DEAD MANS HAND

Caught up in a grizzly betrayal, Daisy needs

all her wits to take her revenge.

EXT. CITY STREET. NIGHT

Chicago, 1925. Its a cold night in the Windy City.
A light fog blankets a city street dotted with vintage cars.
The city sounds are muted by the fog. Theres not much
traffic: a handsome cab ambles by without any passengers,
the horses breath steaming on the air; a couple dressed for
a party walk briskly by, arm-in-arm, eager to get indoors.
Enter DAISY (30 years old), dressed to the nines in a
long-sleeved evening dress and fur coat. She walks with
purpose, but without hurry. She approaches a coffee shop
with the banner "IRISH JOES" over the door; although there
are no lights on and a sign on the door says "CLOSED", she
opens the door (A BELL announcing her arrival) and enters.
INT. IRISH JOES. NIGHT
Daisy stops as the door closes behind her, taking the city
sounds with it. The room is dark, the tables empty; the
glass counter-top displays devoid of food, and the coffee
pots scrubbed clean. Daisy peers through the gloom.
DAISY
Hello? Nicky?
On the far side of the room is a door, only discernible by
the light spilling from underneath it. Daisy starts to walk
towards the door, taking it slow in the dark.
CREEEAAAK! Daisy steps on a loose floorboard, and a shadow
cuts across the light under the door, and then is gone.
Unnerved, Daisy slows, but keeps advancing.
DAISY (CONTD)
Nicky? Is that you?
Daisy reaches for the handle. She grabs it and turns...
Suddenly, the door flies open and Daisy SHRIEKS at the sight
of a large man holding a gun standing before her.
The LAUGHTER of several men erupts from inside the room.
Daisy looks up at the large man and sees HANK (25), dressed
in a grey suit and tie, white shirt, black shoes and grey
fedora, and grinning ear to ear. Daisy punches his chest.
DAISY (CONTD)
DAMMIT, Hank! You scared the life
outta me!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

HANK
Sorry, Daisy.
Hank is clearly not sorry, but Daisys anger quickly fades
as she pushes past him. Hank puts his gun away.
INT. STORE ROOM. NIGHT
A single bulb hangs over a round, green felt-covered table.
Four men sit around the table, all wearing waistcoats,
shirts and pants, with jackets draped over the backs of
their chairs. A couple wear ties, loosened at the neck. In
front of each man sits a stack of poker chips, and there is
a stack in the middle of the table. The air is heavy with
cigar smoke, making it difficult to see the sacks of coffee
beans and crates of whiskey against the walls.
The men CHUCKLE as Daisy enters. She peels off her gloves.
DAISY
You jerks.
MIKE (35) leans back in his chair.
MIKE
Dont be mad, doll-face. We thought
you was the cops.
A fresh round of laughter. Hank starts to take Daisys coat.
DAISY
Call me doll-face again and youll
need em, buster.
A few "oooohs" and more laughter. Hank hangs the coat, sits
down and starts to shuffle a deck of cards. REGGIE (31) dons
a mock-serious expression.
REGGIE
So what should we call you, then,
mlady?
Daisy smiles sweetly and extends her hand; Reggie takes it.
DAISY
Daisy Saint Claire. (sarcastic)
Charmed, Im sure!
Mike takes the cigar from his mouth and leans forward.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.
MIKE
Oh yeah, youre Nickys girl...
from Atlantic City, right?
DAISY
Thats right. Oh hey, Chuck!

Daisy has noticed CHUCK (28) on the far side of the table.
He smiles faintly.
REGGIE
I heard you worked tables at the
Marlborough.
DAISY
Fastest hands in the county.
MIKE
You were a dealer?
Daisy cocks an eyebrow and takes the cards from Hank.
DAISY
What, you sayin a girl cant know
her way round a deck o cards?
Daisy takes half of the deck in each hand, then expertly
combines the halves with an elaborate shuffle. She continues
to shuffle and cut the deck in various ways, to the
bewilderment of the assembled men.
DAISY (COND)
When your Dad hustles Three Card
Monte down the pier, you pick up a
thing or two.
HANK
I guess a girls gotta make a
livin somehow, huh?
Daisy sighs and hands the cards back to Hank.
DAISY
Not this girl. Nicky wont let me
get a job here - says it aint
decent.
MIKE
Thats our Nicky.
DAISY
Well, where is he? If I dont pay
my landlord, my decent patootie is
out on the street.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

Reggie frowns, confused.

