Episode Transcript
Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale
“Outstanding Debts,” Part 1
INTRODUCTION
HOST
Welcome to Jabberwocky Audio Theater.
HOST
This podcast is made possible by listeners like you — thank you. Visit our website at JabberAudio.com/support to learn more, or go to Patreon.com/TeamJabberwocky.
RATING ANNOUNCER
The following audio theater is rated AD-PG, so parental guidance is suggested.
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
Throughout history, there has always been a chasm between the bulk of humanity and the enigmatic circle who hold true dominion. Those whose influence remains shrouded, save for the rare instances when their designs cross into the outside world…
(THEME MUSIC CONTINUES QUIETLY THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING SCENE)
QUORUM COUNCIL CHAMBER
(HEAVY REVERB, ALONG WITH A SLIGHT MECHANICAL HUM, AS IF IN A LABORATORY HOUSED WITHIN A MAHOGANY-LINED CHAMBER; VOICES ARE LARGELY EUROPEAN-ACCENTED)
MR. KING
… bringing expenditures to four-point-seven billion in adjusted dollars. Below budget allocation.
MS. ROOK
Nice to hear, Mr. King. All too rare an occurrence.
(SOFT LAUGHS AROUND THE ROOM)
MR. KING
Indeed, Ms. Rook. With that concluded, I move to close old business. All in favor?
FULL QUORUM
Aye.
MR. KING
So moved. Moving on to new business. Mr. Queen, where do we stand on Operation Repatriation?
SOUND: ASSORTED COMPUTER BEEPS AND CLICKS
(MR. QUEEN SPEAKS WITH A CULTURED, MIDDLE-EASTERN-ACCENTED VOICE)
MR. QUEEN
The full timeline’s detailed in the briefing document on your screens. Some minor deviations at Phase One, but for the most part, we’re within projections.
MS. KNIGHT
I didn’t know we were expecting deviations at this stage. I’d be careful to avoid any cascade effect.
MR. QUEEN
We did run into some unanticipated complications, Ms. Knight. But projections did anticipate the possibility of instability. Mr. Bishop?
MR. BISHOP
Approximately seven percent chance of deviation.
MR. KING
Certainly enough to absorb alternative arrangements, Mr. Queen. How does this affect expenditures?
MR. QUEEN
Since our outlay was limited, liability is minimized. At this stage, we’re almost budget-neutral.
MS. KNIGHT
Other than any cleanup of operational assets, no?
MR. QUEEN
Yes. But if you’ll look at the original briefing sheet, that was planned from the start. Moreover, as it happens that may not fall entirely to our team.
MS. KNIGHT
How so?
MR. QUEEN
We’ll need to see how events proceed, but several of our pawns are expected to neutralize each other…
(CONVERSATION CONTINUES, FADING BENEATH THE ANNOUNCER’S FOLLOWING SCENE)
MR. KING
Very well. Moving on to related business, how are we addressing the Lucas challenge?
MS. ROOK
Should all proceed according to plan, we do not anticipate primary action on our part. Mr. Bishop?
MR. BISHOP
Models show direct action will only be required should our current operation draw undue attention.
MR. KING
And are contingency allocations in place, Ms. Knight?
MS. KNIGHT
Expenditures have been set aside and initial overtures made, though we are holding on any explicit movement.
ANNOUNCERLAND
ANNOUNCER
Far removed from the clinical calculations of this council, the real-world repercussions of their schemes play out with dramatic results.
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents: Quorum: The Gambler’s Tale. Tonight’s presentation: “Outstanding Debts,” episode one.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
SHIP’S CARGO HOLD
(METALLIC ECHO, ALONG WITH MECHANICAL NOISE, BACKGROUND WAVES AND OCEAN AMBIANCE, AND DRIPPING WATER)
SOUND: ELECTRICAL ARCING
JIMMY
(SCREAMING IN AGONY)
Aaaargh!
INTERROGATOR
Okay, give him a second.
(THE FOLLOWING VOICEOVER IS CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE PRECEDING ACTION, DELIVERED WELL AFTER THE FACT. JIMMY HARMON’S DEMEANOR IS ANIMATED AND PERSONABLE, IN MARKED CONTRAST TO THE EVENTS AT HAND.)
JIMMY (V.O.)
Yeah, that screaming idiot’s me. Needless to say, you’re not exactly catching me at my best here. I swear, I’m trying to start at the beginning, but I keep coming back to this point.
