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 fucker went around and bought up all my debt. Grama.
That turncoat motherfucker. Are you kiddin' me?
So what do you owe him?
I don't know. By his crazy fuckin' 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, fuck 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 fucking Chan.
Chan is trying to sucker him in by taking his time.
Look at the control. Look at that fuck.
He knows his man well enough to check it all the way...
and risk winning nothing with those cards.
He owns him.
[Announcer] Will Eric Seidel fall for the bait?
Yes, he's going all in and Chan has him.
- Johnny Chan, the master. - Poor Seidel. Kid doesn't know what hit him.
Yeah, I know what that feels like.
It's like a locomotive running through your stomach.
You feel gut-shot. Fuck it. You didn't come here to talk about this.
What's going on?
- Tomorrow's a week. - A week of what?
The first two thousand you owe the Chesterfield.
- Oh. Worm. - Yes, it's kinda weird.
He'd just won eight grand. Why go on the line behind another two?
So, he took, what, about eight off of Roman and Maurice?
Yeah, yeah, he comes in after you leave,
sits for like another 20 more minutes,
cashes out for the full amount.
Maurice hasn't been back since. I think he's been playing across the street.
But, uh, Worm's been around plenty.
He's run you up just under seven grand.
Well, do me a favor and just put him on his own.
- Yeah? - Yeah, cut him off.
Um, I tell ya, I got a thousand.
I got a thou. And that's, you know...
I just started coming back, so...
- Thanks for making it easy, Mike. - Oh, yeah, yeah.
I'm, uh... I'm sorry to be back over here for this reason.
- Don't worry about it. - No, l... I like being here.
It's good to see you, Mike.
- I can stay. - Listen, I tell ya, I'Il... I'Il, um...
I'll come... I'll come... I'll see you down at the club.
- I'll come by this week. - Yeah.
[Glass Shatters]
I know you're in here.
Mike?
Hey. I thought you were the janitor, man.
It's a good thing Grama doesn't know you as well as I do.
Come on. I'll play ya horse. Fifty bucks a letter.
Yeah? When I win, are you gonna pay me back with my own fucking money?
Oh, oh, easy. Relax. Don't wing it. Just... Just step and throw.
You need to work on your accuracy.
Will you stop fucking around for five goddamn minutes for once in your fucking life!
Whoa, Jesus. What happened? My old man just walked in the door.
I should fucking beat the shit out of you the way he used to.
You remember when we found this place, man?
Yeah, I remember when we found this place.
You were hiding from Tommy Manzy 'cause you thought he was gonna fucking pound you into oblivion.
Yeah, now, see? What did I ever do to that guy?
- You fucked his mother. - [Laughing]
Yeah, but she was a good-Iooking older woman. You gotta give me that.
You spent a year of your life hiding in this fucking gym from that sick fuck...
until he pissed off the wrong guy and someone dropped a garbage can on his head.
What do you want me to say? Those were wild times. You were there too.
Nothing's changed. Nothing has changed.
You were hiding from your troubles then. You're hiding from your troubles now.
I like to hide, and that's part of the fun for me, you know?
I don't like running solo.
It's like I used to have a running partner, you know what I'm saying?
If we fucked up back then and got caught,
the worst thing that was going to happen was maybe catch a beating, get expelled.
But, man, you're fixing to go down hard, and it almost seems like you want to.
Stop worrying so much about me, okay? I'm turning things around.
I'm not gonna let anybody drop a garbage can on my head.
No, no, you're gonna get out of the way. It's gonna land on me.
I'll see ya.
Come on, Mike. Hey. Come on, come on, come on.
I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry about the money.
I should've told you.
It's just... What do you want me to say? It's fucking embarrassing.
l, like, just get out, I'm in a big fucking hole.
I need something to get goin'. I gotta get started.
And?
Well, I'm not gonna lie. There's been some reversals.
- Some reversals. How much money do you have? - Nine hundred.
