Episode Transcript
Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale
“Outstanding Debts,” Part 8
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. From poker player to amateur gumshoe, Jimmy Harmon has been following a trail of mystery in and around Las Vegas. From a car bomb that appears to have killed his friend Will Archer, to a shootout between gangster Wiktoria Sałkiewicz and a cadre of SUV-driving assailants, to a cryptic plea from a terrified dancer, to a half-buried body in the desert.
(THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS ARE REPLAYS OF THE SCENES FROM THE PREVIOUS EPISODES.)
PEEPS
You get it in your head to take down the system, play boy detective. Which, BTW, you are absolutely terrible at.
JIMMY
But we’re so close to —
PEEPS
What we are close to is getting killed.
ANNOUNCER
Harmon and fellow poker player Peeps manage to sneak their way into the Lyon Majestic hotel and into the room of the mysterious “money man” they believe is behind everything, only to discover a new twist.
JIMMY
These look like personnel files. Someone named Peter Sokolov… says here he works for some payment company, Quickbill.
PEEPS
Looks like… whoa, a statement of charges. Something about 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. I mean, there may be some connection, but we’ve walked into some kind of federal case here.
ANNOUNCER
Barely escaping ahead of the federal agents whose nest they’ve stumbled into, Harmon and Peeps emerge into the hotel lobby only to face a renewed threat.
AGENT “JOSHUA”
There! There they are!
AGENT “ROACH”
Jesus, those are the two from upstairs!
JIMMY
Oh, son of a bitch.
ANNOUNCER
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale. Tonight’s presentation: “Outstanding Debts,” episode eight.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
LYON MAJESTIC – ELEVATOR LOBBY
(HOTEL AMBIENT)
MUSIC: ACTION CUE
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING
PEEPS
Now what, smart boy?
JIMMY
I don’t know! I don’t know, just… maybe down this way, past the shops.
PEEPS
Ah, you are useless.
LYON MAJESTIC – SHOPS
(SHOPPING CROWDS)
SOUND: FEET STOPPING
SOUND: METAL HATCH OPENING
JIMMY
What are you —
PEEPS
Fire extinguisher!
SOUND: FIRE EXTINGUISHER SPRAY
JIMMY
What’s that get us?
PEEPS
A few seconds of cover! This way!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING
JIMMY
Where are we going?
PEEPS
Back when I first got to Vegas I took a job working retail here. There’s an access tunnel this way.
JIMMY
Won’t those be secured?
PEEPS
Normally, but there’s an employee bathroom in the accessway. We always used to leave it ajar so we could actually pee without fighting customers. If the people working today have the same… yes!
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
LYON MAJESTIC – SERVICE CORRIDOR
JIMMY
Amazing!
PEEPS
Yeah, time for my angel to be looking out for us.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING DOWN HALLWAY
PEEPS
Some things never change. We still won’t be able to get back into the secure areas, but this should at least take us behind the shops.
JIMMY
Then where?
PEEPS
I don’t know. But the far door’s closer to the arena access…
JIMMY
Which might help us get lost in the fight crowd.
PEEPS
Here’s hoping.
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
LYON MAJESTIC – ARENA FOYER
(BOISTEROUS CROWDS)
PEEPS
Okay, okay… I don’t see any bad guys. Well, no more than the usual fight-night kind of bad guys. Guys coming to see a fight can get all kinds of inappropriate. Adrenaline up, and all that.
JIMMY
Okay, let’s see if we can… hey, look there!
PEEPS
What?
JIMMY
All-In Poker’s got a promotional stand. Maybe… no, Big Mike’s not there.
PEEPS
Why would that matter?
JIMMY
I thought maybe he could help us… Wait, this might work too…
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING
PEEPS
Jimmy!
JIMMY
Hey, Hutch! Um… Mr. Hutchinson.
HUTCH
Who… oh, um… Jimmy, right?
JIMMY
Yeah, we met… Tuesday, I guess?
HUTCH
Yeah, after I finished taping that “Ring Game Poker” show. They got me here today doing some promotion for the show. You here for the fight?
JIMMY
Not exactly. Can we… can we talk behind the booth here?
HUTCH
Now why in tarnation you need to do that?
JIMMY
I’ve just got some people I’d rather not see me here.
HUTCH
Well, make it quick, son. Fight’s about to start.
JIMMY
Sure, just…
(MOCK WHISPERING)
Rachael, come on!
