MovieChat Forums > The Mechanic (1972) Discussion > ''Steve, if you read this it means I did...

''Steve, if you read this it means I didn't make it back... (SPOILERS)


It also means you've broken a filament controlling a thirteen second delay trigger. End of game.

Bang you're dead."





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Wait a minute... who am I here?

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Excellent ending, satisfying in all respects.

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I kinda figure my boss and I are gonna eventually "off" each other in a similiar fashion.


"All men are created evil"

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Um ... I know this is a tough time for the economy, but have you ever considered changing jobs? That way you might get out alive! ;-)

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This ending still gets me everytime I see it...

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[deleted]



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Wait a minute... who am I here?

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I'm afraid I must disagree that the ending was satisfying in all respects. Bishop had discovered Steve was compiling one of those target dossiers on him earlier in the film. He KNEW Steve was going to try to kill him. I have never understood why he didn't dispose of his protege right then and there.

Yes, yes, I realize that there wouldn't have been a film if he'd done that. And the ending, as written, means the old master gets the last shot in after all, and the young upstart gets his comeuppance. But it still makes no sense why Bishop, once knowing what he knew, nursed a viper to his bosom anyway.

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I think he grew on him in a father-son kind of relationship of sorts which is why he didn't kill him right there and then. When he got the "cowboy" mission in Rome he brought him along still not sure what to do with him and that he might be killed or kill him while on location somehow. The turning point being that he saved his life on the boat telling him to duck when there was a gunman behind him. When that happened he let his guard down figuring he wouldn't kill the kid nor be killed by him on the mission, but we know how that went. And then we had the ending with the safety in case he didn't make it back.

Another reason he didn't kill him when he found out might have been a bit of conscious creeping in. Remember he did have a panic attack earlier in the movie. He might have felt that he deserved what was coming if the kid decided to do anything. And that the safety was a test of sort, if he was ready to take his role he wouldn't have been foolish enough to get killed by his own taunting ego.

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darren-oconnor
I'm afraid I must disagree that the ending was satisfying in all respects. Bishop had discovered Steve was compiling one of those target dossiers on him earlier in the film. He KNEW Steve was going to try to kill him. I have never understood why he didn't dispose of his protege right then and there.


Having worked for The Organization, I'm sure Aurthur knew if Steve McKenna didn't kill him, someone else would. Since he killed the guy's father, guess he preferred to be done by Steve.

I'm wondering why he lied to Steve. Instead of telling him that the Organization was upset because he broke the rules, I guess it was too painful to admit he was getting too old with failing health.



No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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Watched it again last night.

Still incredible.



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Wait a minute... who am I here?

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[deleted]

One of the BEST endings to a movie EVER!!

(You bastard, you killed Charles Bronson - serves you right!!!)

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