1965
The Cincinnati Kid, a young and ambitious stud poker player, establishes his skill by winning a high-stakes game against Danny, whom he later disarms with a razor during a confrontation. The Kid learns that Lancey Hodges, a legendary poker master, is in town, prompting him to prepare for a showdown with the older, experienced player. As The Kid's girlfriend, Christian, struggles with their relationship and eventually leaves him to return to her family farm, wealthy businessman Bill Schlaegel coerces Shooter, The Kid's mentor and dealer, into fixing the upcoming game against Lancey. The Kid visits Christian at her family farm, where he explains the mathematics of gambling to her skeptical father, before returning to St. Louis for the highly anticipated poker match.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Eric “The Kid” Stoner, a young poker player, arrives in St.
Open full beat sheetThe Cincinnati Kid is listed as Protagonist, professional poker player. Young, ambitious, highly skilled stud poker player. In the parsed data, The Cincinnati Kid is connected to 54 scenes, 157 dialogue lines, 158 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
54 scenes / 157 dialogue linesShooter is listed as Poker dealer and mentor to The Kid. Skilled dealer, caught between loyalty to The Kid and pressure from Schlaegel. In the parsed data, Shooter is connected to 27 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 71 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
27 scenes / 46 dialogue linesChristian is listed as The Kid's girlfriend. Country girl living in the city, conflicted about her relationship with The Kid. In the parsed data, Christian is connected to 22 scenes, 70 dialogue lines, 90 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
22 scenes / 70 dialogue linesLancey Hodges is listed as Antagonist, legendary poker player. Older, experienced, calm, and highly respected poker master. In the parsed data, Lancey Hodges is connected to 21 scenes, 69 dialogue lines, 70 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
21 scenes / 69 dialogue linesMelba is listed as Shooter's woman. Sophisticated, manipulative, and sexually adventurous. In the parsed data, Melba is connected to 17 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 30 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
17 scenes / 29 dialogue linesBill Schlaegel is listed as Wealthy businessman and gambler. Ruthless, wealthy, and determined to see Lancey lose. In the parsed data, Bill Schlaegel is connected to 14 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
14 scenes / 19 dialogue linesLady Fingers is listed as Poker dealer and gambler. Veteran gambler, down on her luck but knowledgeable. In the parsed data, Lady Fingers is connected to 12 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 51.
12 scenes / 13 dialogue linesDanny is listed as Poker player and rival. Aggressive, violent, and holds a grudge against The Kid. In the parsed data, Danny is connected to 9 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 27 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
9 scenes / 27 dialogue linesHoban is listed as Pool room owner and gambler. Associate of The Kid. In the parsed data, Hoban is connected to 9 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
9 scenes / 13 dialogue linesCraigie is listed as Christian's father. Farmer, skeptical of gamblers. In the parsed data, Craigie is connected to 4 scenes, 48 dialogue lines, 51 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
4 scenes / 48 dialogue linesThe Cincinnati Kid plays a high-stakes poker game while a riot occurs outside. He wins a large pot from Danny, leading to a confrontation.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, DannyDanny confronts The Kid with a gun, but The Kid disarms him with a razor and escapes through a window.
The Cincinnati Kid, DannyLancey Hodges arrives in St. Louis and exchanges tense words with his taxi driver.
Lancey HodgesThe Kid arrives at the pool room and learns from Shooter that Lancey Hodges is in town.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, HobanThe Kid and Shooter discuss whether The Kid is ready to face Lancey Hodges.
The Cincinnati Kid, ShooterChristian gives The Kid a massage and they discuss a movie she saw.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianChristian prepares a bath for The Kid and checks on him in the bedroom.
Christian, The Cincinnati KidMelba answers a phone call for Shooter, who is in his room.
Melba, ShooterLancey talks to Shooter on the phone about a poker game.
Lancey Hodges, ShooterChristian leaves a note for the sleeping Kid and departs.
Christian, The Cincinnati KidChristian and Melba look at bathing suits and discuss plans.
Christian, MelbaChristian and Melba discuss their relationships.
Christian, MelbaChristian and Melba continue their conversation while getting massages.
Christian, MelbaLancey plays poker against Schlaegel and others, with Shooter dealing.
Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Bill SchlaegelThe Kid meets Christian and Melba for dinner.
The Cincinnati Kid, Christian, MelbaThe Kid and Christian discuss her going home to see her parents.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianChristian decides to leave The Kid and return home.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid and Christian ride to the bus terminal in silence.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid and Christian wait for the bus.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianChristian boards the bus and leaves.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid walks home alone.
The Cincinnati KidSchlaegel ends the poker game and asks to speak with Shooter.
Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Bill SchlaegelThe Kid and Melba attend a baseball game with friends.
The Cincinnati Kid, Melba, Hoban, DannyThe Kid, Sokal, and Hoban watch a baseball game and bet on the outcome while Melba applies suntan lotion to The Kid.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, Melba, Bill Schlaegel, Danny, HobanMelba and The Kid are alone in the apartment; Melba attempts to seduce The Kid.
The Cincinnati Kid, MelbaLancey and Shooter discuss the upcoming poker game.
Lancey Hodges, ShooterFelix intercepts Shooter to bring him to Schlaegel.
Shooter, Bill SchlaegelMelba and The Kid continue their interaction while Shooter calls from the hotel.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, MelbaSchlaegel coerces Shooter into helping him fix the game against Lancey.
Shooter, Bill SchlaegelThe Kid encounters a young boy playing music with cans.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid gets a massage and discusses the upcoming game.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid visits Christian at her family farm.