INTERROGATOR
Well, Mr. Harmon. I suppose congratulations are in order. You have my undivided attention. Hit it again.
SOUND: ELECTRICAL ARCING
JIMMY
(STUTTERING IN PAIN)
Gggggggg!
JIMMY (V.O.)
Believe me, I’d rather be talking about pretty much anything at this point. Really, any situation where a car battery is hooked up safely within a car’s engine instead of… well, I’ll spare you the specifics… that’d be a winner in my book.
INTERROGATOR
I’d like to say we can keep at this amusing diversion all night, but to be honest, my patience is fairly well expended. So, Mr. Harmon. You answer one question and we can both end the evening happier.
JIMMY
Wha… Wha…
INTERROGATOR
Where is my money?
JIMMY
I… I swear… There isn’t any… Or wasn’t. I don’t know where…
INTERROGATOR
True to nature, once again you insist on forcing my hand. Continue, Alphonse.
SOUND: ELECTRICAL ARCING
JIMMY
(SCREAMING)
Aaa… Aaa… argh!
JIMMY (V.O.)
This is just getting awkward. I never claimed to be a hero, but still, you hope you’ll handle yourself better when it comes down to it, you know? Can’t picture John McClane pissing himself around now, hmm? Oh, my name’s Jimmy, by the by. Let’s see if I can start over…
(AMBIENT NOISE FADES OUT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
WILLIAM AND MARY – COMMON ROOM
(COLLEGE AMBIENT — STUDENT VOICES, DISTANT DOORS OPENING/CLOSING)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MUSIC: MID-2000S-STYLE ROCK
SOUND: POKER CHIPS RATTLING
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
Okay, I’ll see you… and raise you —
UPPERCLASSMAN 2
Nope, no string raises. You just called.
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
What are you talking about?
UPPERCLASSMAN 2
House rules are house rules. You get one move. Don’t get to waffle. Pay attention, Jimmy.
JIMMY
Um, sure thing.
JIMMY (V.O.)
Okay, that’s better. Now where was I? Ah, like I said, my name’s Jimmy. James Harmon. Sophomore year at William and Mary I started playing poker with a bunch of older guys. Mostly Texas Hold ’Em.
JIMMY
I’m all in.
SOUND: POKER CHIPS RATTLING
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
What?
UPPERCLASSMAN 2
Hey, you might want to slow down, Jimmy.
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
Action’s done. You just said, rules are rules. No take-backs. All right, I call. All in.
SOUND: CARDS FLIPPING
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
Next time, be more careful betting against two pair.
SOUND: POKER CHIPS RATTLING
SOUND: CARDS FLIPPING
JIMMY
This time, I figured enough to know a six-ten straight beats two pair.
SOUND: POKER CHIPS
UPPERCLASSMAN 1
What the hell?
UPPERCLASSMAN 2
Hah! Kid’s got a knack.
JIMMY
Just paying attention, like you said.
UPPERCLASSMAN 2
Here endeth the lesson. Grab another beer, Jimmy…
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
WILLIAM AND MARY – DORM ROOM
(SOFT COMPUTER HUM)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: COMPUTER KEYS CLICKING
JIMMY (V.O.)
I took to it quickly. My math background helped. They thought I’d be easy money, but I ended up raking in a lot of beer money that year. More than beer money.
ROOMMATE
Hey, Jimmy, you coming out to the Sig Ep party? Perry said his sister’s gonna show up.
JIMMY
Nah, I’m in the middle of a tournament here.
ROOMMATE
(DISMISSIVELY)
Whatever. Your loss. Playing computer games…
SOUND: DOOR CLOSING
SOUND: COMPUTER KEYS CLICKING
JIMMY (V.O.)
Mid- to late two thousands were a boom time for poker. But nobody predicted just how big online poker would be. They say poker’s about reading your opponent, and that’s true as far as it goes. But the big revelation was you didn’t need to see your opponent to read them. The biggest hints — or “tells” — aren’t in how the player acts, but how they bet.
JIMMY
Oh, yes. Boom! You are out, my friend!
JIMMY (V.O.)
In real life, you can only play against, say, nine players at any one time. But online, long as I had a decent-sized monitor, I could do six games at once. Just keep track of the bets my opponents were making, and make split-second decisions about how to play. It’s a science — running numbers and acting quickly.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
LOS ANGELES – CITY
(CITY SOUNDS, HAPPY PEOPLE)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MUSIC: BEACH ROCK
JIMMY (V.O.)
