Oh, mother, tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun
Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain
Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one.
— You are pazzo!
— Maybe, but I've got the tickets.
After winning poker tickets to the Titanic.
– I just want you to think long term, all right? Be smart. Every place in Manhattan, they all keep books, all right? If you get listed as a mechanic, then not only are you gonna get the shit kicked out of you, you're not gonna get a fuckin' game anywhere in New York. It's stupid. It's just bad business.
– Look, this is what I love about you. You think about the big picture. That's great, okay? But it's not me. I don't play the game straight up, and then if I lose, go get some real work or something, okay? I see a mark, I take him down… That's what I do. That's the way I live.
– I know. Listen, you're the guy who taught me all the angles. But I'm not the guy with my nose open right now.
– Aw, come on.
– I'm not gonna preach to you, but those two guys in there, they're not rabbits. Roman and Maurice? They're Russian outfit guys. Not as bad as KGB, but you don't want to be fuckin' with those guys.
The poker room at the Mirage in Vegas is the center of the poker universe. Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Helmuth. The legends consider it their office. Every couple of days a new millionaire shows up wanting to beat a world champion. Usually they go home with nothing but a story. Down here, the millionaires are scarce or they're playing craps, but there's still plenty of money for the taking. In fact, on the weekends you can't get a game in the city, because all the New York rounders are taking care of the tourists here.
But a city's like a woman or a casino. Somebody's gonna win, and it's gonna be me.
Since the players are looking to beat the casino the dealers are watching the players. The box men are watching the dealers. The floor men are watching the box men. The pit bosses are watching the floor men. The shift bosses are watching the pit bosses. The casino manager is watching the shift bosses. I'm watching the casino manager. And the eye-in-the-sky is watching us all.
Matches were dangerous, but cards were fatal.
Rachel Green: — Now, how come you guys have never played poker with us?
Phoebe Buffay: — Yeah, what is that? Like some kind of sexist guy thing? It's poker, so only guys can play?
Ross Geller: — No. Women can play.
Phoebe Buffay: — Then, what is it? Some kind of, like, some kind of, you know... All right, what is it?
Ed has been playing cards since he could lift 'em up. And he soon discovered that he had a big advantage. It's not that he's good with cards, or even good at counting them. It's that he's good with reading people's reactions no matter how subtle. And everybody has reactions. Especially when it comes to money.
— I need a reason. And don't say money. Why do this?
— Why not do it? Because yesterday I walked out of the joint wearing my entire wardrobe and you're colddecking TeenBeat coverboys. Because the house always wins. You play long enough, never changing stakes, the house takes you. Unless, when that special hand comes around, you bet big. And then you take the house.
— You're been practicing that speech, haven't you?
— A little. Did I rush it? It felt like I rushed it.
— No, it was good.