investments are decided.

Ace is talking to ANDY STONE, the Teamsters pension advisor in a large office. Photos of presidents on the wall. A Teamster and an American flag are behind Stone's desk.

,.

Nicky's car zooms into the airport and screeches to a halt as porters, passengers and cabbies sca~ter in shock. A hundred yards behind him we see the police cars with their lights and sirens blazing.

Ace and SAL FUSCO jump from the car and run inside the terminal, FRANK MARINO grabs Ace's suitcases out of the trunk and follows them in.

Marino tosses a passenger's suitcases off the scale and replaces them with Ace's bags. Marino's glare quiets any protest.

Ace is being shoved by Sal Fusco through the closing gate while Fusco snarls at Airline clerk.

Ace running down gangway to plane.

13 STOCK FOOTAGE of 1970's plane taking off. 13

14 AERIAL SHOT COMING UP THE BRIGHTLY LIT VEGAS STRIP 14 and off into the blackness of the desert night.

14A ANOTHER AERIAL SHOT OF DESERT. DAWN BEGINS TO RISE 14A and the desert is everywhere.

The dazzling Tangiers Casino, a huge, block-long structure with its 300-foot star-bursting sign and the glitter of thousands upon thousands of people, cabs and limos, stacked up along the strip waiting to get inside.

9,

We see Ace enter and being greeted by top EXECUTIVES in suits and ties. Ace is joined by BILLY SHERBERT, as they walk through the casino, past crowded and noisy craps tables, spinning roulette wheels, blackjack tables, poker-faced players at poker tables and elegant, cordoned-off, black tie, baccarat tables.

TITLE: 1972 DAY

PHILIP GREEN, a young corporate type, is standing at a podium surrounded by 25 casino executives and 12 reporters. ARTHUR CAPP, the corporation's new lawyer, is standing just behind Green. Ace and Sherbert are watching Green. Their backs to the wall to the side of the podium.

HIS VOICE FADES DOWN AS VOICE OVER FADES UP

A PR WOMAN holds up a six-foot blowp of the cover of Business Week where Green is smiling out under the headline: "Green, Vegas Wunderkind!" PHOTOGRAPHERS snap away.

FLASH BULB BURSTS

CAMERA MOVES IN ON ACE as he looks out over casino where dealers deftly stacks chips, scoop up losses and pay off winners. Chips and money are everywhere. Sherbert hands Ace a small clipboard with a player's credit report. Ace glances up and signs the player's credit slip and Sherbert takes it away.

19-21 EXT./INT. COUNT ROOM - DAY 19-21

CAMERA TRACKS JOHN NANCE WALKING INTO COUNT ROOM -

CAMERA STOPS AT EXT. OF UNMARKED COUNT ROOM DOOR. See GUARD open it. We see inside from NANCE POV.

An electronic paper money counting •achine whirring through stacks of $100 bills and spilling them out in bundles of $10,000 each while the totals are displayed on digital counter: $140,000 ••••$175,000 ••• Al90,000 •••$128,000 •••

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CAMERA REVEALS WIDE SHOT OF ROOM It looks like area behind tellers' cage in bank. A large room windowless, decor-free.

CAMERA REVEALS - NANCE POV Clerks work feverishly to keep up with cash. Thousands of bills whir through cash counters. CLERXS STACK BANDED $100 BILLS LIKE BRICKS HALFWAY UP ONE WALL.

Long narrow room with heavy metal shelves holding endless racks of silver dollars and quarters. Machines weigh change and band bills.

Scale company MECHANIC closes the back of the coin weighing scale and Nance notes the scale calibration. Nance nods to workers who pour buckets of coins onto the scale from an hydraulic jack.

Nance makes note of the coin weight total as coins are moved on a conveyor belt to a machine that turns them into $10 rolls.

CLERKS put cash in boxes and sacks. We have never seen so much money.

Nance checks figures. Puts stacks of $100 bills in sacks. Then TAKES A LARGE STACK OF HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS AND PUTS THEM IN A MEDIUM-SIZED VALISE, which he then places under the counter.

NANCE takes a small valise from beneath the counter.

,,,,...._ ACE (V.O.)

At this point nobody really knows how much money has come into the Count Room. Only John Nance, the treasurer, who is in charge of everything, knows the full count.

NANCE starts out the door with the valise. As he does this, the workers studiously look in other directions.

NANCE exits Count Room past the armed guard. The Guard salutes NANCE "good night". NANCE politely returns the salute, and proceeds through casino, past Ace, whom pays him no mind, and out through a doorway, to the outside of the Tangiers entrance. NANCE leaves the hotel, hops into a cab off the cab line.

NANCE, still carrying his bag, boards a private twin- engine plane.

NANCE arrives. He is greeted by ARTIE PISCANO. NANCE smiles and hops in the car.

Nance, with suitcase, and Piscano leave car and enter market.

Nance and Piscano walk through the market into the back room where they are greeted by five older men seated around a large wooden table with bowls of macaroni and

·valise and neatly piles packets of $100 bills on the table as three of them (Piscano, Borelli, and Cappelli) start counting the money.

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AMERICO CAPPELLI, 68, a grey-haired affable businessman and ARTHUR CAPP, a JO-year-old yuppie lawyer.

ACE (V.O.) Americo Cappelli, the boss of Milwaukee and, Arthur Capp, his college boy son.

VINCENT BORELLI, 70, white-haired and ascetic.

ARTIE PISCANO, Borelli's menacing looking, white-haired, 60-year-old underboss.

VINNY FORLANO, a dapper 75-year-old businessman.

REMO GAGGI, seated at the table.

Empty dishes and wine glasses strew the table amid Coffee cups and stacks of cash in front of each boss. We see them all discussing the skim problem.

The earlier scene of Nance and the Mechanic turning some dials in the back of the scale. The Clerks counting money and the Guard watching the door suddenly look suspicious.

Clerk slips two $100 bills into his palm.

26A Borelli and Piscano. 26A

,-...

Ace is walking down the casino aisle to slot machines as 11""' Dealers immediately snap to attention at his approach. Sherbert is with him.

CAMERA PANS PAST Ace to see Nance in the BG carrying a suitcase out of the casino through a employee's rear exit behind Ace's back.

Ace points at the debris of silver dollar wrappings on the floor. Two cleaners and casino executive DON WARD, in western garb, immediately start picking up the bits of paper. Ace looks at Ward sternly. Sherbert smiles as if to commiserate.

As Ace and Billy Sherbert are about to walk on.

Lines of GUESTS checking in while ACE greets a white- haired man at VIP counter.

Ace motions for one of the perpetually smiling, micro- skirt, HOSTESSES working at the VIP check-in desk to take the Senator to his suite.

The Senator opens a bureau drawer and pulls out a small velvet pouch. He.closes the bedroom door so the half undressed Hostess drawing a bath cannot see him, and he pours some $100 chips from sack into his palm.