Next year, two semesters shy of a BBA in finance, and I was out. I like to say it was all my decision, but looking back, I guess I wasn’t devoting much time to my actual school work. It just wasn’t enticing. I was making way more than some random CPA out of school. A few weeks later, and I was set up in LA. ’Cause why not? Trade mid-Atlantic humidity for Southern California sunshine. Also, there was a girl, Robin. But that’s a longer story.
LOS ANGELES – APARTMENT
(CITY SOUNDS FADE AWAY TO BACKGROUND NOISE)
SOUND: COMPUTER KEYS CLICKING
JIMMY (V.O.)
For what you’d think is a solitary activity, it was amazing how many friends I made the next few years. Largely virtual, but I also went for the occasional live tournament. Mostly local cardrooms, but I’d head to Vegas when I could. That’s where I discovered the world of backing. People with cash to burn stake you for a share of your winnings. They mostly went for name players, but you could also find people who’d back online play, so long as you could show reliable winning stats. But for someone in my position, those people weren’t always as easy to find.
SOUND: COMPUTER KEYS CLICKING, FORCEFULLY
JIMMY
What the hell?
JIMMY (V.O.)
Things were fantastic for a while…
JIMMY
Account suspended? You have got to be kidding me! How the hell did they… Son of a bitch!
JIMMY (V.O.)
Right up until the moment they weren’t.
SOUND: CUT TO SILENCE
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – CASINO FLOOR
(BUSY CASINO AMBIENT — SLOTS, WHEELS, DICE, BELLS, CHEERS AND MOANS, PICKING OUT INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE ROOM)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
MUSIC: UPBEAT VEGAS-STYLE MUSIC
SLOTS WINNER
(STAGGERED/SIMULTANEOUS)
Hey, hot damn! Barry, jeez, bring your bucket over here! Hey, those are mine, lady…
CRAPS PLAYER
(STAGGERED/SIMULTANEOUS)
Come on, lemme see a seven! Blow on these, will you, sweetheart? No, on the dice. Well, that’s nice, too…
JIMMY (V.O.)
Which brings us to Las Vegas. Sin City, Glitter Gulch, Lost Wages… or as you might say, my new home. This was April of twenty-eleven. Big month in the world of professional poker, in case you follow that stuff.
ROULETTE PLAYER
(STAGGERED/SIMULTANEOUS)
Black, black, damn! Honey, quick, get me another hundred. I swear it, I’ve cracked the pattern…
BLACKJACK PLAYER
(STAGGERED/SIMULTANEOUS)
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
JIMMY (V.O.)
Back in the nineties, the suits tried to rebrand Vegas as a family destination. But once the casinos realized families were less likely to gamble, that plan went out the window. Last gasp was when the big water park shut down a few years back. So now it was back to being a strictly adult-entertainment mecca.
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – POKER ROOM
(AMBIANCE QUIETS AS WE MOVE INTO A SOMEWHAT MORE SECLUDED POKER ROOM)
SOUND: CASINO CHIPS CLICKING, CARDS SHUFFLING
POKER PLAYER
How much is that?
POKER DEALER
The bet is… nineteen hundred fifty.
POKER PLAYER
Ah, nope. Not this hand. Fold.
JIMMY (V.O.)
I still had my place in LA. But thanks to my unfortunate financial situation, things had become a lot tighter lately.
POKER DEALER
Bet is to you, sir.
DRUNK COWBOY
All right. Nobody gets rich being timid. Let’s play.
SOUND: CASINO CHIPS
COWGIRL
Ooh, nice one, honey bear.
JIMMY (V.O.)
There’s more to the back story than that, but in a nutshell, I’d been spending a lot more time fleecing rubes in live cash games lately. Which is a hell of a lot more tedious than playing six tables at once in the comfort of my own living room. Okay, bedroom.
POKER DEALER
And the bet is nineteen-fifty to you, sir.
JIMMY
(AFFECTING AN AUSTRALIAN ACCENT — BADLY)
Oh, no worries, mate. I’m all in.
JIMMY (V.O.)
Which may explain why I tended to get a little theatrical. And yeah, I know my accent sucks.
