Unscripted Lines That Made Movies Better

‘You Can’t Handle the Truth!’

One glance at this photo and you’re probably hearing the legendary line echoing in your mind: “You can’t handle the truth!!” Yet, as unforgettable as that quote may be, it wasn’t exactly as written in the script. During the courtroom scene where Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) interrogates Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), Kaffee demands, “I want the truth!” In the original script, Nicholson’s character was supposed to reply, “You already have the truth!” But Nicholson wasn’t content with the line and instead opted to deliver the iconic version we all know and love. The extra beat that Nicholson takes after the line only amplifies its impact, making it all the more powerful.