LOGLINE

A talented blackjack dealer seeks revenge against the casino owner who destroyed her family fifteen years ago by entering a high-stakes tournament, only to discover her ex-con father has been secretly watching over her while working undercover to bring down the same corrupt empire.

COVERAGE: Recommend

Why Recommend:

• Strong emotional core with compelling father-daughter relationship

• Unique casino setting with authentic gambling expertise

• Well-structured three-act narrative with clear stakes

• Good character development and satisfying resolution

• Native American representation adds cultural depth

ACT SUMMARIES

ACT I (Pages 1-30)

Opens with 6-year-old Kimi's birthday party at Circus Circus, where her father Flip (a clown/dealer) is arrested for stealing $50,000, traumatizing young Kimi. Flash forward 15 years: adult Kimi is a skilled blackjack dealer at a low-end casino, living modestly while saving for dealer school to work at a high-end Strip casino. She's rejected from auditions due to her father's reputation. When her rent suddenly triples, she discovers her father has been secretly helping her financially since his prison release three years ago.

ACT II (Pages 31-90)

Kimi confronts Flip, leading to a reluctant reunion. When she loses her job and can't get hired elsewhere due to casino owner Arnie Pruett blacklisting her family name, Flip suggests entering Arnie's $1 million blackjack tournament. Despite her anti-gambling principles, Kimi enters using her life savings. Flip trains her while working undercover with gaming commission agent Brad to expose Arnie's money laundering operation. The tournament becomes a three-way battle between revenge, redemption, and survival.

ACT III (Pages 91-120)

In the tournament finals, Kimi faces off against her father and planted dealers. Through strategic play and exposing cheating, she wins the million-dollar prize while helping Brad arrest Arnie and his criminal associates. Kimi reconciles with Flip, who must leave town for safety but promises to stay in touch. She uses her winnings to buy and renovate the Silver Boot Casino, finally achieving her dream of running a "super casino" while giving jobs to her surrogate family of friends.

SAVE THE CAT STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

Opening Image: Young Kimi's joy at her birthday party, establishing innocence before trauma Theme Stated: "We make our own luck" - central philosophy about taking control of destiny Set-Up: Adult Kimi's constrained life as a dealer, her skills, and her goals Catalyst: Discovery that her father has been secretly helping her Debate: Should she trust Flip and enter the tournament despite her anti-gambling principles? Break into Two: Kimi decides to enter the tournament B Story: Romance subplot with Tommy and friendship with Pokey Fun and Games: Tournament gameplay, father-daughter bonding, exposing cheaters Midpoint: Kimi discovers Flip is also in the tournament Bad Guys Close In: Multiple betrayals and revelations about the conspiracy All Is Lost: Kimi thinks Flip betrayed her for money Dark Night of the Soul: Kimi's crisis of faith in the bathroom before finals Break into Three: Kimi realizes the bigger picture and chooses justice over money Finale: Tournament climax, arrests, and family reconciliation Final Image: Kimi as successful casino owner, giving the tiger to another little girl

SELLING POINTS

• Unique Setting: Authentic Las Vegas casino milieu with insider gambling knowledge

• Strong Female Lead: Complex protagonist with clear arc from victim to victor

• Cultural Representation: Positive Native American characters and themes

• Father-Daughter Story: Universal family themes with high emotional stakes

• Heist Elements: Undercover operation and tournament structure create suspense

• Ensemble Cast: Multiple colorful supporting characters provide humor and heart

CHARACTER LIST

KIMI ZIEGLER (21) - Skilled blackjack dealer, Cherokee heritage, determined and principled but with a temper. Seeks independence and success while grappling with family trauma. Possible Actors: Devery Jacobs, Kiowa Gordon, or up-and-coming Native American actress

FLIP ZIEGLER (50s) - Ex-con gambling addict, master card counter, deeply regrets past mistakes. Loves his daughter but struggles with addiction. Possible Actors: Oscar Isaac, John Turturro, Andy Garcia

ARNIE PRUETT (50s) - Primary antagonist, corrupt casino owner, money launderer. Physically unappealing but dangerous. Possible Actors: Brian Cox, John Goodman, Vincent D'Onofrio

AMA ZIEGLER (30s) - Kimi's deceased Cherokee mother, appears in flashbacks. Provided moral guidance. Possible Actors: Tantoo Cardinal, Q'orianka Kilcher

BRAD (30s) - Gaming commission agent working undercover to expose corruption. Possible Actors: Michael Shannon, Oscar Isaac, Jon Bernthal

POKEY/PATRICIA (20s) - Kimi's best friend, cocktail waitress, provides emotional support. Possible Actors: Hailee Steinfeld, Kiersey Clemons

TOMMY (30s) - Gay bartender, Kimi's close friend and brief romantic interest. Possible Actors: John Cho, Steven Yeun

MORT & SAMMY (70s) - Elderly gamblers who become surrogate father figures. Possible Actors: Danny DeVito & Joe Pesci, or Alan Arkin & Elliott Gould

COMPARABLE FILMS

21 (2008) - $159M worldwide Similar: Card counting, young protagonist, casino setting, mentor relationship

Rounders (1998) - $22M worldwide
Similar: Underground gambling, mentor-student dynamic, high-stakes finale

Casino Royale (2006) - $616M worldwide Similar: High-stakes card tournament as climax, personal vendettas

The Gambler (2014) - $33M worldwide Similar: Gambling addiction themes, family dysfunction, redemption arc

Molly's Game (2017) - $59M worldwide Similar: Strong female lead in gambling world, based on insider knowledge

Focus (2015) - $159M worldwide Similar: Con artist elements, mentor relationship, casino setting

The script combines the card-counting expertise of 21 with the personal stakes of Rounders and the strong female perspective of Molly's Game. The family drama and Native American elements provide unique selling points that differentiate it from typical gambling films.