Rounders: Why Is Grama So Angry? (1 Viewer)

[Jimulacrum]

Wrapping up viewing #4,551 of Rounders this afternoon. There's something in the final KGB scene that always irks me.

Everyone knows this iconic line:

After this, it cuts to a visibly angry Grama who flips over a piece of furniture and storms away.

But why is he so angry? He didn't lose anything; Teddy KGB did.

Grama is about to get paid his whole $15K on the spot, and KGB is eating the loss like a man (i.e., not blaming his henchmen). Grama should be happy.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Wrapping up viewing #4,551 of Rounders this afternoon. There's something in the final KGB scene that always irks me.

Everyone knows this iconic line:

View attachment 1103934

After this, it cuts to a visibly angry Grama who flips over a piece of furniture and storms away.

But why is he so angry? He didn't lose anything; Teddy KGB did.

Grama is about to get paid his whole $15K on the spot, and KGB is eating the loss like a man (i.e., not blaming his henchmen). Grama should be happy.

Always took it as, he was excited to hurt Worm/Mike, and his big boss just got embarrassed and insulted by the smart-mouth kid. But you're right, seems silly to be bummed about 15k in your pocket lol.

 

[72o]

Wrapping up viewing #4,551 of Rounders this afternoon. There's something in the final KGB scene that always irks me.

Everyone knows this iconic line:

View attachment 1103934

After this, it cuts to a visibly angry Grama who flips over a piece of furniture and storms away.

But why is he so angry? He didn't lose anything; Teddy KGB did.

Grama is about to get paid his whole $15K on the spot, and KGB is eating the loss like a man (i.e., not blaming his henchmen). Grama should be happy.

You know…I’m not the smartest guy so I always figured that I was just missing something. I’ve tried to figure it out multiple times and just left scratching my head.

 

[Frogzilla]

Could Grama have crossbooked Mike?

 

[tabletalker7]

Grama wasn't in it for the money. I got the feeling it was an old grudge with Mike/Worm and he only wanted the excuse to wreck them both

 

[buffalojim]

I smell a spin-off.

 

[JMC9389]

Yup, I always took Gramma as a psychopath that just wanted his pound of flesh.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I would imagine a bookie/enforcer is only happy to be paid when it’s by someone that they were unsure of making good on.

If they have their hooks into kids, businessmen, etc. that are easy marks that will eventually make good, then them being owed money is much better than having it all paid up.

$15,000 does nothing compared to owning someone. No difference than todays Payday Loans - they don’t want you paid up, they want the vicious cycle that keeps your money in their pockets forever.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I would imagine a bookie/enforcer is only happy to be paid when it’s by someone that they were unsure of making good on.

If they have their hooks into kids, businessmen, etc. that are easy marks that will eventually make good, then them being owed money is much better than having it all paid up.

$15,000 does nothing compared to owning someone. No difference than todays Payday Loans - they don’t want you paid up, they want the vicious cycle that keeps your money in their pockets forever.

Fair points.

Could say the same about credit cards and a variety of other debts.

 

[Chipandchair]

Yup, I always took Gramma as a psychopath that just wanted his pound of flesh.

This

 

[RocAFella1]

I always assumed it was because of the juice that would run on the debt if not paid off in time. And the fact that it’s Worm.

 

[TomC727]

Grama wasn't in it for the money. I got the feeling it was an old grudge with Mike/Worm and he only wanted the excuse to wreck them both

This is how I saw it. It was his hatred of Worm, and Mike in a lesser degree, that pissed him off

 

[Goldfish]

Wrapping up viewing #4,551 of Rounders this afternoon. There's something in the final KGB scene that always irks me.

Everyone knows this iconic line:

View attachment 1103934

After this, it cuts to a visibly angry Grama who flips over a piece of furniture and storms away.

But why is he so angry? He didn't lose anything; Teddy KGB did.

Grama is about to get paid his whole $15K on the spot, and KGB is eating the loss like a man (i.e., not blaming his henchmen). Grama should be happy.

Not necessarily - remember that Grama only paid .30 cents on the dollar to buy up all of worms debt and was backed by KGB (which I assume means that KGB came up with the cash to pay the 30%). I seriously doubt that KGB will be paying Grama his share of 100% of the debt after making no profit on the deal. My guess is Grama gets zero. Hence, the chair throwing.

 

[Tonysquander]

Seems like it was off script. Maybe Grama was responding to Teddy letting Mike “overstep” with disrespect and get away with it.

 

[gmunny]

Not necessarily - remember that Grama only paid .30 cents on the dollar to buy up all of worms debt and was backed by KGB (which I assume means that KGB came up with the cash to pay the 30%). I seriously doubt that KGB will be paying Grama his share of 100% of the debt after making no profit on the deal. My guess is Grama gets zero. Hence, the chair throwing.

