Third prize in Scripts, Ninth Annual Humanities and Sciences Writing Contest
EXT. APARTMENT -- DAY
There is an open window of a slightly beat up brick apartment. Desert sun beats down on top of it. The CAMERA moves into the window.
INT. APARTMENT -- DAY
Seven dog years old BARBARA WILDE and her older brother MIKEY are sitting at a little round table in the apartment. Barbara is on a stool. Mikey is on the couch. They are playing Go Fish. Barbara wins the game.
BARBARA
(gleefully)
I win again!
Mikey rolls his eyes, throws his cards down, and slumps against the couch. Sore loser.
MIKEY
Whatever. Go Fish is a kids game anyway. We should play something real.
BARBARA
(curious)
Like what?
Mikey sits up. Glint in his eye. He shuffles the card.
MIKEY
It's called poker. Texas holdem. You get two cards...
Mikey deals two cards to him and Barbara.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
Then we flip up three...
Mikey flips three cards onto the table.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
And burn and turn two more.
BARBARA
What does turn and burn mean?
MIKEY
You always discard the top card before you flip up the real card.
Mikey pulls the card from the top of the deck and sets in aside and pulls a second one and flips it up.
BARBARA
Why?
MIKEY
Because it's the rules. First you have to make your bet though.
BARBARA
My bet?
MIKEY
You bet based on how likely you think you are to win.
BARBARA
How likely am I to win with this?
Barbara turns her cards to Mikey. She has a 2 of clubs and a 6 of hearts. She's got jack shit. Mikey smirks.
MIKEY
(mischievously)
Oh, with those cards you're almost guaranteed a win.
Barbara gets very eager thinking she is going to beat her big brother.
BARBARA
What do I bet with?
MIKEY
Money.
BARBARA
I don't have any money.
MIKEY
What about your bracelet?
Barbara looks at the bracelet on her wrist. She'd made it at school. Its a simple string of beads that says "You're #1" on it. Barbara considers Mikey's offer and takes it off. She places it on the center of the table.
BARBARA
What are you going to bet?
Mikey pulls out a quarter from his pocket and places it next to the bracelet.
MIKEY
It's my lucky quarter. Now we see who wins.
Mikey flips up two more cards onto the table. He smiles and throws his cards down triumphantly.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
Pair of queens. I win.
He rakes in his spoils. Barbara is shocked and confused.
BARBARA
I thought you said I was going to win.
MIKEY
Nope. I lied. Poker's all about lying. You better get good at it if you wanna keep playing.
BARBARA
That's not fair. That's my bracelet.
Barbara reaches for the bracelet but Mikey holds it out of her reach.
MIKEY
You lost it. If you want it back you're going to have to win it.
Barbara pouts but she is a stubborn dog. She sits back down on her stool and looks up at Mikey with a "let's do this" look.
BARBARA
Again.
Mikey smiles and deals the cards.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
That's where this all started. With a simple game of cards between brother and sister. But that was just the beginning.
EXT. STREET DAY
Flash forward. Barbara is now twelve dog years old.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
Mikey's trick might have been mean, but it introduced me to the world of poker and all the vices that came with it.
She is playing cards with a group of male TEENAGE DOGS. They are bigger and older than her and clearly think they are smarter. They aren't.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I started playing a lot. A lot. And I got good. So good in fact, I started using my newfound poker skills to hustle my opponents.
People tend to underestimate you if you're a) young and b) a woman and if you're both, then all bets are off.
Barbara looks at the cards in her hand. She's got a full house, but she feigns stupidity.
BARBARA
(with faux innocence)
Is a pair of tens good?
The boys jeer at her thinking she doesn't know what she is doing.
TEENAGE BOY #1
(snickering)
Uh, yeah sure.
Barbara looks at the pot. It's quite full, and it's about to be hers. The final card is flipped. The boys all show their hands as they're laughing. They go quiet however when the previously sheepish Barbara flips a switch and becomes confident, slapping her full house down on the pavement.
BARBARA
I win.
The boys are dumbstruck. Barbara rakes in the money and starts counting the dollars. Meanwhile, Mikey appears walking down the street headed for Barbara. She stands up.
The boys are all looking at Barbara's hand trying to understand what just happened. One of them suddenly gets very angry.
TEENAGE BOY #1
You little bitch! You tricked us.
