The Flamingo Kid

In the sweltering summer of 1963, Brooklyn's own Jeffrey Willis (Matt Dillon) finds himself swept up in a whirlwind of excitement as he accepts an invitation to spend the Fourth of July at the exclusive El Flamingo Beach Club in Far Rockaway, Long Island. This picturesque oasis on the water is home to Steve Dawkins (Brian McNamara) and Henry "Hawk" Ganz (Fisher Stevens), two old friends whose families have long been part of the club's inner circle. As they gear up for a high-stakes game of gin rummy, they're in dire need of a third player with a knack for numbers - and Jeffrey's math skills prove to be just what the doctor ordered. With his uncanny ability to calculate and strategize, he helps his friends rake in a whopping $89.90 in penny-a-point games, leaving them all in awe.

As the sun sets on the beachside buffet and fireworks display, Jeffrey finds himself smitten with the stunning Carla Samson (Janet Jones), a blonde beauty from California who's spending the summer with her wealthy relatives, the Brody family. But before he can fully indulge his newfound crush, a car stalls in the parking lot, prompting Jeffrey to lend a hand - and impress the attendant with his mechanical prowess. The offer of a job is too good to refuse, and Jeffrey soon finds himself immersed in the world of parking attendants.

The next morning, Jeffrey breaks the news to his father, plumber Arthur Willis (Hector Elizondo), that he's taken up a new line of work. Arthur's initially disheartened by the revelation - having already arranged for Jeffrey to spend the summer working as an office boy at an engineering firm in Brooklyn - but Jeffrey is resolute in his decision. After all, he's determined to contribute to his college tuition fund and prove that he can make a difference with his newfound independence.

As the days pass, Jeffrey continues to hone his skills on the job, observing and learning from the club's members - including the enigmatic Phil Brody (Richard Crenna), the self-proclaimed "king" of gin rummy, who holds his cards in an distinctive upside-down fan pattern. That night, Jeffrey tries his hand at mastering this signature move, but it proves to be a challenge he's not yet ready to overcome.

Phil Brody's daughter, Joyce, extends an olive branch by inviting Steve Dawkins over for dinner at the Brody household, while her cousin Carla Samson takes the opportunity to bring Jeffrey into their social circle. Phil's wife, Phyllis (Jessica Walter), is taken aback by the unassuming parking lot attendant's sudden introduction into their lives, but Phil himself takes a shine to Jeffrey after the young man shows an appreciation for his card-playing prowess. As the evening wears on, Phil finds common ground with Jeffrey, sharing his wisdom on the art of card games and lamenting the fact that he never had a son to share his knowledge with. Meanwhile, Carla and Jeffrey hit it off, their evening culminating in a romantic kiss as he departs.

The next day, Phil arranges for Jeffrey's promotion to cabana boy at the El Flamingo, where he quickly proves himself a shrewd player of penny-a-point gin rummy and a magnet for tips. As his fortunes rise, so too does his social standing, with Phil treating him to a spin in an Italian-made sports car from his own dealership, Brody Motors.

Phil's words of wisdom sink deep into Jeffrey's psyche, as he shares his philosophy on the importance of salesmanship over formal education. "I never went to college," Phil confesses, "but I took night courses at New York University and believe that it's the salesman who truly makes a living." He sees great potential in Jeffrey, whose natural charm and wit would serve him well behind the wheel of a luxury car.

Meanwhile, back home, Jeffrey's family is grappling with his sudden decision to forego higher education. Arthur Willis, Jeffrey's father, is deeply troubled by this turn of events, having always envisioned a future for his children filled with learning and intellectual pursuits. But Jeffrey remains resolute in his choice, repeating Phil's mantra about salesmen being the ones who truly make their mark on the world.

The tension between Jeffrey and his family comes to a head when Arthur invites him out for dinner at a posh restaurant, only to be rebuffed by Jeffrey's plans to hit the horse races in Yonkers with his friends. As the two men clash, Phil intervenes, offering words of wisdom that calm the storm: "You've got a fine son there, Arthur," he says, before advising him to let Jeffrey forge his own path and spend time with his friends.

As the sun sets over the horse racing tracks, Jeffrey's optimism is swiftly deflated as his friends and he suffer a crushing defeat at the betting window. The supposed "sure thing" having turned out to be anything but, the group slinks away from the track, only to find themselves on the receiving end of a violent outburst from some rough-looking characters from the racetrack itself. As the dust settles, Jeffrey and his friends are hauled off to jail, leaving Arthur to bail his son out with a heavy heart.

The drive home is a tense one, as Jeffrey's frustration boils over into an argument with his father about their financial situation. Jeffrey can't help but criticize Arthur for playing it too safe, condemning them to a "dump" of a life in Brooklyn. The old man's patience finally wears thin, and he slaps Jeffrey across the face, sparking a firestorm of emotion within the young man.

As the storm subsides, Jeffrey makes the decision to pack his bags and move out, much to Arthur's mocking disdain. "Fast car salesman," indeed! But beneath the surface, Arthur is quietly grappling with his own fears - fast things frighten him, he confesses - and he imparts some hard-earned wisdom upon his son: that there are only two truly important things in life - finding out what you do well and finding out what makes you happy. And if God is smiling on you, those two things are one and the same.

The next morning finds Jeffrey crashing at a luxurious cabana, his mind reeling from the events of the previous day. When he finally emerges to face Phil Brody, he's met with an unexpected proposal: a job as a humble stock boy at Phil's dealership in Yonkers. Jeffrey is crestfallen - this isn't the high-octane sales career he had envisioned for himself - but Phil explains that sometimes you have to start at the bottom before you can grow into something greater.

That night, Jeffrey and Carla share a romantic evening on the beach, their love consummated in a tender first (and only) kiss. As they say their goodbyes, Carla invites Jeffrey to visit her in Los Angeles when she starts college - but for now, it's time for them to go their separate ways.

As Labor Day wears on, Phil and his cohorts engage in another intense game of gin rummy against the formidable Col. Eastland and his team. With Brody (character) effortlessly dominating the competition, Jeffrey begins to notice an unusual spectator - Big Sid, who is covertly signaling Brody about Eastland's cards. However, their subterfuge is short-lived as Big Sid succumbs to sunstroke, inadvertently collapsing onto Eastland, sending both men to the hospital for treatment.

In the aftermath of this unexpected turn of events, Jeffrey seizes the opportunity to join forces with Charlie Cooper and Mario Minetta, filling the void left by Eastland's absence. As the game continues into the night, Jeffrey proves himself a formidable opponent against Phil, racking up impressive wins. The stakes escalate as the hours pass, culminating in a final hand where the men agree to double down on their bets. With calculated precision, Jeffrey comments on Phil's hesitation, then drops the winning card, securing his victory.

Phil's anger at losing boils over, prompting him to storm away from the table, leaving his defeated opponents to tally up their losses. Meanwhile, Jeffrey's teammates are thrilled with their windfall and generously share the spoils with their victorious friend, who reveals Phil's long-standing cheating scheme to Big Sid's involvement all summer.

Later that evening, as the sun dips below the horizon, Phil pays a visit to Jeffrey, offering him a sales position at his new dealership in Newport, California, a move that would enable Jeffrey to be closer to Carla. However, Jeffrey politely declines and shares his discovery about Phil's shady dealings with Brody. With his conscience clear, Jeffrey says goodbye to his friends at the beach club and heads to Larry's Fish House, where he reunites with his family for dinner.

With Arthur's forgiveness in hand, Jeffrey makes amends and announces his decision to return home, embracing his father in a heartfelt hug.