The play begins with Booth practicing his Three-card Monte, which he is not very good at. His brother Lincoln comes in wearing an outfit that makes him appear as Abraham Lincoln. He is dressed this way as he works in an arcade where people pay to reenact the murder of Lincoln. Booth wants Lincoln to get back into the hustle and teach him, but Lincoln doesn't touch the cards anymore. One of his best friends and partners, Lonny was shot and killed because of their hustle.
Booth is the younger brother and is letting Lincoln stay with him. Lincoln is the only one who has a job and thus is the one who pays all of the bills and splits his money with Booth. Booth boosts everything he needs from suits to curtains. Booth is in love with a woman, Grace who he wants to take him back. Lincoln was once married to Cookie, but they divorced soon after Booth slept with her in the very apartment the two now stay.
Booth goes on a date with Grace and lies to Lincoln that he slept with her. Lincoln says he will introduce Booth to all of his ex-partners in the 3-card hustle and talk him up as a major west coast player looking to get into the game on the east coast. A few days later Booth sets up the apartment for Grace to arrive. He has a meal cooked and the apartment decked out and ready for her. Lincoln comes home and asks when she is coming over, Booth says 8pm. It's now 2am. Turns out Booth told her Thursday. Lincoln reveals that he's been fired from his job and spent his severance pay.
The next day Lincoln comes in with $500 cash that he's won from 3-card Monte. Booth says that he too had a good night, Grace asked him to marry him and she wants to have his baby so, Lincoln will have to move out for her to move in. Lincoln understands and begins to pack, but finally decides to teach Booth how to play the 3-card hustle. Lincoln puts his $500 down and Booth puts down $500, money that their mother gave to him when she left them, Booth has never opened it and he got it when he was 11. Lincoln hustles Booth and takes his money.
Booth reveals that he killed Grace. That she hasn't been wearing his ring, and it's time for Booth to die and "3-Card" his new persona to come alive. He pulls his pistol on Lincoln for taking him for his $500 inheritance and shoots him in the neck before violently lashing out that Lincoln shouldn't have tested him. Booth then picks up his brother and begins to scream.
