Plot question - The Pelican Brief (1993) Discussion

[–] Wellingtonian 22 years ago

The assassin Khamel, who was impersonating Gavin Vereek, was shot by 'Rupert' who was a sort of indepedent contrator working for the CIA. Due to the furore after the Pelican Brief was divulged, Rupert was hired to watch and protect Darby.

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[–] bbgun5310 22 years ago

All of those questions were cleared up at the end of the movie by F. Denton Voyles, the FBI director.

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[–] drifterthai 14 years ago

So the CIA were there to protect Roberts character. Who were trying to shut her down? Surely it was another black Government Agent. I thought it might have been the FBI but why were they so cooperative at the end.
Was it Matisse (i don't know how to spell his name) private henchmen, but if so, why was the president involved? he could deny any involvement or not having the priviledge of knowing about Matisse assasination.
If anyone could write to me, i would greatly appreciate it

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[–] drifterthai 14 years ago

no reply?

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[–] mram16 14 years ago

If I recall correctly, at one point in the movie the President and his aide mention some shady organization (I think they referred to it as "the Unit", but I could be wrong). I always assumed it was this group that the conspirators were using as their private army.

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[–] Van-Fro 13 years ago

It was Matisse. You are right that the President could have denied involvement, and his aide suggested that very course of action. However, the President didn't want to give up his very powerful and wealthy friend. So, instead of rejecting Matisse and the conspiracy, he asked the FBI to stop investigating Matisse. After that, he had ruined his ability to deny involvement.

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[–] srmatlin 12 years ago

I got that info at the end of the Movie. But I was still confused. So he was someone hired by the CIA to protect Darby and keep an eye on her.?? How come he didnt do anything in the movie after he shot the man in the red hat. If he was supposed to protect Darby, why not bring her in? Or further protect her, considering like 5 more attempts on her life?

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 11 years ago

I wondered this too!

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[–] geearf 8 years ago

We actually see him later, after he shot Khamel, getting in a cab to follow Grantham. Nothing after that though...

I do wonder what was the point of asking the CIA to look into it, if they were going to send The Unit after her anyway...

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[–] oubrioko 8 years ago

I do wonder what was the point of asking the CIA to look into it, if they were going to send The Unit after her anyway...

1. Coal felt that that Voyles (FBI Director) was taking the brief seriously in retaliation for White House criticism of the FBI security lapses that allowed the assassinations of the two justices. His suggestion to the president was to ask the CIA to investigate to disprove the conclusions found in the brief quickly, and then to ask Voyles to "back off."

2. The Unit didn't try to kill anyone. They were sent to find out if the brief was true, and who was source of the leaks to Grantham. All of the assassins were hired by Mattiece's lawyers.

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[–] geearf 8 years ago

1. hmmm, didn't either Coal or the FBI guy give it to Gminksi? It seems unlikely that they thought he didn't see it.

2. Wasn't the small guy following them part of the unit? I thought only Khamel was hired by the lawyers.

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[–] oubrioko 8 years ago

didn't either Coal or the FBI guy give it to Gminksi?

1. Yes. The implication is that that Gminski received the brief directly from the White House as Coal recommended. Gminski really despises Coal, but it appears that Coal is either unaware or undeterred that Gminski couldn't stand him.

2. No. Sneller hired all of the contract killers, including Stump (the little guy). The next time you watch, notice that Stump is actually seen with Sneller more than once. Sneller was hired by White and Blazevich lawyer Marty Velmano, who authored the incriminating memo that Curtis Morgan (a.k.a Garcia) accidentally stumbles across.

After 'Rupert' kills Khamel, Sneller calls Velmano and says, "Khamel is dead. We don't know who did it." Velmano asks, ". . . and the girl?" Sneller responds, "She's running. We lost her... we'll find her." This is an indication that Sneller had another assassin pursuing Darby. Stump was the only other assassin at that point.

Much later in the movie, there is a scene where Darby is laying in bed while Grey speaks with his editor over the phone. Immediately following that, there is a scene at the Washington Monument where Stump walks up and Sneller introduces him to two new assassins (one male and one female) who are joining the hunt for Darby Shaw. We know Velmano hired Sneller because Darby literally bumps right into the two of them as she rushes out of the law firm just after learning that Morgan had been killed.

Later (about 1 hour and 50 minutes into the movie), we see Stump and Sneller sitting together in a car, surveilling Shaw and Grantham as they leave the parking garage and head towards the bank. Sneller gets out of the car to follow them on foot, while Stump drives into the parking garage to find their car and plant another car bomb.

The Unit
About 30 minutes into the movie, there was conversation between Coal and the president at Bethesda Naval Hospital:

Coal: I think you should ask Gminski to have CIA investigate. The second we confirm that this thing is garbage, you can ask Voyles to back off.
The president: It's domestic. The CIA can't go nosing around, it's illegal.
Coal: Uh, huh. Technically.
The president: What about your friend, Barr and the, uh, unit . . . I think you call it?
Coal: I've spoken to Barr. They are very good for small specific missions, but . . . they are not the CIA.

Later (around 1 hour and 10 minutes into the movie), Coal shows Barr a copy of the brief as they ride in the backseat of a limousine:

Coal: What's up with Grantham?
Barr: We got his car phone. We haven't been in the apartment yet.
Coal: Why not?
Barr: We almost got caught by the cleaning lady.
Coal: Grantham knows about the brief, Barr. He called three White House aides this morning, and God knows who else.

The unit was conducting an illegal intelligence gathering operation for Fletcher Coal, but they weren't killers.

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[–] geearf 8 years ago

Ooooh I see, Thank you so much for the very detailed explanation!

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[–] residentevil6901 9 years ago

Lol that's funny, maybe you didn't pay attention when watching, they answer all your questions.

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[–] tkellnerus (1) 4 years ago

I guess people have replied to your question already. But it was Agent Rupert (a pseudonym) who first introduced himself after the car bombing in New Orleans. According to the CIA director he was sent to observe and protect her.

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[–] snarevox (1) 3 years ago

since all the replies here seem to be fairly consistent and from multiple people who obviously know the film pretty well, im going to accept that rupert wasnt out to silence darby shaw. the only reason im even remotely questioning it, is because of this stupid quiz site i found while trying to determine ruperts role in things. one of the study "aides" reads:

"Rupert - Was apart of the 'gang' that was out to kill Darby and acted like a fake cop that was 'helping' her."

i really hate incorrect information about such trivial things..

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