MIKEY
(furious)
Hey! Don't talk about my sister-
Mikey is cut off when Barbara punches the boy in his nasty little face. He is clearly taken aback and screams hysterically. All the other boys put their hands up in a symbolic gesture of surrender. Mikey is shocked by Barbara's actions but laughs at his little sister's gusto.
Mikey wraps his arm around Barbara's shoulder and they walk home.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
Mikey always wanted to protect me, but I knew how to take care of myself. It wasn't long before I graduated from hustling teenage boys in the street to full grown men.
INT. BAR -- NIGHT
Dogs crowd the bar, drinking, laughing, smoking. There are neon signs casting bright lights on the drunk patrons faces. A sports game plays on the TV in the background. It is a cacophony of noise and merriment.
INT. BACK ROOM -- NIGHT
A poker game is happening in the back room of the bar. The noise is from the main room is still audible but faint and increases in volume whenever someone opens the door.
Seventeen dog years old Barbara sits at a green felt table with a group of MALE DOGS much older than her. Mikey stands in the corner of the room.
Barbara is in the middle of a poker game. She glances at her hands and cards on the table carefully. She eyes her opponents up and down. She's calculating. She makes her bet. The cards flip. She wins.
The men sigh and groan as Barbara is victorious, tossing their cards into the center of the table in defeat. Barbara gets up from the table with her money and walks out with Mikey. He grabs his little sister's shoulders and shakes them playfully out of pride.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
Hustling was fun; I loved taking money from strangers. But I wanted more.
EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP -- NIGHT
A slew of bright flashing neon signs appear. Palm trees are decked out in glittering lights. There are fountains the size of lakes with extravagant water shows. Casino after casino lines the strip. It's crazy. It's alive. It's Vegas, baby.
Barbara has her head sticking out of the back of a cab as she observes this new world around her. Her eyes are wide and full of joy.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
Vegas was the place for me. The lights, the food, the poker. It took a few years for Mikey and I to save up enough to move out there, but once we did, you couldn't have made me leave if you dragged me out by my ears. That's where the game got real. I started playing in tournaments.
INT. CASINO -- NIGHT
A WAITRESS picks up a martini from the casino bar. She walks past the slot machines on the floor, jingling sounds and cherry bells going off. Dogs are playing blackjack, craps, roulette, etc. It's a party, and everyone is having a good time.
The waitress walks up a gilded gold grand staircase. At the top of the stairs is a large ballroom, a massive chandelier
dangling in the center and illuminating everything. There is a large poker table in the center, larger than the ones downstairs. It is much quieter and serious.
The waitress, drink still on her tray, circles the table before arriving at her recipient: Barbara. She places the drink down besides Barbara and leaves. Mikey is standing in the crowd watching his sister play. Barbara takes her turn.
At that moment, a hulking bulldog walks up the grand stairs into the ballroom with several other dogs trailing behind him as an entourage. He has a spiked collar around his neck and tattoos that plaster his massive arms. This is ROCCO ROTHSTEIN, defending World Poker Series Champion and Vegas mobster.
There is a small murmur that ripples through the room when he arrives. Barbara looks up from her game at the intruder. He seems to be staring at her as he moves through the crowd. Rocco makes his way over to where Mikey is standing.
MIKEY
(to Rocco)
Those are some sick tattoos, man.
Rocco looks sternly at Mikey as if he were a pesky little fly. Mikey tries to defend himself.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
Whoa, sorry. I'm not looking for trouble I-
ROCCO
Who are you?
Rocco doesn't even look at Mikey when he talks to him.
MIKEY
(stuttering)
Me? I'm Mikey. I'm from Arizona. That's my sister right there-
Mikey points to Barbara as Rocco cuts him off again.
ROCCO
That's your sister?
MIKEY
Yeah, that's Barbara. She's wicked good at cards. I taught her when we were kids, so you might say she owes it all to me really. I'm like the poker Mr. Miyagi.
Rocco chuckles gruffly at Mikey's joke and grips his shoulder.
ROCCO
I like you, Mikey.
Meanwhile, Barbara watches the interaction between her brother and this stranger from the table. All of a sudden Rocco laughs uproariously. Barbara can see him and Mikey talking but has no idea what they are saying.
OLD BARBARA (V. O.)
Mikey liked Rocco from the beginning. But I didn't. He screamed trouble to me. He was the reigning Poker World Champion and had won three other titles previously...
