MovieChat Forums > Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Discussion > "You closed them today?" answer --

"You closed them today?" answer --

posted 8 years ago by tbickle84
12 replies | jump to latest

I know it's widely discussed and pondered as to why Pacino looks so surprised when Shelly tells him he closed the 80k unit deal that morning. I've probably watched this movie 45 times in the passed two years. I just put it on as bg noise sometimes when I'm working cause I love it so much.

Anyway, I strongly believe It's because Roma's contract was stolen the night before keeping him at 90k. (he would've won the contest hands down if it wasn't stolen) Levine made 80k that morning, post robbery, so his check from the Nyborgs(however it's spelled) would obviously be valid.

This puts Shelly right underneath Roma on the board, 90k - 80k, so Shelly had a very good chance of winning the contest if he made another good sale before Pacino that day.

Pacino knew he had to step us his game immediately now to win the cadillac especially is his James Link contract wasnt' going to count anymore.

[–] Doom 8 years ago

I've always wondered about that too.

Your theory is interesting.

I always thought he was curious how Shelly could have managed to get that contract signed that early in the day - as in he was questioning the whole deal (something's not right here, etc.)

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Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] tenantennae 8 years ago

I think both explanations fit.

Regarding the OP's theory, Roma goes out of his way to make Levine feel like a champion. At the end of the play, it's revealed that Roma did this to convince Levine to work together with him so he can take half of all his sales, thus staying on top. It's possible the realization that he can stay ahead by getting in on Levine's action is what motivates his kindness in the film as well.

Then again, maybe his kindness is genuine and, like you said, he just senses something is off. Unlike the play, at the end of the film, Roma seems to suspect that Levine has been busted for robbing the office and even seems a little down about it.

[–] tbickle84 8 years ago

I think there's too much speculation and not enough evidence to suggest Roma plans on stealing Shelly's sales.

I believe Roma genuinely admired Shelly and lost touch with the fact that this guy has been in the business much longer and still has some tricks up his sleeve that he could teach him. He was especially impressed with how Shelly handled Link on the fly.

The tragic irony is for the first time in the entire movie, Shelly is being complimented and admired by someone (Roma) as he's about to be arrested for being a criminal.

What makes it even worse is that as soon as Roma finds out Shelly stole the leads, he's going to despise him because Shelly's the real reason why Roma lost the Link contract. No robbery, no slip ups.

[–] Silent_Bob01 8 years ago

I don't think Roma is capable of admiring Shelley, or anyone else. He strikes me as a sociopath...very good at mimicking human emotion in a glib fashion, but it's not real.

Look at his reaction when Lingk left the office...this was a guy who was in agony over letting Roma down, completely confused and dejected, and all Roma could do was explode over his lost sale.

People are just objects for him to get what he wants.

[–] tbickle84 8 years ago

I don't know if I 100% agree with this. James Lingk is Roma's mark. Roma's job is to get that guy's money. He's not in it to make friends. He doesn't give a *beep* about him obviously. Now, I don't think this is a positive characteristic by any means. I think this aspect of Roma and the other salesman is slime.

Having said that, I see the salesman almost as soldiers in the trenches together. There's a comradery between them and definitely levels of respect especially since they're in the same field. When you think about it, they're probably the only people on earth that one another can relate to.

There's many instances during the end of the movie where Roma is defending Shelly especially against Moss and Williamson. He also tells him numerous times how he respects him. Roma has nothing to gain by telling Shelly this.

There's definite respect there. If it ever came down to Roma or Shelly, Roma would obviously choose himself but to say he doesn't care at all or respect Shelly, I'm not sure I by that. It is debatable though. I don't see it being black and white either way.

God this movie's great.

[–] Silent_Bob01 8 years ago

You make a good point. I suppose my opinion is colored by what I've been told happens in the play, where Roma tries to subtly swindle Shelley into giving him half of all his sales.

However, if you go strictly by what's shown onscreen, you could reasonably infer that Roma DOES genuinely have affection and respect for Shelley.

The thing is, all the characters in the film, save Lingk and (maybe) Aaronow, are so two-faced and morally bankrupt that it's impossible to take anything they do or say at face value.

I agree that this film is amazing and criminally underrated and under-seen.

[–] nebuloider 8 years ago

I've seen this film for the first time only last week, took me two nights to get through. But it's been on my mind ever since, especially this line, it feels like the moment Shelley's story began to show cracks. This film requires further viewing.

[–] eelb 8 years ago

What makes it even worse is that as soon as Roma finds out Shelly stole the leads, he's going to despise him because Shelly's the real reason why Roma lost the Link contract. No robbery, no slip ups.

So you think Roma could've closed Lingk a second time, when Lingk came to the office, if the office turmoil surrounding the robbery wasn't going on?

[–] vmarinaccio76 8 years ago

Roma is simply trying to protect his position on top of the board. He knows his last deal had been blown and he believes that Shelly's deal is legit which would put him right behind Roma on the board. If Shelly was to close another deal ahead of Roma he would move into the top spot and possibly win the contest. Therefore Roma attempts to smooth talk Shelly into forming an alliance that pretty much would just favor Roma. What Roma sells is his but anything Shelly sells Roma gets 50% of. That would mean Shelly could never overtake Roma.

[–] tbickle84 8 years ago

exactly vmarinaccio

[–] TheMouseShadow 8 years ago

He closed them the night before and lied about the morning

[–] tbickle84 8 years ago

Listen, by the time they robbed the office, it had to be past midnight if not much later. There's no way Shelly is ringing anyone's doorbell at 2am to sell them real estate. He closed them in the morning.