The ending seems to imply that Ballinger and Ruby and maybe the others have been together for quite some time. But I don't see how that is consistent with Ballinger being a long time bank owner in the town. He obviously had enough reputation locally to convince all the players that the hand was good.
Any ideas?
"The more you drive, the less intelligent you are"
-- Repo Man
Ballinger is smart enough not to sh!t where he eats. In other words, he doesn't take advantage of any of the local whores in Laredo, so as not to sully his fine reputation. He takes that out of town, and away from prying eyes.
I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.
What are you talking about? The original poster is pointing out that Ballenger is somehow supposed to be a partner with a traveling "sting/con" team, yet is also an established long-time banker in one town.
It makes no sense that he could be a traveling con man, AND a respected local banker. (Unless this was his one and only con he ever participated in.)
Of course your reply makes even LESS sense. I suggest you read messages closer before replying - it MAY help.
Ballinger wasnt a con man. He got conned out of a land deal 16 years ago by the 5 other guys in the picture. He's still sore about that so he set up Meredith and Ruby to come to town. How he knows Meredith and Ruby is immaterial in the movie.
shareRuby is Ballinger's girlfriend\mistress. He travels to see her once every four or six weeks, I can't remember which. Ballinger took advantage of Ruby's connections to card sharps or con artists. Meredith is a con man who Ruby told Ballinger to pick. Ballinger was probably aware also of Scully's longtime dissatisfaction with the people in town, so he probably spoke to him about it well in advance. Scully, it seemed, was tired of being taken advantage of and having little to show for it.
It was just the perfect situation for Ballinger to exact his revenge. He isn't a con man, but he is the set-up man and the primary mover of the con.
Dr. Cynic Has Spoken
^ This
shareWhat about the doctor..He seemed to be part of the town...they all knew Him, and yet he was in on it too...
I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.
I don't comprehend how you can be confused, did you not watch the movie, did you not read the above posts? If so, you should be able to figure it out on your own ...
No offense, but seriously?
Both Ballinger and the Doc are full time residents and respected citizen's in the town. This is established. Now, you seem to find that illogical? Of course everything is not said out loud, there are two possibilities:
1. He and Ballinger have been friends for a long time and have been going to the out of town "whore house" or whatever it is for years. The doc was in on it from the start.
2. He was approach by Ballinger when plotting out the scheme and went along.
Both have the same outcome, are fully logical, and I can not comprehend how anyone could be confused by something like this. Again, sorry for the crude language, I just couldn't help myself.
My 1000 favorite films - http://www.imdb.com/list/PkAV7BgvMJg
Thank you for your snottily superior reply. Yes, I could figure it out as easily as you congratulate yourself on doing. I simply think it was a flaw, poor plot construction. But keep up the good work, we all need to be condescended to now and then.
I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.
Again, sorry for the crude language, I just couldn't help myself.I didn't think you used any crude language to the clearly inattentive parisel. You were instead thoughtful in setting out a numbered summary for the poster's benefit.š share
One part that I don't understand about Ballenger was when he rebuffed her the first time she went to the bank. He saw the cards and yet gave her a good "dressing down" for her participating in such a vice as the game. Then, just a few minutes later, he comes in and talks about how great her "collateral" was and finances her hand. That was a little thin in a very good comedic western.
shareIn the bank, she tells him that she somehow got into the game, offers the cards as collateral, and then asks him whether it's a good hand, since she knows nothing about poker! Assuming Ballinger is staring at a royal flush, he reasonably thinks that the players are playing a joke on him, which is why he says "Shame on you".
THen, apparently out of curiosity, he comes over to the game, and realizes that it's no joke, so naturally he moves in to exploit the situation.