MovieChat Forums > The Equalizer (2014) Discussion > The scene where he visits Susan Plummer

The scene where he visits Susan Plummer

posted 8 years ago by coryboy345
21 replies | jump to latest

I know she was ex-CIA and he got information about Teddy from her, but what was the rest all about? Was it implied that McCall and Plummer were in a relationship long ago?

I remember her saying at the end of the scene "he came for permission" when her husband asked if McCall got the help he wanted. Then later in the scene with Teddy and McCall, McCall tells Teddy that he promised to someone a long time ago he left that type of life behind. Was Plummer that person?

[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

I never got that impression! Another woman was mentioned IIRC; Vivian maybe! She must be dead and more than likely McCall's promise was to her! I have no idea if they were married or just agents that worked together! I'd say read the book, but not sure it came from one; just a cinematic version from TVLand! ;-)

- - http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/fiero425.html - - homepage

[–] coryboy345 8 years ago

Never read the book, but no "Vivian" was mentioned in the movie. Nor was the death of any woman in his past.

I also remember Teri asking Robert if he was married in the diner scene, and he said "a long time ago". Then when she asked "did you break her heart" he responded "no, she did". That doesn't exactly seem like she died.

[–] Monkeydigital 8 years ago

Never read the book, but no "Vivian" was mentioned in the movie. Nor was the death of any woman in his past.

Vivian was EXPLICITLY mentioned in that scene and all the information we know up to that point suggests that Vivian was his wife. His female friend goes on to say that "I know a piece of you died when Vivian did".

[–] eddiewinehosen 8 years ago

I wonder what movie he watched and how the *beep* he could miss that.

[–] richopp 8 years ago

I actually have the answer to that. My wonderful daughter sometimes watches films with me and she is playing with her phone and reading and doing 5 other things at the same time. She misses many important scenes and then has no idea what is going on.

I am amazed at this because I am a film fan--taught film making, script writing, pre-production planning, etc., and watch every single second of a film to learn what is going on behind the scenes and in the actual film.

Today, people cannot seem to focus on anything for more than a minute. Now, my daughter just graduated a very good college with a 4.0; I went to 4 colleges and never approached an average like that, so maybe it is a good thing to be multi-tasking all the time! It just doesn't work when watching a film IN MY OPINION.

So, the original poster probably simply missed this obvious information--given twice at least--and that does not surprise me based on some people's attention spans today.

[–] gino-lee 8 years ago

That whole scene shows us how close he was to Susan's family and how well Susan' probably knew his wife Vivian.

Vivian most likely broke his heart by dying on him.

I'm wondering if Susan could be Vivian's sister because she knew what part of him Vivian loved the most. Robert couldn't get permission from Vivian to start his war, so he went to the next best thing, a colleague which also happened to know Vivian very well. She was speaking for Vivian and telling him it was ok.

[–] Rabid_Si 8 years ago

Susan worked for the CIA and is how she and her partner knew McCall. I believe the intention was to imply that she was some kind of handler and had worked with him directly in the past, hence why they're relatively close and why she didn't believe his "fake" death.

He came to them as old friends/colleagues ostensibly to get the information he needed but also because he was at a crossroads with whether or not he should proceed with the situation he'd got himself into. Essentially he was tapping the people he trusts the most to understand the situation and saying "I want to do this thing. I CAN do this thing. But SHOULD I? Am I in over my head and can't see it? Would my wife understand why I had to break my promise?"

[–] Planet-38 8 years ago

Vivian was his wife. She died. It is all mentioned in the movie.

Teri tells him in the diner that she sees a lot of widowers. They all look not sad, but kind of lost, in the eyes. That is after he tells her that he was married and his wife broke his heart. By dying.

He doesn't say she died, but the fact that he does not deny he is a widower, and then that Susan states that a part of him died/was lost when Vivian died, certainly makes it pretty clear.

[–] nunoanjos1 8 years ago

I also thought Susan wanted to boink him. But, and that's a big but, she is married to Bill Pullman. She would have to betray Bill with Denzel and once she goes black there is no turning back.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nunoanjos1 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] magi14 8 years ago

It is evident that with comments like this, discussion is a complete waste of time.

[–] nunoanjos1 8 years ago

It is evident that with people like you without a sense of humor, discussion is a complete waste of time. Also, do you really want to be a hypocrite?

[–] nunoanjos1 8 years ago

Also, some hypocrite rude person deleted their comment after starting a debate with me. They couldn't handle my better arguments lol. Some people don't even have honor to back their own words, they run away and delete little comments like kids who stole something from the grocery store, how obnoxious.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I sincerely doubt that you know what a hypocrite is

[–] hiltonsmithjr 8 years ago

Vivian was his wife. He wears wedding ring on right hand as tribute. He told Chloe about her in diner about "the books". Susan is semi-retired CIA in twilight of career.
$0.02

[–] magi14 8 years ago

Thank you hiltonsmithjr.

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

No, he and Plummer are just past associates with the same agency.

"He came for permission" is about his need to feel justified in pursuing what he wants to do about the Russians. He had made a promise to his wife, whom he somehow lost (the implication is that she died) to quit the agency which demanded he do things she didn't like. He visits Plummer to let her in on what he is up to because he needs confirmation to continue doing it despite the promise he made to his wife. Plummer encourages him to continue, that that's what his wife would want. He needs info on the Russian, too, but ultimately he could get that somewhere else anyway.

[–] TheManInOil 8 years ago

No.

The person he promised was his wife.

He went there for information and 'permission'. I.e., he wanted to know that if he went after Pushkin there would be no backlash from the CIA who might have an interest in him.

[–] transmentalist 8 years ago

He went there for information and 'permission'. I.e., he wanted to know that if he went after Pushkin there would be no backlash from the CIA who might have an interest in him.

I used to agree but the posts on this thread changed my mind. I think "permission" applies both to the government AND to Vivian. The way Susan says, "he came for permission," immediately after talking about Vivian, implies THAT was the "permission" he needed.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I never read the book but heard “Vivian” mentioned in that scene. I assumed Vivian was his dead wife and that he promissed her to leave his violent career behind him. absolutely got zero vibes of a previous romantic relationship between the Denzel character and the retired CIA chief. They were professional colleagues back in the day.

The “permission” he was seeking was to go full metal jacket on the entire Russian mob.

The only strange moment was the ex CIA Chief getting a military helicopter ride to her house. WTF? Even retired presidents don’t get that.