Did he keep them?
At the end of the movie...I can't help but think that after all that he and Nick went through, Mas kept the plates. Not to use, just as a keepsake of sorts. Thought?
shareI think Mas would have turned the plates in. And I think Nick gave them to Mas after the capture of Sato to show that he completed his turn around in character. Now there is no grey area.
shareExactly.
shareI wonder how he would wait before turning them in, since he would have to make sure that the Nick's plane is pass the point of no return. Not to mention, he got in trouble twice for letting the American cops on the raid and letting Douglas carry a gun, and it nearly cost him his job.
shareReally? I thought Nick gave them to Mas to use. You have Nick going through that whole rigmarole that a person with the right contacts could make a fortune, he then gives the plates to Mas, and Mas has the rueful "Oh, Nick-buddy, you just never learn" grin and expression on his face, and Nick returns exactly the same look.
shareWas Mas in a financial problem or something? If there is something in the movie that hints as much, then I would say he'd keep the plates to himself. Check every single line of the movie fellas. :)
shareas sugai would say, typical answer from someone with no notion of what honor or loyalty means. mas would never keep the plates for himself - he would die rather than dishonor his country's police force. mas really appreciated nick giving them to him bcs it implies that nick has once again regained his honor as a cop.
shareWell said, bernardchan1.
You gotta reach 'em before you can teach 'em.
Well said!
It's a very well acted scene between Douglas and Takakura!
When Mas asks Nick about the plates, and he responds ..."If you have the two plates...all your problems are solved! I mean, who is ever gonna know?" Mas gives him a very powerful and meaningful look. With Nick's admitted past, Mas realizes that he may have stole the plates for himself, to take back to America to use! But he doesn't say anything, because he views Nick as a friend now. Mas finds himself in a bit of a dilemma, between his honor and duty and his friendship with Nick!
When he opens the present and finds the two plates and realizes what Nick has done, he is speechless! Nick did the right thing and returned the plates, regaining and restoring not only his own honor, but Mas' and Charlie's as well! Nick returns to America with something he didn't have before, his honor!
What an awesome ending!