HUTCH
Who you… oh, looks like we’ve got a crowd.
JIMMY
Bob… um, Hutch… this is Peeps.. I mean, Rachael. Rachael, this is Bob Hutchinson. Longtime poker pro, took a really bad beat in the eighty-four Series —
HUTCH
Um, we can dispense with the specifics. Now you wanna tell me what’s got you all fired up?
JIMMY
Okay, um… I was hoping you could find Big Mike for me. I kind of need his help. It’s hard to explain.
PEEPS
Federal agents are keeping a money-launderer upstairs, and are planning to use him as some kind of snitch. Meanwhile, they… or maybe he… got a prostitute killed and have been trying to cover it up. We know what they did, and now they’re after us.
JIMMY
Guess it wasn’t that hard.
HUTCH
Well…
PEEPS
They’re after him, mostly. I’m kind of along for the ride. Still not sure exactly why, but force of habit.
HUTCH
Okay, okay… this is… well, this is a bit much for me to take in all at once, you understand.
JIMMY
All we’re trying to do is get out of here.
HUTCH
Easier said than done. Okay, look — the All-In Poker folks don’t have anything to do with the fight proper, but I can probably get you into the press-only area. Down to the studio rooms. Then… I guess we can get you out the North side.
JIMMY
Thanks!
HUTCH
I’m doing this for Big Mike, seeing as how he vouched for you. Here, put these lanyards on and follow me.
PEEPS
Have anything to make us less obvious?
HUTCH
Hm? Oh, here, grab a couple of All-In Poker jackets. And hats.
JIMMY
Thanks.
SOUND: CLOTHING RUSTLING
HUTCH
Hey, no skin off my nose. They’re giving these out as promo swag anyway.
PEEPS
You know, mine’s a little big for —
JIMMY
Peeps…
PEEPS
Fine.
(QUIETER)
Oh, crap. There they are?
JIMMY
Who? Where?
PEEPS
Agents… Roach and Joshua. And right there.
JIMMY
Be cool… Be cool…
PEEPS
I am cool. You’re the one whining like a little —
HUTCH
Hash it out later, you two. This way.
(A MOMENT OF QUIET)
HUTCH
Hey, Larry. Just heading down to the studio rooms.
LARRY
Didn’t know All-In was doing any taping today.
HUTCH
Oh, not today. These guys are just here to scout the space. They’re doing something over the weekend, need to make sure they’ve got all the prep work done.
LARRY
No worries.
HUTCH
Thanks!
SOUND: SECURITY ROPE UNHOOKING
LARRY
Got any money on tonight?
HUTCH
You know it!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS GOING DOWN STAIRS
LYON MAJESTIC – STUDIO ROOMS
HUTCH
Now past those doors on the right, there’s an emergency exit. Says it’s alarmed, but crews been taking gear in and out all week. Even if it’s not propped, I’m fair sure they’ve turned off the alarm.
JIMMY
You’re a godsend, Hutch… um… Mr. Hutchinson.
HUTCH
Hutch is fine. Listen — I think Mike’s back over at the Remington. Since he’s the brains behind All-In, they’ve got him there doing some setup for the next TV shows. Got a whole bar set aside there for taping, so hell, that might be a good place to disappear.
JIMMY
Perfect.
HUTCH
You get going, and I’ll see if I can get hold of Mike. Let him know you’re coming.
PEEPS
I know we just met, but I really feel like we’ve been through something together here.
HUTCH
Glad to help out, young lady.
PEEPS
(TO JIMMY)
See, he knows how to treat me. Not like that damned bouncer calling me Madam. I’m only thirty…
JIMMY
Thanks again!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS RUNNING DOWN HALLWAY
SOUND: DOOR OPENING (DISTANT)
SOUND: DOOR CLOSING
SOUND: PHONE KEYS/BEEPS
HUTCH
Mike? Hutch… Listen, something you need to know about…
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
LAS VEGAS CITY STREETS
(BUSY CROWDS, HOTEL AMBIANCE, CASINO IN THE BACKGROUND)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
JIMMY
I can’t believe we made it out of there.
PEEPS
I think we both had angels looking over us.
JIMMY
All right. So now we just go back to the Remington, find Mike, and —
PEEPS
Jimmy, I’m not going with you.
JIMMY
What?
PEEPS
This is the end of the line for me.
JIMMY
What are you talking about?