I mean, I caught a frozen wave of cards like you fucking read about.
I think I'm getting you outta hock, I find out I'm seven grand in.
I know, man. I was really... I was really up big.
I was cruising along.
I tried to beat that blackjack game at the Horseshoe Club in Brooklyn.
- That place is a mitt joint. - I know. It was, like, ouch. I'm so stupid.
I got so good with this, I thought I could neutralize 'em.
You're really jamming me up here, man. Seven grand.
- I know. - That's it. I can't go any deeper than that. You're off the tip.
- I understand. That's okay. - And you gotta talk with Grama.
- You gotta square things away with Grama. - No way, Mike.
I'm not talking to that fucking Judas.
You think there's any other way?
[Mike Narrating] I know all the reasons I shouldn't be here,
but sometimes reasons don't matter.
You see, no one's ever stood up for Worm.
The guy's been kicked around his whole life, from his father on down.
Maybe he's not the same guy he was when he went away,
but I can't give up on him that easy.
I'm all he's got.
Oh, what the hell.
- Hi, boys. - Hi.
You cops? You look like cops.
- We're not cops. - You wanna twirl then?
No, no, we're just here to see Grama.
Jesus.
- You sure about this? I got a bad feeling. - That's all right. Just...
Just let me do the talking, all right?
[Mike] Hey, Grama.
- Long time. - Mike.
Hey, Worm. It's good you came. That's real smart thinking.
So, did you bring him along to help carry all my money?
Uh, there's no money today.
No money? There's gotta be some money.
Come on. Get outta here.
He's not kidding. I got nothing.
You owe 25. I'll take the rest in five days.
- Five grand in a week, and you keep the juice going... - Shh. Quiet.
- [Dog Growling] - You gotta catch 'em in the act.
[Dog Growling]
- [Whimpering, Thud] - Get in your hole, you bitch!
- Christ. - Fucking dog.
You can't let 'em get away with it or else they think they run the place.
- [Sighs] So, where were we? - Five grand.
In a week. Grama, we want what you want. We wanna square this thing.
But three days... three days is impossible. All right?
No one's saying you're not the man. Just think of this as a business decision.
Look, he just got out. Let's put him on a plan.
No, no, no, no, no. This isn't The Money Store.
We're not negotiating here. I tell you how it works.
Well, then, I'm asking.
So, you're looking for a little grace, Lester, some charity?
You know what, Grama? I need your fucking charity like I need your cock in my ass.
- Shut the fuck up! - It's too late for him to shut up.
- Hey, listen! He's good for it. - He's good for it, Mike?
If you think he's good for it, it's on you too.
Then it's on me too.
- Fifteen large, five days, or I start breaking things. - I hear ya.
Get the fuck outta here.
Piece of shit.
Now, what the hell are you doing?
I'm not gonna get down on my knees for that jerk-off.
All I said is just keep your mouth shut for five seconds.
- Shit. I'm sorry. - Goddamn it.
That's it. I'm really sunk now.
No, 15 grand in five days. I can do that. I've gone on rushes like that before.
Ah, under optimum conditions with a bankroll, maybe.
- But what have you got on you? - Got, like, 350.
Ah, that's 1,200 between us. We might as well play the fucking Lotto.
No, man, no. Listen. Find the games, scout 'em out, I sit, I mop 'em up.
You know, we might have a shot at this...
if we sat together and just did our thing.
I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna do this straight up.
- Oh, fuck, man. - I mean it.
- Well, where do you wanna start? - There's a 30-60 at the Chesterfield.
Come on, listen... there's the 4:00 a.m. in Woodside. There's the Greeks.
All right, there's a union game in Jersey.
- I know a guy whose cousin can get us in. - All right.
- There's four. - There's a cigar shop in Brooklyn.
- It's like an easy clean. - There's a golf pro game in Riverdale. That's six.
- You sure you're up for this? - I'm fucking up for this.
An 80.
I bet the full amount.
The full amount, huh? Well, let me look at you here.
