George you work nights!  A fellow 3rd shift guy, excellent.  I quit a year ago (so i guess I should stop counting myself), but I still remember how confused my body got.  I hated it.  Hopefully Fempiror kicks right off so that's not necessary any more!

Some quick questions:

You wrote: "For him to want to lie, he needs to make it crystal clear that he believes the mob is the enemy and they are who he is fighting against. He needs to hold this belief throughout the story and never falter from it. If he clings to this belief, then it will make that third act to rescue the mob that much more powerful. But anytime this lie emerges, it needs to relate directly to the mob verus whoever they need Murphy to think killed his wife, and he needs to identify this mystery shooter and always go after them...maybe Jack could give him an ID. If he clings to the memory of his wife and the method of her death, this will work.

-I'm struggling to understand what your trying to communicate, this is what I think your saying, please correct me if I'm wrong.
-For Jack to want to lie, Jack needs to make it obvious to the audience why he lies. Murphy needs to hold this belief (the lie) throughout th story.  Anytime the lie emerges, it needs to relate directly to the mob versus the lie (i.e. Chinese soldiers who Murphy thinks killed his wife)
-Basically what we're saying is, and you were exaclty right.  Murphy joins Jack and Jo, because of the lie that Jack told.  Jack tells it for two reasons, the first that they may need Murphy's help, the second Jack doesnt want to be the guy to tell the spouse was crushed to death.  /
* seems like the problem is I need to justify this lie.

I've tried the following, let me know what you think.  I've bounced hte idea off a couple friends with mixed reviews.  

First Scene (it occurs right after the trio escapes the CSU in the store):
Murphy head down, his mind in a different place.
Jack clears his throat.
Murphy looks up.
Jack and Sam, each look at him concern in their eyes.
MURPHY
My wife, she was...  I don’t know where she could be.
Jack’s eyes.
Sam’s eyes.
FLASBACK-grainy, rough
Michelle Murphy running.
The mob running her down.
Her body in the street, mangled.
Name tag: Hank Murphy
Sam rolls her over, name tag: Michelle Murphy...
END FLASHBACK
SAM
Lieutenant Colonel, we found your wife she’d been tr...
JACK
Shot, execution style.  Painless sir.
Murphy bewildered, sorrow in his eyes.
MURPHY
My men weren’t over there, who...
JACK
We saw some Chinese soldiers.
Murphy watches as the Chinese helicopter, chops through the air overhead.
MURPHY
Why would he give an order to kill a civilian...

The second scene (Cindy confronts Jack about the lie)
SAM
Why’d you lie to him?
JACK
I thought it be easier to hear that, then she’d been crushed to death.
SAM
That’s his wife.  She’s dead, what’s the difference.
JACK
If she was shot, it be quick painless.  Crushed...be long, painful.
Sam shakes her head in disgust.
JACK (CONT'D)
Besides, he wouldn’t be helping us, if he knew.
SAM
I know that’s...

*I've spent all day trying to come up with a solution to justifying this lie, and I just got nothing.  It's  difficult problem, maybe my approach is all wrong.  

I figured as much re: antagonist.  My first thought was to have Jimmy be in the helicopter, when Murphy saves the refugees. Kinda like a last stand between the two, I may go back to that idea.  Seems like it fits better.  

RE: when to reveal the lie.  I've been playing around with this.  Your right it would make the rescue that much more meaningful, but it takes away from the shock of Murphy "shooting" Harris.  It's a line, I have to walk I guess.   Do I give the information away before and make the mission meaningful, or do I give it after and make it seem like Murphy is so pissed he might actually try to kill Harris.  
-the only other option i really have is have something like: Jo runs up and tell Murphy she has to tel him something... it's a lie.  But Murphy says later, I have to handle this.  A hint/compromise?  

thanks for your input


Jake