MovieChat Forums > Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) Discussion > Questions about Doc

Questions about Doc

posted 8 years ago by MyDarkStar
7 replies | jump to latest

I never really understood why Doc felt that he could get the tapes by fooling Joanne into thinking he was Eddie.

Also, I wanna know how Doc knew to blink his lights after pulling into Joanne's driveway the way she said Eddie would always do it.

Or how did he know to call her on the phone and hang up after two rings, which was apparently the way Eddie would signal other that he was on his way ?

[–] ttaskmaster 8 years ago

I never really understood why Doc felt that he could get the tapes by fooling Joanne into thinking he was Eddie.

Possibly by stirring her up into leading him wherever she hid the tapes.

Also, I wanna know how Doc knew to blink his lights after pulling into Joanne's driveway the way she said Eddie would always do it.

Maybe it wasn't a secret?

Or how did he know to call her on the phone and hang up after two rings, which was apparently the way Eddie would signal other that he was on his way ?

Eddie phones her from the studio one day and does this?

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

Possibly by stirring her up into leading him wherever she hid the tapes.

That makes no sense. Stirring her up wouldn't improve his chances of getting the tapes. If he thinks she has them then he should just ask her for them. Trying to fool her into thinking he's her dead boyfriend wouldn't his chances of that.

[–] ttaskmaster 8 years ago

That makes no sense. Stirring her up wouldn't improve his chances of getting the tapes. If he thinks she has them then he should just ask her for them.

It would have made even greater sense to just burgle her like the rest of them... but it's a variation on an old thieves' trick - They come up to you and ask if you dropped your wallet, usually with a common, generic-looking one in hand. Most people would, without thinking, check the pocket they have their own generic-looking wallet in. All seems fine, except that the thief's mate nearby just saw which pocket and so knows where to pickpocket you.

By stirring up the people who know there are mystery tapes, chances are one of them would go running to where they were hidden. Joann being somewhat nutty, she's an easy target. It just didn't quite work out that way as Wordman was now on the scene.

Trying to fool her into thinking he's her dead boyfriend wouldn't his chances of that.

Again, those tapes are one of the few special things she has left of Eddie, so anything that might make her give away their location and not reveal Doc's direct involvement is worth a punt. She's already unhinged and having imaginary conversations with Eddie, so further driving her nuts only helps.

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

so anything that might make her give away their location and not reveal Doc's direct involvement is worth a punt.

But that's the thing. Doc would have to be involved if he was going to get any $ out of it all. Ultimately she would have to hand him the tapes. So driving her nuts beforehand has no benefit. Eventually it was always going to have to come down to her agreeing to give them to him. It doesn't help to make her say "Oh, it wasn't Eddie. It was just you freaking me out."

I would think if anything it hurts his chances of getting the tapes since she's gotta think of him as a$$hole for doing that.

[–] ttaskmaster 8 years ago

But that's the thing. Doc would have to be involved if he was going to get any $ out of it all.

But not directly - Once he has them in his hands, he can make up any story he likes about who/what put them there.

Ultimately she would have to hand him the tapes. So driving her nuts beforehand has no benefit.

Whose word would you take - The rational, respectable producer, or the distraught, nutty, babbling ex-girlfriend who clearly never got over the tragic suicide-death of her Rock N' Roll boyfriend....?

Eventually it was always going to have to come down to her agreeing to give them to him.

He just has to cotton on to wherever she hid them, at which point he can just take them.

It doesn't help to make her say "Oh, it wasn't Eddie. It was just you freaking me out."

Only if she knows it's Doc... if she thinks it's her dead boyfriend, well...

I would think if anything it hurts his chances of getting the tapes since she's gotta think of him as a$$hole for doing that.

But at that point, he has them, she doesn't. Possession is what counts.

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

Nothing that you've said gives reason to impersonating her boyfriend in order to get the tapes. It wouldn't help him in any way. I've already said why so I'm not going to bother re-stating it all.

[–] ttaskmaster 8 years ago

It scares her. It upsets her. It makes her do stupid things.
Like talking to Imaginary Eddie, confiding in Frank, possibly giving him the tapes because she thinks her old boyfriend is haunting her over hiding them... and Frank knows Doc is interested in them.

Many reasons.
Perhaps read the book and visit the scene this is lifted from.

Re-state whatever you like, though I think your mind is already made up and you're not interested in even exploring the idea.