MovieChat Forums > Frequency (2000) Discussion > Question about Satch

Question about Satch

posted 16 years ago by BrwnEyedGirl
8 replies | jump to latest

This is probably a stupid question, but it bothers me.

There is this part in the movie right after John has the dream about his mothers funeral, and wakes up and tries to call her but reaches a deli instead. When he goes into work, he goes straight to the bathroom and washes his face. Satch then comes in and says 'Rough night?'
John: 'Yeah..that's it.'
Satch: 'Do not disrespect me John. Disrespect yourself all you want, but not me or anyone else.'

Why is Satch being such a jerk to John? Did I miss something?

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 07
"Love one another"

[–] JR541 16 years ago

You could say that Satch is his boss. I think John might have been late I believe he thinks that John coming to work in a condition that he shouldn't be in. We are led to believe that in that altered reality that John may now be an alcoholic and somewhat unreliable as a policeman.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] BrwnEyedGirl 16 years ago

Yeah I know Satch is his boss, but he is still a friend of the Sullivan family and I would think he would want to help John if he noticed he was going through something. Then again, what you say sort of makes sense...but wasn't he an alchoholic in the beginning? And maybe thats a reason Sam left him?

Crap.. I just noticed there is another thread about this.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186151/board/flat/65162307
Guess I wasn't the only one confused.

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 07
"Love one another"

[–] JR541 16 years ago

He may've been a lesser alcoholic in the beginning as he still had his mother. In the reality that Satch yells at him he has lost both parents by then and may be even more of a drunk and angrier at life.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] andy-1394 16 years ago

in the beginning, he certainly isn't a stranger to spirits. but at the anniversary satch tells him he turned out to be a better cop than a fireman, nonetheless.

then he grew up without his mom, and there's a huge change. clearly john showing up at work hungover, or maybe even drunk, is quite normal. and there's the comment about john and the investigation file that suggests that he's got an obsession with it.

I remember words that fell
like coins into a wishing well

[–] tommix42 16 years ago

I agree with what people are saying on this thread. I logged on and came to this site to ask the exact same question as browneyedgirl, and I think the people answering her are probably right. Probably, in the reality where Satch yells at John for disrespecting him, Satch is familiar with a version of John who grew up with no parents, and is just a total, colossal, alcoholic screw-up.

The way they portrayed it was a little too subtle and oblique for some of us (especially me), maybe. I wonder if there was a deleted scene that provided a little more context, to explain how angry Satch was at John.

"That may be... but least I never slept with Lumbergh."

[–] pearlimaew 15 years ago

I agree with what people are saying, but I mean, he can't rally be too much of an alcoholic screw-up, otherwise he would never had made it to detective rank right? He must be good on SOME level.

[–] pacholeknbnj 15 years ago

Andy Sipowicz (NYPD Blue) made it to detective while still a major boozer, and he was at least as screwed up as John (Mom dies in '69, Dad dies in '89 version).

Note also that the 15th Precinct from NYPD Blue is mentioned in this film, but, like the 74th from this film (and the 12th from Barney Miller and the 125th from Life On Mars) doesn't actually exist.

[–] stevesk0011 15 years ago

I believe that satch got an order from HIS boss to yell at John. At the beginning of the scene you can hear satch say "Ok, I'll take care of it" and then he looks at john.

Mornings and mirrors only serve to terrify old men.