DRUNK COWBOY
Going over the top like that… You’re bluffing, ain’t you? Trying to win the deuce-seven prop bet. Got squat if I call you on it. Less’n you made the straight.
COWGIRL
Ooh, you got him all figured out, sweetie. I knew we were gonna win big tonight!
JIMMY
Have to pay to find out. Course, the kicks you’re holding, wouldn’t be surprised you want to stay in.
DRUNK COWBOY
Think you’re such a mind-reader.
(BEAT)
Hell, how much is it? Gimme a count.
POKER DEALER
Count is… twelve thousand, two hundred forty total.
DRUNK COWBOY
Dammit. Ain’t got enough behind to cover you… Hate playing with donkeys. Or hell, maybe you call ’em dingoes down where you come from. That what they do?
(BEAT)
I… I fold.
SOUND: CARDS FLIPPING
JIMMY
Thanks heaps.
SOUND: CASINO CHIPS
DRUNK COWBOY
So you ain’t holding the deuce-seven?
JIMMY
Bonzer for me if I was, but not this hand, mate. You can feel good ’bout keeping your folding cash safe for now. Buy yourself another fine hat like the one you’ve got there. Positively ripper, that hat.
COWGIRL
What’s going on, sweetums? How come you didn’t bet? Did we lose all them chips?
DRUNK COWBOY
Either this sumbitch Aussie hit his straight on the river, or he’s trying to hustle us. You hustling us?
JIMMY
Now, now. No need to whinge, Yank.
SOUND: CHAIR BEING PUSHED BACK
DRUNK COWBOY
(ANGRILY)
You calling me a Yankee now?
JIMMY
Whoa, no call for drama, mate. We’re just playing the game. Ye gave it a fair go.
DRUNK COWBOY
Then show what you got. Don’t tell me you didn’t have that queen. Damn well better have had the queen, else my trip kings were solid.
POKER DEALER
The player is under no obligation to —
DRUNK COWBOY
I ain’t talkin’ obligation. Common goddamn courtesy.
COWGIRL
You better watch out, little guy. My man can snap you in two. I seen him do it up in Reno one time.
POKER DEALER
Ma’am, I’ll have to ask you to please keep your comments civil…
JIMMY
Afraid the cards are a paid privilege. Now, no need to get mad as a cut snake. We’ve all done fair well, struth. Here, let’s get you another coldie and —
SOUND: CHAIR FALLING OVER
DRUNK COWBOY
You worthless little —
(WILL ARCHER’S DEEP, STRONG VOICE IS CLEARLY INTIMIDATING, IMMEDIATELY COMMANDING RESPECT.)
WILL
Is there a problem here, gentlemen?
DRUNK COWBOY
What’s it to… Whoa, you’re a big feller.
WILL
Will Archer. I’m the floorman. Just want to make sure everyone’s having a good time, no misunderstandings.
JIMMY
(QUICKLY)
No, no problem at all —
DRUNK COWBOY
Oh, hell, yeah, there’s a problem. This Australian sumbitch is hustling me. All of us.
WILL
Sir, you want to be careful with the accusations. Now, if there’s a violation of casino or gaming rules, I’m happy to… Jimmy? Jimmy Harmon?
DRUNK COWBOY
Wait, I thought you said your name was —
JIMMY
G’day, Will. Long time, no see. Lost weight? Must be two, three stone light from when I saw you last.
WILL
Um… we’re going to straighten this out.
(CALLING OUT)
Polhaus, cover me? And see to it this couple has an upgrade to their accommodations tonight
(QUIETLY)
You — cash out. Now.
JIMMY
But I’m just now getting —
WILL
(URGENTLY)
Now, I said. Want me to get the pit manager?
JIMMY
Fine, fine.
SOUND: GATHERING CASINO CHIPS
JIMMY
Here, for your trouble. G’day, all!
POKER DEALER
Thank you, sir.
DRUNK COWBOY
Sweet cheeks, we’re getting an upgrade!
COWGIRL
Ooh, are we gonna see all the pretty lights out our window? I wanna look at the Eye-full tower!
(CONVERSATION CONTINUES, FADING BENEATH THE FOLLOWING SCENE)
DRUNK COWBOY
Honey, I told you before, you can’t see the Eiffel tower from here. Wrong side of the strip.
COWGIRL
But I thought you said we were gonna get to see it.
DRUNK COWBOY
Not from here. Once we win, we can try that other place, the Belle Époque. You can see it from there.
