Deceiver

I'm cutting across the park, just below the reservoir.

It was a nice night.

And I met a girl on the path I knew.

This way.

We had a brief conversation, then I continued on.

I never saw her again.

Take a seat.

This is a polygraph test for murder, Mr. Wayland.

Nerves are expected.

Do we have an understanding?

There's nothing, nothing at all...

that should make you uncomfortable.

What's he doing here?

He's my colleague. 15 You didn't mention anyone else.

Do you want him to leave?

No. I'm fine.

If at anytime you feel like--

No, I--I'm fine.

Very well.

Take a second. Clear your thoughts.

We'll start when your readings normalize.

Are you known to your friends...

as James Walter Wayland?

Most of them just call me Wayland.

Yes or no to the questions, please.

Are you known to your friends as James Walter Wayland?

Yes.

Between the ages of fourteen and nineteen...

did you ever tell a lie?

I'm not talking about the kind of lie like when you...

tell your wife she's a good cook.

I'm talking about malicious lies, devious lies...

lies that deliberately conceal the truth.

Do you understand the difference?

Yes.

Between the ages of fourteen and nineteen...

did you ever tell a lie?

No.

On a written statement...

concerning the events in question on March 18...

did you tell the truth?

Yes, I did.

A simple yes or no.

Yes.

Did you lie on any part of your written statement...

concerning the events of March 18?

No, I did not.

You got a Princeton education, right?

Pretty smart guy?

That's what they tell me.

Well, then how come Braxton here's...

got to tell you three times, you only answer yes or no?

Sorry.

Got it.

Here we go again.

Did you lie on any part of your written statement...

concerning the events of March 18?

No.

-Is today Wednesday? -What?

I said is today Wednesday?

Yes.

Did you kill Elizabeth Loftus?

No.

OK, take a breather. I got to grade this thing.

I'll be back in five minutes, and we'll do it again.

Again?

You don't want to get convicted...

on one test, do you?

I guess not.

Mind if I smoke?

I don't care what you do.

What do you think?

I don't know. Long shot.

I believe in me.

Hey, things happen. Don't worry about it.

I just want you to know...

I've been thinking about what you did.

Let's not mention it.

You know, it's true what they say about you.

-What's that? -You're a saint.

You're a fucking saint.

Well, I'm glad you're finally starting to realize that.

I appreciate it, though.

You saved my ass.

Well, I was down, right...

so I bet a long shot, a forty-to-one to show.

Goddamn horse pulled out of the gates...

like a fucking hurricane.

So I'm a winner, right? Well, I call my guy.

Son of a bitch has the gall to tell me...

that's not the horse I bet on.

Don't pay him.

It's not that simple.

Can you believe that shit?

The bookie's saying it's me owing them.

I argue, but the bitch wouldn't budge.

So I went over.

We ain't even.

You want to know why?

Because I don't pay out rats, and you're a rat, Brax.

You don't pay out to winners, you're done.

Is that a fact? Hold on a second.

Bring him in.

How are those girls of yours doing?

Fine.

You recognize this guy?

Jesus, Jebby.

I'm sorry, Brax.

Boogie.

You were going to fuck me, Brax.

You know how I know?

Because you bet on a fifty-to-one horse and won.

Guys like you don't bet on long shots and win, Brax.

So I made a few calls.

Sure enough, Jebby tipped you.

Now, you either pay me 20,000 by Monday...

or Auntie Mook is going to take...

your little girls out for some ice cream.

So Mook stiffed you, right?

I mean stiffed.

What then?

I told her we'd been looking the other way...

for a long time.

You did?

Real smart.

Jesus, Ken, you help me out here...

and I swear to God, I'll never ask you...

for anything as long as I live.

How much?

Ten.

Ten now, ten later. Twenty total.

But I'm only asking you for ten.

Thanks.

Collect yourself, Wayland. We're going to try it again.

You think I'm lying.

We've only done one test. 138 But you think something's wrong, don't you?

I can see it in your face. Something's bothering you.

You're a little jumpy, aren't you?

Look, there were some inconsistencies in your test.

That's not uncommon on the first run.

Just relax.

It's a lie detector test, Wayland.

Everybody gets a little nervous on these things.

My partner and I have administered...

enough of these tests to know the difference...

between a guy who's got short nerves and a liar.

Do you consider yourself intelligent?

What?

Are you smart?

Do you think of yourself as a smart man?

Well, as smart as the next guy, I guess.

Why?

What makes you think this?

I mean, what gives you the right...

to decide whether or no I'm a truthful person?

You don't seem particularly insightful to me.

Bet you didn't even make it out...

of community college.

Look at it this way, Wayland-- you ain't got a choice.

Trust me, son, I'm qualified.

Qualified. Well, that's comforting.

Hey, hon, listen, I'm going to be late tonight.

Braxton's a little new at this stuff.

Come on, you don't have to bring that up.

He'll pay us back.

Look, the guy got himself in a little jam...

and I helped him out, that's all.

What do you mean how do I know?

It's called trust, remember that?

Now, like I mentioned before...

I got some strange readings on the character questions...

but those questions were asked at evenly spaced intervals...

so the disturbances could have been caused...

by some rhythmic function of the body...

such as blinking or swallowing...

so this time, try not to blink or swallow.

Got it?

No blinking, no swallowing.

Got it.

OK, James.

Are you known to your friends...

as James Walter Wayland?

Yes.

Between the ages of twenty and your present age...

did you ever tell a lie?

-Yes. -Excuse me?

Yes. I said yes I told lies at that age.

Between the ages of fourteen and nineteen...

did you ever tell a lie?

So I was down at the bank today...

and guess who I bumped into.

Your coach--Colston, right?

So I asked him, I said, "How is my son's game coming?

"Is he hustling?"

He looked at me with a blank stare.

So I asked him again. "What I mean is...

"is he kind of fitting in with his teammates?"

What do you think he told me?

I've never been so goddamned embarrassed...

in my entire life.