A still photo of Rocco winning the 1994 is shown on screen.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He was also the richest player in history and had earned 120 million dollars in his career so far...
A cover of Card Player Magazine with Rocco sitting in a throne made of poker chips with stacks of cash at his feet and a caption that says "The King of Poker" is shown.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He had even played in a high stakes game at Monte Carlo and ended up winning the Prince of Monaco's 75 foot yacht...
Picture of Rocco sunbathing on the yacht. INT. CASINO- NIGHT
The dealer gestures to a distracted Barbara that it is her turn. She places her bet, plopping her chips into the pot.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Behind all of that though, he was really a gangster. And a vicious one too.
INT. KITCHEN. -- NIGHT
A SMALL DOG is thrown against a tile wall in the back of a restaurant kitchen. His face is already bloody. He cowers in fear and begs for mercy.
SMALL DOG
(panicked)
No, no, no please. I'll get you your money. I promise. I swear.
Rocco and his goons tower over the poor guy. Rocco gestures to his two henchmen to grab the dog. They grab him by the shoulders as he screams and push him down onto the stainless steel counter. Rocco pulls a cleaver from the knife block.
The henchmen extend the dogs right arm onto a cutting board.
Rocco raises his arm dramatically, the cleaver hanging in the air. The dog is screaming. Rocco brings his arm down swiftly, but the scene cuts before we see the knife make contact.
INT. CASINO. -- NIGHT
Close up shot of the red casino chips Barbara just used to make her bet. She looks up just in time to see Rocco lumbering down the stairs until he is out of sight.
INT. BEDROOM. -- NIGHT
Barbara sits in her bed reading a book about game theory. Suddenly, she hears crashing and banging followed by Mikey swearing from outside the room. She places the book on her bedside table and gets up to investigate.
Mikey is losing in a fight with the coffee table. He curses at it as he clutches his knee and writhes on the floor.
BARBARA
What happened?
MIKEY
Stupid fucking table got in the way.
BARBARA
You gotta be careful of that furniture ya know. They tend to jump out at you. Where have you been?
M
Out.
I
Out where?
K
E
Y
B
A
R
B
A
R
A
MIKEY
You know that song that goes na na na na na na?
Mikey sings to the tune of DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT by King Harvest. Barbara rolls her eyes.
BARBARA
Mikey.
M
I
K
Huh? What?
E
Y
B
A
R
B
A
R
A
Where were you?
MIKEY
Frankies.
BARBARA
You went to Frankies by yourself?
MIKEY
No. I was with Rocco and some guys. We had a few beers.
Barbara is clearly displeased with this news.
BARBARA
I wish you wouldn't hang out with him, Mikey.
With who?
MIKEY
BARBARA
Rocco. He's bad news I'm telling you.
Mikey finally manages to recover from the coffee table incident and pull himself off the floor.
MIKEY
Oh, will you stop? You don't even know him.
BARBARA
I know enough. People talk. He's dangerous Mikey. And he might seem like your friend now, but one day, he's gonna turn on you too.
Mikey stumbles his way to the fridge and gets a soda out.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
I loved Mikey, but he was often reckless, impulsive, and a terrible judge of character. Not a winning combination.
Mikey takes a sip of his soda and cockily swaggers over to Barbara.
MIKEY
You're being dramatic. You gotta relax, sis. Have a little faith in your brother.
He pats Barbara on the shoulder as if to dismiss the conversation and walks down the hall towards his room as he resumes his singing. Barbara stands in the kitchen annoyed.
INT. STAIRWELL -- DAY
Barbara walks up the stairs of her apartment building holding a bag of groceries. She picks up the mail on her doormat and unlocks the door.
INT. APARTMENT -- DAY
Barbara sets down the bag on her kitchen table and shuffles through the mail. She stops on a letter addressed to her from the National Poker Commission. Her eyes go wide. She frantically opens the letter.
CLOSE UP:
"Congratulations!" CLOSE UP:
"We're delighted to invite you to play in the 1995 Poker World Series."
CLOSE UP:
"Fellow contestants include CAL BURTON, SAMMY CARMICHAEL, LORENZO MARTINEZ, ACE EVANS, and..."
CLOSE UP:
"Rocco Rothstein."
All of a sudden, Barbara hears a massive SCREECHING noise outside. She runs out to her balcony.
