Cincinnati Kid

Shooter:
Melba, why do you do that?

Melba:
So it'll fit, stupid.

Shooter:
No, I'm not talking about that. What I'm asking is... do you, uh, have to cheat at everything?

Melba:
At everything?

Shooter:
Yes. At... solitaire. I've yet to see you play one game of solitaire without cheating.

Melba:
So what?

Shooter:
Look, you're just cheating yourself, don't you understand? You'll be the loser, no one else but yourself! ...You've ruined the puzzle, now, that doesn't go in there.

Melba:
Does now.

Shooter:
Hey, why are you doing this? It can't be for money.

Slade:
Yes, for my kind of money, gut money. I wanta to see that smug old bastard gutted. Gutted!

Shooter:
Like he gutted you.

Slade:
Yes, that's right, that's right!

Lancey Howard:
Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time.

Cincinnati Kid:
Is that what it's all about?

Lancey Howard:
Like life, I guess. You're good, kid, but as long as I'm around you're second best. You might as well learn to live with it.

Cincinnati Kid:
Listen, Christian, after the game, I'll be The Man. I'll be the best there is. People will sit down at the table with you, just so they can say they played with The Man. And that's what I'm gonna be, Christian.

Christian:
I know.

Cincinnati Kid:
You call that an argument?

Slade:
No, that's a fact. The argument's leaning over there against the door jamb.

Slade:
How the hell did you know I didn't have the king or the ace?

Lancey Howard:
I recollect a young man putting the same question to Eddie the Dude. "Son," Eddie told him, "all you paid was the looking price. Lessons are extra."

Slade:
Six stacks, is that right, Shooter?

Shooter:
Six.

Slade:
Well, we've been playing 30 hours... uh, that rate, six thousand, that makes roughly, uh, $200 an hour. Thank you for the entertainment, gentlemen. I am particularly grateful to Lancey, here; it's been a rewarding experience to watch a great artist at work. Thank you for the privilege, sir.

Lancey Howard:
Well now, you're quite welcome, son. It's a pleasure to meet someone who understands that to the true gambler, money is never an end in itself, it's simply a tool, as a language is to thought. Good evening, uh, ...Mr. Slade.

Slade:
Good evening, Mr. Howard.