By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 18 April 2000
SCENE 76
SCENE 76-INT.-Treasure Island casino. Night.
Becca and Papaw are seated in front of two slot machines.
Papaw: You picked the wrong casino. Nothing's happening.
Becca: Keep putting money in. Something's sure to come out eventually.
A cocktail waitress appears.
Cocktail waitress: Hi! What can I get ya'll to drink?
Becca: Oh, a whiskey sour for me.
Papaw: Bring me a gin gimlet and a pack of Salem 100s.
The waitress walks off.
Becca: Maybe we should try the card games. You have a certain amount of
control there. The slot machines are just so random.
Papaw: Life is random. There is no control. You think there's control?
Becca: Well, sure. I'd like to run around this casino naked screaming,"I'm in Las Vegas and I have money and I can stay up as late as I want to and there are no clocks!" but I control myself, see.
Papaw: You have an interesting way at looking at the world. I commend you for that. But I feel like I'm wasting my money and the best seconds of my life.
Becca: Consider the alternatives. You could be in bed right now. Look, those slot machines look promising.
Becca walks over to a nearby slot machine and puts in a dollar. Nothing happens. Tries another slot machine. Nothing happens.
The waitress appears with the drinks.
Becca: How much do we owe ya?
Waitress: Nothing. It's complimentary.
Becca: Even the cigarettes?
Waitress: Yeah. Welcome to Las Vegas.
Becca hands the waitress a dollar.
Waitress: Thanks. Good luck!
Waitress walks away.
Papaw: Free cigarettes. Unbelievable. She forgot the matches, though. I'm gonna look for the bar.
Becca: I'll come with you.
Papaw: No offense, but I really don't need a babysitter or a guardian angel. You do your thing and I'll do mine.
Becca: So you don't want to hang out with me?
Papaw: Not really. We'll meet up later.
Papaw walks off sipping his drink.
Becca swigs her whiskey sour and walks around the casino. Sits down at a blackjack table. Buys into the game. The only other person at the table (besides the dealer) is a good-looking twentysomething guy. He's not Mark McGrath good-looking but he's a notch above decent. He winks at Becca and raises his longneck. Becca shakes her head and concentrates on the cards.
Guy: What are you? The Queen of Rejection?
He has a distinct Australian accent.
Becca: No, actually, I'm the Princess of Ebullience.
Guy: Eb who?
Becca: It's one of those tricky three-syllable words.
Becca wins some money and walks away. The guy follows her.
Guy: I'm Lewis. Can I buy you a beer?
Becca: I'm sure you can but I'd rather you didn't.
Lewis: You're bloody ruthless! Come on, girl. I can show ya a good time!
Becca: I'm not going to get drunk and I'm not going to go up to your room to play Tiddly Winks. As long as we're clear on that, I guess we can hang.
Lewis: Alright, then. What's your name?
Becca: Becca. Are you from Scotland?
Lewis: Hell, no! I'm an Aussie.
Becca: Oh. Cool. I'm a Texan.
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