EXT. BALCONY -- DAY
A Red Corvette pulls recklessly into the apartment building's parking lot. Mikey gets out. There is blood on his face.
BARBARA
Mikey?! What's going on?
MIKEY
(frantic) He's coming!
Mikey runs into the building.
BARBARA
Who? Who's coming?
Barbara goes back inside the apartment. INT. APARTMENT- DAY
Barbara moves towards the front door of the apartment, but before she can open it, it swings forward, Mikey bursting through the entrance. She is startled. Mikey slams the door shut and locks it.
BARBARA
Mikey, what is going on?
MIKEY
(stuttering)
It's Rocco. I owe him money.
BARBARA
How?
MIKEY
We've been playing cards lately, and he kept beating me. I thought I could make back the money if I kept playing, but I lost more. And now, he's gonna kill me.
BARBARA
Oh, Mikey.
MIKEY
You were right, Barbara. You were right. I'm so sorry.
Barbara hugs her brother. Mikey is shaking and starts to sob. Suddenly, the siblings hear a car pull in downstairs. Mikey freezes.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
(terrified) Oh, God.
Barbara looks at the letter lying on the table from the National Poker Commission. She gets an idea. She snatches the letter from the table.
BARBARA
(to Mikey) Stay here.
MIKEY
What are you doing? Barbara?
Barbara walks back onto the balcony. EXT. BALCONY- DAY
There is a black SUV in the parking lot. The car door opens and Rocco gets out with several of his goons. Barbara stands stoically on the balcony above. Rocco looks up.
ROCCO
Where's Mikey?
BARBARA
I haven't seen him.
Rocco looks at the Red Corvette as if to say "Really?"
BARBARA (CONT'D)
I heard he owes you some money.
R
Yes.
O
How much?
C
1.3 millon.
C
O
B
A
R
B
A
R
A
R
O
C
C
O
Barbara's eyes widen, but she remains composed.
BARBARA
I have a letter here from the NPC. They invited me to play in this years World Series.
Rocco guffaws.
ROCCO
You're kidding.
BARBARA
(seriously)
I'm not. They said they invited you too.
ROCCO
Yeah. I'm the reigning champion. I'm automatically given a seat.
BARBARA
I'll play you for the money.
Rocco laughs.
ROCCO
(chuckling)
What? You think you can beat me?
BARBARA
I know I can. And when I do, Mikey's debt will be paid and you guys will be even.
Rocco stops laughing. The two dogs stand off with one another for a moment. Finally, Rocco speaks.
ROCCO
Ok. It's a deal. But if you loose, I'm coming back, and I won't be so...amenable this time.
Rocco gets back in the SUV and drives away. Barbara lets out a heavy sigh.
BARBARA (V.O.)
Like I said, Mikey always wanted to protect me, but I could handle myself.
Cut to black.
EXT. DESERT GRAND CASINO -- DAY
Aerial shot of the Desert Grand Casino. A newscast logo comes on screen.
INT. DESERT GRAND CASINO -- DAY
There is a long table with white lien draped over it sitting in the hotel lobby. Barbara and the five other tournament players sit at the table, microphones in front of them.
Rocco is one of the other players. A crowd of reporters stands in front of them.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
The Poker World Series only invited the best of the best to play. In 1995, I played against Cal Burton, Sammy Carmichael, Lorenzo Martinez, Ace Evans, and of course, Rocco.
Cal was the third generation of a family of poker players. Both his father and grandfather had won the Series in the past, and the pressure was on him to keep up the family legacy. Sammy was an ex-wall street broker. He had been indicted on several accounts of fraud but never charged. Now, he made his money betting on cards instead of stocks. Lorenzo Martinez was a Mexican math magician. He was extremely quiet, but a whiz with calculating the probability of winning any given hand all in his head. Ace Evans was a poker super star. His real name was Reginald Donahue and he had been born with a crooked nose and enough teeth to bankrupt the tooth fairy...
Show a picture of what Ace looked like in high school.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
But after a nose job and some dental surgery, Reginald had rebranded himself as the sexiest player in poker, and the fans loved him for it. Finally, there was Rocco. He was playing for blood, but so was I.
A reporter at the conference asks Barbara a question.
REPORTER #1
Barbara, are you nervous for tomorrow's game?
BARBARA
(coolly) Not at all.
REPORTER #2
You're the first woman to make it to the championship. How does it feel?
