Episode Transcript
Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale
“Outstanding Debts,” Part 3
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. Poker player Jimmy Harmon is finding his past may be catching up more quickly than he’d hoped. Having run afoul of a less-than-reputable Las Vegas investor, Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, Harmon manages to evade her goons with the timely aid of his friend, casino floorman and former offensive lineman Will Archer.
(THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS ARE REPLAYS OF THE SCENES FROM THE PREVIOUS EPISODES.)
WILL
Jimmy? What the hell are you doing back here? I thought you were gone! Were those gunshots?
JIMMY
Slight change of plan! Love to catch you up, but in kind of a rush. Remember the goons from the casino?
WILL
Son of a bitch. Wiktoria’s muscle?
JIMMY
(RUNNING OFF)
Thanks! You’re an angel! A really, really big angel.
WILL
(RUNNING)
Aaah…
SOUND: STAIRWELL DOOR OPENING
SOUND: DOOR BEING SLAMMED BACK
ANNOUNCER
Harmon tracks down an old friend, Big Mike Dalton, in an attempt to replenish his meager bankroll, but comes up short as Big Mike pleads poverty.
BIG MIKE
Jimmy, I don’t know what to say. I’m tapped out.
JIMMY
Don’t even joke, Mike. I’ve let this slide for way too long already. What about the All-In Poker site? Your name’s all over that!
BIG MIKE
And everything I’ve got is tied up in it. Can’t get a decent ring game going to save my life.
ANNOUNCER
Opting to leave town, Harmon surreptitiously makes his way back to the Limelight Hotel and his car. But there may be more to his predicament than he knows.
BIG MIKE
(SOFTLY)
Damn, kid. You really have no clue just how much trouble you’re in.
ANNOUNCER
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale. Tonight’s presentation: “Outstanding Debts,” episode three.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – OUTSIDE
(VEGAS AMBIANCE, PREDAWN; OFF THE STRIP, BUT THE CITY IS STILL GOING STRONG)
JIMMY (V.O.)
I was disappointed Big Mike couldn’t pay me what he owed, but what could I do? I hadn’t pressed him for it until now, and I guess I just… Big Mike had always been my ideal of what a classic poker pro was. What I aspired to. An icon. And maybe if he actually paid me, we’d lose whatever connection we had.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING
JIMMY (V.O.)
But in the end, since I didn’t have what I needed to hold off Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, my best course — my only course, really — was to get out of town. Fast.
JIMMY
Howdy, Will. Miss me?
WILL
Damn, Jimmy. You waiting to ambush me out here?
JIMMY
I’d have called ahead, but I didn’t have your number.
WILL
Believe me, I wouldn’t have answered.
JIMMY
There you go, then. So it was either go back into the hotel — probably not too healthy for either of us — or wait for you out here. Just glad I remembered where the staff exit was.
WILL
I know I’m going to regret asking this, but what do you want now?
JIMMY
Can’t I just come back to say thanks?
WILL
If you’re more of a dumb-ass than even I give you credit for, sure. Jesus, you still have no idea how dangerous… no, how insane a game you’re playing!
JIMMY
Hey!
WILL
And my wrenched shoulder says I’ve been too involved in your crap already. By the way, I had to do one hell of a dance to keep my boss from firing my ass. And that’s saying nothing about the police. You think gunshots are business as usual here?
JIMMY
Look, I’m really sorry. Hey, maybe you can take some consolation in knowing it was me they were firing at. You know, since you’re mad at me. See?
WILL
Yeah, well they missed. Small consolation.
JIMMY
Touché. Look, I just came for my stuff and my car, then I’m out for good.
WILL
You still drive that crappy convertible?
JIMMY
Yeah.
WILL
Better leaving it.
JIMMY
Funny. You missed your calling. So can you get it?
WILL
Say what?
JIMMY
Well I can’t exactly go out front with Wiktoria’s traveling freak show looking for me. Look, here’s the valet ticket. Yeah, I probably should have parked in the self-parking lot, but I wasn’t thinking there’d be an issue. Just have them bring it around.
WILL
So you’re scared for your meager little life but some wage-slave valet kid you’ll put at risk?
JIMMY
What are you talking about?
WILL
Wiktoria’s boys probably know what car you drive — same beat-ass one you’ve had forever. Those goons could be waiting for you. It’s what I’d do.
