Primal Fear

Defense attorney Marty tells reporter Jack, “If you want you can call it something else, the, uh, the illusion of truth.” (0:01)

Marty tells Janet, referring to her smoking, “I thought you quit.” (0:05)

Murder suspect Aaron stutters. He tells Marty, “It looked up, and then it came at me, and that’s when I lost the time.”
Marty: ”What does that mean, lost time?”
Aaron: “I blacked out... I lose time. I can’t remember nothing.” (0:20)

Marty tells private detective Tommy, referring to Aaron, “He blacks out.”
Marty tells his assistant Naomi, “Also, I’m going to need a psychiatrist... someone who knows about amnesia.” (0:26)

Prosecutor Janet asks, “What’s the matter Marty, you nervous?” (0:30)

Marty tells Judge Shoat, “Your honor, if it pleases the court I need time to make a complete psychiatric evaluation before any charges are brought.”
”Until we have a complete psychological evaluation he’ll be taking the fifth on any and all questions posed.” (0:35)

Forensic neuropsychologist Molly asks Marty, “So he claims there was someone else in the room, and that he can’t remember, and you want me to look into this amnesia question to see what he actually knows?”
”The major causes of amnesia are substance abuse, seizures, head injuries, and malingering.”
”Listen, if I think it’s necessary, I’d want to get an MRI, EEG, and neuropsych testing, agreed?” (0:39)

Molly tells Aaron, “I’ll be recording our meetings for Mr. Vail, so what we talk about isn’t as confidential the way it might be if you were consulting with a doctor for help.”
Aaron: “I lost the time, I mean I blacked out.”
Molly: “Have you had these blackouts before?”
Molly: “Did you seek treatment?” (0:41)

Janet tells Marty, “I assume this conversation means you’re not going with insanity, which is a shame. My shrinks would have torn him apart.”
”That stutter is priceless.” (0:43)

Aaron in session with Molly. (0:45)

Janet: “The evidence will show that Aaron Stampler stalked, ambushed, and savagely murdered this great man.” (0:54)

Aaron in session with Molly. He changes briefly, losing the stutter. (1:02)

Aaron’s friend Alex tells Marty and Tommy, referring to Aaron’s friend Linda, “She freaked out. She panicked.” (1:08)

Aaron changes as he talks to Marty as though Aaron is someone else. He mocks Aaron’s stutter: “Stutterin’ and whinin’.” Aaron has switched personalities to alter Roy. When Molly calls him Aaron he reverts. (1:13)

Molly tells Marty, “Aaron has no idea what just happened in there... abusive background, his repeated blackouts...”
”It’s textbook multiple personality disorder... He’s insane.”
Marty: “Besides, insanity’s the hardest thing to prove.” (1:18)

Naomi tells Marty, “Yeah, but the only way to prove that is to change the plea to insanity...”
”That’s crazy.” (1:25)

Marty watches videotape of Aaron’s sessions with Molly. (1:36, 1:42)

Molly, on the witness stand: “I found that Mr. Stampers suffers from an acute dissociative condition, specifically, multiple personality disorder.”
Janet: “Your Honor, if he wants to question his client’s sanity...”
Marty tells Judge Shoat, “Your Honor, I’m trying to establish a medical basis for amnesia here.”
Janet: “He’s saying he’s crazy.”
Molly: “In defense Aaron’s psyche splintered and helped him to create two separate personalities.”
”He’s far too traumatized to express normal anger and frustration. He keeps his emotions repressed, which is why he created Roy...”
Janet asks Molly, “Is multiple personality disorder your primary area of expertise?”
”Is forensic psychiatry your primary area of expertise?”
Molly: “No, I’m a neuropsychologist.”
Janet: “People wrong us, but we don’t all go around inventing psychopaths to do our dirty work for us, now do we, doctor?”
Molly: “I’m not suggesting you suffer from multiple personality Ms. Venable.”
Janet: “Does Aaron Stampler know the difference between right and wrong?”
Judge Shoat: “Ms. Venable, if you would like to reopen the case and call the state’s psychiatrist I would certainly agree to it.” (1:43)

Aaron on the witness stand, referring to Molly: “I heard what she said, but I don’t remember any of that.”
Aaron switches to Roy. (1:50)

Judge Shoat tells Janet and Marty in her chambers, “‘I’m going to dismiss the jury in favor of a bench trial and a blind plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.”
”The defendant will be remanded to Elgin for an evaluation period of 30 days, then decide the term of his commitment.”
”... and the next time you want to get a client off on insanity, you plead that way, or I’ll have you disbarred.”
Janet tells Marty, referring to Aaron, “You knew if I went after him he’d wig out up there.” (1:56)

Aaron tells Marty, “I lost time again.”
Marty: “You told me you don’t remember, you black out.”
Aaron: “There never was an Aaron, Marty.” (2:00)

Reference in Game Night