At a late-night high-stakes card table, Esme is too tired to play so Edgar volunteers to take her place. Other players warn him it’s real money; the Dixons agree to cover any losses. The dealer outlines harsh rules — 100,000 base, doubled raises, three raises, and bonuses for four-of-a-kind or early wins — then a spill ruins the first deck. They switch decks and realize the original pack was fully marked. The group decides to test Edgar: if he’s a patsy they can win without cheats. He flips the cards; everyone braces.