PEEPS
Listen, this has been… well, an experience. But I can’t live like this. This is way beyond anything I can deal with, and I’ve already done more than I ever planned to.
JIMMY
Well, you didn’t really plan on any of it, if I’m being perfectly honest.
PEEPS
Good point. This is all your fault.
JIMMY
Look, I never —
PEEPS
I’m giving you crap. Relax. What happened… happened. But now? I have to think about tomorrow.
JIMMY
What do you mean tomorrow?
PEEPS
I mean I need to think about what happens afterward. I don’t know, maybe it’s because you’re young, but… you kind of just act, and see where things take you. Me… well, I’ve been in this game a long time. And I’m not so young anymore. I have to plan.
JIMMY
What plan?
PEEPS
Just… a life plan. Jesus, Jimmy, I don’t want to end up like Crunchy, living in underground tunnels, scavenging for lost casino chips. Poker’s a young person’s game.
JIMMY
What are you talking about? Look at Hutch! Look at Big Mike!
PEEPS
Yeah, and they’re all making plans. For crying out loud, Big Mike is the face of an online poker site. You can’t just make a living playing anymore. Even the big names. You ever notice when they’re talking them up, they only talk about career winnings? Makes for a big-sounding, glamorous number, but you see they never talk about losses. Once you take those away, even the big names are just scraping by.
JIMMY
They’re doing well enough.
PEEPS
Yeah, but not through actual playing. It’s all endorsement deals. TV appearances. Or moving on to running the game, like Mike.
(BEAT)
I wish you all the success in the world, Jimmy. But this is your crusade. Maybe you’ve still got a few outs. Me, I have to fold and wait for the next hand.
SOUND: RUSTLING PAPERS
PEEPS
Here. Here’s all the papers I snagged from upstairs. Maybe you can do something with them. But I’m going to just try and get back to my car, or what’s left of it. Fade away for a while. Hopefully, after these guys finish whatever they’ve got planned for tomorrow, they’re not going to worry about me.
JIMMY
I… I don’t know what to say. I couldn’t have done this without you.
PEEPS
Oh, I agree. Completely. But this next step… I think you can handle it on your own. Especially with someone as connected as Big Mike having your back.
JIMMY
Thanks, Rachael.
PEEPS
Ah, you can keep calling me Peeps. I don’t mind.
JIMMY
Maybe someday.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS JOGGING AWAY
JIMMY (V.O.)
Fortunately, no line at the hotel cab stand. Lucky me.
SOUND: FOOSTEPS JOGGING
JIMMY (V.O.)
I really meant what I said about needing Rachael’s help. But she’d done more than enough by now. Hopefully, Mike could help me take it from here.
SOUND: CAR DOOR OPENING
JIMMY
Take me to the Remington Hotel.
SOUND: CAR DOOR CLOSING
LAS VEGAS TAXI DRIVER 2
Sure thing, buddy. Wow, you look beat. Long night?
JIMMY
Yeah, you could say that. Day, night. They all start to run together in this town.
LAS VEGAS TAXI DRIVER 2
I hear that.
SOUND: CAR DRIVING OFF
(CITY NOISES FADE OUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
REMINGTON HOTEL – LOBBY
(SUBDUED AMBIANCE; GENERAL BUSTLING WITH THE CASINO IN THE BACKGROUND)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MUSIC: HOTEL LOBBY SMOOTH JAZZ
JIMMY (V.O.)
To look at the Remington, you’d never believe there’d been so much going on around town the past couple of days. And it was more than just the distance between the strip and downtown Fremont Street. Vegas was like Disneyland — any mishap’s brushed under the carpet before anyone can digest it.
BIG MIKE
(SLOWLY APPROACHING)
No, I have no idea. Last I talked to him was Tuesday night. Check in with security, see if anyone’s —
SOUND: HARD BUMP
JIMMY
Ow, hey. Sorry, I’m a little… Big Mike? Whoa, that was quick. I’ve been looking for you.
NICKY
Pardon me, we’re in the middle of a conversation here. No autographs.
FRANK
If you could excuse us, please, sir. Mr. Dalton is a very busy man.
(BIG MIKE RETURNS TO HIS CUSTOMARY LACONIC DRAWL.)
BIG MIKE
No, no, it’s fine. Jimmy’s a friend. Why don’t you two go… go on ahead. I’ll meet up with you later. I need to chat with Mr. Harmon here.