JIMMY
Gee, thanks for the show of support. So what, you’re just gonna leave me hanging here?
WILL
(ANGRILY)
You left yourself hanging, Jimmy. Where is it written that I gotta bail you out of your damn messes? Hell, anything more comes out of this I’ll be lucky to keep my job at all. You just don’t pull crap like this when the higher-ups are trying to impress investors. I told you before. I am done. We are done.
JIMMY
(EXPLODING)
Dammit, Will, I don’t have anywhere else to turn!
(BEAT)
I’m just… I’m stuck. Don’t have any idea what the hell I’m doing. I’m running on adrenaline all night, but I just had people shooting at me, for chrissakes. Shooting! Not something I know how to deal with.
(BEAT)
I need your help. I know I don’t have any right to ask for it. But I need it. I’ve got nobody else to go to. Not anymore. Call it… call it for old times’ sake, or whatever. Please.
WILL
(SIGHS)
Okay, dammit. I’ll get the key, check the garage. Anybody around, I should be able to roust ’em.
JIMMY
Those chuckleheads give you any trouble before?
WILL
(FALSELY CONFIDENT)
Give me a little credit, all right? They were all too happy to get scarce before the cops showed.
JIMMY
You always were a great blocker, Will.
WILL
(WISTFUL, SAD)
Sometimes I think I’ll never be able to put that behind me.
JIMMY
What do you mean? Look at you. You’re built for it.
WILL
There you go. All the time, people make assumptions: I’m big, so I must be a tough guy. A bouncer. Bodyguard. Security. Hell, you didn’t even know me when I played. I have an Econ degree, you know. And I’m actually happy with my job for once. Yeah, part of being a floorman’s intimidation, but mostly it’s customer service. Staff management. Problem solving. Making people happy. And then on the same day, you show up, and Amber turns up needing help…
JIMMY
I’m sorry. Never meant to mess anything up for you. And I’m sure Amber didn’t —
WILL
Ah, it ain’t her fault. You, on the other hand…
(BEAT)
I’ll bring your little POS around the side. You meet me near the back garage exit, okay? Five minutes. Then I don’t want to see you anymore. I’ll figure out how to get the rest of your stuff out of your room and send it along later. We clear?
JIMMY
Your generosity never ceases to amaze me.
WILL
Just want your ass out of my face.
JIMMY
Heh. That’s a pleasant image.
WILL
(CHUCKLING, BREAKING TENSION)
Shut up.
JIMMY
See you in a few, Will.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS LEAVING
JIMMY
Hang on a sec, investors…?
(CALLING OUT)
Hey, Will? Who are…?
(QUIETLY)
Ah, guess it’ll keep a minute.
(THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS DISTANT, RUNNING BENEATH JIMMY’S DIALOGUE, SLOWLY APPROACHING)
SKITCH
Christ, Peeps, why the hell you gotta keep playin’ me for a rube? How long we go back? I got enough going down, I don’t need to get played by you.
(PEEPS IS A BUNDLE OF OFF-KILTER ENERGY: SLICK, TWITCHY, HYPERKINETIC)
PEEPS
Then why you still listening? You wanna go, you can just go. Last I saw, you had two functioning legs.
SKITCH
Aw… c’mon, Peeps. Just sayin’ you keep telling the same BS stories over and over…
PEEPS
Last night was a different guy. That one you should have paid attention to. Big fish — prime hunting.
SKITCH
(CURIOUS)
Yeah? Wait, so who was that guy again?
PEEPS
You weren’t listening then either?
SKITCH
Yeah, of course I… I was kind of listening. Just didn’t remember the details, y’know? You got a big fish on the line, you gotta let me in on it. We could play a double angle, you know? I don’t even need a full share… You gotta.
PEEPS
You question my integrity.
SKITCH
Never. Never. You’re straight, Peeps. I know that. I’m just saying… there might be an opportunity for someone a little less… moralistic… to have a taste.
PEEPS
I think I’ll stick with people who at least give me the benefit of the doubt when recounting tales of high adventure. God’s honest truth, all of it.
(RETURN TO THE PRIMARY ACTION, RUNNING CONCURRENTLY WITH THE ABOVE)
JIMMY (V.O.)
