Around the dinner table, the conversation was lively. Thank you but for now, the forum has been archived.
Can anyone please provide some clarity as to Phillip Jeffries' role (if any) in The Return? I am wanting to pin this down, as I feel like it might be a part of the finale Sunday night. Then again, it could have dead-ended with the tea kettle scene. I'm really confused at this point (and have watched the tea kettle scene from Part 15 four times now).
Some of this confusion is also down to the whole coordinates thing we heard about in Part 16.
So... what I want to know is: Was it or was it not Phillip Jeffries that Mr. C was speaking with in Part 2 (in the motel room)? When Mr. C asks about that conversation, Jeffries responds, "I don't have your number." Now, that could a no, but it is also not a direct answer to the question. So.... what do you think?
Next, Mr. C asks about Jeffries possibly working with Ray to do him in. Jeffries responds that Ray called him. Again, that is not a direct answer to the question at hand, though it could also be implied that Jeffries is saying, 'Look, man. I was just minding my own business and this Ray fella called me about having shot you.' Either way, there is an acknowledgement there that they (Ray & Jeffries) did communicate, so that scene in Part 8 was likely really Jeffries. Right? Or do I have that wrong?
Finally, given the ambiguity surrounding the phone calls and Jeffries' intent, do we think that it was the coordinates from both the Jeffries tea kettle and Ray that led to the rock and electrocution trap? Or no? Or are the phone calls (and Jeffries' response to Mr. C about them) not ambiguous? And, if it was indeed Jeffries and Ray who provided Mr. C with the bad coordinates, why is Jeffries so intent on getting rid of bad Coop? We actually don't know a whole lot about Phillip Jeffries to begin with, so his character is bit of an unknown quantity at this point.
So, please, if anyone can provide their reasoned take on all this, some clarify, if you will, that would be much appreciated!
I wish I had some insight for you but I'm clueless on this issue as well. Hopefully one of our wise and insightful brethren will have information for us.
Based on the voice alone I think the first Jeffries talking to Mr C in the motel room was not him. (Now who was it and why impersonate him? Maybe someone related to the black box in Buenos Aires? Not sure yet.) Because they re-dubbed the FWWM Jeffries scenes and use that same voice with the kettle-Jeffries I feel that is indeed the real one. He also doubted Cooper's identity in FWWM so I think he would team up with Ray to get rid of him.
What puzzles me is if Jeffries wants Mr. C dead, it was either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish for C to visit him, unless maybe the Dutchman's is some kind of non-aggression zone.
I am very curious to see if they wrap up the Jeffries story on Sunday. That would truly be epic and the end of an era.
I don't know who called him, but if it's a character we've already seen before, someone posted on here the idea that it could be Albert.
I'm not sure I agree but I thought the theory was interesting.
The thing is - we instinctively always assume it's someone we've seen on screen, but this doesn't have to be the case.
I think I'm leaning more towards the idea that it was Jeffries who called Mr C, and the teapot Jeffries (same Jeffries) was trying to talk his way out of it. He gave the wrong coordinates because he wants Mr C dead.
Could there be a Jeffries doppelganger? Yes but if so we can't really see him on screen.
None of this may be explained next week.
Next, Mr. C asks about Jeffries possibly working with Ray to do him in. Jeffries responds that Ray called him. Again, that is not a direct answer to the question at hand, though it could also be implied that Jeffries is saying, 'Look, man. I was just minding my own business and this Ray fella called me about having shot you.' Either way, there is an acknowledgement there that they (Ray & Jeffries) did communicate, so that scene in Part 8 was likely really Jeffries. Right? Or do I have that wrong?
I think you need to watch again!
Next, Mr. C asks about Jeffries possibly working with Ray to do him in. Jeffries responds that Ray called him. Again, that is not a direct answer to the question at hand, though it could also be implied that Jeffries is saying, 'Look, man. I was just minding my own business and this Ray fella called me about having shot you.' Either way, there is an acknowledgement there that they (Ray & Jeffries) did communicate, so that scene in Part 8 was likely really Jeffries. Right? Or do I have that wrong?
I think you need to watch again!
Care to elaborate?
What puzzles me is if Jeffries wants Mr. C dead, it was either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish for C to visit him, unless maybe the Dutchman's is some kind of non-aggression zone.
We see the original wall before it is peeled back (or elements of the wall - the gaps between the wood panelling and radiator) flickering in and out of view - suggesting crossover may be impossible. Are a few dents to his bodywork going to hurt Jeffries anyway? Also, Mr C was sure sent packing when he outstayed his welcome.
I agree, they couldn't get to one another directly.
The Jeffries scene "mirrors" the prison scenes with Mr. C behind the glass. Sliding wall = sliding panel that revealed Mr. C. In both instances, the prisoner had the power because of information the visitor/s needed. Neither prisoner answered questions directly and seemingly taunted the visitor/s.
Next, Mr. C asks about Jeffries possibly working with Ray to do him in. Jeffries responds that Ray called him. Again, that is not a direct answer to the question at hand, though it could also be implied that Jeffries is saying, 'Look, man. I was just minding my own business and this Ray fella called me about having shot you.' Either way, there is an acknowledgement there that they (Ray & Jeffries) did communicate, so that scene in Part 8 was likely really Jeffries. Right? Or do I have that wrong?
I think you need to watch again!
Care to elaborate?
I don't think you need to watch it again. You described the setup exactly how I saw it as well FWIW
Perhaps the elaboration is that Ray left a voice mail for Jeffries after Mr. C was shot, so we didn't actually see/hear them communicating.
Perhaps the elaboration is that Ray left a voice mail for Jeffries after Mr. C was shot, so we didn't actually see/hear them communicating.
Ah. Good point.
You're right we don't know much about Jeffries and I'm afraid we won't know much more after Sunday. I feel this season is about Cooper stopping Bob and reuniting with his shadow self. While following Cooper's journey we also have discovered that Bob is only part of a much bigger story. Now come October "The Final Dossier" comes out. I believe that is where you will find most of your answers. I have a feeling that book will be about Blue Rose cases, which should tell us more about Jefferies, Buenos Aires, the experiment, etc.
Also I have noticed this season that Al Strobel has been credited as Phillip Gerard, not Mike. If you remember Gerard was Mike's host, which has had me thinking that maybe we haven't seen Mike this season. If Gerard died at some point in the last 25 years, he may now be a lodge entity. Mike may have found a new host and that maybe who contact Mr. C in the hotel room in episode 2. But honestly, I'm just guessing like everyone else. I'm sure come Sunday Lynch/Frost will slap me in the face again, and ask me why I didn't see the obvious.
Do you think it's safe to say that wherever Jeffries is/isn't, is where Briggs was trying to go before he lost his head?
Fire walk with 
