plot Need help with this part of the plot.

[harmonica44]

There is a terrorist group, who's members cannot be prosecuted, because they have leverage over some VIPs in the government. Or some 'get out of jail free card' of some sort that I need for the story. Now even though this has worked in 24 and movies like The Bank Job, can it legally work in the US or Canada, where I will set it, but haven't decided yet.

I asked a couple of law students for research, but they did not take that kind of law in school. Can the government legally make terrorists immune from prosecution, after they have already committed several deadly acts and murder?

 

[NickClapper]

Ask Mr Strauss-Kahn...

But seriously- I wish you'd make just one thread for all your plot problems. Other people can give you advice, pointers and direction but at the end of the day if you don't have a story why are you writing the screenplay?

It sounds to me (from these various threads) as though the whole thing is a little fantastical. That's not a bad thing at all, the majority of thrillers are a little fantastical (see Wheat vs Steve Gelder in the Super 8 thread) but it means that you can stop obsessing about the details and just tell the story!

 

[harmonica44]

Well everytime I solve one plot problem it changes the story a little, and goes to another plot problem. Some thrillers seem to be more respected though for getting the details right. Mine is nothing like Super 8, but set more in a... United 93 type world. Not a true story, but set in the same world and tone. How much do details matter for that?

 

[chilipie]

Just write the bloody thing. Worry about the details after.

If you really wanted to research this you'd be sat in a library or emailing law professors. IndieTalk's fantastic if you want to know how to approach production sound recording, learn about character development in scriptwriting or find out what a mired shift is, but it's not a one stop shop for international criminal law.

 

[Murdock]

The answer is YES the government could do that. Legal or not.

 

[harmonica44]

It would look bad for the government though. For example if Bin Laden was captured and arrested, then the U.S. had to let him go as well as all his captured associates, telling the American people that they had to free him, and end the whole war on terror, in the interest of national security, or to prevent secrets from coming out.