Episode Transcript
Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale
“Outstanding Debts,” Part 10
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
There has always been a gray area between the just and the unjust. The lawful and the lawless. A nebulous region where the trappings of authority share little crossover with the course of justice. And where those who attempt to shine light into the dark recesses of power are often the least expected.
(BEAT)
April 2011. Professional poker player Jimmy Harmon’s time in Las Vegas has been anything but routine. A bomb set by a henchman named Watson — ostensibly in the employ of Las Vegas gangster Wiktoria Sałkiewicz — has apparently led to the death of Harmon’s friend Will Archer.
(THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS ARE REPLAYS OF THE SCENES FROM PREVIOUS EPISODES)
SOUND: MASSIVE EXPLOSION
JIMMY
Oh, Jesus. Will…
ANNOUNCER
Harmon meets with Las Vegas detective Ben Marshall, but neither come away with any real answers.
MARSHALL
(SIGHS)
Oh, okay… Look, here’s my card… So make sure you put the number into your address book as soon as you can. You could even put me on speed-dial, but my feelings won’t be hurt if you don’t. Much.
ANNOUNCER
Soon after, Sałkiewicz herself places doubt on the idea that she instigated the bombing, and hints that a consortium of hotel buyers may truly be behind it.
WIKTORIA
I believe someone in this group is intent on ensuring my position is weakened. By any means necessary.
ANNOUNCER
But before Wiktoria can elaborate, they find themselves under attack by mysterious gunmen, identified only by their driving a black Hummer.
SOUND: AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE
SOUND: CRACKING GLASS
JIMMY
Aaah!
CRICK
Get down, dammit!
ANNOUNCER
After evading the attackers, Harmon and fellow gambler Rachael “Peeps” Leblanc head out of town, only to follow another clue leading to the body of a dead prostitute half-buried in the desert.
PEEPS
Holy… Is that what I think it is? ’Cause if so, I am getting seriously skeeved out right about now.
JIMMY
If you’re thinking it’s a shallow grave, then I think you might be right.
ANNOUNCER
Tracking the unfortunate woman’s path back to the Lyon Majestic Hotel, Harmon and Peeps discover a secret witness, Peter Sokolov, being guarded by what are apparently federal agents, as well as a cache of documents hinting at a major operation.
PEEPS
Money laundering, bank fraud, wire fraud… UIGEA violations… possible seventy-five-year sentence…
JIMMY
The “money man” is Sokolov. He’s not an investor, he’s a banker… There may be some connection, but we’ve walked into some kind of federal case here.
ANNOUNCER
Harmon makes his way to the Remington Hotel, only to discover his role model “Big Mike” Dalton, part owner of online gaming site All-In Poker, has been deeply involved in the past week’s activities — though the veteran player was unprepared for the latest turn.
BIG MIKE
(SOFTLY, READING)
“This domain name has been seized by the FBI pursuant to an arrest warrant issued… subject to forfeiture…”
(SCREAMING)
Son of a bitch!
SOUND: LAPTOP SMASHING
BIG MIKE
The whole goddamned site is gone. Seized. Offline.
JIMMY
Wait… All-In Poker is… gone?
SOUND: GUN COCKING
JIMMY
Whoa, Mike, what’s with the gun?
BIG MIKE
Reserved for special occasions. And, unfortunately, this qualifies.
ANNOUNCER
Aided by the Hummer-driving gunmen who earlier attacked Wiktoria, Big Mike hustles Harmon out to the Remington Hotel parking garage, only to run up against both the ominous federal agents and the Las Vegas Police — led by detective Marshall.
SOUND: AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE
SOUND: METALLIC RICOCHETS
MARSHALL
(THROUGH BULLHORN)
Machine guns, again? I hate machine guns!
SOUND: RAPID PISTOL FIRING
SOUND: CLOSE RICOCHET
MARSHALL
(THROUGH BULLHORN)
You know, maybe this would work out much better if we all used our words.
ANNOUNCER
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale. Tonight’s presentation: “Outstanding Debts,” episode ten.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
REMINGTON HOTEL – GARAGE
SOUND: AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE
NICKY
(SHOUTING)
Hah hah hah! Man, I live for shooting cops! Take that, pig!
SOUND: PISTOL SHOTS
NICKY
Okay, they’re down. We are not long for this world if you don’t move now!
BIG MIKE
Into the car, goddammit!