BARBARA
It feels great. We need more women in this game, but I'm honored to be the first.
REPORTER #3
What do you think of your competition?
Barbara looks down the line of other players at Rocco who is sitting on the opposite end of the table.
BARBARA
I think they're all excellent players...but I'm better.
There is indistinct CHATTERING from the reporters and camera flashes as Barbara and Rocco share an intense look.
INT. HALLWAY -- DAY
Barbara is walking down the hall of the casino. She bumps into someone by accident.
BARBARA
Oh, sorry I wasn't looking-
Barbara stops talking when she looks up and sees who she has accidentally accosted. It's Rocco.
ROCCO
(growling)
You should be more careful.
Instead of cowering in fear, Barbara stands her ground.
BARBARA
You should loose some weight. Maybe then you'd take up less space.
Rocco growls and takes a step forward, towering over the little greyhound. Barbara instinctively takes a step back. Rocco chuckles, having regained the power in the situation.
ROCCO
I'll see you tomorrow, Barbara.
Rocco walks around Barbara and disappears down the hallway. Barbara watches him go, and lets out a sigh when he turns the corner. She walks away.
INT. POKER STAGE -- DAY
It is the day of the Championship. A large green felt table is set up on a small stage. Leather chairs with high backs are spaced evenly around it. A crowd has already gathered. Mikey is there. Rocco, Cal, Sammy, Lorenzo, Ace, and Barbara walk onto the stage where the table is set.
The DEALER walks onto the stage and stands on the opposite side of the table. Barbara and Rocco sit directly across from each other at the table. Barbara turns and looks to her brother in the audience. He gives her a pained smile.
DEALER
Gentlemen, Ms. Wilde, the game is no limit Texas holdem. The last player standing will be the winner. The best of luck to all of you.
The dealer shuffles and passes out the cards. The game begins.
INT. POKER STAGE -- LATER THAT DAY
The poker game has been going on for awhile. Barbara is doing quite well and has a large stack of chips in front of her. It is her turn and she makes a bet.
Rocco chuckles gruffly. Barbara looks up quizzically annoyed.
BARBARA
What's so funny?
ROCCO
You talk a big game, but you're not the player I thought you would be.
Barbara chews the inside of her mouth in frustration.
BARBARA
What's that supposed to mean?
ROCCO
You're playing small bets. You're not playing to win.
Rocco doubles the pot on his turn, slowly sliding his pile of chips into the center as a taunt.
ROCCO (CONT'D)
Or maybe you're just too much of a bitch to play real poker.
Small gasps are elicited from the audience. Barbara has anger behind her eyes.
DEALER
Mr. Rothstein, please.
Rocco stares aggressively at the dealer. He swallows and turns to Barbara.
DEALER (CONT'D)
Would you like to fold, Ms. Wilde?
Barbara takes a peak at her cards. She has two pair. It's not a bad hand, but it could be stronger. She taps her paw anxiously on the floor. Rocco is staring at her with bull like intensity. He makes her so angry.
In a split second decision, Barbara takes the bait. She calls Rocco's bet and flips her cards. Rocco's face drops and Barbara smirks, feeling victorious. But like a snake, Rocco reveals his hand with an evil grin. Three of a kind.
The audience murmurs at the conclusion to this standoff. Barbara's jaw drops. Rocco rakes in his winnings. Barbara is nearly out of chips now.
DEALER
We will take a short break and resume play in one hour. Thank you.
Barbara gets up from the table and walks out of the hall abruptly.
EXT. DESERT GRAND CASINO -- DAY
Barbara runs outside, tears running down her face. She feels defeated. Suddenly, someone comes up behind her.
MIKEY
I have something for you.
BARBARA
(tearfully)
Mikey, whatever it is I don't want it.
Mikey pulls out the bracelet he won from Barbara in the first poker game she ever played. Barbara is shocked.
BARBARA (CONT'D)
You kept it all these years?
Mikey nods.
MIKEY
Take it. For luck.
Barbara takes the bracelet.
BARBARA
I don't know if I can beat him, Mikey.
MIKEY
That's ok. I didn't want to live to see thirty anyway.
Barbara and Mikey chuckle dryly.
MIKEY (CONT'D)
You're a good player, Barbara. The best, actually. Just, don't let him get to you.
Barbara nods smiling. Her resolve is returning. She gives Mikey a hug.