Nope. You didn't do it this time. I'm gonna raise you.
- [Woman] I don't know. - [Man] The bet's 50.
[Woman] I kinda like this robusto.
A nice, nutty finish.
I love the Cameroon wrapper on this baby. Nice and oily.
I'll call. What do you got?
I have what's known as the wheel.
It's got earthy tones, a smooth draw, enough kick to win me the Hi and the Lo.
Call.
- Trip aces. - L... I only got a pair.
- Jacks. - What did you think he had?
Does he look like a man beaten by jacks?
Jacks are a monster compared to the crap you play, Taki.
- Ah, fuck you. Fuck you. - Fuck me? Fuck you!
[Man] It's only money. I bet.
[Mike] Then let's get some in there.
- Make it five. - You're raising me 300, kid?
I call your 300.
- How much is in there, Weitz? - About 1,500. 1,500.
[Man] Here's a thousand. There's 500.
I bet you the pot limit, kiddo.
[Weitz] Are you sure on that, Goldie?
You might want to leave a little something for your daughter's riding lessons.
There's a lot more where that came from, Weitz.
Take it down.
I got shit. I bluffed the big ringer.
- [Laughing] - [Worm] Let's go. Let's go.
Get up. Get off your ass. We're done. Come on.
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere... Oh, by the way, anybody.
Buy some real jewelry, you fucking cheap bastard.
Unbelievable.
- What were you doing in there? - I didn't have it.
You didn't have it?
Since when you have to have it to take a pot off a hump like that?
- A grade schooler would've played back at that guy. - I was waiting the guy out.
Eventually, he was going to bluff at the wrong pot. I was gonna take him.
We don't have time. That guy was papier-mache. You gotta make strong moves.
The move was folding. I can't lose what I don't put in the middle.
Oh, Jesus, you know what? Fuck all that 'cause we needed that pot.
Well, what are we up to?
That's like seven. Seven.
With that pot you just dumped on that fucking V-neck sweater,
we would've had ten.
Look at you. One 64-hour session, and you need a nap.
- No time for a fucking nap. - No, we don't. That's all right.
Come on. I know what you need.
I know... I got just the place for you. Yeah, yeah.
[Man Singing In Italian]
Feel like I'm gonna get whacked sitting here like this.
We got 7,300, Mike. We gotta double that in two days.
Well, we're gonna get close. I'm sure if we come up a little short, Grama...
We come up even a little short,
Grama will shoot us and bury us in a hole somewhere.
Now, I know this game up in Binghamton.
- In Binghamton? - Yeah, yeah.
It's like 16 or 17 guys. Two full tables. All municipal workers.
They come play right after they get their paychecks. It's very fat.
Are you sure? Binghamton's five hours each way.
Well, look, I figure there's 15 or 20 grand in that room, okay?
If we get even half of that, we're home.
Lead me to it.
- Municipal workers, huh? - What? These guys work for the city.
They work for the state, you idiot.
Oh, this is just stupid.
Look, we're here, okay?
- You got any better ideas? - How the hell am I supposed to even get in this game?
No, it's easy. The whole time I was in the joint, I was just dumping money to guards.
This one guy, Pete Frye, I probably lost like ten grand over 18 months.
I mean, he thinks I'm a total fish.
He told me anytime I wanted a game when I got out, just look up his nephew.
You just go in there, you ask for Sean Frye, you're in.
You're gonna clean this game up. These guys are total suckers.
All right. Give me, like, eight hours.
- Come back at 7:00, 7:30. - What am I gonna do for eight hours?
- Why don't I come in? I'll sit for a little while. - No.
- No, not a chance. - I'll sit at the other table and play straight.
You wanna play straight? You go in there, I'll be back in eight hours.
Aw, Jesus.
All right, all right. I'll go find a fucking bowling alley.
I don't know.
[Chattering]
Excuse me.
- Can I help you? - Yeah, I'm looking for Sean Frye.
