by Chris Alexion, Copyright March 21, 2006, all rights reserved. 384 views
In the movie Clear and Present Danger, a dying Admiral James Greer tells his friend and protege Jack Ryan that Jack is bound to the truth. "You gave your word," says Greer. "Not just to your boss, but to his boss. To the people of the United States. And your word is you." Ryan was able to honor his oath even when faced with sticky choices.
Last night's 24 episode swung the other way. Jack Bauer, caught between a promise to a German intelligence officer, the need to get a lead on the nerve gas, and the approval of Homeland Security, ended up breaking his word.
Jack had arranged to give the German operative a highly-classified counterterror document (which made CTU and Homeland pretty upset) in exchange for help in capturing Collette Stenger, a European "broker" with connections to the L.A. terrorists. Once the spy chick was bagged, the German left and attempted to upload the memory card, which self-destructed.
Jack called the German to apologize, saying that when this incident was over Jack would help him rebuild his investigation (the German had been undercover for six months gathering info on Stenger): "I give you my word." "I had your word," the German replied. "Now I know what it's worth."
While Jack was in a tight spot, pulled different ways by his duty to save lives, his loyalty to CTU, and the promise he made, I can't say he made the right call on this one. Maybe, like Jack Ryan, I'm seeing everything in black and white, but honoring one's word is so vital that I'm forced to say that there must have been another way.
The interesting thing is that the screenwriters didn't seem to "support" Jack's decision. I recently told a friend, in a conversation about V for Vendetta, that I don't see anything wrong with a story in which the main character makes mistakes and doesn't always do the right thing. The important point is the perspective of the storyteller.
1 • Chris • March 21, 2006 • 11:38 PM
How about the German intelligence agent (obviously) sleeping around with Collette? Talk about a pragmatic ethic.
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