The Cincinnati Kid, Christian, CraigieThe Kid introduces himself to Mr. Craigie while Craigie works in the barn. They discuss The Kid's profession, his relationship with Christian, and his upcoming poker game.
The Cincinnati Kid, CraigieThe Kid and Christian visit the spring.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid and Christian swim and talk about their relationship and her father.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid explains the mathematics of gambling to Craigie using cards.
The Cincinnati Kid, CraigieThe Kid and Christian share a final moment before he leaves for St. Louis.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe Kid boards a bus for St. Louis.
The Cincinnati KidThe bus travels to St. Louis.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid arrives in St. Louis.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid returns home and sleeps.
The Cincinnati KidShooter and Melba discuss the upcoming game.
Shooter, MelbaLancey prepares for the night by taking medication.
Lancey HodgesThe Kid prepares for the game.
The Cincinnati KidLancey prepares to leave for the game.
Lancey HodgesLancey heads to the elevator.
Lancey HodgesShooter and Melba prepare to leave.
Shooter, MelbaTime check.
The Kid rides in a taxi.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid arrives at the hotel.
The Cincinnati KidThe Kid arrives at the poker game and meets Lancey.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Melba, Hoban, Lady FingersThe Kid and Lancey prepare for a poker game, inspecting the table and cards with Shooter and Hoban.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Hoban, Lady FingersThe poker game begins with Bill Schlaegel observing and giving instructions to Shooter.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Bill Schlaegel, Danny, Lady FingersThe game progresses, Pig loses his stake to Lancey and leaves the game.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Bill Schlaegel, Danny, HobanDuring a break, The Kid and Lancey have a private conversation about their lives and poker.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Melba, Bill Schlaegel, Lady FingersThe Kid and Lancey discuss their mutual respect and the nature of the game before the next round of poker.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Lady FingersLady Fingers takes over dealing duties as the game resumes.
Lady Fingers, Lancey Hodges, The Cincinnati Kid, ShooterThe game continues into the morning with Shooter dealing.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, Bill Schlaegel, DannyLancey wins a major hand against Sokal and Yeller.
Shooter, Danny, Bill Schlaegel, Lancey Hodges, The Cincinnati KidThe Kid confronts the reality of the fixed game.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Lady FingersThe Kid confronts Shooter about the fixed cards.
The Cincinnati Kid, ShooterLancey prepares for the final stretch of the game.
Lancey HodgesMelba wakes The Kid and discusses the stakes.
The Cincinnati Kid, MelbaChristian arrives and finds Melba with The Kid.
The Cincinnati Kid, Melba, ChristianThe game resumes in the evening.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Lady Fingers, ChristianSchlaegel attempts to intimidate The Kid.
Bill Schlaegel, The Cincinnati KidBill threatens The Kid with a knife held by Felix, but The Kid remains defiant and leaves.
The Cincinnati Kid, Shooter, Bill SchlaegelThe Kid and Christian have a tense conversation about their relationship and his poker game.
The Cincinnati Kid, ChristianThe poker game continues with high tension; The Kid confronts Shooter about his health.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Christian, Melba, Bill SchlaegelThe final hand of the game occurs; Lancey wins with a straight flush, defeating The Kid.
The Cincinnati Kid, Lancey Hodges, Shooter, Christian, Melba, Bill SchlaegelThe Kid is confronted by Danny and his men; Christian says goodbye before leaving.
The Cincinnati Kid, Christian, DannyAs he put it, rather bluntly, I felt, we don't want everyone to have to watch everyone else dealing to see to it they don't make any little accidental errors by mistake. I told him a man couldn't ask for a better guarantee of a fair-and-square game than having The Shooter deal it. So if you're willing, we're meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon. Ask for Mr. Schlaegel's suite at the Park Sherman... Good. I'm glad you can do it, Shooter. Be a pleasure to see you again... Oh pretty much the same... Just have to be a little careful about smoking and drinking and eating -- and breathing. See you tomorrow. Good night.
Take my word for it -- the odds are two to one. And knowing that is the difference between your gambling man and your sucker. Not who gets the better cards but who knows what the proper odds are. In a poker game there can be a million different situations, each with a different set of odds to figure. The man who ends up winners is the man who knows when to bet and how much...
There never was a man worth a damn, to my mind, who let his woman stand in the way of the thing he had to do. I got to go now -- see what I can do for a sick heifer. Why don't you take Christian, when her Mama lets go of her, and tell her I said you should go to the old spring. It's a good place.
You got that, Hoban? Gentlemen, if there are no objections, I'm the dealer. These rooms have been contracted for, and there will be an ante of ten dollars per chair, per day. During the breaks for me, Old Lady Fingers has agreed to deal, but she don't care to be a player --
If you don't see me when you need me, call room three-oh-eight. You know who else ain't with us no more? Miriam, widow used to run the kitchen game to South Chi. Lost two month's Relief at blackjack, coal dealer cut her credit, and she froze in her bed.
There are three possibilities. That can be the red side of the red-and-white card, or it can be either side of the all-red card. In two cases out of three the other side is red. And I'd win the bet from you two out of every three times we made it.
Bound to. That Lancey ain't human, he's one of them barracuda fish. He's liable to bleed to death, right on a flush hand before he give up to you. I seen him gut a fella so bad, the fella quit and got up and spit red in the john and went square.
Damn right you should! I'm telling you, that boy going to make your stomach ulcer bleed before the night is out. He's close to murder. I seen him give a fella the shakes so bad on a fourth card, it took a pint of corn liquor to settle him down.
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.