Will Graham [Of Dolarhyde]
When I read his journal, it was just so sad. I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. He wasn't born a monster; he was made one through years of abuse.
Played by Edward Norton 
Red Dragon (2002) · 29 quotes
Red Dragon (2002) · 29 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Red Dragon (2002): in 13 of its 29 quotes
Most scenes with: Dr. Hannibal Lecter (6), Francis Dolarhyde (3)
He's not keeping the organs as souvenirs, Doctor. He's eating them.
More lines from Will Graham
1 quote Will Graham Scenes with Will Graham
11 scenes Will Graham I need your opinion now.
Then here's one... you stink of fear under that cheap lotion. You stink of fear Will, but you're not a coward. You fear me, but still you came here. You fear this shy boy, yet still you seek him out. Don't you understand, Will? You caught me because we're very much alike. Without our imaginations, we'd be like all those other poor... dullards. Fear... is the price of our instrument. But I can help you bear it.
Will Graham That's impossible.
Hannibal Lector
Almost. Not quite.
Then by implication, you think you are smarter than I am, since it was you who caught me.
Will Graham No, I know I'm not smarter than you.
Then, how did you catch me?
Will Graham You had... disadvantages.
What disadvantages?
Will Graham ... You're insane.
: Tell me, when you saw Lecter's murders, their style, so to speak, were you able perhaps to reconstruct his fantasies? And, if so, did you jot down any impressions?
Will Graham : No.
: Let me be frank, Mr. Graham. The first definitive analysis of Lecter will be a publisher's wet dream. I'd give you full credit, of course
[Graham towards cell door]
: Dammit, man, you must have some advice. You caught him. What was your trick?
Will Graham : I let him kill me.
Special Agent Graham? What an unexpected pleasure
Will Graham I'm sorry to bother you again, Dr. Lecter. I know it's very late.
There's no bother. We're both night owls, I think. Come in, please. Let me take your coat. So, what's on your mind?
Will Graham We've been on the wrong track, this whole time, doctor, you and I. Our whole profile's wrong. We’ve been looking for someone with a crazy grudge, and some kind of anatomical knowledge - decertified doctors; med-school dropouts; laid-off mortuary workers…
From the precision of the cuts, yes, and his choice of souvenirs.
Will Graham See, that's where we're off target. He's not collecting body parts.
Then why keep them?
Will Graham He's not keeping them. He's eating them. Listen, we were at Molly's parents for New Year's, and Molly's dad was showing my son Josh how to carve a roasted chicken. He said, "The tenderest part of the chicken is the oysters, here on the outer side of the back." I--I had never heard that expression before, "oysters"? And suddenly, I had a flash of the third victim, Darcy Taylor. She was missing flesh from her back. And then it hit me - liver, kidney, tongue, thymus - every single victim lost some body part used in cooking.
Will Graham No, I didn't. I needed to see you first, but I'm right. I know I'm right. I'm... I'm starting to be able to think like this one.
That's fascinating. You know, I'd always suspected as much: You are an eideteker.
Will Graham I'm not psychic.
No, no, no, this is different; more akin to artistic imagination. You're able to assume the emotional point-of-view of other people, even those that might scare or sicken you. It's a troubling gift, I should think. How I'd love to get you on my couch.
Will Graham Something still doesn't make sense to me: you're the best forensic psychiatrist I know. And somehow, in all our time together, this possibility never occurred to you.
Well, I am only human, Will. Perhaps I made a mistake.
Will Graham You don't strike me as a man who makes very many mistakes.
Now I'm starting to think that I might no longer enjoy your full confidence.
Will Graham No, no, I--I didn't say that. I didn't. I don't, I don't know what I'm saying, I... I'm very, very tired. [thinks for a minute, and then shakes his head in frustration] I... I almost had it.
Will Graham [speaking of the serial killer he's investigating]
He's not going to stop.
Detective Why not?
Will Graham Because it makes him God. Would you give that up?
That's the same atrocious aftershave you wore in court.
Will Graham I keep getting it for Christmas.
Christmas, yes. Did you get my card?
Will Graham [uncomfortable]
I got it. Thank you.
So nice of the bureau to forward it for me. You know, they wouldn't give me your home address.
Will Graham I need your help, Dr. Lecter.
Birmingham and Atlanta. You want to know how he's choosing them, don't you?
Will Graham Yes.
Why should I?
Will Graham There are things you don’t have - books, library privileges, maybe even computer access. I'll speak to the Chief of Staff.
Ah, yes, Dr. Chilton. Gruesome, isn't he? Fumbles at your head like a freshman at a panty girdle. If you’ll recall, Will, our last collaboration ended rather messily.
Will Graham And there’s another reason.
I’m all ears.
Will Graham I thought you might enjoy the challenge. Find out if you're smarter than the person I'm looking for.
Then by implication, you think you are smarter than I am, since it was you who caught me.
Will Graham No, I know I'm not smarter than you.
Then, how did you catch me?
Will Graham It's all in the transcripts. What does it matter now?
It doesn't matter to me, Will.
Will Graham You had... disadvantages.
What disadvantages?
Will Graham ... You're insane.
[pause]
You’re very tan, Will. And your hands are so rough, not like a cop’s hands, anymore. That lotion is something a child would select. It has a ship on the bottle, does it not? [menacing] And how is young Josh, and the lovely Molly? They’re always in my thoughts, you know.
What were the yards like?
Will Graham Big back yards, why?
Because if our pilgrim feels he has a special relationship with the moon, he might want to go out and look at it. Have you ever seen blood in the moonlight, Will? It appears quite black. If one were nude, say, one would want outdoor privacy for that sort of thing.
Will Graham You think that would be a factor when he chooses a victim?
Oh, yes. And there will be more of them, of course... victims. So, you'll be wanting lots of these little chin-wags, I take it?
Will Graham I might not have time.
Oh, but I do. I have oodles.
Will Graham I need your opinion now.
Then here's one... you stink of fear under that cheap lotion. You stink of fear, Will, but you're not a coward. You fear me, but still you came here. You fear this shy boy, yet still you seek him out. Don't you understand, Will? You caught me because we're very much alike. Without our imaginations, we'd be like all those other poor... dullards. Fear... is the price of our instrument. But I can help you bear it.
You sensed who I was back when I was committing what you call "my crimes".
Will Graham Yes.
So you were hurt, not by a fault in your perception or your instincts, but because you failed to act on them until it was too late.
Will Graham You could say that.
But you're wiser now.
Will Graham Yes.
Imagine what you would do, Will, if you could go back in time.
Will Graham Put two in your head before you could palm that stiletto.
Will Graham [to Reba]
That's all for now, but I'd like to come back before I leave town to see how you're doing.
Reba McClane [choking up]
Sure. Who could resist a charmer like me?
Will Graham Whatever was left in him that was still human was only kept alive because of you. You probably saved some lives. You didn't attract a freak... You attracted a man with a freak on his back.
Reba McClane [crying]
I should have known!
Will Graham Sometimes you can't. Trust me, I've been there myself. There was a lot wrong with Dolarhyde, but there's nothing wrong with you. [smiles] Except your hair. Your hair is a train wreck.
Will Graham What is taking him so long?
Molly Graham
Are you kidding? It takes him 20 minutes to get out of bed in the morning!
Will Graham Yeah, but now I have a serious marshmallow jones.
Other characters in Red Dragon
More Edward Norton characters
Narrator
Lester "Worm" Murphy
Sheldon Mopes/Smoochy
Derek Vinyard
Rex
King Baldwin IV
Roy
Alan Isaacman