# Yer Darn Tootin': The "Fargo" Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316 "2009-09-16T13:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/41 "2009-09-17T16:02:17Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I always wondered the point of that whole scene with Mike the weirdo. If there was one at all, I thought it was to show that the “ya know” act the locals all put on was a cover to hide some serious desperation. Or it could be to show they were racist, too - the Asian guy was just never going to be accepted by the Scandinavians no matter how hard he tried to act like them. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/42 "2009-09-17T16:08:18Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Go Bears! Now _that_ was obscure. Hats off to you, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/43 "2009-09-17T16:21:21Z")
“We’re not a bank, Jerry.” ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/44 "2009-09-17T16:30:43Z")
I only recently thought to look at IMDB and see why the character of Wade Gustafson (Jerry Lundegaard’s jerkish father-in-law) has always looked familiar. He’s Harve Presnell, who played Rotten Luck Willie in _Paint Your Wagon_ and Johnny Brown in _The Unsinkable Molly Brown_. And he never got a chance to display his famous baritone in _Fargo_. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/45 "2009-09-17T16:30:57Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > This scene gives the rationale for Marge going back to interview Jerry again. She was fooled once, she could have been fooled again, by Jerry this time. This is the best explanation I’ve heard. Mike was desperately lonely because his wife died. Only it turns out he was still married, and just trying to get some. That made Marge realize that people lie, so she went back for a follow up with Jerry. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/46 "2009-09-17T16:49:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > This is the best explanation I’ve heard. Mike was desperately lonely because his wife died. Only it turns out he was still married, and just trying to get some. That made Marge realize that people lie, so she went back for a follow up with Jerry. That was my take on it, after the 5th viewing or so. > [@](#): > > Mike Yanagita: [moves to Marge’s side of the table and puts arms around her] Do you mind if I sit over here? > Marge Gunderson: No. Why don’t you sit over there? I’d prefer that. > Mike Yanagita: Huh? Uh… ok. > [moves back to other side of table] > Mike Yanagita: Sorry. > Marge Gunderson: Oh, no, no. Just so I can see you. I don’t have to turn my neck. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/47 "2009-09-17T16:59:37Z")
Marge: Say Lou, didya hear the one about the guy who couldn’t afford personalized plates so he went and changed his name to J3L2404? Lou: Yah, that’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/48 "2009-09-17T17:31:01Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > This is the best explanation I’ve heard. Mike was desperately lonely because his wife died. Only it turns out he was still married, and just trying to get some. I don’t think he was married. From what I got out of it, he had a slight obsession with the woman and wouldn’t leave her alone. “What the heck were you thinkin’? Heck, if I’m only gettin’ bank interest, I’d look for complete security. Heck, FDIC. I don’t see nothin’ like that here.” ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/49 "2009-09-17T17:40:39Z")
“Oh, we stay busy around here…but that’s the way we like it” ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/50 "2009-09-17T17:44:19Z")
“I’m not gonna debat you Jerry” “I thought I’d take care of it now…right here…in Brainerd” ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/51 "2009-09-17T17:48:15Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yes she was. My favorite Margie quote: > > Ooh, I think I’m gonna barf! Well, that passed. And now I’m hungry again. Basically every woman friend of mine has agreed that sums up pregnancy beautifully. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/52 "2009-09-17T17:49:52Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I don’t think he was married. From what I got out of it, he had a slight obsession with the woman and wouldn’t leave her alone. Mike was never married. He was “bothering” the woman he claimed he was his wife, who died. He made all that up to make himself more sympathetic to Marge. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/53 "2009-09-17T17:54:58Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I don’t think he was married. From what I got out of it, he had a slight obsession with the woman and wouldn’t leave her alone. In fact, he lied about his wife dying from cancer when he hadn’t actually been married, and about having a sweet job with Honeywell (IIRC). Haven’t most of us known a sad loser like this some time in our life? Oh, and from I gather from the thread, we shouldn’t contribute unless we include a quote. So: “Don’t know him, didn’t vouch for him.” ETA: Beat me to it, **Lemur**. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/54 "2009-09-17T18:00:31Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > In fact, he lied about his wife dying from cancer when he hadn’t actually been married, But are ya sure? 'Cause I mean, how do you know? Wow, I must really be misremembering. There was a scene where Marge talked to a mutual friend about Mike, right? And she revealed the truth? Aw geez, I wish someone would post that dialog, ya. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/55 "2009-09-17T18:02:47Z")
I’m goin’ crazy out there by the lake there. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/56 "2009-09-17T18:09:28Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > But are ya sure? 'Cause I mean, how do you know? > > Wow, I must really be misremembering. There was a scene where Marge talked to a mutual friend about Mike, right? And she revealed the truth? Aw geez, I wish someone would post that dialog, ya. Ask, and ye shall receive, dontcha know. From [http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie\_scripts/f/fargo-script-transcript-coen.html](http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/f/fargo-script-transcript-coen.html): > [@](#): > > It’s nothing specific. It just seemed like > it all hit him really hard, his wife dyin’… > > - His wife? > > - Linda. > > - Who? > > - Linda Cooksey. > > No. No, no, they weren’t… > > He was bothering Linda for a year, really > pestering her. Wouldn’t leave her alone. > > So… > > He didn’t… They never… > > No. No, they never married. > > - Mike’s had psychiatric problems. > - Oh, my. > > Yah. He’s been struggling. > He’s living with his parents now. > > - Oh, jeez. > - Linda’s fine. You should call her. > > Jeez. Well… jeez. > > That’s a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/57 "2009-09-17T18:10:44Z")
Marge has a phone conversation with a friend who tells her that “Linda” is doing great, and that Mike had never married “Linda”, though he had been pestering her. Mike was living with his parents and had been “struggling”. Marge says something like, “Really? Well I’m suprised” ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/58 "2009-09-17T20:29:54Z")
Just total fucking silence, two can play at that game smart guy. We’ll just see how you like it, total silence. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/59 "2009-09-17T20:41:29Z")
“I guess you think you’re ya know like an authority figure? With that stupid fucking uniform hah buddy? [King clip-on tie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1pLWKW_XoA) there, big fucking man there huh? Ya know these are the limits of your life man. Ruler of your little fucking gate here, heres your four dollars you pathetic piece of shit.” ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316/60 "2009-09-17T20:46:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Or it could be to show they were racist, too - the Asian guy was just never going to be accepted by the Scandinavians no matter how hard he tried to act like them. This is so NOT the reason for it…what would make you think that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yer-darn-tootin-the-fargo-thread/510316.md?page=4)