Hard Eight

Professional gambler Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) befriends John (John C. Reilly), a penniless young man, and teaches him the tricks of the trade. Two years later, John is more prosperous but has fallen in with Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson), an untrustworthy criminal. John is also in love with waitress and prostitute Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), and is forced to call on Sydney for help when he beats up one of Clementine's customers badly. Sydney whisks John and Clementine away to safety, but animosity develops between him and Jimmy.