COWGIRL
What can we see from here?
DRUNK COWBOY
The cartoon castle place. And I think you can see the Pyramid. Or the Empire State Building.
COWGIRL
The real one?
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – CASINO FLOOR
(BACKGROUND AMBIANCE RISES AS WILL AND JIMMY WALK THROUGH THE CASINO PROPER)
JIMMY
(DROPPING THE ACCENT)
Dammit, Will, what the hell are you doing? I’m on a seriously hot run.
WILL
Saving your narrow ass. Fact we go back’s only thing stopping me tossing you right out on the pavement. What the hell you doin’ here of all places? Jesus.
JIMMY
I’m just playing a little poker. That is what I do. Since when is —
WILL
Just playing, my ass. Think that goofball haircut’s fooling anyone? Or the stupid-ass accent? Damn, might as well paste on a cheap mustache and mirror shades.
JIMMY
Hey, I’ve been working on that accent since Hachem won the Main Event over Dannenmann back in oh-five. Seven-three off, then takes it with a seven-high straight over aces.
(SHOUTING)
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
AUSTRALIAN GAMBLERS
(DISTANT)
Oi! Oi! Oi!
JIMMY
See, they get it. That was the first World Series of Poker I ever saw, back in school. Freshman year and I was just starting to —
WILL
(BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED)
Dammit, will you stop drawing attention to yourself?
JIMMY
And what do you mean my haircut’s goofball? It’s not like you noticed me.
WILL
Sure as hell did once you started making a scene. And I’m not motivated like everyone’s favorite gangster Ms. Sałkiewicz. Oh, did you forget about her? Aw, damn, speaking of which…
JIMMY
What?
WILL
Just get behind me, dumb-ass! They’re on to you.
SOUND: ROUGH SHOVING, FABRIC RUSTLING
JIMMY
What? Who? Jeez, you really are big. Where the hell do you even get a jacket this size?
WILL
Shut up!
(APPROACHING COMMOTION, GENERAL BUSTLING AS PEOPLE ARE PUSHED ASIDE)
CRICK
Excuse me.
WATSON
Coming through. Out of the way!
CRICK
Come on. He’s back at the high-stakes tables.
WATSON
I know. Ferret with the goofy haircut.
CRICK
Well don’t do anything dumb. Just need to catch him.
(NOISES FADE AS THE PAIR MOVE PAST)
WILL
All right, move. Now. Here, through zombieland.
SOUND: SLOT MACHINES
(CACOPHONY CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGE)
JIMMY
Can’t believe they didn’t see me. Good thing you’re huge. Course, so are those two. Who the hell are they anyway?
WILL
Wiktoria’s muscle. Actually used to play against one of them back in school. Name of Wilmer Crick. Defensive line. Major asshat back then, too, only not so much armed. His buddy’s Watson. Even nastier, if that’s possible. Through here, quick.
JIMMY
Wha… easy!
JIMMY (V.O.)
The Limelight Hotel and Casino — my current fishing hole — had seen better days. But somehow it managed to survive among its newer, more high-profile Vegas Strip neighbors. If you were the nostalgic type, it scored in having a touch of old-Vegas appeal — but also more than its share of old-Vegas characters.
WILL
Should be clear for now. Damn, Jimmy, do you live your whole damn life in denial? You’re not immortal. There’s cameras everywhere here, fool. Wiktoria may not run this place anymore, but she’s still got a big damn interest in it. Half of security’s on her direct payroll. As in “off the books” payroll. Get it?
JIMMY
Knuckle-draggers couldn’t find their asses with both hands. And me with my clever disguise. Not goofball. Look, Will, Wiktoria’s just ticked ’cause my assets are locked. Soon as that’s cleared, I’m flush.
WILL
That’s a damn crock. And if I know that, you can be sure Wiktoria does. Get your crap, get out of town.
JIMMY
What? No way! Like I said, I’m hot.
WILL
No, you’re not. You’re busted. Even if Wiktoria hasn’t found you, sure as hell you’re flagged. Damn lucky you could keep what you got so far. Run’s over.
JIMMY
Dammit, Will. I need this.
WILL
What you need is to be gone. Now. Hell, I wouldn’t even hit the cages at this point, if I was you. Worry about that later.
JIMMY
Son of a… Fine. Just gotta pop upstairs real quick.
WILL
(STUNNED)
Tell me you’re not dumb enough to be staying here.
