MovieChat Forums > Less Than Zero (1987) Discussion > Rip wasn't very bright.....

Rip wasn't very bright.....

posted 14 years ago by sctrojan-835-312835
7 replies | jump to latest

He wanted his 50k back but:

Brushed off Clay when Clay told him at the hot tub that he'll sell his car or do "whatever it takes" to get him the money. Rip tells Clay "it has nothing to do with you', well, if i'm trying to get my 50k back and this person has the means to get the money...well, if i'm Rip, it has EVERYTHING to do with you".

Near the end, when Julian comes to Palm Springs to tell Rip he's quitting working for him and sobering up. If Rip had a brain he'd realize that as long as Julian was drugged out he'd never get his money back. Again, Rip needed to let Julian stay off drugs and get back to having a relationship with his dad which in turn gives Rip the best chance of getting his money back. Rip should have let Julian go back to LA and try to straighten his life out which probably would have resulted in him getting his money back.
I know Rip said to Julian "we've heard this *beep* before", but at that time he wasn't owed 50k...things change.

[–] AltaireIII 14 years ago

Rip was wealthy and he believed he could do whatever he wants.

For Rip it wasn't about the money. It was about having power and control over another person. If Julian put up the $50K then Rip would have to take that money. That's how it works. But from anyone else, Rip can say forget it.

If Rip were a smart person then why let anyone get $50K in the hole on a drug debt? The answer to that is the money doesn't matter. But the power does.

Imagine if you had the power and mean spirit to make a young man ply sex for money with other men to pay back a drug debt? To someone that cruel it would be heaven sent.

[–] RobSac 14 years ago

Rip had no intention of getting his money back. He wanted to keep Julian hooked and continue pimping him out.

[–] Huskie_Jon 11 years ago

Rip had no intention of getting his money back. He wanted to keep Julian hooked and continue pimping him out.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Rip was stupid like a fox.

If all Rip wanted was money, he would have taken Clay's car, and hired Julian as a pool boy, or a butler, or even invested in Julian's new bar, to have Julian pay off his debts.

Rip did not want his money back. He wanted Julian to keep hooking for him.

I don't know if it was a power trip or if Rip actually thought Julian's services could bring in more that $50k.

_______________
A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.

[–] AfroGeek 12 years ago

I bet anything that Rip was from a modest family and just loved the idea of having a rich kid strung out and doing gay tricks for him. He obviously wanted to keep him in debt since he let Julian rack up $50K in debt, gave Julian more drugs for free to get him to do another trick, and turned down Clay's offer to pay off the debt.

[–] saint-21 12 years ago

Who in the F--- do you think your talking to pal? (five minutes after he walks away)!!!.
Yeah, it wasnt about the money for rip like the others said. But either way. julian never would have quit even if his debt was paid off and he got his record deal, he would fell right back into drugs in no time. He was a real full blown addict. the worst i ever seen...

[–] TimmyAnn 11 years ago

>>(five minutes after he walks away)!!!.

No, more like ten seconds. Clay was still within earshot.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny!

[–] moosefeathers 10 years ago

Rip said it clearly at one point. It' about ACCOUNTABILTY.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...