Holes in Story
How did they find John Book on the Lapp farm ?
Who killed his partner ?
When Book kicked the crap out of the bullies/rubes, the townsfolk relayed the story to the sheriff and told him the stranger was staying with old Eli Lapp. Since the sheriff had already talked to Book's lieutenant by phone, he knew Book was a wanted man, and this story of the "Ohio" Amish man who kicked the beejeezus out of the thugs tipped him off that this stranger was likely John Book. He phoned Lieutenant Schaeffer and they guessed correctly that it was Book hiding on the Lapp farm.
It is bad to drink Jobus rum. Very bad.share
This is incorrect. I just watched the movie and the scene with the bullies occurs AFTER Schaefer tells Book that they already know where he is. They learned it from Book's partner Carter, whom they then killed.
So to answer the OPs questions, Schaefer learns where Book is from Carter. Schaefer then had Carter killed.
This is incorrect. I just watched the movie and the scene with the bullies occurs AFTER Schaefer tells Book that they already know where he is. They learned it from Book's partner Carter, whom they then killed.
Yes, Schaefer already knew Book was somewhere in Amish country before the bully incident, but not where he was specifically.
Schaefer figured out that Book took Rachel and Samuel back to Pennsylvania when he discovered both the file and all of them missing. The phone call to the Lancaster sheriff to locate exactly where Book was was a dead end. Schaefer and McFee knew that neither Book's sister or Sgt. Carter knew where exactly where he was, and really, why on Earth would Book tell either? Once Schaefer and McFee arrived in Amish country, they would have to do the foot work that the sheriff refused to do in order to pin down Book's exact whereabouts.
Book's hiding place became exposed when the old timer told the sheriff about the "Ohio Amish" guy who beat the snot out of the punks - atypical behavior for any Amish. Since the sheriff knew the New York police were looking for a fugitive hiding with an Amish family named Lapp, he knew that Book was staying with Eli Lapp.
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.share
Sorry, but this is still incorrect. I just re-watched the movie. Here's the sequence of events:
Schaeffer talks to Carter and says "we know you know where he is." The scene ends without us learning whether or not Carter gives Book's location up.
Book goes to call Carter, learns that Carter has been killed. Book (correctly) assumes Schaeffer was behind Carter's death. He calls Schaeffer at home. During this conversation, Schaeffer tells Book, "We know where you are. We're about to..." Book cuts him off but this implies that Schaeffer and his men are "about to" come out to get him because he just said, "We know where you are."
THEN, the bully scene happens.
So to me the implication is not that the sheriff called Schaeffer, but because of the sequence of events and the dialogue, Carter told Schaeffer Book's location before they killed him. Perhaps he was tortured, or they threatened his loved ones. Hence, Schaeffer tells Book "We know where you are. We're about to..." BEFORE the Sheriff could have ever called Schaeffer.
Your sequence is correct as it was before, but you're making suppositions where no scene supports it.
If you're thinking the phone call scene is it, it's not. Book caught Schaeffer off guard by calling him at home, so he blustered about knowing where Book was and tried to put him back on the defensive by telling him that they were coming to get him.
Schaeffer only knew Book was in Pennsylvania, not his exact location.
Sgt. Carter did not know any more about Book's location than Schaeffer did.
Carter was killed because Schaeffer and McFee correctly assumed he knew that they were involved in the drug deal as well as having the other cop killed in the rest room. They were afraid he was going to call the FBI or otherwise expose them, and since that was a plan that was on the table right before Carter was killed, they were right. In any case, leave no witnesses.
Lastly, why would they film the scene the where the old timer flagged down and talked to the sheriff if not to show us Book's cover was blown?
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.share
"you're making suppositions where no scene supports it."
Likewise. There is no scene showing the sheriff contacting Schaeffer. Nor is there a scene where the motivation for Carter's murder is revealed. So I have to go by what IS shown...Schaeffer tells Book "We know where you are" before the bully scene, thus negating the theory that the sheriff is the source of that information.
Since the sheriff had already talked to Book's lieutenant by phone, he knew Book was a wanted man, and this story of the "Ohio" Amish man who kicked the beejeezus out of the thugs tipped him off that this stranger was likely John Book.
That's exactly right. I can't believe anyone would argue about this!
From IMDB directly:
"The corrupt officers intensify their efforts to find Book, who is informed via a call from a payphone that Carter has been killed. While still in town, Hochleitner and the other Amish men are harassed by local punks. Breaking with the Amish tradition of nonviolence, Book retaliates. The fight gets noticed by the local townspeople and is reported to the police. The news reaches Schaeffer......Soon after, the two realize they are in love, but because of the publicity the fight has gotten, Book knows he must leave. "
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090329/synopsis
And:
"John goes into town with Eli to use a payphone, and learns that Carter has been killed. He deduces that it was Schaeffer and McFee, who are intensifying their efforts to find him and are joined by a third corrupt officer, "Fergie" Ferguson (MacInnes), who helped McFee commit the murder at the station. In town, Hochleitner and the other Amish men are harassed by locals. Breaking with the Amish tradition of nonviolence, John retaliates with a punch. The fight is reported to the local police. Thus far, Schaeffer had been unable to track down which 'Lapp' family John was hiding out with, but such an incident would surely tip off Schaeffer where to go. His cover blown, John knows he must leave. "
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_%281985_film%29
And from Writer's Digest:
"In town, Book witnesses youths harassing the Amish. Book severely beats the youths and, as the Amish are pacifists, word of this unusual occurrence spreads quickly. Book realizes his cover is blown and Schaeffer will soon find him. Book prepares to leave the farm, sharing a passionate embrace with Rachel."
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/the-witness-synopsis
Edit: fix broken link share
LOL! Thanks for the citations. I didn't think to do that, but really, it wouldn't have mattered even if I had posted those in my reply to the above dissenter.
"BrianRaess..." is either a troll or he's one of those internet creeps who will refuse to concede a discussion no matter how wrong he is. Replying again to him would lead to an endless regurgitation of the same argument. I'm sorry I responded to him after my first post really..
Is very bad to steal Jobu's rum. Is very bad.share
Bit unfair to call him a troll or internet creep. I happen to agree with your description of events (and thought it was pretty obvious, really), but it's not like he didn't put forward a reasonable argument for an alternative interpretation.
share