SOUND: ROUGH SHOVING, FABRIC RUSTLING
JIMMY
Take it easy!
SOUND: CAR DOORS CLOSING
(OUTSIDE SOUNDS BECOME MUFFLED)
SOUND: ENGINE REVVING
SOUND: TIRES SCREECHING
NICKY
I’m making a break for it. We can get past ’em.
SOUND: TIRES BOUNCING OVER A CURB
SOUND: METAL SCRAPING
SOUND: PISTOL SHOTS
JIMMY
Aaagh!
SOUND: TIRES SKIDDING
LAS VEGAS CITY STREETS
NICKY
Hah! Knew it!
BIG MIKE
Where the hell are you going?
NICKY
We just need to get to the freeway, then West on Trop. I can lose ’em once we get past the university.
BIG MIKE
Nothing but open space ’tween here and there! They’ll cut us off before we make it past McCarran!
NICKY
Shut up and let me drive. You just hold that bastard.
JIMMY
Ah, son of a bitch!
BIG MIKE
Whoa, you’re bleeding like a stuck pig.
JIMMY
That’s because I’ve been shot! This what you had in mind, Mike? All part of your plan?
BIG MIKE
(SHOUTING)
Shut up. Just shut up, dammit!
SOUND: HORNS HONKING
SOUND: CARS SMASHING
SOUND: TIRES SKIDDING
JIMMY
On your way to being a Vegas legend again, I’ll give you that. “Big Mike” Dalton, notorious gang kingpin.
BIG MIKE
I’m no kingpin, you worthless sheepherder! I just…
JIMMY
Just what?
BIG MIKE
I took an opportunity. Had a chance to be part of the team buying out the Limelight. Be part of owning the game, ’stead of just playing it. And not this online simulation garbage, but the real thing. Man to man. The way it’s supposed to be. Only way to raise the stake was to get a mite creative with the All-In Poker books.
JIMMY
Jesus, you’re running a Ponzi scheme?
BIG MIKE
Don’t act so damned naive. Everything was fine until someone tipped us that the G-men were planning something. Something big. Turned some pissant banker and were gonna come after us.
JIMMY
What, All-In Poker? So you’re saying they knew —
BIG MIKE
Those morons don’t know anything. They’re going after online poker. Not just us, all of it. The whole industry. Us, Festival Poker, Poker Planet… all of them.
JIMMY
Jesus, they’re gonna shut down the whole industry?
BIG MIKE
No “gonna” about it — they just did.
SOUND: RUSTLING PAPER
BIG MIKE
What the hell do you think these papers you found are all about? This morning they’re gonna parade their star witness in front of a judge, make it all official. But it’s a show. They’ve already fired their shot. The rest is just pageantry.
NICKY
Shut up, you old fool!
BIG MIKE
What the hell’s it matter now? My chance at squaring any of this is shot straight to hell. We’re all about as dead as corned beef.
NICKY
I said shut up!
SOUND: POLICE SIRENS CLOSING
SOUND: ENGINE ACCELERATING
JIMMY
(CALMLY)
You know, you’re right. You don’t deserve to have everything you’ve worked for ripped out from under you. Sorry things worked out the way they did. Circumstances were different, I’d have been honored to follow in your footsteps. And in spite of everything, I truly admire that you remain in character. Right down to the cowboy revolver you’re sporting.
BIG MIKE
She is a beauty. Form and function.
JIMMY
Well earned, I’m sure. And appropriate. Whatever your faults, you never lost your sense of class, Mike. Won’t see one of these bozos carrying a piece like that around.
BIG MIKE
Well, now that’s on account of —
SOUND: SUDDEN STRUGGLING
BIG MIKE
What the hell are you…?
JIMMY
I’m the stupid one? Get you nostalgic, talking about your gun, forget to focus on where it’s pointed.
SOUND: GUNSHOT
BIG MIKE
Aaah!
SOUND: GUN FALLING TO THE FLOOR
JIMMY
You really have to work on your people-reading skills you wanna last in this game.
BIG MIKE
Ooohhhh…
NICKY
Dammit, what’s going on back there?
SOUND: STRUGGLING NOISES
JIMMY
What say I take the wheel for a bit?
NICKY
No, what —
SOUND: TIRES SCREECHING
SOUND: SEMI HORN BLOWING, GETTING LOUDER
JIMMY
Whoa!
