MovieChat Forums > A Scanner Darkly (2006) Discussion > Donna and the D (spoilers, of course)

Donna and the D (spoilers, of course)

posted 15 years ago by bill_onethroughfour
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There seems to be a consensus around here that Donna didn’t consume any Sub D at all. Which, unless I missed some explicit confirmation, I don’t agree with. Her quote in the final Hank/Fred scene (which was misquoted in another thread as something like “Most officers pretend to.”):

“You could’ve pretended to. Most officers manage to cope with it.”

That second sentence means most officers use, but in moderation, and I take that as applying to Donna. She’s a moderate user. Also, when she picks Bob up and talks about dropping some Death and getting tequila, it sure looks to me that she’s speaking as someone who does use to some extent and enjoys it.

Again, unless I missed something definite confirming that she abstains…

[–] saint665 15 years ago

That second sentence means most officers use, but in moderation, and I take that as applying to Donna.

I disagree: I think it means most officers cope with *the situation* of having to pretend to do drugs around real users. Sub D is 100% addictive: "you're either on it, or you've never tired it." Plus the police routinely screen for drug use, as shown in the movie. If Donna/Hank were doing, her superiors would know it.

"I can't be the first person to have difficulty taking you seriously, can I?" - Arvin Sloane

[–] bill_onethroughfour 15 years ago

Yes, I realize her superiors would know. A lot of times it comes with the job of being an undercover narcotics officer. If she had meant it the way you suggested, I don't believe she would've used the word cope at all. She'd just say more like, "You could've pretended to take it, like everybody else does."

Also, you're taking the word of a hardcore addict as absolute literal fact. What he's doing is absolving himself of responsibility.

[–] exitsolus 15 years ago

You're reading too much into the word "cope". Cope isn't only a drug use term; you can cope with all sorts of difficult situations. Just as you believe she means coping with Substance D usage, there's nothing to suggest she wasn't using the term to mean managing to fool others successfully without using the drug.

If you watch the entire movie again, you'll see no proof that she actually uses Substance D, or any other drug for that matter. You see the others using and displaying symptoms of their usage. The only symptom that could be attributed to Donna was her aversion to intimacy, but 1) she said it was because of her cocaine use and 2) it makes sense as a cover to protect her need to remain professional. If she actually took Substance D to fit in with the crowd, it would have been so unnecessary considering she, not once, is seen using. Even the joint before nap-time at Arctor's house requires you to take her word for it.

The bit about Substance D being 100% addictive wasn't just Arctors' opinion alone. The entire movie foreshadows Substance D's addictiveness and the path its users take, some faster than others. Had that not been the movie's theme, A Scanner Darkly would come across a lot weaker. Imagine replacing Substance D with marijuana -- the movie would have been a darker, less musical Reefer Madness, and propaganda that's much ado about nothing really.

Is it easier to take the movie at face value (at least the aspect of Donna being a clean cop) or to imagine Donna had a well-kept, dirty, little habit?