Yeah, right over there in that cap.
Thanks.
Let's go.
- Sean Frye? - That's right.
Yeah, your Uncle Pete told me to come by if I ever was around here.
You one of his students?
Oh, no, no, no, no. l... I wasn't inside.
- You know him from hunting then, huh? - Yeah, yeah, actually.
I met him over at, uh... He took me for like a grand over at the lodge.
Well, that's the buy-in here. We play 20-40 Stud.
- Grab a seat. - Great.
- How you doing? I'm Mike. - How you doing? Vitter.
- Osborne. - Hi. - This is Whitley.
Bet 40.
- Back at ya. - [Chips Hit Table]
- All right. - You and me, Mike.
Another 40.
All right, 40 it is.
- Flush. - Mm.
[Mike Narrating] Generally, the rule is, the nicer the guy, the poorer the card player.
And these guys, despite being cops, are real sweethearts.
I'm right on schedule, up 4,200.
- The morning can't get here soon enough. - [Men Laughing]
[Worm] Holy shit! That's a hell of an elk.
My grandfather got that one. Ain't that a beauty?
- Hey, fellas. - [All] Hey, Bear!
Met this guy down at the bowling alley. Says he likes to play cards.
[Vitter] Well, you've come to the right place.
This is Whitley. Osborne. This guy's name is Mike.
- Mike? How are ya? Les Murphy. - This is Vitter.
- So, what are you guys playing? - 20-40 Stud.
Okay. Deal me in.
All right, your money's good here.
Give him some chips, start playing some cards.
[Chattering]
Everybody ante.
Let's play some cards.
- [Worm] Ace high bets. - Well, I like what I have.
The bet is 20.
I know that look. I'm gonna fold.
Fold too.
I'll take it.
- Yeah, everybody ready? Fourth Street. - Yes, sir.
Raise you.
- I'm in. - Wow. Wow. A lot of action.
A lot of action.
- I got the flush. - Show me. What you got in here?
- Jesus. Who wants more? - I'm in.
- Come on, come on.
I'm staging a late-night comeback here.
Late-night rally.
Okay? Just to... Just to warn you.
Ace high bets.
Uh, ace checks.
- Check. - Check on an ace. All right. I'll check.
- Check. - Check.
All right, free card. Here we go.
- Hold on there a fucking second. - Easy. What are you doing?
- Give me the deck. - Relax, man. Don't get so agitated.
- [Vitter] Looks like we got a road gang here. - [Worm] A what?
- What are you... What? - What the hell's going on over here, Stu?
This son of a bitch is base dealing.
- Caught a hanger, Sarge. - What? A hanger?
I don't even know what you're saying.
- He's saying you're dealing off the bottom of the deck. - Oh, God. Come on, guys.
- What did he give him? - To me?
- Seven of hearts. - You boys professionals? You working?
I was winning before this guy got here.
Okay, okay. Let's let the cards do the talking.
If the seven didn't help you, we'll listen to what you have to say.
Ozzy, turn the cards.
- [Murmuring] - Come on! It's three of a kind!
- Shut up! - I'm just sayin', it's three of a kind.
One last thing, Stu.
- [Murmuring] - Scumbag!
Hey, all right, take it easy.
Aren't you supposed to read us our rights?
Here's your fuckin' rights!
[All Shouting]
Fuck you!
Get the fuck outta here, you cocksuckers! Shit!
Aw, Jesus!
Worm.
Worm?
[Mike Groans]
Hey, Les.
Hey.
Hey, you all right?
Mike?
Yeah.
You should've played those kings, Mike.
- Aw, you're an asshole. - [Groaning]
I know. I know. I'm sorry.
They took every fucking nickel.
I think I got 300 in my boot somewhere.
Oh, look at you. Fuck!
Fuck, I cannot believe I caught a hanger.
- Aw, it's never happened, I swear to God. - Where's the car?
- God, I think I cracked a rib. - What the fuck were you thinking?