NICKY
You son of a —
SOUND: MASSIVE CAR CRASH
SOUND: GLASS SHATTERING
SOUND: METAL SCRAPING, COMING TO A HALT
(POST-ACCIDENT QUIET, VARIOUS STREET SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE)
JIMMY (V.O.)
All right, far from an ideal plan. But my best shot was while the goon was driving, not so much able to use his machine gun. So long as I could get past Mike. Of course, ending up in an overturned car with a dead gangster in the front seat — at least he looked dead, judging by the blood pooling underneath him — wasn’t really what I had in mind. What can I say? I wasn’t thinking. I was just acting. Have to work on that.
JIMMY
Unngh… Mike?
BIG MIKE
Nnnnnngggh.
JIMMY
Come on, Mike. How’s the dead woman fit into all this? Who put you up to this? Who’s going after Wiktoria? Give me a name! Give me something!
SOUND: POLICE SIRENS APPROACHING, STOPPING
BIG MIKE
(GURGLING)
You don’t… you still don’t have any… any idea the can of worms you’ve… opened up… After all this…
JIMMY
Mike? Mike? Come on, dammit!
BIG MIKE
(ATTEMPTING TO LAUGH)
Stupid… stupid little wannabe…
JIMMY (V.O.)
He was gone. And while a big piece of the puzzle that’d led to Will Archer’s death had been put into place, there was still a whole hell of a lot of that puzzle left. And without Big Mike, I’d lost just about any chance of seeing the picture on the puzzle box.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING UP
MARSHALL
Harmon, you in there? You okay?
JIMMY
Yeah. Yeah, I’m here.
MARSHALL
Well, let’s get you out of there. I can’t imagine that’s particularly comfortable. Come on.
SOUND: STRUGGLING NOISES
JIMMY
Ow! Ow! Kind of shot here.
MARSHALL
Oh, sorry about that. Hey, you don’t think that was one of ours, do you? ’Cause we’re real careful when shooting into hostage situations. Well, maybe Randy’s a little impetuous, but I know Betty and I —
JIMMY
Less talking, more moving, okay?
MARSHALL
You got it.
SOUND: MORE SIRENS APPROACHING
(BACKGROUND SOUNDS FADE OUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
POLICE STATION – OFFICE
(GENERAL POLICE STATION AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
JIMMY (V.O.)
They cleaned things up pretty quickly. Like I said, Vegas is like Disney that way. Not that I saw most of it. I’ve got a vague recollection of being checked out by an EMT, patching up the gunshot on my arm — not bad, but gonna leave an awesome scar. A few other bumps and bruises. Then it was sitting in the back of a police cruiser. Next thing I knew, I was waking up on a couch in the police station.
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
MARSHALL
Look who decided to grace us with his presence. Not that I blame you. Been a long day for me, too, and I’ve only been up since this morning. Yesterday morning, now, isn’t it. Doesn’t help our coffee machine’s busted. Had to get this from the boys in bunko. Probably better than the sludge our machine puts out anyway.
JIMMY
(GROGGILY)
What… what time is it?
MARSHALL
About nine-thirty. Wife’s gonna kill me for being out all night. Well, she would if she existed, which she doesn’t. But it sounds like the sort of thing you’re supposed to say, so what the hell. You want this coffee or not?
JIMMY
Um, sure. So what did I miss?
MARSHALL
Lot of paperwork, that’s for damn sure. Can barely move my right hand.
(BEAT)
From writing, you idiot. Get your head out of the gutter. Though actually, we type it all now, so I don’t know why my hand is sore. Whatever. Upshot is that it looks like this is getting shut down.
JIMMY
What do you mean?
MARSHALL
Meaning for all intents and purposes, it seems this particular investigation is getting closed. Just dotting some Is and crossing some Ts and it’s on to the next problem. Which in my case is more dead people.
JIMMY
But there’s still more we don’t know! Big Mike —
MARSHALL
Big Mike Dalton is dead. As are just about everyone he was working with. Nicky Morris, rap sheet as long as… well long, anyway, head halfway through a windshield in the same crash. Frank Roslin, also a longtime acquaintance of the police department, shot in the parking lot of the Remington Hotel — I think I hit him, but Betty claims it was her shot. Have to wait for ballistics on that one. Picked up their black Hummer this morning, all beat to hell. What is it with bad guys and black SUVs?
JIMMY
Some bad guys drive Hummers. Some drive Tahoes. I’ve been learning to tell the difference. Not a whole lot of difference when they’re all shooting at you.
