MovieChat Forums > U.S. Marshals (1998) Discussion > Plot Questions: The Gun, The Plans, etc...

Plot Questions: The Gun, The Plans, etc.

posted 19 years ago by ck427
8 replies | jump to latest

The plot is very good -- but confusing:

(1) How did Gerard know that the gun that the guy held over Sheridan was a 'switched' gun with NO bullets? I lost the whole sequence but it dated to the swamps.

(2) Who or what was the treason? Something to do with State Dept. plans for an invasion of Taiwan -- is that why the Chinese guy was involved ?

(3) Robert Downey's character -- he was obviousley inserted onto the team so he could muck up the investigation, no? What was his involvement with the State Department documents?

Good movie, but confusing.....have seen it like 5-6 times and STILL get lost. I need a flow-chart or something to track the twists and turns.

Oh yeah, one last thing...did they shoot those scenes in the cemetary actually in New York ??

[–] ZombieFan 19 years ago

I'm gonna answer these the best i can

(1) How did Gerard know that the gun that the guy held over Sheridan was a 'switched' gun with NO bullets? I lost the whole sequence but it dated to the swamps. Uh he changed the clip when he was sitting with Royce at the hospital.

(2) Who or what was the treason? Something to do with State Dept. plans for an invasion of Taiwan -- is that why the Chinese guy was involved? Royce and Barrows were involved in a scheme of selling secrets to the Chinese. Mark was the bag man who made the handoffs for them but didnt know where his orders were coming from. So Lamb sent the two agents to investigate and got killed by Mark. So Barrows and Royce set up by placing his prints at the scene and then tried to kill him on the plane.

(3) Robert Downey's character -- he was obviousley inserted onto the team so he could muck up the investigation, no? What was his involvement with the State Department documents? He was there to make sure that Sheridan was killed not taken in to custody.

WHEN THERE IS NO MORE ROOM IN RETAIL HELL, WAL MART WILL RUN THE EARTH
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[–] silverr8c 19 years ago

The handguns that were used in the movie do not use clips, in fact there may be a rare exception but clips have not been used in guns since the WW2 M1 Garand. It did seem that the Tommy Lee character did appear to empty the gun when they were sitting in the hospital and Tommy asked to see the gun. But in order to completely empty the gun he would have had to rack the slide on the Glock to remove the round from the chamber. The gun would have been able to fire the one round that was in the chamber.

[–] Isaac5855 18 years ago

Thank you for clearing up some of these plot points. I have to admit that I found this movie a little confusing as well...and I've seen it three times now. It's on HBO right now and I'm sure it will be shown five or six more times before the month is over.

[–] ck427 18 years ago

When Gerard changes clips, he clearly suspects something -- he obviousley replaced a loaded clip with an empty one.

But when he confronts Downey's character in the hospital room he says something about 'the gun that shot that kid' 'the gun he used to shoot me in the swamps' and something about a filed-off serial number.

This whole sequence dates to the swamps when Roberts had Gerard, and possibly when Gerard first met Downey's character and told him to get rid of that 'sissy' gun.

That's why I can't track what he's saying to Downey as he stands over Roberts in the hospital room.

[–] steedamustang05 18 years ago

the gun that Royce shows to Gerard outside Sheridan's hospital room is Royce's gun with the serial number filed off.

Gerard realizes what is happening and asks to see his gun.

He switches his mag (which is empty) with Royce's and hands Royce his gun with no bullets (actually except for the chamber round, covered in goofs).

When Gerard confronts Royce in the hospital room, Gerard asks if Royce wants to use his old gun. Royce says it's Sheridan's, but Gerard says the gun is Royce's - the same gun he showed him in the swamp, the same gun Royce had taken from him in the swamps and Sheridan shot Gerard with. Gerard then says how much do you want to bet the bullets from Newmann match the ones caught in his vest.

[–] ck427 18 years ago

Steed, thanks for clearing that up - almost !! lol.

OK, 1 more thing: you say that Gerard tells Royce that "it's Sheridan's gun" -- whoa !!! Since when did Sheridan ALSO get a Glock ??

Are we tracking 3 Glocks, Sheridan's and Gerards and Royces ???

If you can clear this up, I think I can piece it together.

One nagging thing is the swamp reference, I think that's what is confusing me.

[–] steedamustang05 18 years ago

when royce first meets gerard he shows gerard his gun which is nickel plated and gerard tells him to get rid of the sissy pistol and get a glock

royce still had the nickel plated one when sheridan took royce's gun and shot gerard in the swamp

royce also still had the nickel plated when he shot noah

he finally gets the glock and shows gerard it outside sheridan's hospital room

[–] ck427 18 years ago

Thanks, Steed, I think I got it -- but next time I'm gonna watch the movie again from start to end and write down all gun references. lol