The Hustler
1961
Bert Gordon: Eddie, d'ya mind if I get personal? Fast Eddie: Well, what've ya been so far? Bert Gordon: Eddie, you're a born loser. Fast Eddie: Well, thanks for the drink. I'll be going now.
Fast Eddie: Fat man, you shoot a great game of pool.
(Fast Eddie is bothered because Bert called him a born loser) Fast Eddie: Cause, ya see, twice, Sarah... once at Ames with Minnesota Fats and then again at Arthur's, in that cheap, crummy pool room, now why'd I do it, Sarah? Why'd I do it? I coulda beat that guy, coulda beat 'im cold, he never woulda known. But I just hadda show 'im. Just hadda show those creeps and those punks what the game is like when it's great, when it's REALLY great. You know, like anything can be great, anything can be great. I don't care, BRICKLAYING can be great, if a guy knows. If he knows what he's doing and why and if he can make it come off. When I'm goin', I mean, when I'm REALLY goin' I feel like a... like a jockey must feel. He's sittin' on his horse, he's got all that speed and that power underneath him... he's comin' into the stretch, the pressure's on 'im, and he KNOWS... just feels... when to let it go and how much. Cause he's got everything workin' for 'im, timing touch... it's a great feeling, boy, it's a real great feeling when you're right and you KNOW you're right. It's like all of a sudden I got oil in my arm. The pool cue's part of me. You know, it's uh - pool cue, it's got nerves in it. It's a piece of wood, it's got nerves in it. Feel the roll of those balls, you don't have to look, you just KNOW. You make shots that nobody's ever made before. I can play that game the way... NOBODY'S ever played it before. Sarah Packard: You're not a loser, Eddie, you're a winner. Some men never get to feel that way about anything.
Minnesota Fats: Do you like to gamble, Eddie? Gamble money on pool games?
Bert Gordon: You got talent. Fast Eddie: I got talent? So what beat me? Bert Gordon: Character.
Bert Gordon: You've the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning. That can be heavy on your back too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers.
Fast Eddie: I don't rattle, kid. Just for that I'll beat you flat.
Fast Eddie: Get on me Bert, I can't lose.
Fast Eddie: Admit it. I'm the best you ever seen, Fats. I'm the best there is. And even if you beat me, I'm still the best. Bert Gordon: Stay with this kid; he's a LOSER.
Fast Eddie: I am playing pool, Fats. When I miss, you can shoot.
Fast Eddie: (about his pool stick) It's got nerves in it. It's a piece of wood, got nerves in it.
Sarah Packard: How did you know my name is Sarah? Fast Eddie: You told me last night. Sarah Packard: I always lie when I drink. Fast Eddie: Okay, so what is your name today? Sarah Packard: Sarah.
Charlie Burns: Quiet. Fast Eddie: Yeah, like a church. The church of the good hustler. Charlie Burns: Looks more like a morgue to me. Those tables are the slabs they lay the stiffs on. Fast Eddie: I'll be alive when I get out, Charlie.
Charlie Burns: How do you feel? Fast Eddie: Fast and loose. Charlie Burns: In the gut, I mean. Fast Eddie: Tight, but good.
Fast Eddie: You know, I got a hunch, fat man. I got a hunch that it's me from here on in. One ball, corner pocket. I mean, that ever happen to you? You know, all of a sudden you feel like you just can't miss? 'Cause I dreamed about this game, fat man. I dreamed about it every night on the road. Five ball. You know, this is my table, man. I own it.
Bert Gordon: Stick with this kid, he's a loser.
Minnesota Fats: Big John, do you think this boy is a hustler?
Fast Eddie: How can I lose?
Fast Eddie: The pool game is over when Fats says it's over... I came after him and I'm gonna get him. I'm going with him all the way.
Fast Eddie: What, no bar? Cashier: No bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys, just pool... nothing else. This is Ames mister.
Bert Gordon: (to Eddie) You owe me MONEY.
Fast Eddie: Fats, let's you and I shoot a game of straight pool. Minnesota Fats: Hundred dollars? Fast Eddie: Well, you shoot big time pool, Fats, that's what everybody says, you shoot big time pool. Let's make it $200 a game. Minnesota Fats: Now I know why they call you Fast Eddie.
Bert Gordon: How's your hand? Fast Eddie: Fine. Bert Gordon: Good. I'd hate to think I was puttin' my money on a cripple.
Fast Eddie: What if I don't pay ya, Bert? Bert Gordon: (laughs) You don't pay me? You're gonna get your thumbs broken again. And your fingers. If I want 'em to, they're gonna break your right arm in three or four places. Minnesota Fats: You better pay him, Eddie. Fast Eddie: So you figure you're still my manager, huh? Bert Gordon: I'm a business-man, kid.
Fast Eddie: Boy, you better, you tell your boys they better kill me, Bert. They better go all the way with me, 'cause if they just bust me up, I'll put all those pieces back together again, then so help me... So help me God, Bert, I'm gonna come back here and I'm gonna kill you.