MARSHALL
And then there’s… Emil Watson… Emil, really? Anyway, he’s still at large, but it’s only a matter of time before they bring him in.
JIMMY
So what about the feds? I don’t know their names, just thought of them as agents Roach and Joshua. The dead woman, Jasmine, out in the desert.
MARSHALL
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
JIMMY
What do you mean, you don’t know —
MARSHALL
Shh! Shh! Look, come with me for a sec, okay? Somewhere where we can talk… a bit more privately.
SOUND: GETTING UP
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
SOUND: DOOR OPENING, CLOSING
POLICE STATION – INTERROGATION
MARSHALL
Betty? You got it?
(BEAT)
Okay, the recording’s off. At least I think it’t off. This gesture means turn off the recording, right? Betty knows.
JIMMY
So you were recording before?
MARSHALL
We’re always recording in the interrogation room. We’ve got this great new digital system, just installed a couple of months back. Keeps a record of everything that… Well, I can see from your expression that doesn’t really matter to you. Important thing is, you know, we’re not recording now. And the reason is that officially, like I said, this is closed. We’re not supposed to talk about it. But I like you, Jimmy.
JIMMY
Well, thanks for that.
MARSHALL
(SIGHS)
All right, so here’s what we’ve pieced together. And I will flat-out deny everything I’m about to say, if anyone asks. So don’t. Your buddy Big Mike knew the feds were coming after him. I don’t know how, but he knew. He also knew they were holding their star witness, this guy Sokolov, over at the Lyon Majestic, prepping him for his big performance today.
JIMMY
Wait, I don’t think he knew they had Sokolov. When he saw those papers I got from… um… the papers I managed to find… he seemed genuinely surprised to see Sokolov’s name.
MARSHALL
Hmm… okay, so maybe he didn’t know it was Sokolov exactly. But at the very least, he knew they had somebody important. Someone threatening to him, and his interests. So he arranges for a young… “lady of the evening” to go visit. Apparently this Sokolov is into that sort of thing, especially after having spent the past few months in federal custody.
JIMMY
The next part we figured out. She goes to see Sokolov, things got out of hand, and she ended up dead. And the feds tried to cover it up.
MARSHALL
Actually, I don’t think they did get out of hand. Well, no more than they’re supposed to in those situations. No, everything ended up hunky-dory. Until Mike’s goons killed her, stashed the body, and manufactured enough evidence to make it look as though Sokolov had done it. They were using that as leverage to try to get the whole thing shut down.
JIMMY
So the feds were basically told where the body was, so they could verify it. That’s where the coordinates came in.
MARSHALL
I don’t know about coordinates, but I do know they ended up chasing after some characters out in the desert who they figured were behind the whole murder-and-blackmail plot in the first place.
JIMMY
Oh, so… gotcha. Actually, that was —
MARSHALL
Yeah, you and this Rachael Leblanc character. We’ll want to talk to her at some point. Or, you know, we would if this investigation were still ongoing.
JIMMY
She can be tough to track down sometimes.
MARSHALL
I believe that.
JIMMY
What about Amber? The one with the note in the first place? I don’t even know if she’s dead or alive.
MARSHALL
Well… I’d tell you to sit down, but you’re already sitting… an Amber Wonderly was found yesterday out near Commercial Center. Performer at the Lyon Majestic, if that sounds right. Overdose. Heroin.
JIMMY
Son of a bitch. That had to be the feds, you know that. After they grabbed her.
MARSHALL
I don’t know anything. We’ll look into it, sure. That’s what they pay me for. But there are limits to my power. And I get the feeling this is gonna hit right up against them.
JIMMY
She had nothing to do with any of this. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
MARSHALL
You could say the same thing about just about anyone. Especially in this town.
JIMMY
That’s not exactly going to help me sleep at night.
MARSHALL
Look, Harmon. This is Vegas. Most folks figure the mob’s hold on the city ended when they blew up the Dunes back in ninety-three. But symbolic value aside, there’s always some less-than-aboveboard characters getting away with a lot of shady stuff. Sure, it’s mostly big companies in control now. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Ask me, the town just traded cockroaches for rats. And the rats don’t run for cover when the lights come on.
JIMMY
Poetic.
MARSHALL
I thought so. You know, part of me misses the days when the Wiktoria Sałkiewiczes of the world ran this town. I mean, theoretically. I wasn’t actually around then. That is, I was alive, but as a kid I wasn’t in any position to evaluate the relative merits of mob bosses as opposed to corporate overlords. Make sense?