- I was trying to give us an edge. - I had 'em.
Hey, I'm sorry we got banged up, all right?
I took a shot and I missed. That happens.
- Fucking happens all the time around you. - What, it doesn't happen to you?
You're the guy who flushed his whole fucking bankroll on one hand, Mike.
- Oh, hey, fuck you, man. That was different. - Why? Explain that to me.
Why different, huh? What makes you so fucking special?
How come all your moves are so smart and noble...
and I'm always the idiot piece of shit?
You act like you're the only one with any fucking ambition.
What's your ambition, man? Tell me. I don't know. What is it?
- I don't even know. I don't think like that. - No, you don't think.
No, I don't think like you!
You always think you can beat the game straight up. That's not me.
- I told you, I'm always gonna look for that edge. Always. - What's the edge now?
We owe 15 grand in a day. What do we do?
It's easy. We get the fuck outta Dodge, all right?
We just steer clear of the city for a while.
We'll hit the road. We'll be up again in no time. This'll all blow over.
- We'll have a ball. - Not a fucking chance I'm gonna live like that.
- You talk to Grama. You get him to stake me. - It's not gonna work, okay?
We're not dealing with Grama.
You said Grama's on his own.
- You told me Grama's on his own. - KGB bankrolled him.
- So you've just fucked us right in the ass. - Yeah, all the way, okay?
So you see what I'm saying? No fooling around. It's highway time.
Are you with me or not?
No, I'm not this time.
- Give me the keys. - You're really gonna go back there?
Yeah.
I'll see you when I see you.
Hey. At least you're rounding again, right?
You're gonna thank me for that someday.
[Engine Starts]
[Car Driving Away]
[Mike Narrating] Fold or hang tough. Call or raise the bet.
These are decisions you make at the table.
Sometimes the odds are stacked so clear, there's only one way to play it.
Other times, like holding a small pair against two over cards,
it's six to five, or even money, either way.
Then it's all about feel, what's in your guts.
Well, look at you.
Look at me.
Come in.
No.
- Where's your friend? - Uh, he's gone.
- He's gone. - So you brought my money?
- I'm a little short. - How short?
The whole way.
There must be some kind of story.
Well...
as you can see, I can't pay you.
I see you're banged up pretty good.
You never should've vouched for that scumbag.
Maybe not.
- You're leaving me no outs here. - Why?
I can't trust you two aren't playing me.
I'm not the one working with a partner here.
You wanna take it up with KGB, you go right ahead.
Otherwise, you got one day, or this'll feel like a Swedish massage.
[Door Slams]
- Hey. - [Knish] Hey, what's up?
You look like Duane Bobick after one round with Norton.
- What the fuck happened to you? - Ah, Worm.
When are you gonna listen?
I'm listening.
What do you need? 500? A grand?
- Huh? - I need... I need 15,000.
- Fifteen? - Yep.
I need a blow job from Christy Turlington.
- Get the fuck outta here. $15,000? - Seriously, Joey.
What can you do for me? Five hundred dollars is not even gonna get me started.
Goddamn it, Mike, if 500 won't help, what's two grand gonna do?
What kind of trouble you in?
I'm in the worst kind, with the worst guy.
- KGB? - Yep.
Come here.
Didn't I tell you...
to never let that guy get a hold of you?
- You told me a lot of things. - Yeah, yeah. And you don't listen.
I tell you to play within your means, you risk your whole bankroll.
I tell you not to overextend yourself, to rebuild,
you go into hock for more.
I was giving you a living, Mike,
showing you the playbook I put together off my own beats.
That wasn't enough for you...
This is one time I don't need you to tell me how I fucked up.
I know I fucked up.
What I need from you is money.
- I need whatever money you can give me. - See, that's the thing.
This time there is no money.
I give you two grand, what's that buy you? A day?
No, I give it to you, I'm wasting it.
- That's fucking great. - You did it to yourself.
You had to put it all on the line for some Vegas pipe dream.
