Screenplay data
Bernie Lootz, a casino cooler whose bad luck causes gamblers to lose, works at the Shangri-La casino under the watchful eye of Shelly Kaplow, the Director of Casino Operations, who is under pressure from corporate to improve the casino's performance. Bernie begins a relationship with cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario, and his newfound happiness inexplicably causes his cooling powers to reverse, bringing good luck to the casino's patrons. Shelly, desperate to maintain the casino's profitability and his own position, confronts Natalie, revealing he paid her to seduce Bernie and restore his bad luck. After Natalie is assaulted by Shelly's men, Bernie marries her and returns to the casino, confronting Shelly and gambling at the craps table, where his winning streak pays off his debt to Shelly and ruins the casino. Bernie and Natalie drive away from the casino with their winnings, narrowly escaping a corrupt cop and leaving Shelly to face the consequences of the casino's downfall, as Larry Sokolov takes over as the new Director of Casino Operations.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Bernie Lootz, a professional gambler’s “cooler,” drifts through the Shangri-La Casino until a chance meeting with Natalie ignites his hope for a different life.
Open full beat sheetBernie Lootz is listed as Casino Cooler. A man with a pronounced limp and sad sack eyes who brings bad luck to gamblers. In the parsed data, Bernie Lootz is connected to 40 scenes, 108 dialogue lines, 111 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
40 scenes / 108 dialogue linesNatalie Belisario is listed as Cocktail Waitress. Attractive, late 20s-mid 30s, frazzled, with post-mortem eyes. In the parsed data, Natalie Belisario is connected to 28 scenes, 70 dialogue lines, 70 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
28 scenes / 70 dialogue linesShelly Kaplow is listed as Director of Casino Operations. Distinguished, slick, oozing charm, but pure street underneath. In the parsed data, Shelly Kaplow is connected to 23 scenes, 81 dialogue lines, 81 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
23 scenes / 81 dialogue linesLarry Sokolov is listed as Corporate VP. Smart, modern, joyless, focused on bottom-line numbers. In the parsed data, Larry Sokolov is connected to 13 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
13 scenes / 17 dialogue linesNicky Bonnatto is listed as Former Underboss. Mid-50s, relic from the old days of the family business. In the parsed data, Nicky Bonnatto is connected to 8 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
8 scenes / 5 dialogue linesMarty Goldfarb is listed as Corporate Numbers Guy. Accompanies Larry and Nicky. In the parsed data, Marty Goldfarb is connected to 7 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
7 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMikey is listed as Bernie's Son. A hustler who tries to scam the casino. In the parsed data, Mikey is connected to 5 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
5 scenes / 11 dialogue linesCharlene is listed as Mikey's Partner. Young woman who pretends to be pregnant to help Mikey's scams. In the parsed data, Charlene is connected to 5 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
5 scenes / 8 dialogue linesBuddy Stafford is listed as Lounge Singer. Poor man's Tony Bennett, staple at the Paradise for 20 years. In the parsed data, Buddy Stafford is connected to 4 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
4 scenes / 10 dialogue linesDoris is listed as Bartender. Works at the Shangri-La bar. In the parsed data, Doris is connected to 3 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBernie Lootz arrives at the casino and begins his work as a cooler, causing bad luck at various gaming tables.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, DorisShelly meets with Nicky Fingers and corporate representatives who criticize the casino's performance.
Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Marty GoldfarbShelly confronts Bernie about his future and his interest in Natalie.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Natalie BelisarioBernie returns to his motel room and tries to ignore the noise from his neighbor.
Bernie LootzBernie intervenes at a craps table to ruin a player's winning streak.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBuddy Stafford performs while Shelly watches, concerned about the corporate reaction.
Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Buddy Stafford, Marty GoldfarbShelly visits Buddy in his dressing room to reassure him.
Shelly Kaplow, Buddy StaffordShelly and Buddy discuss the nature of aging and being replaced, followed by Shelly providing Buddy with drugs.
Shelly Kaplow, Buddy StaffordShelly is confronted by Larry and Johnny Capella, then Nicky and Marty.
Shelly Kaplow, Larry Sokolov, Nicky Bonnatto, Marty GoldfarbBernie meets Natalie in the parking lot.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie discuss his life as a cooler and her interest in astrology.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie spend the night together.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie wakes up alone.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie have breakfast; Bernie encounters his son Mikey.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, Mikey, CharleneBernie talks to Mikey and Charlene.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, Mikey, CharleneBernie works as a cooler at a blackjack table.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Larry SokolovShelly and Bernie discover Buddy's body.
Shelly Kaplow, Bernie Lootz, Buddy StaffordShelly, Larry, and Bernie discover Buddy Stafford dead in his suite. Shelly orders arrangements for his daughter and decides to close the Paradise lounge, which Larry disputes.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Larry SokolovJohnny Cappella performs at the Paradise Lounge while Shelly watches, sensing a power struggle with Larry and Nicky.
Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Marty GoldfarbBernie and Natalie walk the midway; Natalie shares her past about giving up her son for adoption.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie make love.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie return from breakfast.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioMikey and Charlene surprise Bernie and Natalie, asking for money.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, Mikey, CharleneNicky and Larry present a model of a new casino expansion to a resistant Shelly.
Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Marty GoldfarbNicky gets into a violent altercation with a suburbanite at the craps table.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Marty GoldfarbBernie asks Natalie to leave with him, but she refuses, leading to a breakup.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie drinks coffee alone at the bar, feeling depressed.
Bernie Lootz, DorisBernie spots Mikey gambling at the craps table.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, Mikey, CharleneShelly and his goons beat Mikey and Charlene after catching them in a dice scam; Bernie intervenes and is forced to pay their debt.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie Belisario, Shelly Kaplow, Larry Sokolov, Mikey, CharleneBernie and Natalie discuss the trauma and their feelings for each other.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie wakes up to find Natalie gone, leaving a note.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie returns to work in high spirits, causing the casino to win big.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, DorisShelly confronts Natalie about her relationship with Bernie.
Natalie Belisario, Shelly KaplowBernie finds Natalie's note and realizes she has left him.
Bernie LootzBernie and Shelly discuss Buddy and the nature of Shelly's 'mercy'.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly KaplowNatalie returns to Bernie.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioShelly and his men kidnap Natalie from the pool and bring her to Bernie's room, where Shelly assaults her and threatens her.
Shelly Kaplow, Natalie BelisarioBernie returns to find Natalie injured and learns she was paid by Shelly to get close to him.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie waits for Natalie and decides to forgive her.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie and Natalie get married and decide to return to the casino to confront Shelly.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioBernie confronts Shelly and his associates.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Nicky Bonnatto, Larry Sokolov, Marty GoldfarbBernie and Shelly have a final confrontation about their obligations.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly KaplowBernie gambles at the craps table, winning big and paying off his debt to Shelly.
Bernie Lootz, Shelly Kaplow, Larry SokolovShelly assaults Larry for suggesting they stop Bernie.
Shelly Kaplow, Larry SokolovBernie leaves the casino after a high-stakes moment.
Bernie LootzBernie and Natalie reunite in the car.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioShelly realizes the casino is ruined and destroys his model.
Shelly KaplowBernie stops the car to vomit, then reveals a large amount of cash.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioA corrupt cop stops Bernie and Natalie.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioNicky confronts Shelly in his car.
Shelly Kaplow, Nicky BonnattoA drunk driver kills the corrupt cop, saving Bernie and Natalie.
Bernie Lootz, Natalie BelisarioLarry takes over as the new Director of Casino Operations.
Larry SokolovI feel real sorry for you. Yeah, you got this fear of germs thing. But it goes deeper than that. You can't get close to no one. On an emotional level. You're the worst kind of gambler there ever was: too scared to put his chips on the table. Too scared to open his heart... to extend any real kinda friendship. Always afraid it's gonna end out in the desert. Well, sweet fuckin' dreams, pal, 'cause I'm out and if that's where it ends, that's where it ends.
Yeah, pride. The leader of the pride... when he gets on in years. It's just a matter of time before some young male arrives on the scene to challenge him. They go at it and the old cat gets the crap beaten outta him. It's humiliating. In front of all the females, this goes down. And after he's defeated, he's cast out of the pride, to scavenge and die alone in the bush.
You should be. You've gone and fucked it up big time. I paid you to be his cooze companion, not his fucking true love. But, no, you had to go and get all profound on the poor schmuck. "I love you, Bernie." You know what you've gone and done, sweetheart? Those four little words of endearment have already cost this casino a million and counting today.
That sounds to me like a self fulfilling prophecy. There's a whole chapter on that in my course. Anyways, I can see a big factor in your life is that you're lacking companionship. There's nobody to deflect off. If you've got, as you put it, bad karma, then you need someone with good karma to neutralize it. Well, that's my take on it anyway.
Gentlemen... I thank you for your vote of confidence. As the Shangri-la's new Director of Casino Operations, I'm gonna make a personal guarantee to each and every one of you. Your investment in this casino will be well looked after. The future looks bright, gentlemen. Very, very bright.
I have this recurring dream where I'm on some beautiful island in the Bahamas. I'm sitting on the beach, taking in this amazing sunset with one of these in my hand... and then it starts to rain. And I wake up and it's my roof leaking on me. Yeah, I'm also real tired, Bernie.
God, I have never met anyone who was so down on themselves. I used to be down on myself, OK? I don't go there anymore. I've got just three more correspondence classes with this stuff, then I'll have my certificate and everything. And you know how I got OK?
Are you kidding me? Gimme that. You don't fucking deserve this. All those ladies going home with a sweet breeze between their legs because you still do it for them and you're fingering me for some kinda Buddy Stafford ego pimp. Hey, fuck you, old man.
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