JIMMY
Pfft, not under my own name.
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – LOBBY
(MORE SUBDUED AMBIANCE; THE CASINO CAN STILL BE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND)
MUSIC: HOTEL LOBBY SMOOTH JAZZ
WILL
Christ, Jimmy, you know how many sorry chumps ended up with a matched set of busted kneecaps underestimating Wiktoria? You need to get to the coast, or whatever rock you’re hiding under these days. Now. You have no idea what she’s capable of.
JIMMY
Don’t worry, Will. On my way. Consider me gone. Oh, before I leave town, I need to find Big Mike. I thought he’d be here. Seen him around?
SOUND: ZIPPO LIGHTER OPENING
WILL
Big Mike Dalton? Why you want to drag him — Jesus!
JIMMY
What? Come on, you’re not going to start with the evils of cigarette smoke lecture, are you?
WILL
No, it’s… you know there’s no smoking in the lobby. Supposed to be bunch of big-time investors coming through this week. Maybe a chance billionaire Benny Hazred’s gonna pay a visit. Whole staff is on… Jesus, will you quit waving that thing around?
JIMMY
What are you… Wait, the lighter? You’re not…
SOUND: LIGHTER FLAME WAVING AROUND
JIMMY
Oh my god. You’re… this freaks you out, doesn’t it?
WILL
Screw you.
JIMMY
It does. Big guy like you. Hah. Never would have pictured it. Watch out! Fire!
SOUND: LIGHTER FLICKING SHUT
WILL
There’s a lot you don’t know about me. And after what you pulled before you left last time, I wouldn’t hold your breath finding out. Me and Emily got a place in Summerlin now. Working double shifts paying off a swimming pool, so I am not about to get sucked into whatever drama you got goin’ on this week.
JIMMY
Seriously? You? A pool? Why?
WILL
What do you mean, why?
JIMMY
I just didn’t think you’d be able to… never mind.
WILL
Oh, hell, no. You are not saying a black man can’t swim, are you? I happen to be a very good swimmer.
JIMMY
What? No! I didn’t think former linemen could swim. Jeez, can you even get your arms up over your head?
WILL
I’m limber, man.
JIMMY
I’m sure, I’m sure. Sorry I brought it up.
WILL
Anyway, I thought you had a woman to talk some sense into that thick skull of yours. Robin, isn’t it? Where the hell is she in all of this?
JIMMY
(BEAT)
Um… we’re not… Well, we haven’t talked in about two, three months now. Her father’s got more than a little problem with his daughter’s choice in men.
WILL
Meaning you. Yeah, I can see that.
JIMMY
Hey, a little friendly support here.
WILL
Only so far I can go.
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – OUTSIDE
(STREET AMBIENCE; TRAFFIC, CROWDS)
WILL
All right, we managed to avoid the goon squad. Now get gone.
JIMMY
But my stuff is —
WILL
I’ll figure out how to get it to you. Go. Now.
JIMMY
Wait, so about Big Mike…
WILL
What makes you think a veteran player like Mike Dalton wants to get dragged into your BS?
JIMMY
Me and Big Mike go way back. Got to know each other after I knocked him out of the three-thousand-dollar Horse event in the oh-nine Series. Besides, he owes me after I staked him in last year’s PLO event. Peeps owes me, too, off a sick prop bet, but she’s probably a lost cause. Who doesn’t she owe?
WILL
Whatever. Haven’t seen Mike around lately. Most of the old guard’s gone. But now that he’s heading up the All-In Poker site, he might be holding court up at the Remington, off Fremont. They’re taping a whole slew of those “Ring Game Poker” TV shows this week.
JIMMY
Thanks, Will.
WILL
Do not be thanking me. My involvement ends here. Oh, and I’m pretty sure Hachem won with queens over tens.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING
JIMMY
No way. You’re thinking Jamie Gold in oh-six. Started with queen-nine off, then paired on the flop with —
(AMBER IS A TYPICAL SMALL-TOWN GIRL HOPING TO BE A STAR; STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT CLEARLY SCARED)
AMBER
Will?
WILL
Amber? What the hell are you doing here? Don’t you have the Lyon Majestic show tonight?
AMBER
Show’s done for tonight. I came over as soon as we finished. Snuck out. Probably did a crappy job with the makeup, but I was… I just had to hurry.
