MovieChat Forums > The Pelican Brief (1993) Discussion > Some questions: bomb liquid, and cash/cr...

Some questions: bomb liquid, and cash/credit (SPOILERS)

posted 11 years ago by GuyOnTheLeft
1 reply | jump to latest

Why did the CIA guys say she was using credit when she had conspicuously switched to cash in the previous scene?

What was the little bottle of liquid on the side of the bomb? Why did it not blow up when he turned the ignition? I know the engine hadn't caught yet, but the wiring was done in the steering column so that should not matter. And how did Darby figure out there was a bomb as he was starting the car? She seemed to have a sixth sense earlier in the elevator too.

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[–] AccidntlTourist 11 years ago

1 - I'm thinking the CIA was referring to some earlier event when she did use her credit card before that scene where her brain kicks in and she switches to cash.

2 - The bomb. This was supposed to represent a mercury switch; liquid metal that would have completed an electrical circuit when tilted - igniting the bomb. I think the director didn't show us how to wire the bomb - well, because in 93' there was more hope that not creating such a video tutorial might make the world a safer place. I'm guessing the act of turning the key - mechanically tilted the mercury switch.

3 - Ignition. In both cases the bomb did not go off right away. I know that when I turn my ignition key, my engine catches/fires before I turn the key all the way (so I release it). But, if my engine does not start then I turn the key all the way. I'm guessing both bombs were set by the same guy and that he left too much slack - requiring a complete turn of the key.

4 - Darby - maybe freaked by the same stuttered starting engine - brought back the memory that was seared into her mind from the previous explosion. Add to that a sixth sense and hyper-paranoia (better safe than sorry - when in seconds you could be blown up and burnt to a crisp - I'd be jumpy too).