REGGIE
Aint he with you? Chuck said you
was meetin down the arcade.
Daisy shakes her head.
DAISY
Nicky said nothin about the
arcade. He told me he was meetin
you guys for your game. Chuck?
All eyes turn to Chuck, who smiles and spreads his hands.
CHUCK
Hey listen, I only said what Nicky
told me. He was here, but he left
before you guys showed up, said he
had to meet some broad.
Chuck looks apologetically at Daisy.
CHUCK (COND)
I, uh... I just figured he meant
you...
Daisy takes this in, her face betraying little but her body
tensing up, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow.
DAISY
Figures. Who wants a broad of 30
with all them debs in line, huh?
The men look to each other, clearly uncomfortable, and then
Mike clears his throat.
MIKE
Well, we aint never seen such a
fine chassis, right boys? Listen,
sweetheart, its real cold out. Why
dont you stay a while?
REGGIE
Uh, yeah! You could deal for us!
Hank aint that good.
HANK
Hey!
Reggie glares hard at Hank, who softens. Daisy composes
herself, swiping the corner of her eye with her hand.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.
DAISY
Thats all right, fellas. Ill get
out of your hair in a minute. I
just gotta freshen up.
REGGIE
Oh, uh, down there and on the left.

Reggie points to a door at the back of the room. Daisy

smiles faintly and walks with dignity through the door.
INT. HALLWAY. NIGHT
Daisy walks down the hall, lit only by the light spilling
from the store room behind her and the washroom ahead.
Stacked against the walls are more sacks and crates, which
Daisy has to squeeze past. In a daze, she passes the
washroom door, and stops several steps past it. She turns,
leans back against the wall and brings a hand to her mouth.
Doubling over, Daisy sobs quietly for several seconds.
Then, with a CRY of rage, Daisy lurches forward, kicks the
sacks and crates and pounds the wall with her fists. She
drags the sacks from the wall and topples them to the floor.
Her anger spent, Daisy stands breathing heavily.
Daisy looks around at her handiwork. She stands up,
straightens her clothes, steels herself and starts to pull
the sacks back into place.
She grabs a sack and then lets it go in disgust. She
examines her left hand, finding it covered in a sticky dark
liquid. She looks down and sees a small puddle of this on
the floor next to the sack. Daisy looks back down the
corridor; the men are out of sight, their laughter haunting
in the gloom. Daisy looks back down and, slowly,
tentatively, moves the sack. It refuses to budge at first,
so she gives it a heave!
The lifeless arm and face of NICKY (31) tumble out from
behind the shifting sacks. Nickys eyes are open below the
bullet wound in his forehead.
Daisys eyes go wide and she recoils. Shes about to scream!
A hand covers her mouth, smothering the scream, and an arm
grabs her waist. Daisy struggles, but her attacker is
strong; her muffled screams are lost in the darkness.
The attacker suddenly
keeping one hand over
the other. Daisy sees
as he brings it close

shoves Daisy back against the wall;

her mouth, and producing a gun with
the gun first, and then Chucks face
to hers.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

6.

