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It wasn’t a good idea, it was a terrible one even, but they started a game of monopoly and three hours later they're still going.
Florence had it stuffed away in the back of the closet and pulled it out while cleaning. Before she could tell anyone that this game is off limits and by no means is anyone playing monopoly under this roof, Freddie had whisked it away from her and gone to ask Walter if they wanted to play. Florence wasn't asked, they both just assumed she was interested because she was the one who had dug it out. Never one to back down from a challenge, she accepted.
It started out hopeful, as these things tend to. Everyone picked up a few early properties. Florence got sent to jail for rolling doubles too many times, but not before getting two railroads. Walter started focusing on properties on the second side of the board, buying two off of Freddie for twice what he spent on them. Freddie was too short sighted to see how that might end, favoring the instant cash over the strategic property. Florence didn't say anything. For someone who plays a board game for a living, Freddie isn't too smart when it comes to this one.
Florence plays safely. Late game might be hell for her but she's not going to get in between Freddie and his own self destruction. Property gets traded around. They all eventually wind up with at least one full color set. Walter has the whole second side, Florence has three of the four railroads and the last property set of the third side, and Freddie has the utilities, the cheapest property set, and the most expensive property set. The rest is scattered amongst them. The whole board is bought up. That's where the game really began.
Freddie started to realize he had been duped. Tricked. Bamboozled. The section of the board that Walter owned the entirety of is unavoidable, a consistent fee every time someone made a round around the board. To make it worse, they got control of their area incredibly early on, so they started to build property there before anyone else had entered that phase of their strategy. Florence knew this would happen. This game is never fun. It was never going to be fun.
That brings them to where they are now. Freddie is inches away from losing all hope, and subsequently throwing a bit of a tantrum. Walter is totally focused, completely silent aside from reminding the other two of when they need to pay up. Florence is keeping the money close and waiting for this to inevitably escalate into a conflict that transcends monopoly, at which point she'll need to stow the money away to stop it from getting all mixed up in the ensuing chaos.
"This is bullshit." Freddie lands on New York Avenue again. He always seems to land on that one.
Walter takes the money. "...This is $700. You owe me $800."
Freddie grumbles and hands over two $50 bills. He's out of $100 ones and has been too proud to ask Florence to change some out.
Florence brings up Freddie's financial situation when he fails to. "You're down to $100. One more turn and you might have to sell some property." She tries to say it neutrally, but is aiming to put her at the front of his mind as he's entering into an unfavorable state. He'll be the first one out, and Florence will need his properties in order to contest Walter.
"I know that." He rolls again, having rolled doubles the last turn. B. & O. Railroad. Florences. She has three, so he owes her the last $100 he has. He won't be in debt yet, but he surely will be soon. He sees this before moving his piece and goes red in the face. "...This game is rigged."
"You're just not good at it." Walter points out.
"How the hell is someone supposed to be good at monopoly? It's all luck! You roll the dice and let it happen! Our property values are about the same, or the would be if you didn't get lucky and get enough money for all those houses."
This is it. Florence holds the money off of the table. Walter doesn't say anything. Freddie doesn't notice. "There's a few strategies." She informs him. "You're not playing any of them."
Freddie huffs. "Oh, bull-fucking-shit. What are you doing then?"
"Biding my time."
Freddie is so shocked by her betrayal that it takes him a moment to accuse her of it. "So you think I'm going to lose? You built your whole strategy assuming I was going to be out first? You think I'm that stupid? You think i suck at this game, right? You hate me. Fuck you."
Walter is trying not to laugh by organizing their property cards. Alphabetical this time. "I can show you how to strategize when we're done."
"No! You know what? Fuck you both. Setting me up for failure. How am I supposed to come back now? I'm gonna have to sell my property and then I won't have anything and I wont be able to do anything about it. Fucking game. Unfair."
"Perfectly fair." Walter argues. "You set yourself up for failure two hours ago. If you didn't sell me St. James' Place I wouldn't have been able to build houses over here."
"Oh, and I'm supposed to see into the future? You think I'm psychic? Taking advantage of me like some idiot. Well I’m not an idiot.”
Florence sticks her hand out. “Dice?”
Freddie hands them over begrudgingly. Another round passes, money is exchanged between Florence and Walter but no one touches Freddie’s properties. Freddies turn comes back around and he lands on Florence’s property. It’s the final straw.
Freddie stands and throws the dice down on the table. “That’s it! I’ve had it! I won’t let you two embarrass me any more!” he tosses his property cards in the middle of the board. “I quit. I won’t even auction them off, fistfight for them for all I care.”
Florence bites her lip to stay serious. “Freddie-”
“I’m never trusting you two again. Are you proud of that? You did this.” He storms off into the bedroom. “Fuck!”
Florence sets the money back onto the table. “Want to keep going?” She offers to Walter.
Walter shrugs. “I’m fine with quitting. I just wanted to see Freddie get mad.” They start to gather their cards and money up. “Three hours well spent, I think.”
She doesn’t encourage the taunting, but she has to admit it’s funny to see Freddie direct his anger at something so inconsequential. “Grow up.” She finally has to laugh.
They pack it up together while Freddie sulks. At least there’s no mess, and luckily it’s early enough in the evening for them to give Freddie space and make up before bed.
Monopoly isn’t fun. It’s always a terrible idea. At least it’s funny, sometimes.