ACE (V .O.) Why not? In Las Vegas, smearing a politician was like saluting the flag. But everybody else, watch out!

Where a crooked casino Dealer, his bow tie loosened and ID badge still pinned to his shirt, is dealing cards on table in front of a three-way mirror. He is extremely deft as his fingers deal out cards, draw them back in, shuffle and reshuffle and deal them out again with mechanical precision. EXTREME SLOW MOTION of bottom card being dealt.

Ace looking out on thousands of desperately intent players are rolling dice, pulling levers, watching roulette balls spin and betting their poker hands. Standing next to them are the grim-faced DEALERS.

lB.

Black Jack WINNER, who looks like a school teacher, with over $100,000 in chips before him, has gathered a crowd, including Ace.

Ace walks behind the Winner who is playing all six hands at the Black Jack table. He is playing $500 a hand as he racks up the chips in front of him. He is also "cutting his checks" or playing with his chips, juggling them between his fingers and moving them from the bottom to top and back with just one hand.

:Acewalks around the table where the Winner is raking in chips and the crowd has gathered to the black jack table on the other side of the Pit that backed up on the Winner's table. Ace bends down and ties his shoelace.

Dealer raising his hole card a half an inch to determine the casino's hand against the Winner.

SLOW MOTION CLOSE UP OF THE SLIGHTLY EXPOSED HOLE CARO.

Ace's face and he pans from the card to a Player in front of him slumped down in his seat and playing $5 a hand.

OVERHEAD DIAGRAM PAN TO PLAYER SLUMPED IN SEAT.

PAN to the Winner taking in another large pot

PAN back to Player who appears to be nervously tapping his thigh,

Through the Player's trouser to his tapping a copper transmitter with battery pack attached.

The Winner's thigh receiving the impulse signal -- buzz buzz -- buzz - from his compatriot.

Ace walks to the side and nods to uniformed security GUARDS and a plainclothes security DETECTIVE, who is

wearing a loose sport jacket, and mingling with the crowd.

On Ace's signal the SECURITY GUARDS and WAITRESSES start singing "Happy Birthday" attracting the crowd's attention.

Ace nods again and the plain clothes Detective takes a round metal object out of his pocket and moves in close behind the Signaller, as though looking at the game, and presses the object, which is a stun gun, under the Signaller's arm and near his heart. The Detective leaves it there tor about 10 seconds as the Signaller instantly goes into convulsions and two more Security Guards immediately appear.

SECURITY GUARD fl (into walkie talkie) Get medical! We have a cardiac seizure! You'll be okay, pal.

The crowd watches briefly as the stunned Signaller is helped away from the table and play is immediately resumed.

A detention area where the Signaller is roughly shoved against the wall as a Security Guard rips his trousers revealing the signalling device. He is quickly thrown over a table and two huge Guards spread his hand out on the table. Another guard starts up a power saw and approaches the Signaller who is now pinned to the table. The Signaller starts to scream. The Guards all look up toward the door, where Ace nods tor the Guards to stop.

ACE

,...._ Where are you staying.

Instantly a large rubber mallet smashes onto the man's right hand three times to the sound of his screams. Ace watches.

The Winner has been standing outside the ·cashier's cage waiting for his $110,000 in cash, instead Ace shows up.

Ichikawa stuffing soap and towels into the vuitton luggage.

The Tangiers Gulfstream with the Tangier& logo as two pilots help Sherbert and Ichikawa aboard.

Sherbert followed by Ichikawa and entourage get off jet.

Sherbert arguing with Commercial CLERK as Ichikawa and entourage look glum.

Sherbert and Ichikawa and entourage getting out of Tangier's limos greeted by Ace.

Ace leads Ichikawa to Baccarat pit.

Ichikawa betting one $5000 tile and winning. Ace nearby.

Ichikawa seated with stacks of large tiles before him betting five rows at a time.

Ichikawa, hours later, his tiles depleted. Ace is watching from behind the barrier as millions in racks of red tiles are carted away by the casino.

Ace watching a DEALER at the Big Six Wheel collecting the losers' chips.

The Dealer holds his hands out palms-up in front of him ,-.... to the Eye in the Sky. Ace reaches over and pries a black $100 chip from beneath the Dealer's large nautical

wristwatch. The Dealers who had been smirking immediately turn away, stand up extra straight and start tending to their own tables.

Ace with grim-faced Pit Bosses next to him looks out over the huge casiriowhere hundred of thousands of dollars are being pored into machines.

The craps DEALER, standing on one side of the craps table, wearing a green vest and bow tie, is taking bets and watching a woman's roll of the dice barely hit the back wall. She rolls a six.

The BOXMAN, seated mid table passing out and collecting chips from the two dealers on his either side. The chips are moved about the table with dazzling speed.

PIT BOSS watching Boxmen from pit behind craps tables.

SHIFT BOSS, in black tie, is watching the Pit Boss.

FLOOR MANAGER is watching the Shift Boss.

Video camera in ceiling.

TV monitor focused on a fanned row of $100 bills. PAN TO Ace and Sherbert looking.

surveillance Catwalkers adjusting cameras and spying on players below with binoculars.

Ace and Billy Sherbert still looking at the screen.

CUT TO

TV screen where we see a hot craps table with a large crowd gathered around and a Waitress with a tray comes over to the table with a cognac snifter.

PAN OVER to reveal GINGER MCKENNA, a 31-year-old dazzling blond, who takes the full snifter and hands the waitress an empty one.

TV Zoom in on Ginger who is rolling the dice for a High Roller. After every win, while the High Roller is gathering in his chips, Ace sees Ginger take a couple of -·$100black chips and drop them into her bag.

45 OMIT SCENE 45

Ace is now on the floor watching as Ginger rolls again, only this time she craps out and the table loses, except she has made so much money for the table that the winners toss chips in her direction for her roll.

Ginger turns to the High Roller raking in his chips.

Ginger grabs the racks with his $100,000 .in chips and tosses them into the air. Chips fly all over the casino. Everyone starts diving for chips. Dealers. Players. Security guards. Waitresses. Bellmen. Pit Bosses. Bedlam.

Ace is the only person not diving for chips. He looks at Ginger. She looks at him.

Ginger laughs and walks off.

~inger and Ace are seated in a banquette. CLOSE UP of 'Ace's hand pinning DIAMOND and RUBY PIN to Ginger's dress. TILT UP to Ginger's smiling face beaming at Ace. They kiss. Ginger gets up to go to the Ladies room.

Ace hands her a $100 bill.

47A Ginger comes back. 47A

Ginger is happily greeted by VALET PARKERS, two casino SECURITY GUARDS and PIT BOSSES. She gets a bottle of pills from Valet Parker and slips him some cash. They all greet Ginger in a friendly manner. ·

Ginger handing the pills over to a HIGH ROLLER in his a hotel suite where he is washing his face and trying to energize himself.

so INT. CASHIERS CAGE - NIGHT FLASH BACK so Ginger converts her chips into a pile of $100 bills.