Big part of me hated taking advantage of Will’s better nature. Despite what he said about making assumptions, I did know he wasn’t all tough guy. Not really. Even with the generally solid front he put on, I knew he had a soft nougaty center. Sure as hell forced him to demonstrate it, way more than I ever should have. And here he was doing it again. Closest thing I had to a real friend in this town. After all I’d put him through this time, though, I’d definitely find some way to make it up to him. Somehow.
SOUND: CELL PHONE RINGING, PICKING UP
JIMMY
Hello… Robin? Um… wow, Robin, I totally didn’t expect to hear from you. I thought your father didn’t want me to… Well, it was pretty clear how you… No, I’m just glad to hear your voice. I’ll be back in LA real soon, and maybe we can… No, I’m in Vegas right now. It’s not like you think. I’ve just got to straighten out some things. Well, yeah, I…
(ANGRILY)
Just can’t let that go, can you? One hand you tell me you’re not Daddy’s little girl and then… Hello? Robin?
(BEAT)
Dammit!
(THE DISTANT CONVERSATION GROWS NEARER)
SKITCH
You are so full of it, Peeps.
PEEPS
No way, Skitch, that’s exactly how it happened.
SKITCH
Give me a break. There’s creative embellishment, and then there’s the out-of-left-field BS you’re slinging. I ain’t buyin’ it.
PEEPS
I swear. Girl Scout’s honor. Y’know, if I were a Girl Scout. Anyways, I’m telling this donk he’s full of it, no way he’s pulling this crap on me, and then he’s all, “Ooooh, I don’t think so,” and I’m —
JIMMY
Wha…? Son of a bitch. Peeps!
PEEPS
Oh, man. Gotta run, Skitch!
SKITCH
What the hell? Oh, damn… later!
SOUND: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS
JIMMY (V.O.)
If Big Mike was the ideal image of a poker pro, Peeps represented the other end of the spectrum. Always around, part of the scene — and honestly, a gifted player — but not someone who engendered admiration.
SOUND: LOUD CLATTERING, AS OF A TACKLING
PEEPS
Ow! Hey, what the hell, man? What’s with all the hostility? What did I ever do to you, Jimmy?
JIMMY
Hard woman to find, Peeps.
PEEPS
It’s a big town.
JIMMY
’Specially if you’re avoiding me, right? Where’s my money?
PEEPS
What money? I thought we were square. Seriously, I could have sworn I sent you a check. You still in LA? ’Cause maybe I had the wrong address or something. Wouldn’t it be really funny if this was all a big —
JIMMY
Cut the crap, Peeps.
PEEPS
All right, no need to get bent out of shape. Geez, you act like we don’t know each other or something. A little professional courtesy is all I’m asking.
JIMMY
Answering your phone might prompt me to extend a bit of that courtesy.
PEEPS
I lost my phone. All my contacts, everything. Had to start all over with a new one. New service. Didn’t let me keep my old number, even though they’re supposed to. Something about the account needing to —
JIMMY
So give me the number.
PEEPS
Oh, um… you got something to write it down?
JIMMY
Just show me the phone. Bring your contact number up so I can see it.
PEEPS
Okay, okay, here. I got nothing to hide.
JIMMY
Nice phone. So then you have my money?
SOUND: ENTERING INFORMATION ON PHONE
PEEPS
Well, the phone’s an installment thing, so it might be a bit of a stretch to say I have the money. I mean, I don’t so much have it as I’m sure I can find a way to get it if I can just have some time. See, I’ve got this big fish on the line, and with a little more work I’ll have —
JIMMY
Dammit, Peeps! How long are you gonna keep stringing me along like this? I’ve got debts I’ve got to pay off. And fast.
PEEPS
Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, so I hear. I understand. You have my sympathies. But, y’know, roughing me up isn’t going to magically make money appear. This ain’t Mario World.
JIMMY
I’d hardly call this roughing you up.
PEEPS
Still, get myself a good lawyer and a case could be made for assault. Big guy like you going after a defenseless little lady like me.
JIMMY
I don’t think any of those adjectives describe either of us. I’m not that big, and you’re hardly defenseless. Or much of a lady.
PEEPS
Ouch. Your words cut to the bone. So can I have my phone back now?
JIMMY
Here.
PEEPS
Anyway, why don’t you ask Big Mike? Doesn’t he owe you too?
JIMMY
(CALMING)
Ah, I tried Mike. He’s busted, pretty much. Had a little, but not nearly enough to put us even.
PEEPS
Big Mike, busted? What the hell are you talking about? Mike’s got serious walking chips. High society. He’s loaded with loot. He’s —
JIMMY
Wait, Mike’s been winning?