NICKY
You sure? I thought we needed to get —
BIG MIKE
Of course I’m sure.
FRANK
We’ll go… go check what you said. You go ahead and have your chat with…. Mr. Harmon here.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS LEAVING
JIMMY
Weird. Friends of yours?
BIG MIKE
More like business associates. Part of a… well, All-In Poker business. Doesn’t matter. Though I see you’re a booster.
JIMMY
Hmm? Oh, the hat and jacket. Yeah, I picked these up at the fight.
BIG MIKE
So Jimmy. Can’t say as I expected to see you here again, son. ’Specially after what went down.
JIMMY
Did Hutch get in touch with you?
BIG MIKE
Um… yes, he did. He didn’t seem to know much. Something about feds, and a snitch. And that’s on top of the bomb at the Limelight everyone’s talking about but nobody official’s said diddly about. Glad to see you’re all right. Though frankly, you look like hell.
JIMMY
I feel like hell, so that’s probably about right.
BIG MIKE
And I hear right you’re hanging around with Peeps?
JIMMY
Was. But that’s just… she was just trying to help me out a bit. Give me a ride out of town before… well, before things went south.
BIG MIKE
You wanna give me the specifics?
JIMMY
Love to, but right now, I kind of need to stay out of sight. Is there somewhere we can talk?
BIG MIKE
Hmm… Let’s go back to the “Ring Game Poker” set. We’re got the whole Sunset Lounge blocked off for the show. Even some beds you can crash in. Shower. And we’ll have the bar to ourselves.
JIMMY
Wow, they closed the whole bar? Your show must be bringing in some big change.
BIG MIKE
Just shuffling dollars. Mutual back scratching. TV show promotes the site and hotel, hotel kicks in for production costs, network profits from advertising.
JIMMY
Sleep sounds absolutely amazing. And actually, I probably could use some of your old-guy wisdom, so…
BIG MIKE
Come on.
REMINGTON HOTEL – SUNSET LOUNGE
(QUIET ECHOES, EMPTY BAR)
MUSIC: RAT PACK-ERA SWING
BIG MIKE
Ah, Bobby’s still here. Evening, Bobby. Didn’t expect to see anyone back here at this hour.
BOBBY
Just cleaning up a bit. Need to go make some actual tip money. And help Vera up at the front bar. This gig’s great, but when the cameras are off, I’m not exactly rolling in customers. Still, happy to pour for you, Mr. Dalton.
BIG MIKE
It’s just Mike. Big Mike, if you’re into stage names.
BOBBY
I feel you’re always on stage, sir. So I’ll go with Big Mike.
BIG MIKE
What’ll it be, son?
JIMMY
Um, at this point I don’t much care.
SOUND: BARSTOOLS
BIG MIKE
(CALLING OUT)
Can we have two MacCutcheons over here? The eighteen-year.
(BACK TO JIMMY)
Might as well enjoy ourselves.
BOBBY
You got it.
JIMMY
You and Wiktoria. Obsessing over top-shelf Scotch. You do realize you’re wasting it on me, right?
BIG MIKE
Never a waste to share a fine Highland single malt with an old friend.
JIMMY
A friend? Certainly seems I’m moving up in the world.
SOUND: DRINKS BEING PLACED
BOBBY
Here you go.
BIG MIKE
Thanks, Bobby.
SOUND: CASH BEING PLACED ON THE BAR
BOBBY
Thank you, sir. Now you two enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you tomorrow… Big Mike.
BIG MIKE
You be sure to give Vera my best.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS LEAVING
SOUND: DOOR OPENING, CLOSING
JIMMY
So what’s with the sudden social acceptance?
BIG MIKE
What are you on about?
JIMMY
The other night you were… Well, I got the impression that, professional courtesy and avuncular wisdom aside, I wasn’t really… part of your crowd.
BIG MIKE
Ah, don’t put much stock in tripe folks like me and Hutch start spouting after a long night. We old-timers get bent out of shape over everything that’s changing. I know you’ve got a proper respect for tradition. Want to see you do all right for yourself.
JIMMY
Okay… thanks. I really… that really means…
BIG MIKE
So I gather Wiktoria was behind this?
JIMMY
I thought so at first, but now it doesn’t look like it. I mean, one of her goons did do the car bomb, set this whole thing off. You know her people?