CI.CSEUP of $100 bill she folds over.

Ginger slips folded $100 bill deftly into palms of a Pit Boss and Floor Manager as she shakes hands goodnight.

Ginger, on the way out door, passes a folded $100 bill to the smiling Valet Parker. A smiling Security Guard, in blazer and crest, stands nearby.

51-52 INT. GINGER'S APARTMENT - DAY FLASH BACK 51-52 Ginger in robe handing cash to LESTER DIAMOND, who we see hastily kiss Ginger and slip out the door.

Ginger looks out window and sees Lester get into flashy car and drives off. CAMERA MOVES IN ON GINGER.

53 TITLE: O'HARE AIRPORT, CHICAGO 53

NICKY SANTORO, his wife, JENNIFER, with a large bee- hive, and their a-year-old son, NICKY BOY, detained ,while luggage searched by customs agents.

ACE (V.O.)

,,,..... A lot of people thought Chicago sent

Nicky out to watch my back, but that's not true. Nicky came out because he was hot back home and he knew that Vegas was ripe. But, typical Nicky, a couple of days before he arrives, there'd been a huge diamond burglary in Antwerp and, as usual, the bulls always suspected Nicky.

Nicky and Jennifer 3t the kitchen table. The suitcases have been dumped on the floor. Jennifer leans over, tugs at her hair, and diamonds begin to call out onto the table.

Nicky and Jennifer arrive. Ace opens the door. They embrace in Ace's spectacular Vegas-style penthouse.

A stunning Ginger walks toward Nicky and Jennifer, who are both stunned at her beauty.

,,,..... Oh my god, what have you been doing

out here?

All laugh.

Car heading back to Vegas.

ACE (V.O.)

,,,..... After we ate, we left Jennifer and

Ginger alone and Nicky and I took a ride.

Ace and Nicky are driving into town.

,-...

See Ace driving back to city.

PAN to Nicky.

_.Nicky and Jennifer seated with other parents on the small classroom seats behind small children's desks listening to a teacher NUN. Nicky Jr. and other youngsters are standing behind the Nun facing the parents.

Nicky and Det. BOB JOHNSON are coaching their sons and other young players who they pat on the back with encouraging words and send running onto the field.

Nicky and Ace in dentist's outer office where Nicky is showing the dentist his tooth.

Nicky seated in dentist's chair stops dentist who approaches with the novocaine needle. Ace watches.

Nicky being drilled and raising his hand. The dentist stops immediately amazed at his patient. Nicky lifts himself a bit, wipes away his tears with the bib, leans back and points to his tooth for the ashen-faced dentist to resume.

EDDY and JERRY, two well-dressed hoods are signing papers at the cashier's credit window near Ace as Nicky ,.... approaches.

Nicky walking toward Ace and Eddy and Jerry.

EDDY, JERRY Hi Nicky. Hiya Nicky. What are you doing here?

Jerry and Eddy say their goodbyes and leave as Nicky gives Ace a look and Ace smiles.

Ace and Ginger are alone. The apartment looks out on the glittering neon signs of the Strip.

Ginger looks at him.

The ballroom has been turned into a chapel for the elaborate wedding. David, the 6-month old child is in a pram. Nicky and Jennifer are hovering around the baby

with little Nicky and are blissfully happy. It is an elegant affair. City officials, politicians and gaming officials are there, plus Sherbert and Ace's boss, Green. The SHERIFF and uniformed CHIEF OF POLICE are present to shake Ace's hand and toast the bride.

An hour or two later, during dancing and festivities, Ace watches Ginger go to make a telephone call.

Ginger on wall phone. She's crying.

Lester Diamond is talking on the phone softly. There is a beautiful GIRL in the apartment with Diamond.

Ace is standing in the corridor watching Ginger. He hears her. Ginger hangs up and sees Ace. She is holding a drink.

Ginger swigs the rest of the drink.

I"" That's okay. Look that part of your

life is over with. Do what you have to do to close the door on all that.

Ace and Ginger arrive at expensive house which backs onto Country Club golf course.

Ace takes Ginger inside. It is fancy and lush.

Ace presents her with a sable coat and then opens a leather sitcase filled with red Cartier's jewelry pouches and ring boxes. Ace watches as a transfixed Ginger tries on diamond and gold necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings.

Ginger starts running her fingers through the jewels.

After a moment, Ace takes Ginger's hands in his own and gathers her total attention.

Ace and Ginger getting off Tangiers jet carrying suitcases. "

As Ace and Ginger walk in the bank they are greeted by the bank PRESIDENT, who embraces Ace, an old friend.

Ace and Ginger alone closing a large box so crammed with cash that Ace has to lean on it for the clasp to lock. He then slides it into wall and the Bank President joins Ace and Ginger at the box and he and Ace simultaneously double-lock the outer safety box door with two separate keys, after which, Ace gives Ginger his key.

Ginger is on the other side of the room signing papers.

Nicky looks at Marino who then peels cash off a thick wad of bills and hands it to a Dealer who nervously smiles and runs off.

Nicky at table with three card sharks: SLIM, ROCKY, MOOSH, and the same Dealer from previous scene, who deals a winning hand to Nicky.

The LOSER gets up in disgust as Sharks say "Come on. Stick around. Maybe your luck will change." "I've have enough," Loser says leaving.

Nicky leans forward to rake in the chips as two

Ace leaning over Nicky's shoulder and whispering in his ear.

Ace walks away.

Nicky and Marino p11llup in the new Lincoln and get out.

Nicky getting paid by a grim-faced BOOKIE.

At a craps table when suddenly a woman slaps her husband. She continues to slap him.

The Dealers at the table start shouting "Security!"

Ace is talking to Don Ward on another matter.

Ward walks away as Nicky walks up to Ace.

,,....,

got twelve people in that book for the whole state.

,,...., Sirocco. Nicky walks away and we pull back with him to see Security people are pulling the husband and wife apart as the games go on. CAMERA MOVES to Ace into a BIG CLOSE UP of his face.

CLOSE UP of socks on the poker table. DOLLY OUT and see lanky COWBOY.

:Aceleans over and whispers to Shift Manager.

Ace approaches Cowboy.

The Guards grab Cowboy by the arms and forcefully shove him toward the exit launching him high into the air.

Nicky is on a public wall phone.

And Nicky turns around and slaps cowboy.

Ace is startled by the noise of Nicky slapping Cowboy.

The chastened Cowboy follows orders and leaves.

Ace on the phone.

Nicky's sandbaggers, Moosh, Rocky, Slim and Cowboy are sandbagging another mark. cowboy has on his socks and shoes and is on his best behavior.