JIMMY
Not in the slightest.
MARSHALL
Speaking of Ms. Sałkiewicz, it looks like she’s gonna come out of this okay. At least as far as Johnny Law is concerned. Not too surprising. Guess she’s got some experience in that department.
JIMMY
So is anything actually going to come out of this?
MARSHALL
(SIPPING COFFEE)
We got the guy who got Will Archer with the bomb, or will soon enough. Feds have their case — they’re in court as we speak. It’ll be all over the news by the end of the day. The reality is they’re as untouchable as the corporate power brokers here. In the end, Big Mike and his goons will go down as the masterminds behind all of it. Nobody to say different.
JIMMY
So the whole truth doesn’t matter?
MARSHALL
Some. Not much. Honestly, this is more than I’d have expected for something like this. Maybe Watson gives us something iron-clad and we can look further, but I don’t think that’s likely. Even if the feds didn’t shut us down, five’ll get you ten that Watson’s dead already.
JIMMY
But we can look further. We have to… don’t we?
MARSHALL
Yeah, you can always look further. But there’s a point where you have to gain your own measure of peace at what you were able to bring out. For a town that specializes in keeping things hidden, you uncovered a hell of a lot. Consider yourself lucky. Seriously lucky. Call it a day. A week. Hell, a year.
JIMMY
Yeah, somehow I don’t exactly feel all that lucky.
MARSHALL
Well, the fact that the feds don’t seem interested in going after you should make you feel pretty damned lucky.
JIMMY
So they’ll kill Amber to cover up their mess, but me they’re just going to let slide?
MARSHALL
After this public shootout fiasco, I gather they want to keep out of the overtly-killing-civilians business. Especially since you’ve spoken with yours truly. Harder to sweep that under the rug, with you on the official record.
JIMMY
Thanks… I guess.
MARSHALL
On the other hand, they try to arrest you and there’s a good chance you say things they don’t want out there. Long as you keep quiet, it looks like they’ll stay uninterested. Leblanc gets the same deal.
JIMMY
Yeah… I just don’t know if I can live with this.
MARSHALL
The lies, or the fact that you’re not important enough to concern anyone?
JIMMY
Maybe both.
MARSHALL
I think you’ll learn to live with it. Eventually. Though maybe it might help if you could get out of Las Vegas.
(BEAT)
Just a suggestion.
JIMMY
Thanks. I may take you up on that.
MARSHALL
See you later, Harmon. Or, you know, hopefully not, given our respective roles and obligations.
(BEAT)
Oh, hey, maybe we should turn the recording back on. Betty…? Betty…? You know, I don’t know if she’s even back there.
(POLICE AMBIENT FADES)
MUSIC: TRANSITION/MONTAGE MUSIC FADES IN
LAS VEGAS CITY STREETS
(THE CACOPHONY OF VEGAS AT NIGHT)
JIMMY (V.O.)
So that was it. The world would lay responsibility for Will’s death at Big Mike Dalton’s feet. Close enough, but far from the whole story. I spent the next few hours just walking. North up the strip, then all the way to Fremont. Stood outside the Remington for a while. Somehow, that felt like Big Mike’s territory. I don’t know if it was out of respect or revulsion, but I couldn’t bring myself to go in.
(BEAT)
Thing is, I was scared of becoming Big Mike. And I think maybe he saw that in me. Hell, getting busted and kicked off the online sites might have been the best thing that happened to me. That might be an exaggeration. But still, if I’d gotten away with it, I could be following in Mike’s shoes. Twenty, thirty years from now I’d still be bitter, resentful… thinking the world owed me more than it had given. And willing to do whatever it took to get it. In the end, I had to be happy with who I was, what I did, and to hell with reward, or recognition.
(BEAT)
Eventually, I turned around and made my way back down to the Limelight, where this all started. Just four days ago, believe it or not. Four very long days.
MUSIC: TRANSITION/MONTAGE MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: CAR PULLING TO A STOP
SOUND: AUTOMATIC WINDOW ROLLING DOWN
WIKTORIA
James. You are a hard man to find.
JIMMY
Wiktoria. Yeah, I imagine so, especially since I don’t have a phone anymore. So how are you feeling?
WIKTORIA
I am improved. And I am gladdened to see you have emerged from your escapades unharmed.
