broke, beaten, and out of options
A poker broadcast is on; one line explains why a player is not finished while chips remain.
You're never down and out until your chips are all gone.Rounders · 1998 — Chapter 15 of 26 · 3'01" · B2
Petra Visits Mike About Worm's Debt, Explained: run someone up
Petra drops by and the talk moves from a poker replay to money: "Tomorrow's a week" and "The first two thousand you owe the Chesterfield." The real pressure isn't the debt itself but what it says about trust, credit, and who gets cut off.
What happens
Petra arrives at Mike's place and they start with small talk and a televised 1988 World Series poker hand. Then the talk turns to money: the first two thousand owed to the Chesterfield, Worm's growing tab, and a request to put him on his own and cut him off. They end by planning to meet at the club.
Listen for
down and outnut straightsucker someone inown someone
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Now
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Phrase of the scene
run someone up
push someone's debt higher
Someone reports Worm's growing debt in a flat, heavy tone.
The repairs ran me up another two hundred dollars.
Also in this scene
- down and out
broke, beaten, and out of options
- nut straight
the strongest possible straight
- sucker someone in
trick someone into committing
- own someone
completely dominate or read someone
- fucking
vulgar intensifier
Everything marked in this scene
34 notes across 47 lines
Let 'down and out' blur together; keep only a light n for 'and'.
You're never down and out until your chips are all gone.for some time
I haven't seen the place in a while.roughly unchanged
Looks about the same.or something like that
- You want some scotch or something? - No, I'm fine.Keep 'or' very light and slide from 'scotch' into 'something'.
- You want some scotch or something? - No, I'm fine.the strongest possible straight
On the TV, a famous hand is being broken down with admiration for Chan's cards.
Flops the nut straight and has the discipline to wait him out.outlast someone by waiting
Flops the nut straight and has the discipline to wait him out.bet strongly to fake strength bluff is a poker fake, not casual boasting
He knows Seidel's gonna bluff at it.object clause: The clause spells out exactly what he knows is about to happen.
He knows Seidel's gonna bluff at it.going to, in speech — Everyday speech; avoid in formal writing.
He knows Seidel's gonna bluff at it.trick someone into committing
Someone explains how Chan slows down deliberately to lure his opponent into betting.
Chan is trying to sucker him in by taking his time.deliberately slow down
Chan is trying to sucker him in by taking his time.bastard; vulgar insult — Extremely vulgar; never use it in formal settings.
Look at the control. Look at that fuck.check every round check means pass in poker, not inspect
He knows his man well enough to check it all the way...enough to: The infinitive shows the result of knowing his opponent so well.
He knows his man well enough to check it all the way...take the trap
Will Eric Seidel fall for the bait?push all chips forward
Yes, he's going all in and Chan has him.be stunned by a blow
- Johnny Chan, the master. - Poor Seidel. Kid doesn't know what hit him.have felt that before
Yeah, I know what that feels like.gutted; hit hard — For exaggerated self-talk with friends, not formal comfort.
You feel gut-shot. Fuck it. You didn't come here to talk about this.reduced relative clause: The clause after two thousand tells you which two thousand is meant.
The first two thousand you owe the Chesterfield.kind of; somewhat — Fine in casual chat; use somewhat in writing.
- Oh. Worm. - Yes, it's kinda weird.on credit; owing money not a phone line; here it means credit
He'd just won eight grand. Why go on the line behind another two?past perfect: It marks the win as earlier than the debt that followed.
He'd just won eight grand. Why go on the line behind another two?a thousand dollars — Casual money talk; use thousand in formal contexts.
He'd just won eight grand. Why go on the line behind another two?turn chips into cash
Yeah, yeah, he comes in after you leave, sits for like another 20 more minutes, cashes out for the full amount.show up often
But, uh, Worm's been around plenty.push someone's debt higher
Someone reports Worm's growing debt in a flat, heavy tone.
He's run you up just under seven grand.please do this for me
Well, do me a favor and just put him on his own.stop someone's credit or supply
Someone asks that Worm be put on his own; the reply 'Yeah, cut him off' makes it plain that his credit is to stop.
- Yeah? - Yeah, cut him off.Drop the h in 'him' and let a soft im sit between 'cut' and 'off'.
