So, listen...I know how concerned you are about security. And...I just want you to know I've been thinking a lot about it, too. About safety... and our future.
Okay.
I've been reading about the cartel war. Navarro's lost 61 men in the last five weeks alone.
Hmm. What's that got to do with us?
There's a saying in politics. "Never let a good crisis go to waste."
And?
And...Helen's coming into town. I know, you're expecting the worst, but let's...let's preempt that. Pitch her on the idea of expansion.
What does that mean?
Hotels. Casinos, but we keep the daily operations legitimate. We sell the idea to Navarro as a safety net. We put his share in a trust...for his kids. Untouchable. That way, if the cartel war goes south, then he has a whole new revenue stream. Completely legal. Well? What do you think?
Well, I just...I think that's batshit crazy.
It's not.
No?
No. It's not. And actually, it was Helen's idea. She talked to us about expansion. There is a...hotel and casino on the Kansas border in St. Joe's. Its infrastructure is old. It's getting killed by a casino across the river. And all it needs is an influx of cash to upgrade, and they would crush their competition, but their margins are too low. It's a win-win.
No.
Just like that?
Just like that.
Jesus. [scoffs] Of course.
I'm trying to keep us safe, Wendy.
Yeah, well, so am I.
I mean, how much more fucking stress do you wanna take on?
This would all be legitimate.
Except for the seed money from the drug lord, which, by definition, is not legitimate?
We are pre-approved by the gaming commission. No one would question the initial investment. We have Navarro's gratitude. This would only increase it. Don't you understand? We're in.
We're alive. Big difference. You want to know what a good outcome from this cartel war would be? Navarro getting blown off the face of the Earth, and you and I being out from underneath this.
But what if that doesn't happen? Expansion makes us a political player. It insulates us, and that keeps us safe. We could be the very legitimate, very public face of Missouri gaming. [chuckles] We'd be too big to fail.
Wendy, I did not agree to stay here to start raising red flag after red flag.
It's the smart play.
Stop. I'm here. Take the fucking victory, okay? And do not tell me what is smart and what is not smart. You blew through that stop sign six months ago.
Do you know what I did today? I talked to a woman about her toe ring stand. I have the time. We have the clout. I can do this. Just think-- think about the things we could build. Why should the Charles Wilkeses of the world have a stranglehold on this state? We could have the money and the influence. We could control every political lever in Missouri. We could give millions to the causes that we care about. We could run this goddamn place.
Do you even hear yourself?
I do. Do you hear me?
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