JIMMY
Yeah, more or less. Figured you’d be looking for me. Which is a good thing, since I’ve got no idea how I’d have found you. Thanks for leaving me hanging, Crick.
CRICK
Don’t push me, poker boy.
WIKTORIA
Yes. There was much I tried to tell you before, but circumstances interfered. And more that, thanks to my contacts among the policja, I know now.
JIMMY
Looks like your angry investor theory was a bust.
WIKTORIA
To a degree, yes. A connection, but not a cause, no? But all has resolved itself.
JIMMY
Yeah, from your perspective maybe. Wait, what about the hotel?
WIKTORIA
Discussions move quickly. With one investor no longer involved, I am able to retain my interest. Everyone wins.
JIMMY
Well, except for that other investor.
WIKTORIA
Yes, but for him. Still, I would not be… dolorous.
JIMMY
“Dolorous”? Wiktoria, you do amaze me sometimes. So who are the other investors? Officially?
WIKTORIA
Ah, I am afraid that must remain tajemnica. Secret.
JIMMY
Wasn’t that your complaint before?
WIKTORIA
Perspectives change. So you will be returning to Los Angeles now?
JIMMY
Look, it’s not like I’m trying to skip out on you. But after everything —
WIKTORIA
Think nothing of it. You have performed well, and I reward good performance. Is that not correct, Mr. Crick?
CRICK
I got no complaints.
WIKTORIA
For now, I wish to help. I believe that I have ways in which I can assist you in moving forward.
JIMMY
And just what would those be?
WIKTORIA
(LAUGHING)
You are so… powazny. Serious. You should learn to be open-minded. You have needs, I have opportunities.
(BEAT)
Shall we discuss?
SOUND: CAR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Yeah, let’s discuss.
SOUND: CAR DOOR CLOSING
SOUND: CAR DRIVING OFF
JIMMY (V.O.)
If I’d known then what I know now, I sure as hell wouldn’t have gotten into that car. If you’ve been listening from the beginning, you have an idea just how horrible things were going to get before it was all done. But like it or not, I was inextricably tied to this journey — in more ways than one, as it happens — so I don’t know if there was any way I could have avoided it in the end. In any case, I’d taken the first steps, and it was time for me to move on to tomorrow.
(AMBIENT SOUND FADES OUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
POLICE STATION – OFFICE
(GENERAL POLICE STATION AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
NEWSCASTER
(FILTERED, THROUGH RADIO)
… apparent vandalism to the first solar energy project to be built on U.S. public lands. However, officials indicate the damage will not delay next summer’s planned opening. In other news, the poker world was stunned by the total shutdown of online gaming and seizure of the online domains of the three most prominent gaming sites. Players’ online accounts are frozen, leaving thousands unable to access funds, in what some are already dubbing “Black Friday.” Sources say officials in Antigua and Barbuda are considering action with the World Trade Organization…
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING
SOUND: RADIO TURNING OFF
BETTY
Big news day, Marshall. Kind of thing you don’t run across all the time.
MARSHALL
So it would seem, Betty.
BETTY
So, did Harmon go ahead with it?
MARSHALL
Looks like it. Got into Wiktoria Sałkiewicz’s car about three PM, they drove around for a while, and then he checked back into the hotel for the night. First thing this morning he took a rental out of town. Convertible, no less, so I’m betting Wiktorja paid for it. Presumably headed back to LA.
BETTY
Do you think she told him? Have to assume she knows the whole story by now. Enough of it, anyway. Unless she’s a lot less informed than I give her credit for.
MARSHALL
What, about what really happened to Will Archer? And Watson? I doubt it. She wants him to do something, and I’m willing to bet she’ll keep him in the dark if she thinks it’ll help her get what she wants.
BETTY
Wiktoria’s following your example in that regard, then. The real question becomes whether or not you’re gonna tell Harmon the truth. So are you?
MARSHALL
(BEAT)
I should, Betty, I really should. But our hands are tied. Captain Jacoby’s orders — we’re out. Case closed. If we can’t investigate this, maybe Harmon can.
BETTY
Kind of a cynical attitude, even for you. You know damn well he’s in way over his head.
MARSHALL
What’s worse is now he thinks he can trust Sałkiewicz. Probably what’ll end up getting him killed.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
QUORUM COUNCIL CHAMBER
(THE SAME HEAVY REVERB AND MECHANICAL HUM WE EXPERIENCED WAY BACK IN EPISODE ONE)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MR. KING
Mr. Queen. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we have grave concerns about your handling of the Las Vegas phase.
