If Larry was going to f_ck off to Chile and most likely never come back (as his Dad assumed), why was he worried about Frank helping him pay off the bookies? Does Frank even bother paying after Larry leaves? Isn't he better off now that he got rid of him for 2k (or whatever the amount was he gave him for his trip) than having to pay off the whole 25k?
shareIt was implied that Larry was going to go in hiding in Chile and never come back. Larry would rather be in hiding the rest of his life than to face his responsibilities and work with his Dad and pay off the debt. That would take too long. Larry is all about "get rich quick" and loop holes and doing things the quickest way.
shareI know, my question is why was he all nervous about his Dad helping him out or not if he was going to take off anyway?
shareHe wasn't really nervous. Note how the "trembling" ended as soon as his father said he would help him out. He was simply being his usual manipulative self.
And his taking off was not a definite plan, until he found out his father's help would come with conditions he didn't want. THEN he decided to would rather take off. If his father had been a pushover and simply paid the gambling debt, Larry wouldn't have taken off.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
Your first paragraph doesn't make sense. Wouldn't it make sense for him to stop being nervous if his father is going to help him? Why should he keep trembling if the problem is solved?
And it did seem like he wanted to take off, there's nothing to suggest that was a spur of the moment lie.
Wouldn't it make sense for him to stop being nervous if his father is going to help him? Why should he keep trembling if the problem is solved?
But his problem is NOT solved. His father is not going to help him, not the way he wants. If he's so nervous that these guys are going to kill him, why would he reject his father's offer which would get these guys off his back? The answer is that the shaking was just an act designed to get his father to do what he wanted.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
I think you're reading way too much into that. We're already shown that he's the type that's always chasing some get rich quick scheme, so the Chile thing doesn't sound made up to me.
shareI don't see how you're getting that from what I'm saying. I never said the Chile thing was made up. On the contrary, he had it in his back pocket in case his father did not come through for him. That's why I said the shaking was an act. If he was truly THAT nervous, he would have jumped at his father's offer.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
The reason he didn't jump at his father's offer is cause he's a lazy f_ck. He just wanted his dad to pay it off without conditions. There's no reason for him to be fake acting, the movie isn't as deep as you think.
shareHey, you're the one who raised the question about why he was so nervous. I've answered it. You've rejected it but don't seem to have any credible alternative explanation.
You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi
I personally think the writers f_cked that up. Thought maybe someone would come up with a plausible explanation but so far no one has. There's no way they would have him fake that, the movie wasn't that deep and his character wasn't important enough.
shareLarry was scared those bookie guys would kill or attempt to kill him (which I think was legit, especially since we saw him earlier in the movie getting thrown out of the car). He may have also been nervous at what his dad's reply would've been.
I brought this up in other threads, but, as self centered and lazy as Larry was, I really don't believe Frank's offer would've made any of them safe... albeit it would be the best, most responsible adult thing to do.
The bookies weren't a bank or a respectable business, they were hardened criminals. Chances are that they wouldn't take the installment payments ($1000 a month for 26 months!) and would tell Frank "hey old man, where's all our money?" and still beat up or killed Larry or himself or Cool to prove they were serious. That part of Larry's fear was justified (even if he brought it about himself), they were bad dangerous guys from the sounds of it.
Sadly this kind of mess had no easy answer, but Larry was responsible for getting into it.
I think they would've accepted, but would charge interest. It's better to get paid than to pay to have someone killed.
share