CHUCK
Ssshhh, ssshhh.
Daisy stops struggling, her wide eyes flicking back and
forth between Chuck and the gun. Chuck smiles.
CHUCK
Nicky said you was a live wire.
Daisy looks back down at Nicky.
CHUCK (CONTD)
I didnt want to kill him.
Daisy looks back at Chuck.
CHUCK (CONTD)
But hed found me out, see? He said
he wouldnt tell nobody... but how
do you trust a guy with that? Huh?
Daisys eyes show she has no idea what Chuck is talking
about. Shes afraid; tears spill down her cheeks as she
looks back down the hallway; laughter from the poker game
drifts down, but its so very far away.
CHUCK (CONTD)
Now... youre gonna come back in,
sit down, and keep your big. Trap.
Shut. Cause if you dont...
Chuck caresses Daisys cheek with the gun barrel; she cant
move, but closes her eyes against the touch.
CHUCK (COND)
Im gonna put a bullet between
those pretty little eyes. Get me?
Daisy opens her eyes and fixes them squarely on Chucks; she
nods. After a beat, Chuck nods too, and releases her. Daisy
takes a quick breath, and then almost loses it.
DAISY
Nicky Chucks expression turns hard.
CHUCK
Forget him! Worry about yourself...
Chuck looks down and grabs Daisys blood-covered hand by the
wrist. He tilts his head towards the washroom.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.
CHUCK (COND)
Wash up quick. And dont try
anythin funny.

Daisy nods quickly, and with a last look at Nicky, moves

into the washroom. Keeping an eye on her, Chuck starts to
conceal Nickys body once more.
INT. WASHROOM. NIGHT
Daisy scrubs her hands, watching the blood come off. She
casts a glance back at Chuck and stops scrubbing, looking up
at her reflection in the mirror above the basin. Her eyes
show a hint of steel; she turns off the faucet.
INT. STORE ROOM. NIGHT
Daisy re-enters the poker room, Chuck a step behind.
HANK
Come on!
REGGIE
Im tellin ya, its an all spade
flush.
HANK
Its four aces and a king. Like,
its a hand!
Hank raises his hand, fingers spread wide. Chuck moves an
extra chair to the table next to his.
REGGIE
That doesnt even make sense!
Mike looks up at Daisy with a wry smile.
MIKE
You done wreckin the joint?
Daisy nods meekly.
REGGIE
What do you think, Chuck?
Chuck looks at Daisy, indicating she should should sit.
CHUCK
What do I think about what?
Daisy sits, and Chuck starts to take his own seat.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

REGGIE
Whats the "Dead Mans Hand"?
CHUCK
The what?
MIKE
Dead Mans Hand. Its some famous
poker hand, but we dont know DAISY
Aces and eights.
All eyes turn to Daisy, who is staring down at the table.
REGGIE
What?
Daisy looks up at Reggie, and then around at the men.
DAISY
Some cowboy got shot while he was
playin poker, and thats what he
had. Two pair. Aces and eights.
The men look suitably impressed. Daisy looks at Hank.
DAISY
Mind if I deal for a while? Take my
mind offa things.
Hank looks at the other guys, finds no argument, and nods.
HANK
Sure thing, Daisy.
Hank hands her the cards. Daisy cuts the deck and goes to do
her elaborate shuffle. A slight tremor, and the cards spill
onto the table. Stifled chuckles from the men; Daisy glances
at Chuck, who casts her a threatening glare. She gathers the
cards and then begins to shuffle.
DAISY
So, uh... whats the game?
Mike sighs and leans back in his chair.
MIKE
Dealers choice, sweetheart.
Daisy nods thoughtfully as the men put in their ante.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.
DAISY
Five card stud. Aces high or low,
no wilds.

Daisy deals each man in turn a card face down, then each a
card face up. She looks up through her eyelashes at Chuck,
who has an ace. Hank throws some chips in.
HANK
Ten.
Reggie throws down his cards, as Mike throws in some chips.
REGGIE
Fold.
MIKE
Call.
Chuck drums his fingers on the table and reluctantly throws
some chips in.
CHUCK
Yeah, Im in.
Daisy deals face-up cards to Hank, Mike and - gingerly - to
Chuck. Chuck now has an ace and a three.
HANK
Check
Mike, showing off-suited queen and seven, throws in chips.
MIKE
Twenty.
Chuck looks at his cards and then at Daisy.
CHUCK
Aces high or low, right?
DAISY
Right.
Chuck looks smugly at Mike and throws in some chips.
CHUCK
I raise another twenty.
HANK
Im out.
Mike looks hard at Chuck, then smirks, throws in chips.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

