Joyce Gordon: Bella

Going for Broke

Bella

Bella: [on gambling] There's two kinds of problems: the kind you run FROM, and the kind you run TO. Make sure you know which is which.

Bella: There's only one sure way to double your money in Nevada: fold it in half, then put it back in your purse.

Laura Bancroft: [first time playing video poker] Did I win?
Jim Bancroft: Yeah, four whole quarters.
Laura Bancroft: Oh well, easy come, easy go. I'll try again.
[3 hearts come up]
Jim Bancroft: Now hold, hold hold.
Laura Bancroft: Well I understand that, I don't understand...
Jim Bancroft: Now hit 'draw'.
Laura Bancroft: Draw.
[full house comes on screen, bells go off]
Laura Bancroft: Wait, what happened?
Jim Bancroft: A full house.
Bella: Cookie, you just won a hundred bucks!
Laura Bancroft: I did?
Jim Bancroft: Yeah, you want to hear it come out?
[pushes button, quarters fall out of slot]
Jim Bancroft: I'll get a bucket.
Laura Bancroft: Great!
Bella: Fun, huh?
Laura Bancroft: Oh that's really good, what's a full house?
Laura Bancroft: [voice over] That win was such a rush. I mean a few coins, a couple of minutes of fun, and before the evening was over, I had enough to fix the furnace. I was providing for my family, and I felt high. And I wanted that feeling again, and again. I'm sorry, is it okay if I smoke?

Bella: A tip, always bet the maximum, when you see the payoff, you'll thank me.
Laura Bancroft: Oh, okay. Better be right.
[pushes button, bells ring]
Laura Bancroft: Oh! Oh! OH MY GOD! Look, I won! I WON $500!
Bella: How's that for payoff? I want to thank you!
[shakes her hand]
Laura Bancroft: You want to hear it?
Jim Bancroft: Hit it.
Bella: 500 smackers.
Laura Bancroft: Yeah!
Bella: Good for you.
Laura Bancroft: YES! I WON $500!
Laura Bancroft: [voice over] Looking back, that was the moment I can say it started, that moment when I felt that click. After the hassles of the day, the house, the kids, the office, the million things that needed my attention, this became my escape.

Bella: [sees Laura at the casino ATM] Now there's a friendly face!
Laura Bancroft: Oh hey!
[sees Bella's wrist wrapped up]
Laura Bancroft: What's with the bandage?
Bella: Damn carpal tunnel, recreational hazard, all this finger action. Ran out of ammunition, got me some more bullets, I'm good as new. So where you playing today, honey? Got me a sweet spot for a couple of empty stools.
Laura Bancroft: I wish I could, but I've got a family thing.
Bella: Oh don't talk to me about family. Since my Martin died, all I ever hear from my no good sons and their whiny wives is how I'm blowing their inheritance. Come on, walk me over before I lose my spot.
Laura Bancroft: Okay.
Bella: But I tell them 'hey, if there's anything left by the time I keel over, it's all yours, until then, watch out'. Besides I know how to pace myself, not like some of these fanatics that don't know when to say when. For me this is entertainment, it's social, you know, what am I supposed to do at my age? Bungee jump? I don't think so. You sure you don't have a couple minutes? You'll be sorry if you don't, it's like stealing candy from a baby.
Laura Bancroft: Oh... okay.
Bella: Atta girl.