MovieChat Forums > First Blood (1982) Discussion > What if Rambo hadnt escaped and went in ...

What if Rambo hadnt escaped and went in front of the Judge?

posted 8 years ago by Matthew7819
23 replies | jump to latest

You know just like he was supposed to do, John Rambo was supposed to get a shave and a haircut and go before the Judge in the morning to face the consequences of Vagrancy and other things, but escaped after he got freaked out by the Police and started a war with them.

Makes you wonder what would have happened to him if Rambo had a nicer Cop than Galt who didnt treat him like total crap and Rambo didnt escape, just submitted and got a shave and haircut and went before the Judge the next day, explained that he was a Homeless Drifter that served in Vietnam and was in town to see his friend who he was told had died, then blamed his circumstances on Teasle because he refused to let him get something to eat at that restaurant and he didnt want to take his crap.

Wouldnt the Judge have been an understanding guy and given Rambo a lighter fine and sentence and Rambo would have been out of jail in a few days or weeks? Maybe he would have called Trautman and been bailed out by him, after he arrived and told the police about his war record and past history, Teasle and Galt both apologize to Rambo for the incident and Rambo now cleaned up goes free and continues on his way.

I think that all of this would have happened if Rambo had not escaped, it was all Galts fault, if someone else had booked him and shaved him then Rambo might him not flipped out and taken off, none of the problems would have happened, the Judge was probably a nice guy but no nonsense, so they would demand an explanation and Rambo would certantly give them one.

[–] Foot_of_Davros 8 years ago

the Judge was probably a nice guy

Unlikely:-
"At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, you're going up in front of that judge - And you think we're tough!"

The truth about Marti Pellow
https://youtu.be/C0VOJ0Z3vY0

[–] Matthew7819 8 years ago

Okay let me ask you this, Rambo was charged with Vagrancy, resisting arrest and carrying a concealed weapon, and was uncooperative with the police in the station, what kind of charges would he be facing from the judge for all of this? Not years in prison.

And if the judge found out about his war record he might cut him some slack, especially if Trautman was called in.

[–] Foot_of_Davros 8 years ago

I've really no idea how sentencing would work to be honest...

My feeling is that, yes, Galt was clearly an *beep* but if it wasn't him someone else would have come along sooner or later and pulled Rambo's trigger.

Once he crossed back into town and Teasle stopped him, that was him mentally gone. I don't think he'd have suddenly become all communicative in front of the judge, pulling the Trautman "card" - He couldn't / wouldn't even give them his name in the station remember, plus it's established later on he'd tried, and failed, to get in touch with Trautman.

The truth about Marti Pellow
https://youtu.be/C0VOJ0Z3vY0

[–] armhammer 8 years ago

In that pivotal scene he didn't appear " mentally gone " to me at all but very resolute. He was fed up, wanting some respect.

[–] Matthew7819 8 years ago

I agree with what you said, Rambo did look resolute, someone else shared a similar thread to mine here by Tidewatcher: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/board/nest/252176876 offers some good viewpoints and maybe the judge would have been corrupt too which was sad.

[–] Foot_of_Davros 8 years ago

Oh yeah, in the bridge crossing scene itself he seems very resolute to me as well. It's after that, I meant, that he seems "mentally irregular" / unresponsive. If it hadn't been Galt, I reckon someone else would have come along soon enough to "push him" over the edge...

Unless, of course, that "tough" small town judge saw the signs that what Rambo actually needed was some professional help before he embarked upon his own method of self-therapy.

The truth about Marti Pellow
https://youtu.be/C0VOJ0Z3vY0

[–] armhammer 8 years ago

I'm still inclined to disagree with your assessment of his mental state at that time. His attitude of defiance/ resistance, not "unresponsiveness " is completely consistent with becoming suddenly resolute.

Sure, it's open to speculation that at some point someone else could have eventually triggered him, but in this scenario we had a 'perfect storm' of flash points, physical intimidation, aggression immediately upon the heels of emotional vulnerability. And who knows how much disrespect and abuse Rambo had already endured before arriving in the town of " Hope? " I mean isn't that the primary message of this film, how the Viet Nam vets were treated upon returning home ?

