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The OAS should have had a contract in writing with the Jackal

posted 12 years ago by shepherd-26
9 replies | jump to latest

OK, I know this is a work of fiction and there are probably no answers to these questions, but I've often wondered about what would the expectations have been if the Jackal called off the plan when he found out that Wolenski talked before dying. At his initial meeting with the OAS guys, he said that he would be free to cancel the project if any of the OAS guys were captured, so they should go into hiding. After Wolenski was captured (and killed), suppose the Jackal wanted to stop the project. Would he keep the $250,000 he already had collected, or must he return it? Suppose the assassination was attempted and failed (which it did, of course), but the Jackal lived (which he didn't, of course). Would he be obligated to return the initial $250,000?

I read the book a long time ago, but I don't recall if these terms were discussed in it.

[–] turtletommy 12 years ago

I think the Jackal and the OAS guys would have negotiated some kind of settlement for the scenarios you mention. A written contract?! Surely you jest in that nefarious world of political assassination.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] anghmho 12 years ago

Written contract? Seriously?

And in which court would they sue for breach of contract?

[–] duderunner 11 years ago

^^^^^ this

[–] muzilon 12 years ago

In the book the Jackal tells the three OAS officers that he reserves the right to call off the "hit" if the danger is too great and insists that no written records of their meeting be kept for reasons of secrecy as the OAS is full of informants.

When one of the OAS guys asks what is to stop either party from swindling the other the Jackal says (paraphrasing) "I want to retire after this job: I know that if I steal your $250,000 then you'd send agents to assassinate me and I'd then have to spend all my earnings in order to protect myself. And if you don't pay me the balance after the job is done then I will come and assassinate you three gentlemen".

Later on in the book when Kowalski ("Wolenski" in the movie) is captured, Rodin (the OAS leader) does contemplate asking the Jackal to cancel the hit and insisting that the Jackal return the $250,000 minus a portion for expenses incurred so far. Obviously this doesn't happen because the Jackal decides to go ahead with the mission anyway.

[–] somepi 12 years ago

I don't know why the jackal bothered to be honest. He got half the fee upfront, the OAS were holed up in a hotel somewhere and even at the time it was clear they were on the wane.

Take money
Dye Hair with clairol
wait
???
profit

[–] turtletommy 12 years ago

On the wane or not as the poster before you said in the book the Jackal told the OAS leaders he knew if he tried to steal the $250k he had already been given upfront for the job they would send assassins after him and hunt him down. He wanted a nice relaxing retirement- not to keep looking over his shoulder.

[–] somepi 12 years ago

shooting the president of france would upset more people. He'd be twitchy either way

[–] loveagoodstory 12 years ago

He would kill the French president in anonymity.

And since his former employers expected to take over the country*, they would be able to call off any manhunt or frame some poor sod and have them executed instead.

---------------------------------------------------------
Free your mind and the rest will follow

* from the book - summat like:

OAS: "Half a million dollars?!"

Jackal: "Since you expect to get France in return, you esteem your country very cheap."

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