Sarah Packard didn't die
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Hustler
AlWilliams-2 — 14 years ago(December 20, 2011 11:22 AM)
She didn't commit suicide or even die in the 1959 novel by Walter Tevis. She didn't even go to Louisville with Bert and Eddie. In fact, Sarah never even MET Bert! Bert and Eddie drove to Louisville (Lexington, KY, in the book) alone to play James Findlay. When Eddie returned to Chicago he tried to start up with Sarah again but she was very cold to him and they parted with their relationship up in the air. Eddie was about to challenge Minnesota Fats again, and become famous in the pool world, so it would have been unlikely he and Sarah would be a permanent thing. I don't know why the screenwriter killed Sarah off.
In fact the book also leaves it up in the air whether Eddie gave Bert his share of the winnings off Fats at the end. Bert gave him his plans for him and a couple days to think it over. And after a few bitter exchanges with Bert, Eddie left his cue in a locker there before he walked out, so I got the impression that he was going to pay off.