As far as that "judge, " he was probably another fat, soft, spoiled wannabe in the same clique as Teasle & Galt and it would have been a 'kangaroo court' for Rambo.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] riddick-11114 7 years ago

Teasle mentions it in the police station early on and its hard to miss, "As of right now your facing a 90 day jail sentence, and a $250.00 fine which it doesnt look like you can afford to pay." So basically Rambo would face 90 days in jail unless the judge was even harder on him, he would be unable to pay his fine so he would probably be kept to do work in jail and pay it off that way.

Could be only 90 days in jail but probably much longer than that, and Rambo was ignoring the police and their orders and instructions, he would probably ignore the judge and not cooperate with him at all either, unless he had a dinner and breakfast and was feeling better which i doubt, so the judge would really be a jerk.

What i want to know is what would have happened if Rambo had been taken down after he tried to escape? Like some cop pulled a gun on him and he wisely surrendered, the judge would really crack down on him, in Rambo 2 he was in a state or federal prison and Trautman did all he could for him, Rambo said in there at least he knew his place and where he stood, but thats another movie.

[–] fede_4488 7 years ago

What if Rambo hadnt escaped and went in front of the Judge?

There'd be no movie 

[–] Turkday23 (37) 6 years ago

He would've had 90 days of free food and showers, and moved on.

[–] TheUltimateHippo (2250) 6 years ago

If the judge ever found out what Galt had done to him Galt would have been in some serious trouble.

[–] strntz (10830) 6 years ago

Teasle was a jerk, but I also got the impression that while he was hard on vagrants, he would have wigged out on Galt if he knew how he roughed him up in the lockup.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

that wasnt make one god damn bit of difference , said Teasle

[–] strntz (10830) 6 years ago

Teasle only heard that "Galt was a little tough on the guy" or something to that effect. If he had been told that Galt bashed Rambo in the kidneys with a baton he might have acted differently. He even said that if a prisoner has a problem he should come to him, not attack the police.

Not defending Teasle's actions but if you watch those scenes, Teasle is fairly by the book.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 5 years ago

I have a feeling that if Teasle had been there when Galt hit him in the back he would have kicked Galt's ass. Teasle seemed to be the kind of guy who didn't have a problem putting his deputies in their place such as when he walked downstairs and said "Art what the hell is going on down here" when Galt was yelling at Rambo, or when he yelled at Galt when he tried to snipe Rambo in the street, or when he told Galt on the radio to cease fire.

[–] strntz (10830) 5 years ago

Totally agree.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 5 years ago

Yeah I always got the impression that he had his deputies back until they got out of line then he had no problem straightening them out.

[–] Gd5150 (11022) 6 years ago

He would’ve gotten a few days in the can, joined the soccer team, and lead an escape to freedom. Then Rambo 2 would’ve opened with him talking to the judge on the phone saying, “I’m comin to get you”.

[–] ModernDayWarrior (114) 5 years ago

I think if against all odds he had made it in front of the judge it wouldn't have mattered.. he woulda got the book thrown on him unless he was a bleeding heart kind of guy/lady. If I had to guess the judge is probably friends with Will and Gault so Rambo would have no chance. If it's one of those instant judgement courts then he def would be screwed.

However there is one way he could maybe have a chance..

Let's say the District Attorney finds out about his past and his mental issues from the Feds, then they would have to approach everything different which would upset Teasle. For one he's a decorated war hero and to bust one's a big deal, plus if 2. they find out about his mental trauma oh boy.. let's say he got a court appointed attorney and Rambo opens up to him/her about Gault's abuse then there could have been some serious fireworks as that's enough to get the case thrown out if they could prove it. If he happened to get a normal judge then I say his chances were good with a win.

However there's no guarantee Rambo wouldn't have perhaps had his PTSD freakout moment during the time in the court and loses it if something happens.. that coulda been bad as there's not only cops and baliffs in there but non cops in the court, he could attack them without knowing they aren't cops. That freakout was due once he got attacked by Gault.. it was just a matter of time.