Yeah, I took a risk. I took a risk.
You see all the angles. You never have the stones to play one.
"Stones"? You little punk.
I'm not playing for the thrill of fucking victory here.
I owe rent, alimony, child support. I play for money.
My kids eat.
I got stones enough not to chase cards, action...
or fucking pipe dreams of winning the World Series on ESPN.
You want me to, uh, call some people,
try and buy you some time, I will.
Place to stay, or the truck. No problem.
But about the money, I gotta do this. I gotta say no.
That's fine. I understand.
- Hey, listen. - What?
I put it all on the line. That's true.
And you know what? It wasn't a bad beat.
I wasn't unlucky.
I got outplayed. I got outplayed that time.
But I know I'm good enough to sit at that table.
It's not... It's not a fucking pipe dream.
I don't doubt your talent.
I never... I never told anybody this.
About eight, nine months ago, I'm at the Taj, it's late,
and I see Johnny Chan walk in.
And he goes, he sits 300-600.
And the whole place stops when Johnny Chan walks in.
Everybody puts an eye on him.
After a little while, there wasn't a crap game going...
'cause all the high rollers are over there watching him.
Some are playing with him, giving away their money to this guy to say...
"Oh, I played with the World Champion."
And you know what I did? I sat down.
Nah, you need 50, 60 grand to play right in that game.
Well, I had six, but I had to know.
What happened?
Played tight for an hour. I folded mostly, and then I made a score.
- Wired aces or kings? - Rags.
I had nothing. But he raised.
And I just decided, you know, I don't care about the money.
I'm just gonna outplay the guy.
I'm just gonna outplay this guy this hand.
- I re-raised. - Re-raise.
- You played right back at him, huh? - Oh, yeah.
And he just comes right back over the top of me,
trying to bully me like I'm some fucking tourist.
I hesitate for two seconds. I re-raised.
And he makes a move toward his checks, and he looks at me.
And he looks at his cards, and he looks at me again.
And he mucked it. I took it down.
"Did you have it?" "I'm sorry, John. I don't remember."
I got up, and I walked to the cashier.
I sat with the best in the world, and I won.
You put a fucking move on Chan, you son of a bitch.
So that's why you made that run on KGB's place.
That's right.
And I'll do it again if I can.
Well, then I'm rooting for you, Mike.
I'll see you around, Knish.
This is temporary? Will you be back next semester?
Oh, I think we both know I'm no lawyer.
I hope my story didn't discourage you.
No. It inspired me. I think I was on my way out anyway.
- But now you're here. - That's right.
- You're in trouble? - Yes, sir, I am.
Uh, not with the law. I owe.
- A gambling debt? - Yeah.
It's not mine. It's, uh... I vouched for the wrong guy.
Um, so now it's on me.
I understand.
So, what will it take for you to be free of this?
- I need 15,000 tonight. - Michael!
Michael!
- You know, I'm not a wealthy man, Michael. - I know.
And it kills me to ask you, but...
I don't have any other play here.
So, uh, if you can help me at all...
I hate to see you like this.
I want to help you, Michael. But $15,000, l... l...
I know.
[Sighs]
If it must be tonight,
then ten is the best I can do.
Would you do that?
When my mother let me leave the yeshiva,
it nearly broke her.
But she knew... She knew the life I had to lead.
To do that for another is a mitzvah.
And for that, I owe.
So you take this money...
and you get yourself out of this trouble.
You hear me?
I know you can.
l... I promise that I'm gonna... I'll pay you back.
Good luck.
[Mike Narrating] I've often seen these people, these squares, at the table.
Short-stacked and long odds against, all their outs gone,
one last card in the deck that can help them.
I used to wonder how they could let themselves get into such bad shape...
and how the hell they thought they could turn it around.
Just walking in here makes me queasy.
The brick walls. The fucking mopes at the tables.
The musty smell. I feel like Buckner walking back into Shea.
But what choice do I have?
So, you have my money?