- Yeah? - Yeah, cut him off.a thousand — Very casual; say thousand in formal settings.
I got a thou. And that's, you know...Let the t in 'it' tap lightly before 'easy' and keep them joined.
- Thanks for making it easy, Mike. - Oh, yeah, yeah.Petra Visits Mike About Worm's Debt, explained
What's really going on
The poker talk sets the vocabulary: patience, control, knowing when someone is being baited. Then the conversation turns to money. "Tomorrow's a week" gives the debt a clock, and "He's run you up just under seven grand" puts a number on how far Worm's tab has grown. The ask is practical: put Worm on his own, then cut him off. The tone stays low-key, and "I'm sorry to be back over here for this reason" shows the awkwardness of mixing an old haunt with a money problem.
Theme
MoneyA casual visit turns to numbers: a first payment, a tab near seven grand, and a request to separate Worm's account.
TrustThe request to cut off Worm treats credit as something that can be withdrawn.
Listen for
- down and out — Let 'down and out' blur together; keep only a light n for 'and'.
- scotch or something — Keep 'or' very light and slide from 'scotch' into 'something'.
- cut him off — Drop the h in 'him' and let a soft im sit between 'cut' and 'off'.
- making it easy — Let the t in 'it' tap lightly before 'easy' and keep them joined.
You're never down and out until your chips are all gone.In poker, being down and out means being finished; as long as any chips remain, the hand—and the player—is still alive.
It's like a locomotive running through your stomach.The feeling after a bad beat is physical—like something huge and unstoppable is tearing through your gut.
You feel gut-shot. Fuck it. You didn't come here to talk about this.A gut-shot is a wound to the stomach; here it describes the sickening shock of losing, before the speaker drops the subject.
Questions about this scene
What does "Tomorrow's a week" refer to?
"Tomorrow's a week" starts it, and the reply names the payment: "The first two thousand you owe the Chesterfield."
Why is Worm put on his own account?
"He's run you up just under seven grand" shows Worm's play has piled onto someone else's credit. Putting him on his own and cutting him off stops the debt from growing.
Is the Chesterfield debt Worm's or Mike's?
The dialogue links both: "The first two thousand you owe the Chesterfield" names a payment, then "Oh. Worm" and "He's run you up" connect the account to Worm's play. The lines do not spell out every arrangement.
Rounders · 26 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 16in hockMike Finds Worm at the Gym
Chapter 1make a run at itBuying Into Teddy KGB's Game
Chapter 2represent that you have somethingPoker Night With the Judges
Chapter 3read his hand blindReading a Hand Starts a Fight
Chapter 4get cleaned outMike Picks Up an Old Friend
Chapter 5crack the gameMike and Worm Fleece a Private Game
Chapter 6cut this room upMike and Worm at the Card Game
Chapter 7shear a sheepSlow Roll at the Russian Game
Chapter 8the juice is still runnin'Grama Threatens Worm
Chapter 9tight, but aggressiveMichael and the Professor Discuss Poker
Chapter 10can't run from who we areThe Prodigy Who Left the Yeshiva
Chapter 11the rakeMike Gets Dumped Outside
Chapter 12tellsMike Returns to the Card Room
Chapter 13juiceA Friend's Debt Comes Due
Chapter 14throw in your cardsMike Fumbles Oral Arguments
Watching · Chapter 15run someone upPetra Visits Mike About Worm's Debt
Chapter 16in hockMike Finds Worm at the Gym
Chapter 17good for itMike Vouches for Worm
Chapter 18wait someone outCigar Talk at the Poker Table
Chapter 19total fishPitching the Binghamton Game
Chapter 20let the cards do the talkingMike Joins the Police Poker Game
Chapter 21get outta DodgeTwo Men Argue Over Skipping Town
Chapter 22go into hockKnish Refuses to Lend Mike Money
Chapter 23put it all on the lineThe Johnny Chan Story
Chapter 24vouch forMichael Asks for a $15,000 Loan
Chapter 25let it rideHeads-Up With KGB
Chapter 26alligator bloodA Poker Player Doubles the BlindChapter 15 of 26 · about 32 min to go