Ace watches as we see facial signals, coughs, blinks, touching of ears, hair and brow as cards are turned up and we see Cowboy rake in a large pot.

A banner reading: "MAN OF THE YEAR!" and TV news crews and still photographers taking pictures o! Ace and Ginger surrounded by clusters of celebrities and the Vegas power elite at a grand cocktail party. Phil Green is at the mic.

Green hands Ace a silver placque and they embrace.

SSA INT. LAS VEGAS COUNTRY CLUB - NIGHT LATER SSA A dazzling Ginger moves effortlessly about the room chatting up top eY.ecutives, lawyers, judges, bankers and their wives. Ginger joins Ace who has been watching her work the room.

Young handsome casino EXEC comes over to Ace and Ginger.

ACE

I""'

Yes. Thanks.

Ace watches Ginger flash one of her dazzling smiles, but he is not sure whether she is flirting.

Ace looks at the young man and back at his wife.

Ginger, with two-year-old David in a stroller, opens a large bank vault box with her jewels. She tries on rings, earrings and necklaces. She holds up jewelry to the light. Smiling, she dangles a necklace before the child. She presses the jewels to her face. I ,,,..._

GUARD looks at his watch and sits down. He knows it's going to be a long afternoon.

·Ace standing in a large theater surrounded by giant TV screens showing sports events. Below, long lines of bettors are lined up at windows. It is like NASA Control on launch day.

Ace turning the keys to a silver Rolls Royce over to Siegfried and Roy in front of the Tangiers signs with their names emblazoned on it. Two white tigers are draped over the car fenders.

Ace is weighing Lido girls in costumes.

so.

ACE (CONT'D)

,-... (to Sherbert)

Cancel the contracts with Madame La Belle, She's been sending these Heifers over here for twenty years. Tell her the whole deal's over. Billy, who's she kicking back to to get away with this shit?

Nicky and Marino are kicking a MAN on the ground next to the open door of the man's luxury car.

Jennifer seated near kitchen door sees Ginger arrive and whisper to snooty Maitre d' who leaps to attention and respectfully shows Ginger to the best banquette in the place. Jennifer gets up and follows along.

Nance, dumping two large suitcases in the trunk of a car.

A desert tourist family oasis with a sign out front that ,-... says "60 Kiles to V•CJ••"·

Ace and Nicky are in a rear booth tucked out of sight.

The Gold Rush Jewelry Shop, with "JUST OPENED" bunting across the front, designed to replicate an old fashioned western town with peaked roofs, wooden planked s-idewalks and hitching posts.

ACE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

,,...._ burglary crew from back home and

started knocking over high rollers, casino bosses and bookmakers right here in town. And, though he denied it, I even heard he started recruiting crews in San Diego and LA.

Nicky, Marino,and BERIE BLUE, SAL FUSCO, and JACK HARDY are on bench. CAMERA TRACKS by each one as introduced.

Nicky is looking at diamonds with Blue and Marino.

phone rings, Nicky picks it up.

Receptionist cupping phone.

Blue, Marino, Fusco and Hardy are on phones at different times talking with Hotel BELLMAN: "This one's good, but ya gotta hurry." VALET PARKER: "They're just checking in now.• PIT BOSS: "Room twelve thirty at the Colony." SECRETARY: "They're all in mint condition.•

ACE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

,,,...._ Secretaries. Even insurance brokers.

And they all got a piece of the score.

A large empty carton is leaning against the warehouse wall. Hardy and Blue are hiding in a car nearby.

Sal Fusco is inside the carton drilling into the wall using a heavy-duty battery powered electric drill. He has the drill muffled with insulation material taped all around it. We see a semi-circle of holes he's drilled. A sledge hammer is next to him in the crate.

I ,,,...._ knock through the walls with a

sledge hammer. Nicky was grabbing everything he could. Nobody out there was expecting a guy like him. To him, Las Vegas was the new Frontier.

Cops and Detectives photographing and inspecting holes drilled in the wall of fancy jewelry shop that were knocked out to allow thieves to enter and leave.

A glum looking Nicky is being shown papers by CHARLEY CLARK, the banker. Jennifer brings coffee.

Two uniformed Vegas COPS are coming out restaurant with their arms filled with stacks of metal containers and pizza boxes.

,-...

was a real restaurant buff, He always made money in restaurants.

CAMERA TRACXS past the Cops into the restaurant, past LV types, dealers, lounge acts, showgirls, TV and movie celebrities, waitresses and barmen who started using the jammed place as their hangout. Pickup Nicky walks past Marino with two SHOWGIRLS.

Nicky with one of the Showgirls.

Nicky and Showgirl get into car. Girl's head disappears.

,•

Nicky, Marino and Hardy opening a safe. Nicky goes over to family photos and turns them to the wall,

Marino standing above two ARABS who are looking at gems.

Nicky and Marino sneak in the house past Jennifer who is asleep on the sofa in front of softly playing TV set.

Nicky takes out a key and opens a heavy padlock and opens the ■ etaldoor into his room.

Nicky's room has a bed, sofa, TV sets, exercise bike, and boxes and packages stacked along the walls.

Nicky and Marino are on the floor with boxes of jewels, ,-.... wrist watches and stacks of cash. In a false bottomed trap in the closet floor, there are several handguns and silencers.

Nicky, worn out from the night before, is making pancakes for Nicky Jr.

Alll EXT. ALL AMERICAN GAS STATION CHICAGO - DAY Alll Gas station with many phone booths inside and out.

Marino slides packs of bound $100 bills from belt worn under his shirt toward Gaggi who picks them up and carefully puts them in different pockets of his trousers and jacket.

Flash cut of TONY DOGS and two MEN shooting up a bar with automatics hitting OWNER/BARTENDERS and WAITRESS.

Gaggi leans over and whispers in Marino's ear.

Nicky is dragging Tony Dogs, who is beaten to a pulp, across the floor toward the workshop table and jams Tony Dogs' head into the vice. Marino and Blue· are exhausted from beating Tony Dogs.

Nicky begins to squeeze the vice.

And Nicky angrily spins the vise handle until suddenly one of Dogs' eyes pops out of the socket about three or four inches.

Marino and Blue are horrified by the sight.

Everybody FREEZES

EXTREME CLOSE UP SLOT MACHINE

Three cherries jackpot! Suddenly, the powe1· goes out. Lights die down. Machine "waaaooows" down to a dead stop.

Ace is watching Security Guards, on their hands and knees, pulling the plugs on the giant BIG BUCKs machines, as he talks to DON WARD, the slots manager.

Ward Exits. Billy Sherbert turns to Ace.

ACE· I don't care. These places are one way streets. The money's supposed to come in, not go out. That's how they're set up. That's my job. To make sure the money comes in and stays.

Ace and Green are seated in a booth having coffee and muffins.

Ace, Green and a Baker are gathered around the baker's counter surrounded by muffin tins and battet'.

