stuff; work — Casual and crude; avoid at work or with strangers.
Kid, he paying you for this late night shit?Rounders · 1998 — Chapter 2 of 26 · 3'32" · C1
Poker Night With the Judges, Explained: represent that you have something
Over a late-night hand with professors and judges, the talk is clerkships and career advice. Underneath, a bet turns into a test of who can really read the table. “There isn't a single real card player” is the sharpest jab in the room.
What happens
Late at night, a law student brings things to a poker game full of professors and judges. They tease him about his future, argue over a raise, and then someone bets a summer clerkship on knowing everyone's hand and lays out what each player holds.
Listen for
can't help myselfrepresent that you have somethingkiss my assknowledge is my reward
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Phrase of the scene
represent that you have something
pretend you hold a certain card
Someone calmly exposes another player's bluff, pointing out that the card was already folded.
You can represent that you have something, but a good player will see through the bluff.
Also in this scene
- can't help myself
cannot resist doing something
- kiss my ass
a crude way to say screw you
- knowledge is my reward
knowledge itself is the reward
- a word to the wise
a piece of advice
- put someone at the top of the list
make someone the top candidate
Everything marked in this scene
29 notes across 59 lines
In fast speech, knowledge is can run together; keep the rhythm smooth.
Oh, well, knowledge is my reward, sir.not worth the effort
Let me tell you, it ain't worth it.a recruiting pitch
Enough with the Belmont recruiting spiel. Your bet.to chair or oversee
in the Moot Court you're presiding over next week, Gene.would benefit from something
Besides, he could use the background if he's gonna...work as a clerk for someone
clerk for one of you fellas this summer, right?a piece of advice
An older player offers career advice, telling the young man to stay in the private sector.
Yeah, look... a word to the wise. Stay in the private sector.treat something as worthless Literally coasters; here it means the Nassau game is far bigger, so this table's chips are worthless to them.
That Nassau defense attorney's game? They use our chips for coasters.not even one real...
The amazing thing is, in this collection of great legal minds, there isn't a single real card player.predicative clause: The there-clause after is carries the real point; the inserted phrase only adds scope.
The amazing thing is, in this collection of great legal minds, there isn't a single real card player.cannot resist doing something
Someone admits the bet could wreck a legal career before it starts, yet cannot resist joining in.
before it even starts, but I just can't help myself.The t in can't can disappear; let help slide into myself.
before it even starts, but I just can't help myself.pass the bet to someone
Check to Martin and Lewis over there.bet aggressively at someone
You've seen half a hand. How the fuck are you betting into us?Betting into us often comes out as one rush; keep into light.
You've seen half a hand. How the fuck are you betting into us?intensifier: the hell — Crude emphasis; not for polite company.
You've seen half a hand. How the fuck are you betting into us?know someone's hand
It's plenty wise. We know what we're holding, and we know what you're holding.object clause: The what-clause is the object of know: they know the contents of each hand.
It's plenty wise. We know what we're holding, and we know what you're holding.make someone the top candidate
A summer clerkship comes up at the poker table: if the young man is right, he will be moved to the top of the list.
Let's just say I'll put you at the top of the list if you're right.pretend you hold a certain card
Someone calmly exposes another player's bluff, pointing out that the card was already folded.
Okay. Well, you were looking for that third three, but you forgot that Professor Green folded it on Fourth Street, and now you're representing that you have it.object clause: The that-clause spells out exactly what was forgotten.
Okay. Well, you were looking for that third three, but you forgot that Professor Green folded it on Fourth Street, and now you're representing that you have it.fall just short
Someone reviews the table and says a judge tried for a diamond flush but missed by one card.
Judge Kaplan was trying to squeeze out a diamond flush, but he came up short, and Mr. Eisen is futilely hoping that his queens are gonna stand up.Put the beat on short and hurry through came up.
Judge Kaplan was trying to squeeze out a diamond flush, but he came up short, and Mr. Eisen is futilely hoping that his queens are gonna stand up.screw you — Vulgar; only among close friends or in a fight.
- Well, kiss my ass. - Kiss my ass.a broken straight — Poker jargon; meaningless outside the table.
- What'd you have, Abe? - Nothin' but a busted straight.take a seat
All right, kid, your first assignment. Pull up a seat next to me.a clear invitation
An open invitation to lay with those lambs.only a ... now
I'm just a law student now.Poker Night With the Judges, explained
What's really going on
The table looks like a friendly faculty game, but every hand is a small test of status. The professors and judges hold the professional power; the kid is there to carry things and be judged. When someone names their cards one by one, easy banter turns into exposure: the “great legal minds” are amateurs at the game that matters tonight. “The amazing thing is, in this collection of great legal minds, there isn't a single real card player” is both a put-down and a boast. Betting a summer clerkship makes the stakes explicit, and the closing “I'm just a law student now” shows someone weighing the game against his promises.
Theme
PowerProfessors and judges hold professional power, but at the card table someone briefly outreads them.
DeceptionA bluff is exposed when someone points out a card was already folded.
Listen for
- knowledge is — In fast speech, knowledge is can run together; keep the rhythm smooth.
- can't help myself — The t in can't can disappear; let help slide into myself.
- betting into us — Betting into us often comes out as one rush; keep into light.
- came up short — Put the beat on short and hurry through came up.
The amazing thing is, in this collection of great legal minds, there isn't a single real card player.A room full of legal experts cannot really play poker; it is a polite insult and a quiet boast.
I don't bet with jobs like that.One player refuses to treat a summer clerkship as a wager, even while the game is all about leverage.
Summer clerkship in your office says I know what you're holding.Someone wagers a concrete professional favor to prove they have read the other player's hand.
I'm just a law student now.After talking up the games available and the promises made, the speaker settles on a modest label.
Questions about this scene
What does “representing that you have it” mean at the poker table?
It means pretending to hold a card you do not have. The line says the player forgot that the third three was folded and is now representing that he has it.
Why won't the player bet a summer clerkship?
A line says, “I don't bet with jobs like that.” The job is refused as a wager; the counter-offer is a place at the top of the list if the read is right.
Why do the others curse after their hands are named?
Their hands are named one by one, with what each player was chasing and why it cannot win. The curses come right after the bet is restated as $20.
Why does the speaker say he is still a student at the end?
After listing all the games he could find and saying he has made promises, the line is “I'm just a law student now.” It places his present life at law school, not the poker circuit.
Rounders · 26 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 3read his hand blindReading a Hand Starts a Fight
Chapter 1make a run at itBuying Into Teddy KGB's Game
Watching · 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
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 2 of 26 · about 67 min to go