MovieChat Forums > A Scanner Darkly (2006) Discussion > [Spoiler] How was Bob Arctor set up?

[Spoiler] How was Bob Arctor set up?

posted 9 years ago by codeinemassacre
4 replies | jump to latest

It is revealed in the end that the plan was for Bob to become addicted to Substance D to infiltrate New Path without his knowledge, but didn't he abuse Substance D willingly?

If Donna was selling Substance D to Arctor to get him hooked, isn't that illegal? Or, because this is a totalitarian future and war on Substance D, this is something that was a necessary aspect of the plan?

I also remember the scene in which all the members of the house were paranoid about a break-in. Donna came to the house and mentioned how he smoked a joint earlier, seen in the ashtray. How did that get there, if it would be against her job to use drugs? It's assumed she didn't actually smoke it, right?

[–] saint665 9 years ago

It's left up to the viewer (and reader)'s imagination just how he became addicted in the first place. Substance D is 100% addictive, though: as Barris says, "you're either on it or you've never tried it" so however it happened, after that first pill he was doomed.

Donna in the book is slightly different than Donna in the movie (in the book she wasn't Hank, but she still was an undercover cop) but she did smoke pot in the book. Indeed, when she drives Arctor over to New Path, she splits some hash with him to try to help mellow him out.

Al: "What do people do for fun in this town?"
Max: "They eat the dinner."

[–] zavant5303 9 years ago

Yes

[–] movie_nazi 8 years ago

I also remember the scene in which all the members of the house were paranoid about a break-in. Donna came to the house and mentioned how he smoked a joint earlier, seen in the ashtray. How did that get there, if it would be against her job to use drugs? It's assumed she didn't actually smoke it, right?

It is generally understood that deep cover agents may in fact be put in a situation where they will have to use drugs in order not to arouse suspicion. With drugs as devastating like Substance D around I am sure they would turn a blind eye for someone using cannabis which is practically harmless.

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[–] rufusrawls 8 years ago

In the movie when he gets into trouble for being an addict he says that they told him to take the drugs as part of his undercover tasks, yet his boss said that he could have faked it or had it under control. That he wasn't suppose to become an addict and if he did he was suppose to report it right away. He did it all willingly but he *beep* up and got addicted

If anyone who has been around drugs and stuff its hard to fake being on it, you need to do at least a little. I'm thinking that they just didn't take it as easy as they should have. Yes it was illegal but what mommma doesn't know wont get you into trouble. Bob should have been taking it easy when using the drug but ended up doing the wrong thing and becoming an addict. Also cops who are undercover do allot of things illegal if its all "for the greater good". In the beginning they said that this drug is winning. That they have lost the war on drugs and 20% of the population is on it. They need to do whatever they need to do to take down the head of the snake.

Also the house part I'm thinking that Donna was in the house helping set up the cameras. I think that she left the half lit roach there and "woke up" as they got home to make them think she was the only person to enter the house and calm them down. She may have smoked it or may not have. She said she was taking a nap so she could have just used it as excuse to be there when they got home.

And also. Just because drugs are illegal doesn't mean every one in law enforcement stays clear of them in their personal lives.