Scripting - Oceans 11

RUSTY
I need a reason. And don't say
money.

(beat)

Why do this?

DANNY
Why not do it?

Rusty stares at him: enough bullshitting around.

DANNY
Because yesterday I walked out of
the joint wearing my entire
wardrobe and you're colddecking
TeenBeat coverboys.

(beat)

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.

(beat)

Rusty smiles.

RUSTY
You're been practicing that
speech, haven't you?

DANNY
A little. Did I rush it? It felt
like I rushed it.

RUSTY
No, it was good.

RUSTY
I wonder what Reuben will say?

I like this portion of the script of Oceans 11 (Steven Soderbergh, 2001) between Rusty and Danny. This is where they seem to be having a very serious conversation where it seems as though Rusty is doubting Danny. The first line 'and don't say money' shows they have a long history together and that they are obviously good friends as he can tell what Danny is going to say. This gives the audience an insight into their relationship. In the film they tend to finish eachothers sentences such as in here and tend to use eachothers words 'why do it?' 'why not do it?'. This really shows how they are so closely connected. The tension begins to build up at this point where Danny begins his speech about why they should do it. He begins by attempting to make Rusty feel sorry for him 'wearing my entire wardrobe', he then continues to say about the 'house' always winning. This is using language specific to the film as it is entirely about the casino robbery. This shows they are in the know about gambling and this kind of thing. This gives the audience some insight into how detailed the plan may be too. This bit, where Danny talks very seriously seems to slow down the pace slightly, as though he is making a real motivating speech but then this is all ruined when Rusty says 'You've been practicing that speech, haven't you?' obviously knowing him so well that he wouldn't come up with that off the top of his head. This creates some humour in the scene and shows the audience how these 2 characters are incredbily close and it'll take a lot more than that to come between them. When Danny replies with 'A little. Did I rush it? It felt like I rushed it.' he knew Rusty was going to say that and seemed to have been trying it out on him so as a way to convince all the rest of the team. This scene, being right at the beginning of the film, gives the audience a real insight into their relationship and just how close they are and why they are likely to succeed.