The Prime Mover - Recap

Ace Larsen and his friend Jimbo Cobb work at a diner out in the desert. Ace is a compulsive gambler, losing to a one-armed bandit and a coin flip to a truck driver. His girl Kitty Cavanaugh objects and leaves for the night, and Ace insists to Jimbo that he needs to get enough money to marry her and keep her in style. They're interrupted when a car crashed into a nearby power substation. They run out to help but the passengers are trapped with high-power wires all around. Jimbo concentrates... and lifts the car clear of the wires.



After the passengers are taken to the hospital, Ace and Jimbo go to their apartment and Jimbo finally explains that he's had the power to move things with his mind ever since he was a kid. However, he gave it up when it got it into trouble and caused headaches whenever he overused it. Ace has him demonstrate his powers on large objects like the bed as well as smaller objects like coins and dice. Then he briefly gets mad, noting they could have been rich years ago if he'd know what Jimbo could do. He calls Kitty and has her come on a trip with them to Vegas.



In Vegas they play the roulette table with Jimbo using his abilities to win every time. When his headaches get worse, Jimbo finally has to stop and they go up to their hotel room with two boxes full of their winnings. Jimbo says they're cheating and should stop, and Ace agrees after one last time. As Jimbo gets some sleep, Kitty insists they leave since Ace has enough money to provide for them. He insists that he needs more money and a furious Kitty leaves, saying he's sick. Jimbo notes that she's made because Ace has been ignoring her all night and tells his friend to go after him. Ace chases her down to the lobby but she refuses to leave until he stops. When he doesn't, she heads home and he notices an attractive cigarette girl, Sheila. He pays her to accompany him and has the manager set him up with Phil Nolan, the biggest gamberl in town.



The next day Ace sets up a game with Nolan in the hotel room, even though Jimbo warns that Nolan is a gangster. Ace isn't concerned, and when Nolan and his men arrive they start playing high-stakes craps. Thanks to Jimbo, Ace keeps beating a frustrated Nolan every time. Sheila arrives and Ace decides to bet everything he has. A nervous Nolan takes the bet but Jimbo warns Ace that he needs to stop. Ace ignores him, rolls the dice... and loses. A relieved Nolan gets out with his cash and Jimbo explains that something burned out in his brain and he's lost his power for good. Sheila leaves and Ace can't do anything but laugh.



The friends head back to the diner and Ace has the one-armed bandit taken out. He proposes to Kitty, startling Jimbo into dropping his broom. Kitty asks him for a quarter and flips a coin... and says she'll accept Ace's proposal without telling him what he flipped. As the happy couple kiss, Jimbo surreptitiously glances at the broom on the floor... and telekinetically lifts up to his hand.



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