PEEPS
Nah, not at the tables. Though he probably is — what do I know? No, I got a finance guy — guy in the know, if you know what I mean — says Mike’s rolling in dough from his stake in that All-In Poker site. Far as I can tell he’s pretty much laying low on the strip these days. Trying to stay off the radar of —
SOUND: MASSIVE EXPLOSION
JIMMY
Jesus Christ! What the hell was that?
PEEPS
Was that for real? Sounded like that was right in the garage! Oh, my god, smoke. This is real.
JIMMY
Oh, crap, Will was just. No, that can’t be… my car… Oh, Jesus. Will…
PEEPS
Um, that’s it for me. I am out of here. Catch up with you later, Jimmy! We’ll talk!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING OFF
JIMMY
Wha…? Dammit, Peeps! Oh, son of a bitch…
SOUND: FLAMES
SOUND: SCREAMS AND SHOUTING
SOUND: POLICE SIRENS APPROACHING
(SOUNDS OF CHAOS GRADUALLY FADE OUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
POLICE STATION – INTERROGATION
(GENERAL POLICE AMBIANCE, BUSY ACTIVITY)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
JIMMY (V.O.)
Believe me, I thought about just running, but indecision got the better of me. By the time I could think straight, there were police everywhere. Soon enough I was downtown making a statement. Didn’t go into a lot of detail, of course. Figured Wiktoria would know soon enough she’d missed me, and probably where I was now right after that. She had to have contacts on the force. Easy pickings if she wanted to try again. I had to get out of there. Fast.
SOUND: DOOR CLOSING
(AMBIANCE LOWERS AS DETECTIVE MARSHALL ENTERS. FAST-TALKING AND — AT LEAST INITIALLY — UNUSUALLY FAMILIAR FOR A POLICE DETECTIVE)
MARSHALL
Whoo-boy. What a day, huh? Never seen so many pissed off people before. Not since last Thursday, anyways.
JIMMY
(NERVOUSLY)
Yeah, I’m just… wow, I’m actually still shaking. Adrenaline overload. What happened Thursday?
SOUND: SITTING IN CHAIR
MARSHALL
Doughnut shop closed for health violations. Still shut, but the initial shock’s worn off — you adapt. Yeah, it’s a stereotype, but what can you do? Now, let’s see… is this your first solicitation arrest?
JIMMY
No! Wait, what?
SOUND: SHUFFLING PAPERS
MARSHALL
Sorry. Wrong sheet… Here we are. James Harmon. Says here you… already gave a statement. Well.
JIMMY
Yes, I did. And I’ve been stuck in here for ninety minutes. Wouldn’t even let me have a cigarette.
MARSHALL
Yeah, sorry about that. Health regulations and all. Your tax dollars at work. Still, probably better for your health in the long run, so, silver lining. But anyway, you should be good to go.
JIMMY
Had to wait an hour and a half to tell me that?
MARSHALL
Wouldn’t have been half as funny if we’d told you sooner. Oh, wait, hang on. If you could just take a second, there’s something here I’m not too clear on. Couple things. Should just take a minute, really.
JIMMY
Um… fine, fine. Whatever. Just a minute.
MARSHALL
Oh, here I am being rude. All this excitement I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ben. Ben Marshall. Well, Detective Ben Marshall, if you want to be formal about it. Homicide desk. My partner Betty’s there watching through the glass. Hi, Betty!
JIMMY
Uh… is that usually the way —
MARSHALL
Least I think she’s back there. I think sometimes she goes out for doughnuts while I’m in here. Though I guess not today, right? Again, silver lining.
JIMMY
Wait, so you said you’re with homicide?
MARSHALL
’Fraid so. Couple people just injured; they’re at the hospital now. I assume, that is. Figure someone’ll tell me later. No, it’s the guy in the car they brought me in about. And since it’s not too likely this was an accident — unless auto safety standards have gone way down — here I am.
JIMMY
So have you guys… Do you know who…?
MARSHALL
They don’t have a full ID on the body yet. Forensic pathologist’s gonna give it a look-see, but it’s pretty crispy. Not ’cause of the blast itself, but the fire afterward. Guess the gas tank was close to full. Whoosh. Really big guy, but that’s about all we’ve got, unless… sorry, you knew him, didn’t you?
