Silent Fall

Would you consider Jake’s efforts to discover who killed Tim’s parents under the guise of psychotherapy a violation of professional boundaries? What about Harlinger’s attempts with hypnosis and medication? Does the film confuse the fictional drug finneril with fentanyl? Does Tim qualify as a savant?

Sign: "JACOB W. RAINER, M.D.; Psychiatrist" 
”Jake” Rainer reads a letter: “... he has never spoken a word...”(0:02)

Jake tells his friend Sheriff Mitch Rivers, referring to young Tim Warden, "... He’s autistic." (0:05)

Writing on van: "WATERVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL" (0:06)

Jake tells Tim, "... I love the movie Spartacus..." 
”... he’s a little shy...” (0:07)

Rivers tells Jake, referring to Tim’s sister Sylvie, "... She whacks herself on the head... passes out... I saw Rain Man...." (0:12)

"WATERVILLE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL" (0:13)

Dr. Rene Harlinger, referring to Tim: "Clearly catatonic, probably a result of extreme shock..." 
Harlinger prepares a syringe.
”... send him deeper into withdrawal.” (0:13)

Jake tells his attorney wife Karen, referring to Tim, "... This kid doesn’t speak... a real trauma..." (0:15)

Sylvie tells Carol Simmons, "... very kind of you." 
Timmy rages. (0:17)

Patient Martha on couch in psychotherapy session with Jake (0:21)

Newspaper headline: "Psychiatrist to open local group home" 
Caption: ”... emotionally disturbed children...” 
Headline: ”... apparent suicide...” 
Text: ”... autistic boy was found... emotionally disturbed children... calling the death a suicide... child psychiatrist Dr. Jake Rainer... therapy sessions... fantasies...” (0:22)

Jake tells Karen, referring to Martha, "... she’d be crazy not to be crazy..." (0:22)

Newspaper article: "Dr. Jake Rainer, renowned child-psychiatrist... patient committed suicide... diagnosed with..." 
Article: ”... Rivers appeared today as a character witness... psychiatrist Jake Rainer...” (0:23)

Sylvie tells Jake, "... he wants to use some drug called lorazepam to make Tim talk... side effects... inhibition... inhibition?" 
Jake: ”Disinhibition... massive breakdown of someone’s psychological defenses.” 
Sylvie: ”... people need their defenses?... make him psychotic, crazy.” 
Jake: ”... administer this drug.” 
Sylvie: ”But you worked without drugs...” 
”... that sounds crazy... when people you love die, you feel like you should have died too... you survived...” 
Jake: ”... I have a patient coming.” (0:23)

Jake finds Tim in a straight jacket, sitting in an isolation room. (0:25)

Harlinger tells Jake, referring to Tim, "... The boy must learn that acting out..." 
”The girl agitated him before the needle...” (0:25)

Sylvie tells Jake, referring to Tim, "... he doesn’t show emotion..." 
”... a great mimic... only copies things...” 
Jake: ”Sylvie, what do you know about autism?” 
Sylvie: ”Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder... perceptual cocoon..." 
Jake: ”... Nobody knows what autism is... autistics were worshipped... we treat them with drugs and therapy. I knew an autistic girl once... autistics can play entire sonatas... what autism is...” 
”Many autistics like cards...” 
”... gonna give you some finneril... It’ll help you with the panic.” 
”And the nightmares.” (0:29)

Harlinger asks Jake, referring to Tim and Sylvie’s mother, "Why didn’t you tell me Darla Warden was a patient of yours?" 
Jake: ”... therapy is confidential...” 
”Okay, she was having an affair.” 
”... half the women in this town are having affairs.” 
Harlinger: ”... cut the self-pity...” (0:37)

Jake tells Martha, "... I do have a patient..." (0:39)

Sylvie asks Jake, "Are you outta your mind?..." (0:40)

Tim speaks into a microphone. (0:42)

Jake tells Sylvie, "... most folks only see the biology of autism..." 
”I think autism is...” 
”... It’s called echolalia.” (0:44)

Jake tells Harlinger, "... a psychological autopsy on." 
Referring to Darla: ”... chronic, low level depression...” 
”Well, someone goes to therapy... having an affair?” 
”... All families have secrets.” (0:48)

Jake finds Tim repeatedly banging his head against the wall. 
Tim rocks back and forth on the edge of the roof. He copies Jake’s clapping. (0:52)

Jake tells Karen, "You are overidentifying with the problems..." 
Karen: ”Don’t you dare psychoanalyze me...” 
”Billy’s suicide was a tragedy, but you didn’t kill Billy...” (0:55)

Sylvie tells Karen and Jake, "I’m such an idiot..." 
Tim: ”... sweet God...” 
”... Sweet God...” 
Jake tells Sylvie, ”... your father was raging... him behave like that?...” 
Sylvie: ”... My father wasn’t raging. He didn’t rage.” (0:57)

Tim repeatedly flips the light switch. (1:06)

Jake tells Sylvie, "... It’s good therapy..." 
Button: ”DON’T PANIC!” (1:07)

Harlinger: "Many autistics have unique and fascinating abilities..." 
Rivers: ”You said no drugs...” 
Jake: ”... autistics like this can’t be hypnotized into remembering... changing their mood... hypnotize him into being happy?” 
”... autistics can show...” 
Harlinger uses suggestion with Tim. (1:10)

Jake tells Harlinger, "... You deserve the Marquis de Sade award." 
Jake: ”... autistics can demonstrate... hypnotize him into hysterics...” 
Harlinger: ”... Fred Warden... was using his son.” 
”... run the medication...” 
Rivers tells Jake, referring to Tim, ”... we’ll give him Harlinger’s drug...” 
Jake: ”... do this safely without the drugs...” (1:14)

Recording: "... Sweet God..." 
Jake tells Tim, ”... plead insanity...” (1:17)

Sylvie tells Jake, "I mean, Harlinger, all his medications..." 
Sylvie smacks Jake’s face. 
Sylvie: ”... that medication you prescribed for me, fenneril?... doesn’t have any side effects unless it’s mixed with alcohol.” (1:19)

Jake tells Sylvie, referring to her father, "... He raped you first... The symptoms were right in front of me... the obsession with your appearance... abuse victims are always the best actors." 
Sylvie tells Tim, ”... I just couldn’t let him touch you like that anymore...” (1:32)

Karen tells Jake, referring to Sylvie, "... assuming I can get her therapist to show up..." (1:35)