CARTER: And you want me to tell her what a nice guy you are, right? What a sweetheart you are, deep down.

VINNIE: You don’t have to lie. Just—

CARTER: Make up a story.

VINNIE: Tell her—how I used to be.

CARTER: When was that?

VINNIE: Back—you know—When we were runnin’ claimers. In the old days, you know.

CARTER: Oh yeah. You were pretty nice back then.

VINNIE: We had some laughs.

CARTER: We did.

VINNIE: Tell her how we used to swap those two geldings around—you know. How the money was flying.

CARTER: Back before Simms got wind of it, you mean?

VINNIE: Don’t mention anything about him. There’s no reason to.

CARTER: He’s changed his name, you know.

VINNIE: Simms?

CARTER: Yeah. I set him up with a bloodstock agency back there. Selling seasons and shares. Dabbling in pedigrees. He’s doing all right for himself.

VINNIE: Changed his name?

CARTER: Calls himself “Ames” or something. Ryan Ames, I think it is.

VINNIE: Seasons and shares? Simms?

CARTER: Yeah. What’s so surprising about that? He was always very industrious.

VINNIE: So that means there’s two of us collecting hush money off you?

CARTER: It’s not hush money! I just thought it was the least I could do for him, after he—stepped aside.

VINNIE: Well, he must’ve been very grateful. How much do you give him a month?

CARTER: I don’t give him anything! He’s got a job. He’s independent.

VINNIE: Does he get more than I do?

CARTER: He’s got nothing but a job, Vinnie! That’s all. An opportunity to put himself back on track. The difference is that he took advantage of it.

VINNIE: The difference?

CARTER: Between you and him.

VINNIE: Oh, yeah.

CARTER: Now what’s this big favor?

VINNIE: What?

CARTER: With the girl—Cynthia or whatever her name is.

VINNIE: Cecilia.

CARTER: Cecilia, yeah.

VINNIE: I can’t believe Simms is back in the mainstream, selling seasons and shares. Doesn’t anybody recognize him?

CARTER: He changed his name.

VINNIE: “Ames”? “Ryan Ames”? What is he, impersonating an Irishman or something? Right in the middle of Lexington?

CARTER: Midway.

VINNIE: Ah. Midway. So you’ve got him tucked away too.

CARTER: Some people have the capacity to take their knocks and keep on going, Vinnie.

VINNIE: I guess—Midway. That’s quaint.

CARTER: Some people even get stronger from it.

VINNIE: I tried, Carter. It wasn’t from a lack of trying. I’ve changed my name a dozen times and nothing came of it. I’ve moved all over the place. I was in Texas for a while, remember? Arizona. Nothing came from any of it. I just got—further and further—removed.

CARTER: Well, let me try to talk to this girl for you.

VINNIE: I don’t know. I don’t know if she’s the answer. I mean—