JIMMY
Yeah. Will. Will Archer. He… he worked at the Limelight. He was getting my car for me.
MARSHALL
Whoo, I’m really sorry. Sometimes I start talking before my common sense catches up with me. So did you know Mr. Archer well?
JIMMY
Yeah. Four, almost five years. Met right after I got out of school. Left school. Well, we’d met online before then, but we didn’t meet face-to-face until then. Before yesterday we hadn’t seen each other in… I don’t know. Months. A year, maybe.
MARSHALL
But he was getting your car for you? Oh, you said he worked at the hotel. Was he one of the valets?
JIMMY
No, he just… He was doing me a favor.
MARSHALL
That’s a weird favor. Oh, wait, were you a guest at the hotel? Was it one of those… what do you call it… concierge services?
JIMMY
No. I mean, yes, I was staying at the hotel. But Will is… was just a friend. He’s a floorman at the casino. I mean, he is… was… now. Not back when…
MARSHALL
Okay, that’s fine. Don’t need to go into anything uncomfortable. We can fill in the details. Thanks for helping out. That should be… wait a minute. That’s funny. Says here the hotel doesn’t have a record of you in the registry.
JIMMY
How did you… I mean, that’s just because… I wasn’t staying under my own name.
MARSHALL
I see. And so what name were you staying under?
JIMMY
Um… George Kaplan. It’s kind of a little inside joke. From an old movie. See, Cary Grant is —
MARSHALL
Do you usually stay under an assumed name? ’Cause that doesn’t actually sound all that normal. Unless you’re secretly a rock star. You’re not, are you? That would be really cool.
JIMMY
What? No, but… Look, there’s nothing illegal about registering under an alias. Players do it all the time. Especially big name players. Believe me, I’ve checked.
MARSHALL
Well, it’s a bit of a gray area. In and of itself, no. Suspicious, but not illegal. Course, if you used a fake ID, or were trying to defraud the hotel, skip out. Or represented yourself as some kind of licensed authority —
JIMMY
No, nothing like that. It was just… I didn’t want anyone to know I was there.
MARSHALL
Your friend Mr. Archer?
JIMMY
No, not him. Not specifically. Honestly I hadn’t even thought of him being there. Just… people. What does it matter? I value my privacy, all right?
MARSHALL
Okay, well let’s just table that for the moment. There’s really only one other thing I need to get cleared up and I think we should be all set.
(BEAT)
Who is it that’s trying to kill you?
JIMMY
What?!
SOUND: CHAIR SCRAPING ON FLOOR
MARSHALL
(EXPLODING ANGRILY)
Will you stop playing stupid? Your statement reads like a damned high school kid trying to BS his way through an essay test! This is not some accident, or a mugging. This was a car bomb! Someone is very deliberately trying to kill you, and I find it very hard to swallow that you have no idea who on Earth that could be.
JIMMY
I don’t! None of this makes sense. Are you crazy? What the hell are you —
MARSHALL
You seem to have some ridiculous idea this is a time to keep your mouth shut, bluff your way through and take care of things yourself. Well, I’ve got a news flash for you, Harmon. When someone plants a bomb in your car, that is a pretty explicit goddamn clue that it’s time to give up and call in the big guns.
JIMMY
Look, this is not getting us anywhere. Wasting my time. Are we done here? Because I’ve had about enough of this —
MARSHALL
Either give me a damn name or things are going to get real uncomfortable for you real quick!
(CALMING SUDDENLY)
Sorry, I figured I should try a little bad cop. Like I said, Betty’s behind the glass — Hi, Betty! — so I’m flying solo. I think she gets a kick out of seeing me work. Or just doesn’t like doing interrogations. Either-or.
JIMMY
Wait a minute. Since when is this an interrogation?
MARSHALL
Well, see, this is what we call the interrogation room. See the microphone? The soundproofing on the walls? The one-way glass? Hi, Betty! You know, I don’t really think she’s back there.
JIMMY
It was my car that was toasted! You think I did that?
MARSHALL
Oh, probably not. Could be, though. Some kind of really idiotic insurance scam. I mean, like, really dumb. ’Cause I mean, hello. Car bomb? Not exactly low-profile. Or all that safe. If you don’t know what you’re doing you’re liable to —
JIMMY
Do you have a point in there somewhere?