This is exactly what I thought. Grama is shit out of luck!

 

[Thomacetti]

Grama

Mike

KGB

Mike

NUTS !

Grama

Mike

KGB

 

[HughDrackman]

I would imagine a bookie/enforcer is only happy to be paid when it’s by someone that they were unsure of making good on.

If they have their hooks into kids, businessmen, etc. that are easy marks that will eventually make good, then them being owed money is much better than having it all paid up.

$15,000 does nothing compared to owning someone. No difference than todays Payday Loans - they don’t want you paid up, they want the vicious cycle that keeps your money in their pockets forever.

This question was first brought up in the dvd commentary with Helmuth, Ferguson, Moneymaker, and Chan. If anyone hasn’t seen this commentary, I highly recommend.

Best I can figure is what @BarrieJ3 brought up. Gramma is more interested in the limitless source of money that Mike could provide, rather than the one time payout. When Mike pays off the debt, he’s getting out from under Gramma and KGB.

 

[Colquhoun]

Seems like it was off script. Maybe Grama was responding to Teddy letting Mike “overstep” with disrespect and get away with it.

View attachment 1103982

How interesting that the script has the Matt Damon character as his real name, and not the character name “Mike”.

 

[upNdown]

Gramma is more interested in the limitless source of money that Mike could provide, rather than the one time payout.

Yeah but aren’t they ready to beat him within an inch of his life? And then wouldn’t the next step be an inch more?

I understand how credit card companies work, but is this really the same thing?

 

[Tonysquander]

How interesting that the script has the Matt Damon character as his real name, and not the character name “Mike”.

I was wondering about that too. Maybe Malkovich is a method actor? Or Damon needs to specifically be told what his lines are…lol.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I understand how credit card companies work, but is this really the same thing?

Going out of one's way to attach people to mathematically abusive debt for the benefit of an amoral note-holder?

Yes, same thing, more or less.

 

[TomC727]

Going out of one's way to attach people to mathematically abusive debt for the benefit of an amoral note-holder?

Yes, same thing, more or less.

Higher interest in return for less violence.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Higher interest in return for less violence.

Fine print.

Materially the same agreement.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Not necessarily - remember that Grama only paid .30 cents on the dollar to buy up all of worms debt and was backed by KGB (which I assume means that KGB came up with the cash to pay the 30%). I seriously doubt that KGB will be paying Grama his share of 100% of the debt after making no profit on the deal. My guess is Grama gets zero. Hence, the chair throwing.

My understanding is that Grama paid $4,500 to consolidate Worm's $15K debt, using cash from KGB. Presumably he now owes KGB $4,500 plus whatever gorilla-math interest they added—say $10K total, which would still be insane, but just suppose.

When Mike wins the first round with KGB, Grama starts grabbing chips and talking about "I'll take what's ours." He seems pretty content with Mike's win because it means he's collecting $15K (on top of the $10K he already shook out of Worm). Mike winning again doesn't change anything about that. Grama is making easy money here, WAY easier than if Mike were to lose and Grama would have to beat him up and wait days, weeks, or months to get anything from him.

I think I'm leaning more toward the bruised-ego explanation. Even then it doesn't make sense of the discrepancy between calm, "I'll take what's ours" Grama, but I guess henchmen aren't always rational.

 

[tabletalker7]

Even then it doesn't make sense of the discrepancy between calm, "I'll take what's ours" Grama, but I guess henchmen aren't always rational.

The "take what's ours" part of it........ He knew Mike was in to other people still. He knew Mike would be back and he could get his pound of flesh then. At the end, he knew Mike was free and clear.

 

[merkong]

My wife flips a piece of furniture every time I log into the classifieds

 

[Hot Nuts]

My wife flips a piece of furniture every time I log into the classifieds

She's raising funds for your chip addiction? Nice wife!

 

[merkong]

She's raising funds for your chip addiction? Nice wife!

I like it. Conversely, all out furniture comes off of Craigslist since our oldest daughters dog is living with us and he’s got a thing for going “Gramma” on it.

He’s a huge puppy. I yell around, sweep it up, haul it out and go hang out in the poker room.

Damn Grizz

 

[HughDrackman]

Yeah but aren’t they ready to beat him within an inch of his life? And then wouldn’t the next step be an inch more?

I understand how credit card companies work, but is this really the same thing?

My head cannon around this is that Grama is accustomed to using intimidation to get what he wants. He could beat Mike to a pulp, but still leave him able to play cards. That way, if Mike even hints at walking away, Grama could just beat him up again, and remind him of the debt he still owes. This way, all the players know that the debt is cleared.

Again, just me speculating.

 

[Servo]

Seems like it was off script. Maybe Grama was responding to Teddy letting Mike “overstep” with disrespect and get away with it.

View attachment 1103982

What’s with “checks”?