Dr. Cal Lightman quotes from Lie to Me

Cal Lightman

I-- (grunts)

Gillian Foster

Use your words.

Cal Lightman

(lying to suspect) I ran hurdles myself. 110 meters.

Gillian Foster

Hurdles?

Cal Lightman

Could have run hurdles.

Gillian Foster

Please.

Ria Torres

(picking up a briefcase full of money) Oh don't forget your briefcase.

Cal Lightman

That's your signing bonus.

Eli Loker

Have I mentioned that your office looks like it belongs to a serial killer?

Cal Lightman

Several times.

Gillian Foster

Emily's a smart girl. You have to trust her.

Cal Lightman

No, her mother's a smart girl, too, and I trusted her.

Emily Lightman

Ah, Dan's early.

Cal Lightman

Yeah, and about that. I know your mother's out of town, you got the keys and Dan has a car.

Emily Lightman

No, we're not doing this. You just go let Dan in while I finish getting ready. And you better not do some covert scientific technique to find out what we're doing or not doing tonight. Promise!

Cal Lightman

No covert science, I promise.

Hi, Dr. Lightman.

Cal Lightman

Are you going to try to have sex with my daughter tonight? [smiles and nods his head as he reads Dan's expression.]

Ria Torres

So you lie to your partner about her husband and you lie to the people who hired us. What am I supposed to believe about you?

Cal Lightman

You believe whatever you want. That's what everyone else does.

Cal Lightman

What do you see?

Gillian Foster

I see an skeptical, emotionally distant scientist obsessing over facial twitches.

Ria Torres

Hey, what's up with the mime act?

Cal Lightman

You ask the questions, I observe.

Gillian Foster

Dr. Lightman finds asking questions distracting. He prefers to watch.

Cal Lightman

Quite a bicep you've got there. You must really love the weight room, huh? I don't normally mix business with pleasure, but... wow. And, I was wondering you fancy grabbing a drink later?

Ahh, I'm not gay. And isn't this a little inappropriate?

Cal Lightman

Absolutely.

Right. Excuse me.

Ria Torres

What the hell was that?

Cal Lightman

I love a man in uniform, you know?

Ria Torres

You really think a woman would lie about rape?

Cal Lightman

Unpleasant truths, human mortality, mustache on a woman... three things we'd all prefer to ignore.

Cal Lightman

You know, generally, it's not a good idea to call your boss an idiot.

Ria Torres

I didn't say you were an idiot.

Cal Lightman

Yeah, but your buccinator did. Oh, that's a pretty impressive combination of contempt and disgust.

Ria Torres

(backs up against the wall) I-- I-- I--

Cal Lightman

Apology accepted.

Cal Lightman

Ahh, your buccinator is playing up again.

Ria Torres

It's not-- I didn't say..

Cal Lightman

Oh, look, now you're embarrassed. Well, you have every reason to be. You did get it wrong, didn't you? I mean, Sergeant Scott didn't rape Sheila Lake.

Gillian Foster

Cal!

Cal Lightman

Look, she's the one making snide remarks. Look at her face.

Ria Torres

How do people work here?

Cal Lightman

(stares back) What? Oh, now you're starting on me? Don't say something you'll regret.

Cal Lightman

I saw that.

Cal Lightman

(talking about a basketball case) How's it going with the ball player?

Gillian Foster

Ball players play baseball.

Gillian Foster

Why is he secretly angry?

Cal Lightman

I spot the liars. You're the feelings department.

Ria Torres

You-You drugged her so she could lie?

Cal Lightman

Never let the facts get in the way of the truth.