Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 17:13:37 GMT From: Robyn Harris Organization: Wesleyan College Subject: Re: [WRITERS] INT:Goldman Pictures, Luck, let the Gentlemen see... So, while our private detective plays with Ian Flemming and Tony DeLauro... Of course, during the last update on thing was neglected...Maybe this is Hollywood in the early 50's...but it isn't necessarily the Hollywood we know--since one of the prime contributors (me) is a firm believer in different dimensions...Millions of them, just gotta cross the thinny, the vortex, whatever cleans your twinkie, and there you are... Sorry to Ramble...On with the show: J. Hall,jhall@lemoorenet.com,Internet writes: > I bit the inside of my mouth. Fleming was right. I watched them walk >through the casino like the two lovebirds I'd seen earlier, his hand on her >hip, moving slowly in circles. Yeah, I'd be an annoyance. > They disappeared into an elevator and I sat back. to which I add: The elevator was carpeted. Lareine felt as if her heels were sinking in to the thick plush. She felt the hot palm of the gangster beside her resting on her behind. He was drunk. He was dangerous. And something about all of that turned Reine on. He whispered something positively indecent into her ear. She laughed and ran her fingernail down his jaw line. The elevator stopped and the doors opened into the penthouse. Meyer Lansky was already there, along with his friend Ben and a couple of other well dressed men. Reine stepped out ahead of Costello. He stumbled behind. "Your friend has no head for alcohol," she said to Meyer as Frank near collapsed onto a sofa. "He's been drinking all day. It's on the house." "Of course," She removed her coat and tossed it on the arm of the couch Costello was beginning to snore away one. "You might say I am, too." "Really?" "You intrigue me, Mr. Lansky, May I call you Meyer? You fascinate me. I know a little about you. You, Frank, Ben," she voice envelope Ben's name and he turned to her, "and Charlie. You came from the streets. A bunch of upstarts. You became legends. And you aren't even over the hill." She walked closer, sitting on a chair directly across from Lansky. "I figure you will perfectly understand what I want." "And that is?" Meyer lit a cigar. "I want my Uncle's empire. I want my inheritance and I want him put away." "Your uncle doesn't have an empire," Lansky smiled. "Not anymore." "Someone gave you a chance, Meyer," Reine leaned forward in her chair. "You aren't crime boss stock. You are Jewish, and that must have really rotted the men you put away...But someone gave you a chance. I want the same. Very few men take women seriously. Just like very few Italian Catholics associate themselves with Jews. It's just life, Meyer." "I could have you killed. We could put it on Tony, or make it look like you couldn't stand the depression of losing everything through your Uncle. Maybe you would like to take a dive out the window?" Meyer gestured to Ben. "You are a betting man, Meyer. You would never pass up a good wager." Lareine looked perfectly calm. "And it is?" "Half of what my Uncle lost to you." "And I am wagering against what?" "Me." Lareine stood. "Let's face it, chorus and dancing girls can only go so far until they outlive their purpose." She approached Meyer slowly, palms out, like you would approach a mean dog. "I've got beauty, brains," she reached him and whispered into his ear,"and I can do things you have only dreamed about." She stood up. "What have you got to lose? You don't need Tony's holdings." Meyer looked at Ben. "I like her, Ben. She's got guts." Ben appraised her, "I bet she has more than that." Meyer looked back at Lareine. "I'm happily married, Ms. DeLauro. I love my wife. I'm not interested. However, I consider myself a good friend. Ben, I give you half of my winnings from tonight. You can do whatever you would like with it." He stood up and looked at Reine, "You and I are done. I'm going to bed. You want to deal, you deal with Ben." He left, laughing in a voice Lareine found grating. Her courage was running out, and Ben Siegel had a reputation for being a very vicious man, especially with his paramours. She didn't think she would lose, but losing to Meyer would have been preferable to losing to Ben. "Well, Ms. DeLauro, it's just you and me." He put his hand on her face, she did her best not to flinch. Her guts were gone and all that was left was a scared little girl. "Of course." Lareine wouldn't let her voice betray her. "How about it, Ben? You ready for a wager?" "Always. I'm also a gambling man, Lareine. I'm quite anticipating winning this one. But since you are being so brave tonight, you pick the game." "Black Jack." "I'll get some cards." He turned away. Lareine considered running but there were hulking bodyguards in every corner trying their hardest, and inevitably failing to blend in to the background. Her head was hurting, she reached for a bottle of scotch and downed it. As it slammed her stomach she thought of Jeff. Where could he possibly be? She figured he would have busted in by now, in his usually clueless way of trying to save things that didn't need saving. It was so endearing. Ben returned. "One game. Meyer has agreed to be the dealer." "Not a fair chance by any stretch of the imagination, Ben. But I'll take it. I'm feeling lucky." They sat at a table, Meyer dealt them out. Lareine looked at her cards And almost cried. "Stay." "You sure?" "I wouldn't say it if I wasn't." Ben looked at her. "Hit me." He checked his card and then looked at her ten. "Hit me." Meyer put another card on Ben's pile. "Okay, Lareine what have you to show?" "Twenty-One," She said, her voice full of triumph. Meyer laughed, this time, Lareine didn't find it so grating. "Looks like she won, Ben." Ben stared at his cards. "Twenty. How could this be?" "Luck, Mr. Siegel. But I'm not a bad winner." Lareine stood and collected the markers Tony's markers from the center of the table. She placed them in the pocket of her blouse and walked over to Ben. She kissed him, slowly. "Better luck next time." They watched her leave. "Want that we should get her, boss?" "No, Pete. Let her go. It was fair. The only fair hand Ben ever played in his life." Meyer walked back towards his room. Ben wiped lipstick off his lips. "And well worth the price. Is Bessy still in my room?" "Yeah." "Good," He walked to his own room to partake in life's baser pleasures. Lareine emerged into the lobby, triumphant. She went straight to the bar. "I'll have a dry martini, extra olives." "Big winner?" the bartender asked. "The biggest." TO BE CONTINUED..... ************************************************** Robyn Alyson tHe OnLy DiFfErEnCe BeTwEeN FaNtAsY aNd ReAlItY iS pErCePtIoN