Green looks on in amazement as Ace begins putting berries into muffin tins.

Ace is getting himself a glass of milk from the refrigerator. His ulcer is acting up. The NANNY is feeding David in BG.

I ,,...,

No answer.

Ginger taking a small felt pouch out of a safety deposit box.

Nicky on a phone watching Ginger leave the bank.

Ace standing at desk on phone.

Ginger in a booth with Les Diamond talking as she slides the pouch across the table.

Ace sits down at the booth next to her.

Diamond says nothing, but gives Ginger a "how did you fuck this up look" and shoves the pouch back across the table toward her.

Diamond leaves, but annoyed at Ginger.

Ginger is upset

GINGER

By the arm, Ace takes Ginger to the rear door of the diner where they can see the parking area through a screen door.

Two GOONS, unknown to Ginger, punching Diamond in the ~tomach until he falls to the ground and then one of the goons kicks him in the ribs and they leave. Ricky vatchaa from car out of Ginger's sight.

Ginger upset, ashamed, brings her hand to her mouth to cover a cry.

Ginger storms out. Ace follows.

Ace is working inside the office behind the desk. His secretary buzzes. Sign behind desk with a tiny "Yes" on top and a gigantic "No" on the bottom. Bottle of Mylanta on his desk.

Ace gets up from his desk and we see he is in is boxer shorts. He carefully puts on his trouser he has had hanging in his closet. Webb walks in. He is big, tough and western, wearing a Stetson, tooled boots and a gabardine suit. He doesn't sit.

,-...

Ward, is a very well liked man in this town. He has lots of friends here. His family goes back many many years. And, you'll forgive me for saying it, he did not deserve to be fired.

Buzzer goes off on Ace's desk.

Ace, in pain from his ulcer, opens a bottle of pills in his bathroom and sees that it is almost empty.

He leaves the bathroom and walks into the bedroom where Ginger is stretched out on the bed.

She gets up and Ace grabs her arm.

Ginger collapses in his arms in tears and he gently puts her down on the bed.

69,

Ginger and Nicky are in the back room. Nicky is leaning against a table while Ginger opens pills and takes one with a drink,

Ginger embraces him.

Green is arguing with ANNA SCOTT, a 50 year old no- nonsense businesswoman.

7l.

Scott smiling at Judge. A grim Green is surrounded by corporate lawyers.

Beeper hands Gaggi a public phone. Gaggi listens. Says nothing. Not even hello.

Marino is talking while Scott holds impromptu press conference in BG.

Gaggi puts the phone down. Beeper watches in silence.

ANNA SCOTT, alone, is walking through her kitchen toward the stove.

Nicky swiftly enters the room, grabs Scott around the neck, and fires three shots into her head.

ACE (V .O.)

,,,,...._ ••• so Chicago had Nicky settle the

case out of court.

Green gets off his corporate jet and is assaulted by questions about the Scott murder. Green is stunned.

Ace is being interviewed by Business Week reporter. PR staff are listening to the interview. The reporter is seated. Ace is leaning against his desk.

Webb holds up copy of Business Week in Kafka-like gaming office for investigators RONNIE DUPREY and MATT AUSTIN.

BUSINESS WEEK EDITION HEADLINE READS: "I'M THE BOSS"

,,.... Ace is watching television news which cuts to his photo and a police photo of Nicky Santoro.

The phone rings. It's from Nicky.

SUPER SUBTITLE: "I've gotta meet Charlie the Banker right away. How about your house?"

74,

ACE

,..... You'll need a reservation. It's all

booked up.

SUPER SUBTITLE: "I don't want a meeting at my house."

SUPER SUBTITLE: "It's okay. I'll use the golf course entrance to get in, See you at six."

Ace, Ginger and banker, Charlie Clark, watching TV in patio with more news on licensing. Ace is taking ulcer medicine. Ace watches Ginger getting another drink at tray. Ace gets up.

Ace takes her arm and leads her out of the room toward the stairs.

The Banker, who sees what is going on, tries to diminish the tension as Ace watches Ginger gr>up the stairs.

Nicky darts into the patio from the golf course smiling.

75,

A frightened Charlie walks out of Ace's house. The minute the door slams, Nicky turns to Ace:

,,,,...., ready to make some major moves out

here? And, when I do, I'm gonna need you to come along with me.

Nicky slams the door and leaves Ace standing there.

Chalk marks on the ground where a body had been. Cops and press milling around.

Police standing around the bodies of a casino executive and his wife who were gunned down.

Police photographers taking pictures of a Dealer slumped over the wheel of his car.

Police and press gathered around the opened trunk of a car with a trussed up body.

We see a brand new car explode!

so.

An apartment door with a pile of newspapers.

Nicky is holding court in a banquette.

Marino hands a shoebox filled with $100 bills to Gaggi.

81,

,-... the money, what do they care?

Nicky talking quietly at Marino's report from Chicago.

Nicky watching a police surveillance car through binoculars. He is surrounded by police radio scanners. Walkie talkies. TV security monitors of the parking area in front and behind the Gold Rush. In BG a DEBUGGING EXPERT is going over the walls with a metal detector. ,-...

Ace is with Control Board investigators Austin and DuPrey. They are all pouring over legal files and record books spread out on a table.

Suddenly a sputtering airplane lands on the golf course. Two men in suits get out w_ith photo equipment, and run across past Ace and the investigators Duprey and Austin, I"" who look open-mouthed at the running men and then stare at Ace as if he has something to do with it.

Nicky and Marino talking, Nicky is covering his lips with his hand.

Lip readers in surveillance car trying to read with binoculars.

Piscano at counter of BROTHER-IN-LAW'S store. Every once in a while Piscano stops talking to wait on elderly women customers.

,,,,.... out there and it's gonna cost me

another couple of grand.

Piscano pulls a small notebook out of his pocket and waves it in the Grocer's face.

FREEZE FRAME

UNFREEZE and they keep talking.

As he speaks CAMERA PANS to ceiling light fixture and a tiny microphone and transmitter tucked at its base. PAN from the transmitter which is in direct sight of a window that looks out upon a us Post Office about a block away. Follow the sight line to second floor window in the Post Office.

Behind window two FBI AGENTS are listening to Piscano's conversation

The tape is now being transcribed by a bored FBI stenographer who writes down "Nance", "Piscano",

es.

"Borelli", "Green", "Tangiers Casino", "Sirocco Casino" and "Vegas•.

TITLE: 1980

Ace in court with OSCAR facing the Control Board's Chairman, six members, including investigators Austin and Duprey. The room is jammed with Green, Ginger, Sherbert, etc. Ace's secretaries wheel in a dolly piled high with legal papers, briefs and law books.

The CHAIRMAN is the Senator we saw in the casino suite taking chips out of the bureau.

