Mister Cory

A poor Chicago kid with a stubborn gambling streak lands a job as a busboy at a luxurious Wisconsin resort. He senses there's a chance to climb into a better life and begins formulating his plan. The gleaming resort world sets the stage for his ambitions to unfold.

To get Abby Vollard's attention, he sabotages her motorboat as a ruse. When the engine fails, he dives in to help and unexpectedly encounters Abby's sister Jen on the boat. Jen volunteers to assist his effort to win Abby's affection.

Abby mistakenly believes Cory is a resort guest and invites him on a trip to New York. There, he tries to raise money at a poker game, but Jeremiah Caldwell, a guest, cleans him out. The setback hardens Abby's impression of him.

Abby learns the truth about Cory's job and is offended, ending their budding romance. The glamorous dream with Abby dissolves as she walks away. Cory is left to confront the consequences of the ruse.

A year passes and Cory heads to Reno in search of better luck. He crosses paths with Jeremiah Caldwell once again, who is revealed to be Biloxi, a seasoned professional gambler. The reunion hints at a new, sharper future for Cory.

An ulcer-stricken Biloxi cannot play, so he makes Cory his proxy at the gambling table. The partnership blends Cory's nerve with Biloxi's experience, forming a dangerous rhythm. They decide to return to Chicago to pursue a riskier scheme.

Back in Chicago, gangster Ruby Matrobe offers them a chance to run an illegal casino. They accept the offer and prepare for a grand opening. The project marks a turning point from casual play to high-stakes crime.

Cory sends Abby an invitation to the grand opening, then slips away with her after arranging for her fiancé Alex to gamble and win. The pair begin a secret affair that tightens their grip over one another. Abby is pulled deeper into Cory's dangerous world.

Cory's rising ambition becomes cruel and calculating, culminating in a marriage proposal that Abby rejects. Biloxi is disgusted by Cory's transformation and ends their partnership. The trust between them dissolves as the scheme spirals.

Alex, now losing heavily at the tables, tips off the cops about Ruby's gambling house. A raid erupts at the casino, throwing the operation into chaos. Cory tries to flee, but the raid turns violent when Alex shoots him in the arm.

Ashamed of his actions, Cory refuses to prosecute the casino raid's consequences. He makes his way toward the airport, seeking an exit from the life he's chosen. The future hangs in the balance as he plans an uncertain departure.

At the airport, Abby's sister Jen returns, now older and more striking. She unexpectedly appears and offers to come along with Cory, presenting a new, uncertain path forward. The film closes on this ambiguous invitation to an uncharted future.