Rounders Page #7

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Forget her, Face. I was actually gonna

try and make some real money tonight.

But in honor of Mike's

alley-like return to the ring,

I'll sit with you all

for a while.

Hey, don't do us

any favors, Knish.

- They're about to go to

the board to fill these seats.

- Bet it.

I raise. You know, if we wanted

to take each other's rolls,

we could have just

stayed home.

[Mike Narrating]

These two have no idea...

what they're about to

walk into.

Down here to have a good time,

they figure...

why not give poker a try?

After all, how different

can it be from the home games...

they've played

their whole lives?

All the luck in the world isn't

gonna change things for these guys.

They're simply overmatched.

We're not playing together,

but then again, we're not playing

against each other either.

It's like the Nature Channel. You don't

see piranhas eating each other, do you?

They wear their tells

like signs around their necks.

Facial tics, nervous fingers.

A hand over a mouth.

The way a cigarette

is smoked.

Little unconscious gestures

that reveal the cards in their hands.

We catch everything.

If a fish acts strong,

he's bluffing.

If he acts meek,

he's got a hand. It's that simple.

- How are you, you workaholics?

- Worm.

Good to see ya.

Glad you're out.

Number's changed,

of course.

Lotta games this weekend,

so you're gonna need the number.

- I'll give you a ring.

- Hey, Worm?

Do they allow people like you

in places like this?

Zagosh, when you get yourself a job,

then you can be my f***in' P.O.

How about that?

Now, let's get started,

shall we?

I'm sorry, sir.

You can't take chips

from another player at the table.

We all know each other here.

We're like friends, so if nobody

complains, do you have a problem?

- It's all right.

- No problem.

- Sir, you have to buy 'em from me.

- [Sighs]

F*** this low-limit sh*t.

Can we go get something to eat?

I got comped at the noodle bar.

I want to talk to you.

Look who's treatin'

to a free meal.

Don't let that M.S.G. f***

up your head more than it is, Mikey.

You keep grinding out that rent money,

Joe. It's noble work you're doing.

So, hey, uh,

Nick the Greek.

What's with

kitin' my checks?

- I'm on empty, that's why.

- You are? You're tapped again?

I mean...

How much was the hooker?

- Mike, please. Relaxation therapist.

- [Chuckles]

Okay?

- It's not where it went.

- Wait a minute.

It went to

Roman and Maurice?

I told you, man, you didn't have to

give it all back to 'em.

Take a little money

for your time, you know?

Hey, that's not

where it went either.

- I ran into Grama tonight.

- Yeah?

Yeah. He took

everything I had.

You're kiddin' me.

Wait, who's he working for?

Well, he's sorta

out on his own.

This f***er went around

and bought up all my debt. Grama.

That turncoat motherf***er.

Are you kiddin' me?

So what do you owe him?

I don't know. By his crazy f***in'

gorilla math?

Like, 15.

- Fifteen? Fifteen?

- Yeah, I mean...

He says the juice has been running

the entire time on my ten.

- So, it's just like...

- Why didn't you tell me that, man?

Why did you not tell me that?

I could have paid that off.

- I had the... I had the money.

- Hey!

I'm not gonna sit in the can and have

my friend paying down my debt.

I'm not a leech,

all right?

We can help each other, like always.

That's why we're here.

That's... That's why we gotta

get in the bigger game.

- Do you hear what I'm saying?

- All right. All right.

- Listen, man, I'll help you.

You know I'll help you, man.

- Yeah?

- I mean, f*** that guy.

We'll figure something out.

- Yeah.

How long

should we wait?

I suggest we wait another five minutes,

and then choose another lead counsel.

Here he comes.

Mr. McDermott,

perhaps we can begin now.

I'm so sorry I'm late.

Come to order in the matter

of Slater v. New York State

Higher Education Services.

The facts have been stipulated,

the briefs have been read.

Lead counsel for plaintiff,

Mr. McDermott,

please proceed

with oral arguments now.

If that is convenient

for you.

Yes, it is, and again,

I'm sorry, ah, that I'm late.

Um...

Well, I think clearly

the, uh...

the case which controls the issue at bar

would be, uh, Texas v. Johnson,

- Which holds...

- [McKinnon] Texas v. Johnson?

Mr. McDermott, that is a Supreme Court

free speech case...

that has no bearing

in the premises.

Each group was apprised to ignore

that aspect of this matter...

and focus instead on the idea

of de facto segregation.

Right. Um, well...

Mr. McDermott has

been unreachable,

so I'll take over,

if it pleases the court.

Someone saying something meaningful

would please us a great deal.

What we have here is a clear case

of gerrymandering,

impacting schoolchildren

and schools in the district...

that was created solely

to separate students by race.

Although not dispositive, the student

body is more than 99 percent white.

Well, that

was impressive.

Usually you have to know something about

a case to give an opening statement.

Guys, what...

what can I say?

Hey, it worked out great

for me, McDermott. I think

I actually impressed Marinacci.

Jo.

- Jo. Jo.

- What?

We're not gonna talk?

You left me pretty quick there.

- You make it sound

as if it was my decision.

- Well, it wasn't mine.

I came home and you were gone.

You were just gonna drop me like that?

I learned it

from you, Mike.

You always told me

that this was the rule.

Rule number one:
Throw in your cards

the moment you know they can't win.

- Fold the hand.

- Look, this is our thing

that we're talking about.

It's not some

losing hand of poker.

I know exactly what

we're talking about, Mike.

So, that's the last

of it, then?

Yeah.

[Scoffs]

I mean, I'd say good luck, but I know

it's not about luck in your game.

[Announcer]

Eric Seidel cannot win this hand,

and yet

he doesn't know it.

Chan is trying to sucker him in

by taking his time.

Oh, look at that look

of the defending champ.

And now Fifth Street,

a six of diamonds. No help.

Johnny Chan has

a queen high straight.

Will Eric Seidel

fall for the bait?

Yes, he's going all in,

and Chan has him.

Johnny Chan, the master...

- Yes, he's going all in,

and Chan has him.

- [Telephone Rings]

- Hello.

- Oh, hey, Mike. It's Petra.

Can I come up?

Yeah, I'll buzz you in.

[Buzzing]

Well, that's the important thing

with the game of Hold 'Em.

You're never down and out

until your chips are all gone.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- How you doing?

- Good.

- [TV:
Man Continues Speaking]

- I haven't seen the place in a while.

Looks about the same.

- You want some scotch or something?

- No, I'm fine.

- Oh, '88 World Series, huh?

- Yeah.

Johnny Chan.

Flops the nut straight and

has the discipline to wait him out.

He knows Seidel's

gonna bluff at it.

- [Announcer]

And yet he doesn't know it.

- Johnny f***ing Chan.

Chan is trying to sucker him in

by taking his time.

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