MovieChat Forums > Deja Vu (2006) Discussion > SPOILERS How Could Doug Have Planned His...

SPOILERS How Could Doug Have Planned His Journey Better?

posted 8 years ago by the_notorious_bid
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I've pointed out elsewhere that current timeline Doug 1.0 (before he becomes future Doug 2.0) should have planned his trip better. Although... A better planned trip might cause there to be two viable Doug's surviving and existing in one timeline.

As time is running out, there seems to be "no real plan." His earlier experiences at Oerstadt's bait shop may dictate to Doug that he needs to steal the ambulance.

Better plans?

Doug steals the ambulance and gun but no cell phone. Stealing a cell phone is like stealing basic equipment. With a cell phone, he could have called ANYBODY to help him. To get around the size/weight limitations and any possible memory issues, he could have written phone numbers on his body just as "REVIVE ME" was written. In all his years in law enforcement, he has to have one or two trusted people who "owe him one" OR whom would do anything "no questions asked."

In almost ALL time travel stories, movies, episodes, etc., where the same character of more than one timeline exist in one timeline (like the two Dougs), one of the characters (1.0 or 2.0) has to die. The "suspense" is in: Who survives and how? Either Doug could have died, heroically. The question is how to write in such a fashion which hasn't been seen 20 times already.

[–] black-hood 8 years ago

He didn't have much time to organise a support team, if you recall he arrives just as Oerstadt is about to kill her.

[–] the_notorious_bid 8 years ago

Well, actually, he either had time or the movie took "liberties" with the time. If you look at when he went back, he didn't know for how long he'd be recovering from the journey. So, there's time there. He already knew that he had to get clothes and transportation to rush over to Oerstadt's. There was time to "plan."

Kind of a sticking point with me... On a cell phone, he could be calling folks on the way to Oerstadt's. Don't know how far away the hospital was but there was time to call "IF" he had planned. While he's attempting to save Claire, a support team could be organizing. It only takes one (or two) trusted people from his office (or his years of law enforcement contacts) to get the ball rolling. By the time he was done at Oerstadt's, the group could be ready.

Remember, after leaving Oerstadt's, he had 90 minutes (was it?) to thwart the successful bombing. An additional hour (from his arrival) gives a lot of time when he already knows some of the specifics.

Keep in mind: As it was, the main reason that Doug's plan (per the movie) didn't "work" is because Oerstadt saw Claire's vehicle. This made Oerstadt suspicious. Had there been any other group of folks/vehicles, such a plan should have been more successful.

Also, of all the things that Doug and Denny discussed, his arrival time and proximity to the explosion should have been clear to Doug. Planning was essential at that point.

Not shown in the movie, Doug and Denny had time to plan on the phone call (and after the phone call) while Denny waited on Doug to arrive to use Snow White. The value of time was well known to each of them. Not planning better is almost conceding that the plan won't work.

It's like saying: "So, why plan for a long shot, anyway?"