BIG MIKE
Son, I ain’t been ’round the Limelight in a while, and even when I was I made a point to steer clear of folks like Wiktoria. So no, can’t say as I know her “people.” Hell, mostly only reckon her by reputation.
JIMMY
Probably better that way. Anyway, I was looking into this group of investors trying to buy the hotel. Only I ended up going down this rabbit hole of people covering up a murder, and feds holding someone in witness protection, I guess. That’s what I’m trying to noodle out. God, I need to get some sleep.
BIG MIKE
(TAKING A DRINK)
Hate to burst your bubble, but there’s a reason cops do the investigation thing for a living. Liable to end up spinning your wheels hunting shadows.
JIMMY
I know. Gonna have to talk to them soon anyway. Especially after… well, everything that happened today. But right now they think Wiktoria’s behind the car bombing, and they’ll probably tie her to the rest of it. Unless I can find something that says otherwise, they’re not gonna listen to anything else.
BIG MIKE
The other night you were hell-bent on escaping Wiktoria’s vile clutches. Now you’re aimin’ to clear her name? Life’s dealer just pushed you over a monster stack. Count yourself lucky and cash out.
JIMMY
Except I think she may actually be innocent on this.
BIG MIKE
(CHUCKLING)
One thing that hellcat ain’t is innocent.
JIMMY
I know, she’s done plenty of shady crap. Probably deserves to go down. But they killed a friend of mine with that bomb.
BIG MIKE
(BEAT)
That I am truly sorry to hear.
JIMMY
I got him into all this. Didn’t mean to, but it happened. And now I don’t have any choice but to make sure… well, not just him, but everything he was trying to help with, this dancer…
BIG MIKE
Suppose I can understand your predicament. Let’s look at it a different way. What’s your game plan?
JIMMY
Excuse me?
BIG MIKE
What’s your game plan? You thought things through? Say you do somehow manage to get your evidence. Or something of it, leastways. What do you do with it?
JIMMY
Well, I guess I was hoping I could take it to the police, get them to listen.
BIG MIKE
Strikes me as a mite short-sighted, ain’t it? Think about more than the immediate near term here. Bigger. All the double-dealing in this town, it’s gonna take a lot more than hope. Again, what’s your game plan?
JIMMY
Please, like you’ve got a plan.
BIG MIKE
You don’t get where I am, at my age, without a plan.
JIMMY
I don’t know, all right? Okay, I don’t have a plan. At the moment, I don’t know enough to make a plan. So yeah, tomorrow’s gonna have to take care of itself.
BIG MIKE
That’s kind of my point. Son, I’m not one to be all Mr. Negativity, but you think this is sounding kind of familiar? Kind of how we were talking the other night, ’bout how you’ve been just acting, day by day, without a thought to your future. How’s this different from how you’ve been living —
JIMMY
Because I’m choosing it. Deliberately. Look, like you said, I’ve been skating along, thinking somehow everything’ll go back to square. Get one real break and make it all right. Maybe it took all this to wake me up to reality, but I know that’s a delusion. My life’s not magically going to fix itself.
BIG MIKE
Sounds like a revelation.
JIMMY
Well, you’re not the only person trying to tell me that. Eventually, I guess it had to sink in. Now I know I’m gonna have to deal with a hell of a lot of crap for a hell of a long time. Still, I’m choosing to concentrate on this one thing. Then maybe I do run away. Or I stay and… I don’t know, work with Wiktoria. Or try and patch things up with my ex. Whatever I do, if I want to be able to make any decisions about tomorrow, I have to take care of today. That’s step one. And I’m taking it.
BIG MIKE
All right, son, all right, I hear you. Calm down. Ain’t up for startin’ a fuss. So what do you have?
JIMMY
Ah, nothing on the car bombing. A little on what’s going on with the feds, but nothing concrete on the dead woman. Just a bunch on their witness. Here.
SOUND: RUSTLING PAPERS
(A MOMENT OF SILENCE)
BIG MIKE
Jesus… They got Pete Sokolov.
JIMMY
Heh. He’s the mysterious “money man” I’d been looking for. Nothing to do with buying the Limelight Hotel.
BIG MIKE
(ABSENTLY)
UIGEA violations… state’s evidence… tomorrow…
JIMMY
So you know this guy?
BIG MIKE
Hmm? Oh, no, sorry… Just… just business… stuff.