MARSHALL
(BEAT)
Look, Mr. Harmon. Let me break it down for you. This? This is real life. On TV they always make like some people are more than the law can deal with. That keeping quiet’ll keep you safe. Makes for good drama, but a piss-poor reflection of reality. Given your issues with certain online authorities —
JIMMY
Where on Earth do you get —
MARSHALL
Oh, it’s right here in this handy-dandy folder they gave me when I came in. Folders used to be gray, but they went with manila last year. Kind of liked the gray better. Felt more authoritative, you know?
(BEAT)
Anyway, it says here that you were… multi-accounting? Creating several false identities to enter the same tournament?
JIMMY
(NERVOUS, EMBARRASSED)
They’re not… they’re not false identities. Just… you know… different accounts. Online aliases. I wasn’t cheating, it was… well, it was just a way to try and maximize earnings over time.
MARSHALL
Still, it seems to me that might be considered collusion. You know, since you’d know what your other aliases’ hands were, right? And I think you knew it was less than kosher, since you set up different IP addresses so they couldn’t track you. Almost worked.
(BEAT)
Look, I don’t care about that. My point is I can understand you might have a mistrust of authority. Or people acting like authority. You get what I’m saying. Whoever did this will try again. Especially since they’re trying to make some kind of statement.
JIMMY
Wait, what do you mean “statement”?
MARSHALL
(SIGHS)
Not to be morbid, but there are any number of ways to kill someone. Quietly. Quickly. And surprisingly easily. Seriously, I could make a list. Do you want a list? There was this one guy who… never mind. But a car bomb? Pretty far down on that list. You go to this much trouble, the killing itself is at best your secondary priority.
JIMMY
Oh, now I feel so much better. Glad to know my life is just a passing concern.
MARSHALL
I’ve been a homicide detective eight years. No wait, nine. Almost nine. Call it eight and three quarters. I know there’s a pretty small group of usual suspects for this. Hell, give me a week and I could make a pretty solid guess as to who’s behind it. But you? You could clear everything up with just a name.
(EXPLODING AGAIN)
And every minute you jerk me around is making it harder for us to do the right thing here!
JIMMY
Jesus. You are absolutely insane!
MARSHALL
(CHEERILY)
Nope. Had my psych checkup last month. Clean bill of health. Well, some Mommy issues, but that’s neither here nor there.
JIMMY
Okay, that’s it. Can I get out of here now? Let me be very clear: Am I being detained?
MARSHALL
Officially, no, you’re not being detained. I mean, I suppose I could if I wanted to, but it’s not like you’re gonna be driving away anywhere, right?
(BEAT)
Oh, sorry. Bad taste?
(PLEADING)
Come on, give me a name. Please?
SOUND: CHAIR PUSHING BACK
JIMMY
We’re done here. Unless you plan to arrest me, I’ll be going now. So what’ll it be?
MARSHALL
(SIGHS)
Oh, okay. I’ll let you go. Look, here’s my card. See, it’s got my name right there in the middle, right above my phone number. Kind of cheap cards they give us if you ask me. Printing gets all smudged. So make sure you put the number into your address book as soon as you can. That way, if the card gets smudged, it won’t matter, ’cause I’ll already be in your phone. You could even put me on speed-dial, but my feelings won’t be hurt if you don’t. Much. Otherwise I’ll give you the usual departing speech. Don’t leave town, call if you change your mind or think of anything we missed, I can’t believe it’s not butter.
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Goodbye.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS LEAVING
(THE POLICE STATION AMBIANCE RETURNS)
MARSHALL
What do you think, Betty? Over the top?
BETTY
(OVER INTERCOM)
Naw, some of your best work. He’ll be back.
MARSHALL
That I’m pretty sure of. One way or another.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
POLICE STATION – OUTSIDE
(STREET ACTIVITY, OCCASIONAL SIREN BURSTS)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: FEET WALKING DOWN STEPS
SOUND: LIGHTING CIGARETTE
JIMMY (V.O.)
Now that certainly counted as one of the more bizarre encounters I’ve had in this town. But for all his lunatic ranting, that Marshall character clearly saw right through the holes in my story. And no matter what he said, I was sure Wiktoria’s claws ran pretty deep into the Vegas PD. By now, she no doubt knew exactly where I was. I half expected to see her waiting for me. But surprisingly, hers wasn’t the first face I saw.
