The Color of Money

Nine-ball is rotation pool.

The balls are pocketed in numbered order.

The only ball that means anything, that wins it, is the nine.

Now the player can shoot eight trick shots in a row,

blow the nine and lose.

On the other hand, the player can get the nine in on the break,

if the balls spread right, and win.

Which is to say that luck plays a part in nine-ball.

But for some players,

luck itself is an art.

Color.

Check the color. Dead giveaway, huh?

It's so thick you can almost feel it.

Lay down and just let it roll over you.

That's single malt.

Then on the other hand, you got something like Old McDonnell.

More like Young McDonnell.

Tastes like six-year-old bonded.

Smell this.

Mmm.

Hmm?

- That's good stuff. - Yeah.

Very good stuff.

I can get you a case of this for $35.50 less

than your wholesaler will give you a case of Jack Daniel's.

$45.50 less than he can get you a case of Wild Turkey.

Why don't you go peddle that to one of your hotel chains?

Peddle?

I don't do that. Do I do that? I mean, this is family.

I'm glad to see you, too.

Come to my house tonight and I'll make you an omelet.

- I make the omelets. - Okay, you make the omelets.

Did you forget the omelet I made you last time?

No, I didn't forget.

Yeah, what was it? What was in it?

- Eddie. - Sweet sausage.

Sweet sausage? Hey.

I never made you sweet sausage. Who the hell made you sweet sausage?

Eddie.

Come on, what was in it?

- Uh, um... - Sour...

Sour cream and caviar, right?

Okay. Excuse me.

- Eddie. - Aw, Julian, what am I doing here?

- Am I working? - I'm working, too.

- I got this guy, he's up to 20 a rack. - What guy?

Been playing two and a half hours for five a game. He's up 30.

- So? - So I've been playing him off.

That's what is up.

Yo, Vincent!

Vincent, we're on!

Hey, Vincent!

Can you believe this guy?

Hey, Vinny.

I mean, you slide some of this stuff into a bottle of Old Grand-Dad, Wild Turkey,

you'd hardly be lying. Don't even need iodine. It's a beautiful bourbon.

- Pick me up at 10:00. - What?

I get off at 10:00.

Not without me, you don't. Do you?

Wait a minute. Come on. I'm talking bourbon. Okay.

You know the secret?

These people, they get a hold of aged kegs. What are you tasting?

Tasting low fusel oil content, low acidic content.

Just like the big guys, honey, it's the kegs.

Where do you get the kegs? You don't just get kegs like that, Eddie.

Hey!

That was fast. What the hell happened?

I slipped.

- He slipped. - Yeah.

Where do they get the kegs?

They just do. That's all.

Okay, listen, do whatever you want to do.

It's gonna leave the warehouse one way or the other.

Come on. On the snap, Vincent!

That kid has got a sledge-hammer break!

One more night.

Bottoms up.

- Do you know who loves this stuff? - Who?

- The Chinese. - It must be the low fusel oil content.

Don't kid yourself. It has its effect.

It's just like one of those things that you never think about,

but it can make your day, like electricity.

- Eddie, throw me another 20. - Who are you working, me or him?

He's on the ropes, Eddie. He just lucked out.

You know me, right?

Take it easy.

Victory!

Maybe you're not alone.

Pick us out a nice bottle of wine for tonight, will you?

Red or white?

Come on. On the snap, Vincent!

One more night

'Cause I can't wait forever.

- Eddie, about those labels. - Yeah.

Can you get me some Wild Turkey labels?

Sure.

Oh, one more night

'Cause I can't wait forever.

Give me one more night.

Give me just one more night.

Give me one more night.

I can't wait forever.

Hiya. How are you doing?

Like a river to the sea.

I will always be with you.

And if you sail away.

I will follow you.

Give me one more night.

Give me just one more night.

The kid draws some bead, huh?

I can't wait forever.

I know there'll never be a time.

You'll ever feel the same.

Play him again, Julian. You really got him on the ropes.

One more, right, chief?

Eddie, I got to split.

- You're going? - I got to see somebody.

Oh, come on, one more game.

- I'm bust. - So let's just play, play.

- What? - Let's play for play. No money.

Play, play?

- Show me what you got here. - Vincent!

Hey, Julian, I just want your best game.

I think maybe the money was what's throwing you off here today.

Okay, how about I win, no money. You win, I'll throw you 20.

No?

What's the matter with this guy?

All right, Carmen, Who's next?

Nobody?

Hey, excuse me. Do you want to play me?

For your girlfriend?

No. One game.

I'll spot you the seven and nine.

The seven, eight and nine.

I'll give you the table.

You want to play him?

Me?

Sure.

- Twenty a rack. - No, 500 a rack.

What? Are you serious?

I never kid about money.

Cowards! Off with their heads.

You don't know what you're doing, do you?

What do you mean?

You just blew 500 bucks.

That kid, he has both arms in traction, he beats anybody in the room.

Yeah, he could.

So I'll offer to you again, I'll play him for 500 bucks.

You don't know what to say, do you?

Maybe I'm hustling you, maybe I'm not, you don't know.

But you should know.

See, if you know that, you know when to say yes,

you know when to say no.

Everybody goes home in a limousine.

So what should I say, yes or no?

You should say no.

You know why? 'Cause it's too much money, and I'm an unknown.

He should be the unknown.

I mean, that would be nice.

That would be beautiful. You could play around with that, you can control that.

You know what I mean?

I'll offer it to you again. I'll play him for 500 bucks.

No.

Actually, you should have said yes.

But how are you gonna know that? I mean, it's very hard to know that,

it's very complex.

It's like, "Which twin has got the Toni?"

Maybe they both got the Toni.

Maybe Toni's a guy. Maybe Toni's bald, you know.

How you gonna know that? It's very complicated.

Plus, it's too much money.

- Jesus, you're crazy! - No, I'm not. Just common sense.

How about I take you guys out for dinner tonight?

- You should ask Vincent. - No, you should ask Vincent.

You know the last time Julian lost for me?

It's just a game, man. Some balls and a stick.

Balls and a stick. This is Vincent.

Nine-ball's not that tough. Do you wanna know what's tough?

- Stocker. - Stocker?

It's his video game.

- Vincent's the best at it. - I'm the best at it.

I mean, in pool, you just got these balls,

you're just sitting there, you take your time, you set up the shot.

But Stacker!

Can you make any money playing Stacker?

I'll tell you what I can do off Stacker.

Ten years from now, I can get into West Point.

That's what I can do with Stacker.

It's all coming down to video game reflexes.

I mean, uh, computerized tanks, Star Wars, you know, that movie.

I mean, 10 years from now, a guy who scores heavy on Stacker

is a shoo-in at the Point.

You are beautiful.

- You don't believe me? - What do you mean, money?

- Money, money. - Really?

Hey, look.

If you got an area of excellence,

if you're good at something, you're the best at something, anything,

then rich can be arranged. I mean, rich can come fairly easy.

- Really? - Yeah.