MIKE
Thats either a bad bluff, or
youre just a bad player. Either
way, I call.
Mike throws in his chips, and Daisy deals out more cards;
Mike now has queen/seven/four. Daisy clears her throat as
she puts the next card in front of Chuck; its an eight;
Chuck is showing ace/three/eight. Mike looks at his cards,
then at Chuck.
MIKE
Check.
Chuck considers his chips, grabs some. Reggie, taking a
drink from a hip-flask, sees Chucks cards and laughs.
REGGIE
Hey look, aces and eights!
Chuck looks sidelong at Reggie.
CHUCK
What you say?
DAISY
Hes sayin you got the Dead Mans
Hand, Chuck.
Chuck looks at Daisy, who is staring right at him. Alarm
creeps into his eyes. Daisy smiles, then looks down.
DAISY (CONTD)
Well... almost...
Mike frowns at this, looking at Daisy, and then at Chuck,
who is starting to look nervous.
MIKE
You bettin?
Chuck looks at Mike, and then down at the card in his hand.
CHUCK
Nah, I, uh... Im gonna fold.
HANK
What?!

REGGIE
You crazy?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.
MIKE
I didnt bet anything, Chuck.
CHUCK
Yeah, I, I aint feelin too good -

Mike turns to Daisy.

MIKE
Deal the last one.
DAISY
Are you sure? He said he folded MIKE
I said deal it!
Daisy turns up two more cards. Mike gets a three; Daisy very
deliberately sets Chucks last card down on the table...
its another eight. Mike is livid; he throws his first card
onto the table, face-up, and stares daggers at Chuck.
MIKE
Ive got a pair of threes. What
have you got, Chuck?
Chuck stammers meekly; Mike surges up and forward, grabs the
card out of Chucks hand, looks at it, and throws it down on
the table.
MIKE
I knew it! Youre both in on this!
Mike turns his anger on Daisy.
DAISY
I dont know what youre talkin
about Reggies getting angry too; he turns on Daisy.
REGGIE
Oh sure, youre a regular card
sharp one minute, and then youre
droppin em the next.
Reggie grabs Daisys wrist; lifting her hand. She has
another ace up her sleeve.
REGGIE (CONTD)
I wonder why, huh?!
Mike turns from Daisy to Chuck, and starts moving around the
table towards him.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.
MIKE
I oughta knock you flat!

Chuck quickly stands up, knocking over his chair.

CHUCK
Now, now, wait a minute!
Daisy stands, trying to shake Reggies grasp. Hank stands,
looking at Daisy, more confused than angry.
HANK
Whyd you do it, Daisy?
Daisy struggles, but Reggie traps her against the wall. She
points at Chuck, whos backing away from Mike.
DAISY
Chuck made me do it!
Chuck looks right at her, fuming.
CHUCK
You lyin bitch!
Chuck reaches into his jacket. Daisys eyes go wide.
DAISY
Hes got a gun! Do somethin!
Chuck draws his gun and aims it at the advancing Mike.
MIKE
Christ!
Chuck FIRES and hits Mike in the arm. Chuck turns his gun
towards Daisy, murder in his eyes. He pulls the trigger...
BANG! Stunned, Chuck looks down to see a bloody hole in his
chest. He looks up at Daisy, then falls, dead. Daisy turns
to Hank, whos smoking gun is pointed at where Chuck was
standing. Hank looks back. Her energy suddenly drained,
Daisy collapses into Reggies arms and looks to the ceiling.
DAISY
That... thats for you... Nicky.
Daisy faints dead away. The men look at each other. Mike,
clutching his wounded arm, looks down at the table, at
Chucks poker hand. The card he had snatched from Chuck lies
face-up on the rest: aces and eights, spattered lightly with
Mikes blood.
THE END