| 1 | * The scene where Max explains why he made the wish that negated Fletcher's ability to lie: "[[ArmorPiercingResponse But, you're the only one that makes me feel bad]]". The look on Fletcher's face after he hears that is no doubt painful to any parent who's ever lied to their child and irreversibly damaged the relationship. Max is insincere in undoing the wish because he was tired of being hurt by his father's lies, like Max was during his birthday, and refuses to be sincere in undoing it, even after Fletcher begs him and tells Max what's at stake, only because he doesn't want Fletcher to lie to him again. |
| 2 | * At one point, Fletcher is arguing with his ex-wife and discovers that he can't lie even to himself: |
| 3 | --> '''Fletcher''': Well let me tell you something: I'm a bad father! ({{beat}}) ...I mean...[[HeelRealization I'm a bad father]]... |
| 4 | ** Fletcher sounds so heartbroken at this revelation that even Audrey feels bad for him and tells him that he isn't a bad father...when he's around. |
| 5 | ** The worst part is the movie clearly demonstrated that he can't say something he doesn't believe to be true (the "holding your pee damages your bladder" claim). He blurts out this line and realizes that ''he believes himself to be a terrible father'', and that he therefore is a bad father. The devastation this inflicts on him drives him for the final act. |
| 6 | ** Even before this, when he calls Audrey as she takes Max to school, he reveals his sexual encounter with Miranda the night of Max's birthday party and effectively takes the blame for the entire thing, DESPITE the fact that Miranda forced herself on him. It's around this point that Fletcher begins blaming himself and clearly disappointed in what his dedication to lying and his job has cost him, so he is taking the blame for something that was not necessarily 100% his fault even though it nearly costs him everything. Despite wailing about what on earth is wrong, he knows in his heart what he believes is wrong... |
| 7 | --->'''Fletcher:'''What's ''wrong'' with me!?....(Deadpan, rapidly) I'm getting what I deserve, I'm reaping what I sow...! |
| 8 | * Near the end of the movie, after the case ends and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone it slowly begins to sink in to Fletcher just what he's been doing,]] he has a breakdown/epiphany guaranteed to bring tears to a watcher's eyes, if for no other reason than this line: |
| 9 | --> '''Fletcher Reede''': ''I HOLD MYSELF IN CONTEMPT!! Why should '''you''' be any different?!'' |
| 10 | ** Immediately preceding this is the cause of Fletcher's epiphany. Having won the case for Mrs. Cole, he realizes that Mrs. Cole won't be content with half of her husband's estate, but wants full custody of the children, just so he'll have to pay her child support. When Fletcher sees Mr. Cole's children run over to him, desperate to not lose their father forever, he probably sees a little of himself in Mr. Cole. |
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