- I owe you that money tomorrow, right? - Da.
So it's still mine.
For the next eight hours, it is yours.
But if you don't have it all by then,
then you are mine.
Well...
I got $10,000. I'm looking for a game.
- You sure? - You heard me.
So, we'll play. Heads up.
We both start with a couple of racks.
Blinds, uh, 25 and 50?
And we don't stop until one of us has it all.
Let's do it.
[Cards Shuffling]
I'm gonna raise.
Thousand straight.
Very aggressive.
A new day.
And you won't be pushed around. [Chuckling]
But... I re-raise.
Five thousand.
[Mike Narrating] Doyle Brunson says, "The key to No-Limit...
is to put a man to a decision for all his chips."
Teddy's just done it.
He's representing aces, the only hand better than my cowboys.
I can't call and give him a chance to catch.
I can only fold, if I believe him. Or...
I re-raise. I'm all in.
Take it down.
In a heads-up match,
the size of your stack is almost as important as the quality of your cards.
I chopped one of his legs out in the first hand.
- Now all I have to do is lean on him until he falls over. - Check.
Bet a thousand.
Call. I'll call.
Check.
What's that, 2,500 there? I'm gonna tap your tap.
Jacks up.
Very good.
Good hand.
Catching that Jack on the turn.
- You got lucky there. - Yep, it was luck.
So, that's it then, hmm?
Just like a young man coming in for a quickie.
I feel so unsatisfied.
I'm sorry.
You must feel proud and good.
Strong enough to beat the world.
- I feel fine. - Me too. I feel okay.
'Course maybe we check with one other guy, see how he feels.
Grama!
I thought I smelled him.
I'll take what's ours.
'Course you could let it ride, Mike.
Take your chances. You could let this happen, Grama?
Sure, partner.
He still has till morning to make good.
Uh, you know what? I got my five grand here. That's just fine by me.
- I'm going home. - Fine.
It's a fucking joke anyway.
After all, I am paying you with your money.
- What did you say? - Your money.
I am still up 20 grand...
from this last time I stick it in you.
[Mike Narrating] They're trying to goad me, trying to own me.
But this isn't a gunfight. It's not about pride or ego. It's only about money.
I can leave now, even with Grama and KGB...
and halfway to paying Petrovsky back.
That's the safe play.
I told Worm you can't lose what you don't put in the middle.
- Deal 'em. - But you can't win much either.
Checks!
- [Mike] Double the blinds? - Yeah.
Table stakes.
Good. Feel free to reload at any time.
[Speaking Russian]
You must be kicking yourself...
for not walking out when you could.
Bad judgment.
But...
don't you worry, son.
It will all be over soon.
Okay.
Check.
No check here. I tap you.
I'm laying this down, Teddy.
Top two pair.
It's a monster hand, and I'm gonna lay that down...
'cause you got two-four, and I'm not gonna draw against a made hand.
Lays down a monster.
Should have paid me off on that.
Why the fuck did you lay that down?
Wow. Not hungry?
Mr. Son of a Bitch.
Let's play some cards.
[Mike Narrating] The rule is this:
You spot a man's tell, you don't say a fucking word.
I finally spotted KGB's.
And usually I would've let him go on chewing those Oreos till he was dead broke.
But I don't have that kind of time. I've only got till morning.
Not even Teddy KGB's immune to getting a little rattled.
Enough is enough, Teddy. Finish the fucking kid off.
Hanging around. Hanging around.
Kid's got alligator blood. Can't get rid of him.
No, I'm not going anywhere. Double the blind.
Okay.
I call.
Check.
Two grand.
All right, I'll call the two grand. I'll gamble.
Don't splash the pot.
You're on a draw, Mike? Go away.
This one is not good for you.
And in my club, I will splash the pot whenever the fuck I please.
Okay.
[Sighs]
I'm gonna check, Teddy.
That's right.
Big daddy...
bets...
the pot.
That's 4,400.