MR. QUEEN
How so, Mr. King? The operation was completed and appropriate events were set in motion as planned.
MS. ROOK
You introduced multiple additional elements that were not included in the plan as presented to this Quorum.
MR. BISHOP
Not only that, but those elements introduced risk factors for which our models cannot compensate.
MR. QUEEN
I hear you, and I understand your concerns. These elements were unpredictable to a degree, but I was confident that, on balance, I could achieve the same results while simultaneously expanding our opportunities for growing operating capital.
MR. KING
Revenue and asset concerns should fall under Ms. Knight’s purview. Your responsibility is strictly confined to Operation Repatriation. Ms. Knight, were you consulted?
MS. KNIGHT
I was not.
MR. QUEEN
The goal for this phase was completed as planned. In doing so, within the parameters of acceptable risk, I opted to pursue a course of action that successfully eliminated a multi-billion-dollar competitor to our collective interests.
MS. ROOK
Within the American market.
MR. QUEEN
Correct, Ms. Rook. Still, a significant accomplishment, no? A small matter compared with our larger goals, of course, but still worthy of commendation, not condemnation.
MR. BISHOP
But one that significantly affects our ability to assess success probabilities for subsequent phases.
MR. QUEEN
I will, of course, assist Mr. Bishop in revising those calculations.
MR. KING
Mr. Bishop, would that ameliorate some of the unintended side effects?
MR. BISHOP
Hopefully, yes.
MR. KING
Then I will expect a revised report at our next session. And Mr. Queen — Mr. Hazred — in the future, I expect you to bring any deviations from plan before the full Quorum before proceeding individually. Is that clear?
MR. QUEEN
Of course, Mr. King. I live to serve.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. Tonight’s production: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale — “Outstanding Debts,” episode ten of ten. Produced by Jabberwocky Audio Theater, in association with WERA-LP: Radio Arlington, ninety-six point seven FM, Arlington, Virginia.
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Featured in the cast were Cameron McNary as Jimmy Harmon, Joel Snyder as Big Mike Dalton, Nick DePinto as Detective Ben Marshall, Lydia Kraniotis as Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, Ricardo Padilla as Nicky Morris, Christopher Walker as Wilmer Crick, Kim Davenport as Detective Betty, Bob Hurley as the Newscaster, and Joel Snyder as Abdul “Benny” Hazred — with Pete Papageorge as Mr. King, Faith Potts as Ms. Rook, Anna Fitzgerald as Ms. Knight, Brian Crane as Mr. Bishop, and additional voices by Anna Coughlan.
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Recorded at Arlington Independent Media, with supplemental recording at Bob Hurley Voiceovers and Tohubohu Productions in Burke, Virginia.
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Music by Brooks Tegler. For specific music information, see our show notes at jabber audio dot com.
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Dialogue and sound effects editing, mastering and final mixing by William R. Coughlan. Production support by Anna Coughlan and Kim Davenport. Casting services provided by Stonehenge Casting. Postproduction services provided by Tohubohu Productions, LLC. Special thanks to A Squared Adventures for providing game mechanic consultation.
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This week’s episode was produced by Bjorn Munson, and written and directed by William R. Coughlan.
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This recording is the property of Team Jabberwocky, LLC, and may not be rebroadcast, retransmitted, or redistributed without express permission from Team J. The underlying content, including the script, story, and characters, remain the exclusive property of their owners and are used with permission.
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For all the latest episodes and information on Jabberwocky Audio Theater, visit jabber audio dot com.
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If you’re enjoying Quorum and the other yarns we spin at Jabberwocky Audio Theater, be sure to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice. Check out our Patreon page at Patreon dot com slash Team Jabberwocky for exclusive content, and to help us continue to bring you further tales of mysterious suspense and high adventure.
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Until next time, this is Marsha Rehns, saying thanks for listening… and stay tuned for news on what’s coming up from Jabberwocky Audio Theater, including a special Quorum interlude: The Messenger’s Tale!
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC ENDS
ANONYMOUS POKER ROOM
(SECLUDED POKER ROOM AMBIENCE)
SOUND: CARD BURN, THREE CARDS DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Starting with the flop… seven of spades, king of diamonds, and ace of diamonds.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Next, the turn… jack of hearts.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
And the river… five of hearts.
Text © William R. Coughlan, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.