INT. DESERT GRAND CASINO -- DAY
The players return to the table. Rocco is already sitting there when Barbara sits down, adorned with her new jewelry.
ROCCO
(tauntingly) Back for more?
BARBARA
Let's play.
BEGIN MONTAGE:
Several hours of poker play goes by very quickly in which Barbara comes back in a big way.
QUICK CUTS:
-Cards being flipped over.
-Sammy is knocked out of the game.
-Barbara's stack of chips grows.
-Cal is knocked out of the game.
-Dealer flips over a card.
-Barbara's stack of chips grows again.
-Rocco looks perturbed.
-Ace is knocked out of the game.
-Barbara studies her cards seriously.
-Mikey smiles watching his sister play.
-Barbara's stack of chips grows a final time.
-Cards flipped again.
-Lorenzo is knocked out of the game.
END MONTAGE
It is now down to just Rocco and Barbara. The tension in the room is thicker than pea soup. Barbara looks to Mikey standing in the crowd. He gives her a smile of confidence.
Everything is riding on this hand.
Barbara goes all in. It's time to end this. There are gasps from the audience and even Rocco looks surprised. He goes all in as well. Poker chips are smeared over the table like peanut butter on a sandwich. The time comes for the cards to be flipped.
Rocco has four of a kind. The audience reacts positively to this. Barbara hands her head in defeat for a moment. Rocco smirks confidently. But then Barbara shows her hand: straight flush. The people cheer. Barbara Wilde is the first female World Poker Series Champion.
Rocco storms off angrily. Mikey runs up and embraces his sister joyously. A photographer takes a picture of Barbara celebrating her win. The camera flash transforms into a newspaper with the picture and a headline that reads: "BARBARA WILDE: QUEEN OF THE DECK"
EXT. PARKING LOT -- DAY
Barbara stands leaning against the Red Corvette. A black SUV pulls into the lot. Rocco gets out. Barbara is holding a yellow manila envelope of cash for him. Rocco walks over and Barbara hands him the package.
BARBARA
We're even.
Rocco opens the envelope and quickly counts the money. He grunts satisfied and puts it in his pocket.
ROCCO
You played well.
Barbara is surprised by the compliment.
BARBARA
Thank you.
Rocco opens his mouth almost as if he's going to say something else but doesn't. He extends his paw, a symbol of peace. Barbara is skeptical but shakes his hand. There is a strange, begrudging respect. Rocco gets back in his car and drive away.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.)
That was the last game of poker I ever played. I guess you could say the game was kind of ruined for me. It wasn't long after then that Mikey and I left Vegas.
EXT. APARTMENT -- DAY
There is a "For Sale" sign in the window of the apartment and a smaller sign underneath it that reads "Sold." Mikey and Barbara are packing up their car.
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
There is something truly exhilarating about poker. But if all those years of playing it taught me anything, it's that life's already a gamble, and you can either keep playing the game until the day your luck runs out...
INT. ROCCO'S OFFICE -- DAY
There is a stack of cash and a brick of cocaine sitting on the mahogany desk in Rocco's lush office. He is counting the money with the help of some of his goons when the FBI bursts in through the doors. They arrest Rocco and everyone else in the room.
EXT. HIGHWAY -- DAY
OLD BARBARA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Or you can be grateful for what you got and quit while you're ahead.
Mikey and Barbara are in their Red Corvette, top down, ears flapping in the wind. They are bathed in warm sunlight and listening to music as they drive off into the Nevada desert, leaving the world of poker and all the trouble it brings behind them.
Zoe Neely's script won third prize in the Ninth Annual Humanities and Sciences Writing Contest. Her critical essay, "Monster Mash: What Makes an Antagonist Truly Scary" won third prize as well. Zoe is a sophomore majoring in Animation at the School of Visual Arts. "I am a passionate and dedicated animator, illustrator, and graphic designer," Zoe writes. "I love coming up with stories and bring them to life through art." Zoe was an illustrator for several children’s books, and was runner up in the 2019 and 2020 Kids Film It Festival animation category for her films “Cat Fight” and “Joe” respectively. Zoe has worked with companies such as My Malibu Swimsuit, Chicken Joe’s Restaurant, and NxtGen Nexus, creating promotional materials. Zoe has been a board member and head graphic designer for Burning River Baroque, a non-profit early music organization, since 2016.