House of Games

House of Games is David Mamets 1987 directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay, based on a story he wrote with Jonathan Katz. The films cast includes Mamets then wife Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Ricky Jay, and J. T. Walsh.

That night, Margaret visits a pool hall owned by Mike and confronts him. Mike says that he is willing to forgive Billys debt if Margaret accompanies him to a back room poker game and identifies the tell of George Ricky Jay, another player. She agrees, and spots George playing with his ring when he bluffs. She discloses this to Mike, who calls the bluff. However, George wins the hand and demands that Mike pay the 6,000 bet, which he is unable to do. George pulls a gun but Margaret intervenes and offers to pay the debt with a personal check. She then notices that the gun is actually a water pistol, and that the entire game is a setup to trick her out of her money. She is excited, however, and returns the next night to request that Mike teach her about cons so that she can write a book about the experience. Mike is skeptical, but agrees.Mike begins to enchant Margaret by showing her several small tricks. Eventually, the two steal a hotel room and make love. While in the room, he instructs her that all con artists take a small token from every mark to signify their dominance. While Mike is in the bathroom, she takes a small pocket knife from the table, believing that it belongs to the man who rented the room. Afterwards, Mike says that he is late for another, large con with his associates at the same hotel. Margaret is eager to tag along and, reluctantly Mike allows it. The con involves Mike, his partner Joey Mike Nussbaum and the mark, a businessman J.T. Walsh discovering a briefcase full of money, and taking it to a hotel room. There they will discuss whether to turn it in or split it among themselves. In the hotel room, Margaret discovers that the businessman is actually an undercover policeman, and the trick is a police sting. She tells Mike and they attempt to escape, but the policeman blocks their way and tries to arrest them. There is a struggle that ends with Mike accidentally shooting the officer dead. The three leave via the stairwell and end up in the garage

Source: Wikipedia