The Chairman/Senator bangs his gavel while Oscar is talking. In the back of the hearing room we see Webb looking.

CHAIRMAN/SENATOR (as he and the other commissioners rise to leave) The Commission has already decided. The Rothstein application for licensing is denied. The hearing is adjourned.

Ace, enraged, approaches the board. Oscar tries to stop him.

Commissioners pack their papers. TV cameras roll.

CHAIRMAN/SENATOR I was never your guest at the Tangiers.

CHAIRMAN/SENATOR I did have dinner with Mr. Greenstein.

CHAIRMAN/SENATOR Well, you were wandering around.

Ace spots Commissioner CARTER slipping out the door.

commissioner BALES starts to leave. Ace approaches.

,-... ACE

Mr. Bales. Don't run away. Don't you remember you promised me a fair hearing when you asked me to help your brother in his recent race for Attorney General.

Bales leaves. Press follows, asking about contributions.

Ace is surrounded by the press.

88,

Ginger, Oscar, Sherbert, Green, Webb, DuPrey and Austin are watching from the court steps.

Gaggi in car driven by Beeper. Shows Stone, standing outside, issue of Las Vegas sun. Headline reads: ROTHSTEIN OUT OF GAMING!

Ace is seated at a desk ala Johnny Carson with a long sofa filled with invited guests including TV stars, Singers, etc.

,-...

own lead dancer, Kim,

The band starts playing and Ace waves at the applause.

Webb standing with DuPrey and Austin at rear.

Green and Arthur Capp are solemnly watching Ace's TV show with a JUGGLER. Ace gets up anj begins to juggle.

Ace arrives wearing TV makeup with paper towel tucked into his collar. Nicky startles him. All during their conversation Nicky's head is on a perpetual swivel making sure they are not being observed. Nicky covers his mouth as he speaks.

,,....,

,-.., if you didn't bring so much heat.

The first question they asked was if I knew you.

,-.., Kleenex sticking outta your shirt!

Ace walks in the door, where, of course, Nicky cannot follow.

Ace behind his desk.

Vegas Sun Newspaper frontpage photo of Ace on television.

headline reads: ROTHSTEIN CHALLENGES STATE ON TV!

Stone and Gaggi are leaning on their car fenders looking at the headline and photograph.

STONE

,-.. He's taking on the whole state. Even

our friends. He's gotta be nuts!

Sherbert pulls up. Ace gets out of his car in pajamas and gets into Stone's car. Stone is slumped behind the wheel to avoid being seen.

,-..

Supreme Court of the United States this year •••

92,

,...., bullshit. They want eveeything to

quiet down. They want you to walk away.

,...., Harry.

ACE (CONT'D)

,-.., me. Maybe he should take off for a

while, take a vacation. Would that be so hard?

164, INT. NICKY'S HOUSE/ INT. ACE'S HOUSE - DAY 164, 164A Jennifer calls Ginger. (INTERCUT) 164A

JENNIFER

,-..,

Hi Ginger. I don't feel like tennis tomorrow.

A bored FBI man clicking off the tape.

164, INT. ACE'S HOUSE - DAY 164, 164A Ginger and Jennifer quickly hand the phones to their 164A husbands.

SUPER SUBTITLE: "Meet 111e at Noon."

SUPER SUBTITLE: "Second overpass on Highway 93 to Phoenix?"

ACE

i Why?

,...., explain. I'll tell ya later.

Nicky and Ace hand the phones back to their wives.

Bored FBI agent clicks on again and he hears Ginger and Jennifer's inane conversation.

Nicky and Marino drive away. FBI car follows.

166, INT. UNDER GROUND GAP.AGES #1, f2, f3. - DAY 166 166A Three Scenes just the same: NICKY JUMPS OUT OF ONE CAR. 166A 1668 INTO ANOTHER in several underground garages. 1668

Ace driving through desolation of desert.

A solitary Ace waiting in the vast desert. Looking around. Ace looks at sage brush and sand and a few rocks on the desert floor. This could be a hiding hole meant for him. He steps away from it.

I and evaryplace I looked could've

been a hole.

Nicky driving.

Ace still standing in the desert.

Nicky's car suddenly appears shaking Ace out of his desert induced reverie.

,-... NICKY

Where the fuck do you get off talking to people about me? Going over my head.

Nicky drives off leaving an angry and frustrated Ace to ponder the desert and the holes.

Nicky and Marino isolated alone at their table when Ace and crowd of Executives, Oscar, Kim and showgirls walk in and are escorted to their own table. Ace avoids looking at Nicky.

"" at the way he acts. I know he has to

avoid me, but there are ways to do it.

Ace sleeping. Answers phone on a special box near bed.

Sherbert is calling Ace with his hand cupped over the phone.

Nicky losing a stack of $100 chips by furiously betting every spot on the black jack table. Marino is standing behind him. The Dealer is sweating •.

Nicky now has Sherbert by the neck, Marino leans against a table.

Ace arrives and pulls Nicky to the side, where they can be partially hidden by slot machines.

Nicky walks back to table. A crowd stares. He looks back at Ace and at Sherbert.

Before Sherbert can answer, Nicky pulls a phone off the wall, throws it at him, and along with Marino, walks out. Sherbert winces and is soon surrounded by dealers and waitresses.

Ace and Ginger, a little stoned, seated with Oscar in office. ,....

Ginger bursts into tears.

Ace rehearsing with dancers and aides on the show. He walks to the side of the stage where we see several Pit Bosses waiting to ask him questions.

BILLY SHERBERT

,,,...,

Forty.

Ace is cued back to center stage as the dancers and musicians finish their song.

Ace walking back to his dressing room. Kim has her arm on Ace's shoulder. She pecks his cheek as he enters his room.

Makeup table, but piled u~ more with legal papers and documents than makeup.

Ginger and David exit and walk towards CAMERA.

TRACK BACK as she smiles to reveal Lester Diamond over his shoulder. They embrace. Diamond musses David's hair. They walk off.

Ace reacts. Startled.

,.,._ CUT TO:

Two Tangier's SECURITY MEN walk toward house.

Ace is waiting for Security men.

SECURITY #1 We got a number.•• and an address.

183A INTERCUT. 183A Phone rings. Les Diamond picks up the phone

Lester hangs up the phone, turns to Ginger who is sitting nearby holding her son.

Al85 INT. ACE'S HOUSE - DAY Al85 Ace is on the phone.

He hangs up.

Ace picks up phone the second it rings.

Remo Gaggi on phone taking notes with a pencil.

Ginger on telephone. Les and David in car in BG.

Nicky leaning against wall phone. Marino watches.

Ginger sighs in exhaustion and fear and hangs up the phone. David and Diamond in BG.

Through glass doors see Ace on the phone. Nicky slips into frame. Taps on window. Ace gets up and opens glass door.

190A -- EVENING INTERCUT. 190A ,,.... Ace's phone rings.