WILL
Don’t worry about it. Oh, Amber, this is Jimmy. Jimmy, Amber.
JIMMY
Pleased to meet you.
AMBER
I think I’m in big trouble, Will. I need help. Bad. And you’ve always been…
WILL
What is it?
AMBER
I don’t… don’t feel safe all exposed here. I mean, it’s probably not… Is there somewhere we can talk?
WILL
Hang on a sec. Yeah, yeah, of course, just let me finish with… Jimmy? Aw, dammit.
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – LOBBY
MUSIC: HOTEL LOBBY SMOOTH JAZZ
JIMMY (V.O.)
Hated ditching Will like that. He was trying to help, but I couldn’t exactly get very far without my stuff. Wouldn’t take long — I always keep my stuff together, pack light. I’d make it up to him later.
SOUND: ELEVATOR BELL
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOORS CLOSE
MUSIC: SOFT MUZAK-STYLE JAZZ
JIMMY (V.O.)
Will wasn’t really off base. I’d been dodging a few people, most notably a semi-reformed Polish hood by the name of Wiktoria Sałkiewicz, but I knew eventually that was gonna bite me in the ass.
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – HALLWAY
(QUIET, SOME LATE-NIGHT BACKGROUND)
SOUND: ELEVATOR DOORS OPEN
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS WALKING DOWN HALLWAY
JIMMY (V.O.)
Still, I figured if I could build up a decent bankroll, I’d have enough clout to at least get her to listen. Give me a chance to get back what I owed. Then maybe put the rest of my life back on track.
SOUND: DIALING CELL PHONE
JIMMY
Robin… It’s Jimmy. I know we didn’t leave things… well, you know. And I know it’s… jeez, almost one in the morning right now. Sorry… I was just talking with an old friend, and… I just kind of wanted to hear your voice. Call me.
SOUND: PHONE HANGING UP
JIMMY
Damn.
SOUND: HOTEL KEY SWIPE, CHIRP
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
LIMELIGHT HOTEL – JIMMY’S ROOM
(SHUFFLING AS JIMMY MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH THE DOOR)
JIMMY (V.O.)
Anyway, I was up a bit tonight, so it wasn’t a total bust. And I’d probably get something from Big Mike. Maybe Peeps, but I didn’t have high hopes there. Hit one of the out-of-the-way spots before leaving town. Smaller stakes, but more likely off Wiktoria’s radar.
SOUND: DOOR CLOSING
(WIKTORIA SPEAKS WITH AN EASTERN-EUROPEAN ACCENT, EXUDING A CONFIDENCE BORNE OF POWER)
WIKTORIA
Cześć, James.
SOUND: DOOR OPENING
SOUND: RUSTLING NOISES, STRUGGLING
WIKTORIA
And welcome back, Mr. Crick. Mr. Watson. I see your trip to the casino floor has borne fruit.
JIMMY
(AWKWARDLY)
Wiktoria… Hey, I was just looking for you.
WIKTORIA
Then I have made things easier for us both. I was so hoping you and me and my friends here could have a little chat.
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 one 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, James E. Lewis as Will Archer, Aimee Thibert as Amber, Nick DePinto as the Drunk Cowboy, Schuyler Atkins as the Cowgirl, Christopher Walker as Wilmer Crick, Alex Stinson as Watson, Mike Bernal, Yasmin Tuazon and William R. Coughlan as college students, and Lydia Kraniotis as Wiktoria Sałkiewicz and the Poker Dealer — with Pete Papageorge as Mr. King, Joel Snyder as Mr. Queen, Faith Potts as Ms. Rook, Anna Fitzgerald as Ms. Knight, Brian Crane as Mr. Bishop, Pete Papageorge as the Interrogator, and additional voices by Mike Bernal, Anna Coughlan, William R. Coughlan, Brian Crane, James E. Lewis, Bjorn Munson, Kevin Murray, and Yasmin Tuazon.
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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 The Crème, MoriTaT and 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)
SECRET DEALER
All in pre-flop…
SOUND: DOUBLE-TAP ON THE TABLE
SOUND: CARD BURN, THREE CARDS DEALT
SECRET DEALER
And the flop is… ace of hearts, three of spades, and five of spades.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
Next, the turn… two of clubs.
SOUND: CARD BURN, ONE CARD DEALT
SECRET DEALER
And the river… six of diamonds.
CONCLUSION
HOST
Hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Text © William R. Coughlan, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.