JIMMY
(CALLING OUT)
Hey, Amber, right? You’re friends with Will, right? I mean… you were…
SOUND: FEET JOGGING
AMBER
(DISTANT)
You… your name is Jimmy?
JIMMY
Yeah, that’s me. Listen, I wanted to apologize for what happened before, when I was… well, when Will… you know.
AMBER
When he helped you run away from those big guys?
JIMMY
Um… yeah. Will’s always rushed into things for his friends. Without always thinking about it beforehand.
AMBER
Yeah.
JIMMY
Anyway, I didn’t catch much, but it looked like… like maybe he was helping you, too. I don’t know —
SOUND: SUV APPROACHING, STOPPING
AMBER
Oh, my god. They found me! I don’t know how, but they found me!
JIMMY
What? What are you talking about?
AMBER
That black SUV. They’re here for me!
SOUND: FEET RUNNING AWAY
JIMMY
What? Amber, wait a minute.
SOUND: FEET RUNNING
SOUND: TIRES SCREECHING – CLOSE
JIMMY
What the hell?
SOUND: HARD BUMP
JIMMY
Oof!
CRICK
Nice to see you again, Jimmy.
JIMMY
Um, Crick, right? Wish I could say the same. Look, can this wait? That woman’s in trouble. Or… I think she is. That black SUV over there, I think they —
CRICK
I’m missing the part where any of this is my problem.
JIMMY
You’re a real humanitarian, Crick. Ah, now I have no idea where she went. Thanks.
(BEAT)
Just couldn’t keep away from me, could you?
CRICK
No more funny stuff. I’m betting the gun in your back would take out your spine a lot faster than you could throw some drunk cowboy in my path. This time.
JIMMY
Ow, I get it. No more cowboys. I’m fresh out anyway.
SOUND: AUTOMATIC WINDOW ROLLING DOWN
WIKTORIA
We need to talk, James. Now.
CRICK
Get in the car, poker boy.
SOUND: CAR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Forgive me if I’m not especially anxious to get in there with you after what happened to my car.
WIKTORIA
That is exactly the reason for you to be getting into this car.
JIMMY
That makes no sense.
WIKTORIA
James. If I wanted you dead, you would be dead. And we would not now be having this conversation. There is much you do not know, and… I was perhaps wrong not to say so before. But now it is time to be telling you. Crick. Put the gun away.
CRICK
What? You joking?
WIKTORIA
(FORCEFULLY)
Now!
CRICK
Okay, boss.
JIMMY
Um… thanks?
WIKTORIA
(QUAVERING SLIGHTLY; NERVOUS)
Now we are equal. We are fair, yes? I ask you to step into the car freely. You see how we could be handling things, but I give you the choice.
JIMMY (V.O.)
I was sure this was the stupidest decision in a series of pretty amazingly stupid decisions I’d made over the past few days. But… I don’t know. It wasn’t just what she was saying but in the way she said it that made me think there was more to it. She sounded… scared? And if something had Wiktoria Sałkiewicz nervous…
JIMMY
Okay, Wiktoria. Let’s talk.
SOUND: CAR DOOR CLOSING
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 three of ten. Produced by Jabberwocky Audio Theater, in association with WERA-LP: Radio Arlington, ninety-six point seven FM, Arlington, Virginia.
(BEAT)
Featured in the cast were Cameron McNary as Jimmy Harmon, James E. Lewis as Will Archer, Yasmin Tuazon as Peeps, Nick DePinto as Detective Ben Marshall, Aimee Thibert as Amber, Christopher Walker as Wilmer Crick, Kim Davenport as Detective Betty, Mike Bernal as Skitch, and Lydia Kraniotis as Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, with additional voices by Anna Coughlan.
(BEAT)
Recorded at Arlington Independent Media, with supplemental recording at Tohubohu Productions in Burke, Virginia.
(BEAT)
Music by Brooks Tegler. For specific music information, see our show notes at jabber audio dot com.
(BEAT)
This week’s episode was produced by Bjorn Munson, and written and directed by William R. Coughlan.
(BEAT)
For all the latest episodes and information on Jabberwocky Audio Theater, visit jabber audio dot com.
(BEAT)
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.
(BEAT)
Until next time, this is Marsha Rehns, saying thanks for listening… and tune in next week for the next episode of Quorum: The Gambler’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 clubs, three of diamonds, and two of spades.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Next, the turn… ace of spades.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Now the river… six of hearts.
Text © William R. Coughlan, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.