,,....

Ace sees Ginger and David coming off the Tangiers Private plane. Ginger wobbles a little as she comes toward him.

Ace seated in car, turns to her bef,,removing.

Ace puts his hand out and Ginger rummages in her sloppy purse and gives him back the bank key. Angrily Ace puts the ear in gear and they drive off.

Ace and Ginger, dressed for dinner, getting out of their ear just like any other couple and walking toward the restaurant.

·Ace and Ginger are at dinner.

Ginger is staring down ather plate getting furious.

,Gingerglares at him.

Ginger puts down her napkin and walks out the door.

Ace walks in and hears Ginger, a little drunk, on the phone.

Ace grabs the phone. He hears a dial tone. Ace throws phone down near her. Ginger rises and attacks Ace. He puts his hands around her throat, then suddenly stops. Amazed at himself. He drags her into the bedroom, throws her on the bed, opens the closet, and throws an overnight bag at her.

llO.

Ace goes inside closet and comes out with his hands and arms filled with cash and stuffs it into the bag. ,-...

In BG there are racks of her clothes still hanging in the closet.

,-...

Ginger is furious. She tosses suitcase into back of her sports car. Ace slams the door.

lll.

She drives off.

Ace awake in bed. He hears a car turn into his driveway. Sees the car's headlights beams on the bedroom ceiling. He hears downstair door open.

Ginger in bedroom doorway. Tired and crying she drops bag and collapses onto the bed. Ace puts his arm gently around her.

CLOSE UP of a hand-written list of assignments and a beeper. They are being pushed across a table.

TILT UP to see Ginger. She is listening to Ace. She looks at the Nanny who is walking David through the kitchen.

Ginger reluctantly gathers up the debris of her new life.

A very large trailer is in the middle of thousands of cleared acres where a large sign announces the coming of the 7000-room GIANT casino. The largest in the world.

Ginger and Nicky a:i:·ealone in a large trailer. They are standing near a small bar and Nicky is pouring Ginger a drink. Ginger and Nicky are a little tight.

Nicky sits her down on the sofa and joins her, brushing back her hair.

Ginger's sobs subside a little and her hand starts to unconsciously rub Nicky's neck.

Nicky interrupts and takes her face in his hands and kisses her. She kisses him back and they make love.

We see Ginger and Nicky slip out of the trailer. They look around the deserted work site and steal a kiss before getting in their own cars and driving off in opposite directions.

,,,-._ she'll kiss your ass. But it's like

everything else with Ace, he over analyzes things until he fucks them all up.

'

Where FBI men with long lens cameras are recording the event on film. Click Click.

Ginger walks in and is startled to see Ace seated motionless with a glass of milk.

Ace notices her hands

Ginger goes to bedroom to change. Ace follows.

\

Ginger leaves bedroom and goes to the hall phone to dial. She waits a minute and hangs up.

Ace is standing beside her. He dials the phone. Ginger clicks it off.

WIDE SHOT of the two of them seated separately.

CAMERA PANS from motel sign to rear window.

Inside window Ginger and Nicky have finished making love.

,..., A207 EXT. ALL AMERICAN GAS STATION - DAY A207

Marino seated with Gaggi in back office. Beeper in BG.

Gaggi nods for Marino to give the package he is carrying to Beeper.

FREEZE FRAME of Marino

UNFREEZE

,,-....

Nicky is hitting a MAN who is leaning against a car. They are surrounded by Marino, Fusco, Blue and Hardy. The man remains erect.

Blue gets out of car with aluminium foil package to confront police and is shot dead.

The house explodes as gunfire riddles porch. Marino, Fusco, and Hardy are firing.

120,

Nicky and Marino are outside talking. They are covering their mouths with their hands and constantly looking around. They use sign language, too.

NICKY

,-..._ You think that fuck is going home?

Making n beef behind my back?

12l.

Ace is seated at a table with legal papers, lawyers and pals from the casino. Ace using nearby phone. There is no answer. Ace leaves the table and hurries out.

Maitre D' watches Ace walk out the door. He picks up the phone and dials.

Nicky is listening to phone.

Nicky hangs up the phone and looks across the room at Ginger, who is seated in a booth smiling and waiting for him to come back.

Ace gets home and everything is still. Fear strikes him and he runs to David's room to make sure the kid is there, he sees that David•• leg bas been tied to bis bed. Ace starts untying his son in blind fury when the phone rings.

Ace starts in the door but he is greeted by Nicky.

123,

Nicky raises his hands almost in a plea.

Ace pauses for a beat, realizing that Nicky is standing in his way and that Nicky could be dangerous. Ace takes a wide berth around him.

Ginger seated in booth. Her back to sparse crowd as Ace walks toward her booth and sits down facing her. Nicky follows behind Ace, but does not interfere.

,...

Ace sees Ginger look up at Nicky, who is standing with Marino about five feet behind him.

Ace notices that Ginger is darting a look at Hicky. Hicky geaturea with hi• head for her to leave, but when Ace looks up and just misses Nicky's gesture. Ace goes to take her arm, but she storms out. Ace follows her and Nicky steps back to let.him pass and follows him to the entrance where there's fewer people.

Nicky reacts and tries to jump Ace, who does not move, almost daring him, but Marino grabs Nicky and Ace walks out.

CUT TO:.

Ginger follows Ace through the door. As soon as she closes the door behind her, Ace turns.

Ginger is furious. She turns around and storms out.

Ace walks over to the phone and starts to dial as he hears Ginger opening and slamming the car door, starting up her engine with a roar.

Ace calls Billy Sherbert.

While on the phone he hears tires screech, Ace pushes the curtain aside and sees Ginger tearing away in her sportscar.

_Ginger pulls up in her sportscar. She jumps out of the ·car leaving it's door open and engine running.

She walks past Marino.

Nicky comes out and sees the commotion.

Nicky covers her mouth and looks around.

He takes her to rear store room. She turns to him.

,,,....._

with?

Ginger screams and attacks Nicky, scratching his face. Nicky roughly slaps her across the face, roughly grabs her arm and pushes her out of the storage area and out the back door.

Nicky watches her stumble toward her car.

'screaming at Nicky as she starts to pull out.

Nicky at back door watching her leave. Marino joins him.

Nicky and Marino turn and walk back inside.

Billy Sherbert enters house and gives Ace a shotgun wrapped in a raincoat.

They close the door.

Ace making sure all the doors, windows, and patio sliding doors are sealed and the curtains drawn.

Ace hiding cash in the basement freezer compartment and hiding jewelry in orange juice container.

An exhausted Ace and Sherbert are seated at the table with the shotgun.

CAMERA FOLLOWS Ginger's car as she pulls up into driveway and crashes into the back of Ace's parked car.

Ace reacts. Sherbert grabs the gun and Ace goes to the window.

Ginger repeatedly smashes into Ace's car.