All right, I'm gonna call you, or else I won't respect myself tomorrow morning.
Respect is all you'll have left in the morning.
Last card coming.
Check.
It hurts, doesn't it?
You can't believe what fell.
All your dreams... dashed.
Hopes down the fucking drain.
Your fate, he is sitting right beside you.
That ace could not have helped you.
[Chips Rattling]
I bet it all.
You're right, Teddy. The ace didn't help me.
I flopped a nut straight.
Motherfucker! [Speaking Russian]
- Motherfucker! That is it! - [Grama] That's it?
What the fuck you talking about?
- Take him down, Teddy. - Nyet! Nyet! No more!
No! Not tonight!
This son of bitch, all night he check, check, check.
He trapped me!
Well, you feeling satisfied now, Teddy?
'Cause I can go on busting you up all night.
Nyet! Nyet!
He beat me. Straight up.
Pay him.
Pay that man his money.
Turned my ten grand into just over 60.
Paid 15 to Grama, six went back to the Chesterfield.
As for Worm, well, I figure we're even.
And after the ten going back to the professor,
I'm back where I started, with three stacks of high society.
Hey.
- You look like hell. - Ah, well, you should've seen me yesterday.
- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm okay. You?
Now I am.
So, you're outta here, huh?
Yeah, I'm... I figure there's nothing left for me here.
Listen, um, will you give this to Petrovsky?
I... didn't want to wake him up. It's still a little early.
Can I count on you to do that?
You could always count on me, Mike.
Thanks.
Take care, Jo.
Hey. Call me.
If you need a lawyer.
I will.
And I will.
Kennedy Airport.
- So, where you headed? - I'm going to Vegas.
- Vegas, huh? - Yeah.
Good luck, man.
[Mike Narrating] People insist on calling it luck.
Thanks.
First prize at the World Series of Poker is a million bucks.
Does it have my name on it? I don't know.
But I'm gonna find out.
Da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, yeah
La, la, la, la, la la, la, yeah
Gonna get out on the road tonight
'Cause I got a hollow in my head
Just checkin' it up, baby one more time for you
Checkin' it up until the pile hits the sky
It's like I think I'm sick of cocaine
But l, I got a feelin' like it's runnin' in my veins
Just checkin' it up, baby one more time for you
Checkin' it up until the pile hits the sky
Even the best years leave a lot to be desired
And then they've passed you by
All these seasons
All this time spinnin' past till they leave you
Far behind
Lay me down in the circle where the spotlight shines
'Cause all this pleasure gets me high
Da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, yeah
Da, da, da, da
Some people will cut you till you're bleedin'
Not me 'cause I just wanna do it to myself
I'm just checkin' it up, baby one more time for you
Checkin' it up until the pile hits the sky
Even the best years are a waste of time
But, baby I'm a big star now
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
All these seasons
All this time spinnin' past till they leave you
Far behind
Lay me down in the circle where the spotlight shines
'Cause all this pleasure gets me high
Oh, oh
Da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, ha
Da, da, da, da
A-da, a-da, da
All these seasons
All this time spinnin' past till they leave you
Far behind
Lay me down in the circle where the spotlight shines
Turn your back on the people who draw the lines
Put your faith in the answers that you can't find
Hit the ground hard, runnin' down that highway line
Say a prayer for the ones you have left behind
'Cause all this pleasure gets them high
A-ha, ha, ha
Da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, ah
'Cause I don't wanna give it back, no
And I don't wanna give it back, no
Said I don't wanna give it back, oh
I don't wanna give it back, uh, uh
I don't wanna give it back, no
Said I don't wanna give it back
Said I don't wanna I don't wanna, I don't wanna I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Give it back, no
Said I don't wanna give it back, no
Said I don't wanna I don't wanna, I don't wanna I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Give it back, no
Oh, I don't wanna give it back, no
Said I don't wanna give it back, no
Said I don't want to
No, no
I don't wanna give it back, no
Oh, oh, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no, no