The Gambler

Hips:
[following the big college basketball game, in which Spencer Lewis has shaved points for the Mafia to pay off Axel's gambling debt]... Okay, we're in the clear. In fact, you might just have a couple of favors coming your way.

Axel Freed:
How's that? What do you mean?

Hips:
What are you, naive? This Lewis kid's got maybe a year or two left before he makes the NBA. You think my friends are gonna let him just slip through their fingers, after a night like this?

Axel Freed:
He did it for ME. He won't do it again.

Hips:
Ah, quit lying to yourself. Once you ain't a virgin no more, you're a whore till you die.

Axel Freed:
I'm not going to lose it. I'm going to gamble it.

Hips:
The only thing that's standing between your skull and a baseball bat is my word.

Jimmy:
They don't give out no prizes at the half-time Axel.

Axel Freed:
[dealer goes to reveal card] Hold it!

Billie:
You're crazy.

Axel Freed:
Blessed.

Axel Freed:
Double it.

Las Vegas Dealer:
You want to double on eighteen sir?

Axel Freed:
Yes. [pauses] Gimme the three.

Hips:
Forty-four thousand dollars, Axel. It ain't just numbers.

Hips:
Listen, I'm gonna tell you something I never told a customer before. Personally, I never made a bet in my life. You know why? Because I've observed firsthand what with seeing the different kinds of people that are addicted to gambling - what we would call degenerates. I've noticed there's one thing that makes all of them the same. You know what that is?

Axel Freed:
Yes. They're all looking to lose.

Hips:
You mean you know that!