MovieChat Forums > Knives Out (2019) Discussion > Why didn't Ransom just kill Fran and sta...

Why didn't Ransom just kill Fran and stay on Marta's side?

posted 4 years ago by hans (116)
4 replies | jump to latest

She already agreed to give him his original cut if he kept quiet and helped her. When Fran contacted him the next day, all he needed to do was kill her, like he did anyways, and then stay on Marta's side. I guess there's a chance Marta could have refused to pay him, but I think she would have.

I just don't see the upside in going back to getting Marta caught and ruining her inheritance. He already won. Plus his family would be getting nothing, he'd be the only one with any money and he could rub it in their faces.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Ransom also thought Marta would pay him initially. But I noticed that she never actually agreed to give him a cut. She just looked like "ah, so that is why you would want to help me..."

I think Ransom concluded that Marta won't give him enough (probably he was aiming at least half) after the phone call from Meg. His face was as if he changed his plan right away.

[–] captainburrito (128) 4 years ago

He would probably have done better with Marta because she was only going to take care of Meg. The pool to share the money is far fewer. Reverting it to even share between his family means his cut will be modest. Plus he could seduce her and manipulate her that way to get money.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Yes, if we're looking back and as the audience. But at the time, at the heat of the battle, from the point of view of Ransom... He doesn't really know her. But he sure knows his family.

[–] FFNogoodnik (770) 4 years ago

i think the thing here is that, like you suggest Fran had to die but, once she is dead what happens? There would be an investigation into her death.

My theory on that is Ransom could hope that it would be blamed on Marta but he wanted to be more sure of that. His plan was to have her meet Fran and while she was in there he would anonymously call the cops and Marta would get blamed for both killings.

When he got arrested he was not able to make the anonymous call to the cops.