JIMMY
You okay, Mike? I didn’t mean to go off on a rant. Clearly, I’m a little loopy. I just need some sleep. After that I really hope to pick your brain on how I can put together this whole big picture.
(TAKING A DRINK)
Oh, another thing. Peeps said you’re actually doing really well. Saving up for some big investment or something. So how come you told me —
BIG MIKE
Reason they call that girl “Peeps.” Talkin’ out her ass, as per usual.
JIMMY
(DEFENSIVELY)
Hey, Peeps is… Rachael is all right. Way better than I ever gave her credit for. I owe her a lot.
BIG MIKE
All right, all right. In any case, you want to find out the whole story — an’ I ain’t sayin’ I buy into your little theory — seems your first step’s to go back to the bombing. Track down this Watson character who killed your buddy Will. Someone put him up to it, you might be able to get him to tell you… What’s the matter, son? Look like you’ve seen a ghost.
MUSIC: SUSPENSE CUE
JIMMY
I… I didn’t tell you his name.
BIG MIKE
What? Whose name? Like I was saying, you’ve got to —
JIMMY
Watson. Wiktoria’s flunky. I never said his name. Come to think of it, I never mentioned Will either, to you or Hutch. And it’s not like you knew him.
BIG MIKE
What? You must have mentioned something. Like you said, you’re a mite loopy. Memory’s playing tricks. Happens to the best of us. Look, you go ahead to the production rooms, get your shuteye, and sure I’ll help you figure out where to go from there.
SOUND: STOOL PULLING OUT
JIMMY
Mike, I’m a professional poker player. I… I may not be a big-time veteran like you, but I’ve done all right for a reason. The hand I knocked you out with at the oh-nine Horse event. How’d it play out?
BIG MIKE
What the hell are you on about? I don’t —
JIMMY
Three of us in the hand — you, me, and a guy from Oklahoma. Flop’s king-eight-seven. Turn’s a two, river’s a three. Oklahoma checks and you go all-in. Somehow I just knew you’d been drawing for the straight and missed, and now you were trying to push me out. So I call. Oklahoma folds, even though he’s holding a king. I just had jack-high, but that held up against your five-six. You were out. In all honesty, that was the moment I knew I had what it takes to play for real. But more importantly, I remember the hand. Exactly.
BIG MIKE
All well and good, but what the hell does that —
JIMMY
Peeps may have crazy pattern recognition skills, but observation and memory — that’s what I bring to the table. Loopy or not, my memory doesn’t play tricks. And you know it.
BIG MIKE
(SIGHS)
Well, son. Guess you’ve got me there. Suppose this puts a little wrinkle into the situation, doesn’t it?
SOUND: GUN COCKING
JIMMY
Whoa, Mike, what’s with the gun?
BIG MIKE
Reserved for special occasions. And, unfortunately, this qualifies.
JIMMY
What the hell?
BIG MIKE
Colt eighteen fifty-one Navy cartridge conversion. Reproduction, sad to say, but damned accurate. Got it as an award, at a tournament in Texas. Don’t think they figured I’d end up using it for real. But, then again, it was Texas.
JIMMY
Well earned, I’m sure. Rattlesnake grips are a nice touch. Classy.
BIG MIKE
Relax, Jimmy. We just need to chat a bit. But I need to make sure I have your undivided attention.
JIMMY
Consider me attentive.
BIG MIKE
Son, you have no idea what kind of hornet’s nest you’ve kicked up. And right now, I don’t see a clear pathway out of it. For either one of us.
JIMMY
And yet you’re the one holding the pistol.
BIG MIKE
Yes, I do believe I am.
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 eight 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, Yasmin Tuazon as Rachael “Peeps” Leblanc, Kevin Murray as Bob “Hutch” Hutchinson, Joel Snyder as Big Mike Dalton, Daniel Rylee Bush as Larry and Bobby, Ricardo Padilla as Nicky, and Greg Jones Ellis as Frank — with additional voices by Anna Coughlan, William R. Coughlan, and Bjorn Munson.
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Recorded at Arlington Independent Media, with supplemental recording at Tohubohu Productions in Burke, Virginia.
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Music by Brooks Tegler, with special thanks to Don Lerman for providing supplemental music for this episode. For specific music information, see our show notes at jabber audio dot com.
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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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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 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
And the flop is… five of diamonds, four of diamonds, and three of hearts.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Next, the turn… two of spades.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
And the river… ace of clubs.
Text © William R. Coughlan, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.