Sean Archer

infobox character
name = Sean Archer
first = Face/Off
last = Face/Off
occupation = FBI agent
spouse = Eve Archer
children = Jamie Archer
Michael Archer (deceased)
Adam Troy (adopted)
portrayer = John Travolta
Nicolas Cage

Sean Archer is a fictional character and the main protagonist in Face/Off. He is portrayed by John Travolta and Nicolas Cage.

Biography

Early years

While riding in an amusement park, Archer's nemesis Castor Troy is making an assassination attempt on him. While Sean survives, the shot from the sniper rifle ends up killing his younger son, Michael.

Later years

Since his son's death, Sean has become obsessed with capturing Castor. His partner Tito informs him that Pollux, Castor's paranoid younger brother, is buying a plane. Archer races to stop the plane, knowing that Pollux will not leave L.A. without Castor. Despite several attempts, Castor is unable to take off. With his plane travelling on the ground at high speed, and unable to stop, it eventually crashes into a Warehouse on the airfield. Castor, obviously wanting to avoid arrest, sparks a gun fight, revealing his shooting prowess with a pair of gold plated pistols - he is able to defend himself against several heavily armed FBI agents with ease. Archer, however, is eventually able to corner and disarm Castor. Castor informs Archer that he has planted a bomb at the L.A. Convention Centre. Skeptical, Archer is obviously reluctant to believe this story, as Castor informs him that he will reveal the location of the bomb if he and his arrested brother, Pollux, are set free. Before Archer can respond, however, he is attacked by Castor who had a knife hidden in his belt. Archer manages to kick Castor into the path of a stationary jet engine (which had been activated during the firefight) which renders Castor unconscious.

As Castor Troy

After capturing Castor, Archer realized that Castor wasn't lying about the bomb upon receiving the bomb schematics disk from Pollux's briefcase. Pollux is the only one who knows where the bomb is but he refuses to tell the FBI the location. Out of options, Archer is approached by an agent from "Black Ops", who suggests that he switch identities with Castor. She takes him to hospital showing Castor did indeed survive the attack but has been left comatose. Understandably reluctant, Archer realises this is their only chance of finding the bomb before detonation and relents. With his face switched, Archer goes to Erehwon prison to interrogate Pollux. He successfully manages to get the location of the bomb from Pollux. Unfortunately, Castor wakes up from his coma and kills all of the people who know about the mission, including Dr Walsh, who is forced to perform another operation before he is killed. Castor visits Archer and reveals his plan to abuse his government job and to make love with his wife, Eve. Archer escapes Erehwon and goes to Dietrich's apartment. In the apartment, he makes love with Sasha, Castor's girlfriend, and finds out that Castor has a son, Adam, who bares a striking resemblance to Michael Archer, who was killed six years earlier. With his location revealed to Castor, the FBI, led by Castor, descend on the building in order to kill Archer. Another gunfight erupts, resulting in the deaths of both Dietrich (whom Archer had, on another level, befriended) and Pollux Troy. Castor is enraged at the death of Pollux, sending him over the edge. Archer, meanwhile, returns back to his house and tries to convince his wife, Eve, that he is in fact Archer but fails - Eve is upset at the presence of her son's killer. Knowing that Eve will not believe his story, Archer tells her to examine Castor's blood type. Eve still doesn't believe the story but quickly discovers the truth after Archer tells the story about their first date.

Fight to the death

Archer confronts Castor at Lazaro's funeral. Castor has his men take captive of Archer's wife and daughter. He reveals to Archer that Michael's death is accidental, as he only wanted to kill Archer. Sasha was killed by the gunfight. Before dying, she begs Archer to take care of Adam, which he agrees to. Castor attempts to escape via a boat, but Archer is quick to pursue.The pair end up crashing and continue their deadly fight on shore.Despite having been shot, and sustaining significant injuries during the chase, Archer is able to overpower and kill Castor by harpooning him through the chest.

Face restored

The FBI arrives and they know that Archer is Castor because Eve has explained everything to them. Archer gets taken to the hospital and his face is restored. He is reunited with Eve and Jamie and adopts Adam, Castor's son, to the family.