Ginger banging on Ace's car as neighbors gather.

Ginger gets out of the car and confronts Ace.

Two FBI agents are parked down the block and are photographing the scene through a long lens camera.

232A CLICK: Ginger screaming at Ace on lawn. SERIES OF B/W 232A STILLS.

At that moment, POLICE OFFICERS drive up to curb and walk up driveway.

COP #l Mr. Roths~ein, I'm sorry. ·we'vegot some complaints about noise. GINGER (to Cop #l) Why won't he let me in? I just wanna get some things and get out of here.

COP #2 Why don't you let her in the house? It's half her house anyway. Then we can all go home.

CLICK: Ace opens the door and lets Ginger inside.

234A FBI surveillance photo: SERIES OF B/W PHOTOS 234A

Ginger races to the desk. Jimmies drawer with sissor until it opens. Sissors break. Takes out Ace's key ring with the safety deposit key.

Ace and cops and many neighbors waiting as Ginger stalks out carrying a small overnight bag and gets in her car.

David is watching until the Nanny pulls him away into the house and the curtain he has pulled aside drops.

Ginger pulls out followed by the police car while Ace watches from the lawn as FBI Agents pull out and follow the police car following Ginger.

On her way out of town, Ginger swerves into the bank parking lot and gets out of the car.

238A CLICK: Ginger pulls into the bank, followed by 238A the cops.

B/W STILL PHOTOS

Inside the bank Ginger pulls out three bank safety deposit Jceys.

Ace is on the phone talking to banker Clarie. Ace is looking at jimmed deslc drawer,broken sissors and his Jcey chain.

Clark is on the phone looking at Ginger in BG who is coming out of box area with three opened boxes.

241A Ginger pulls out her jewelry and bound packets of 241A $100 bills marked 11 $10,000".Somefall off the counter to the floor. Ginger dips down demurely to pick them up. She looks up and smiles at one of the stunned cops who has accompanied her.

Ginger is putting the canvas bag in the trunk of her car when she sees Ace's Cadillac approaching.

,.... As Ace pulls in, he is immediately surrounded by cops, who repeat Ginger's refrain that they don't want any trouble from Ace.

But the cops still huddle around Ace's car until Ginger's car pulls out and disappears in traffic. Ace, unable to pursue, WATCHES Ginger's car disappear. The FBI car with the camera AGENT in the passenger's seat follows right behind her.

The FBI car motions for Ginger to pull over. She calmly pulls over and the FBI men pull in behind her car.

FBI agents with rifles and wearing "FBI" jackets crash through the door.

245A FBI agent ■taking Blue, Marino, Fusco and Hardy 245A out front door with their hands behind their heads,

FBI agents in bullet proof vests at the door. Jenny tries to close the door. They burst in.

i I""' 247 INT, TANGIERS CASINO RAID - DAY 247 FBI agents raid the cashiers cage with DuPrey and Austin and seiz~ the scale, counting machines, and stacks of cash marked with a yellow "evidence" ribbon.

John Nance sees the Agents and runs out kitchen door.

Green is surrounded by agents showing him papers they had conti ■ cated.

Agents holding up stacks of Piscano's expense receipt notebooks for each other to read as Piscano gets more and more agitated.

When the AGENT gets one cuff on Piscano, Piscano clutches his chest with heart attack. The Agents drop the cuffs and try to help.

Piscano's collapses and dies. Wife screams. Agents try to revive him with mouth-to-mouth.

Ace in doorway being confronted by two FBI men. He is being shown pix of Nicky and Ginger.

Why protect a friend who betrayed you like that?

Ace doesn't look and quietly closes the door.

Gaggi, Forlano, Borelli, and Cappelli are all in court where Forlano and Cappelli are breathing through masks and oxygen tanks with DOCTORS and NURSES. The JUDGE calls a recess and Bosses, their LAWYERS and nurses file through a side court door.

Gaggi, Forlano, Borelli and Cappelli sit down in meeting around conference table as the lawyers and nurses silently walk out the door as if on cue.

CAMERA PANS from one to the other.

,-...

Andy stone and his LAWYER are walking toward their car when the LaWYer goes to the right and Gaggi's bodyguards, Fat Sally and Beeper appear, and shoot Stone dead.

MONTAGE of murders:

Sharply dressed man getting shot through the side window of his new Lincoln leaving bullet holds and blood on side of window.

Bound Count Room Security Guard and Clerk are shot by Beeper and GOON in the desert. Victims fall right into a pre-dug hole and disappear from sight.

John Nance is reading on the patio when Beeper grabs him around the neck and shoots him in the head.

When Beeper lets go, John Nance collapses dead.

Camera tracks down grim hall past several doors.

Suddenly, a door flies open and Ginger staggers half drugged into the hall looking for help. Screams. And, goes halfway down the hall to the desk where she collapses and dies.

Ace gets in his car to start the ignition and it explodes, throwing Ace about thirty feet into the air.

Vegas blue sky. Ace's body -- as in beginning of film -- flying in the air in slow motion.

The screen fills with the rising explosion of smoke and fire.

Ace exits the restaurant, walks to car and gets in.

Ace turns on the ignition and we see two and three-inch ,... flames come out of the defroster vents and everything goes silent as he is suddenly engulfed in flames. Ace opens the door and rolls into the street where two MEN grab him and take him away as the car explodes in flames two stories high.

Nicky and his brother carmine get out of a car on a farm road for a meeting. Fat Sally, Beeper and four smiling HOODS are waiting. As Nicky shakes hands with one Hood.

They hit him in the head and hold him while they beat his brother with baseball bats.

261A The hoods beating Nicky to death with bats. 261A

261B Nicky and carmine are both dead. 261B

The EXPLOSION'S smoke and fire is now falling to the ground. We see Ace on the ground, still alive.

An ambulance driver has put Ace on a stretcher.

EXPLOSION - SMOKE CLEARS TO SEE

The brand new 5000-room hotel with its entrance shaped like the MGM Lion's head.

EXPLOSION - SMOKE CLEARS TO SEE

: With youngsters wearing pirate hats and waving cardboard swords.

EXPLOSION - SMOKE CLEARS

Another 5000 rooa hotel built like an Arthurian castle with moats and •live joustlng• contests in front.

EXPLOSION - SMOD CLEARS

A 4000 rooa hotel with a 60•foot volcano out front and tourist traffic backed up watching it belch amok• and flaaes.

EXPLOSION - SICOD CLEARS

269 tNT. JIOCA V.'l'ONHOVSE• DAY 269 An~. c,rayerAce i• alone in bia living-room with TV ••ta•• Fu •~i•• and aultipl• phone lines. He ,-,,-.,.... surrounded by MWJIP&JMlQ and fil•. He i• very auc:hthe -\' ·•. .way we AV hl■ dUriq bi• •rlier. hUdicapping daya,

,,....

\