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Plot

Martin Vail (Gere) is a famous defense attorney in Chicago who jumps at the chance to represent Aaron Stampler (Norton), a young altar boy accused of murdering the city's archbishop. Stampler admits to having been with the archbishop at the time of the murder, but claims that an unknown third person committed the crime while he (Stampler) had "lost time" (blacked out). At first interested primarily in the publicity that the case will bring, Vail comes to believe that his client is truly innocent, much to the chagrin of the prosecutor (and Vail's former lover), Janet Venable.

Vail discovers that powerful civic leaders, including the District Attorney, have lost millions in real estate investments due to a decision by the Archbishop not to develop certain church lands. The archbishop received numerous death threats as a result. He also learns that the archbishop had been sexually abusing altar boys, including Stampler. Introducing this evidence, while it would make Stampler more sympathetic to the jury, would also give him a motive for murder, something the prosecution otherwise lacked.

The trial does not proceed well for the defense, as there is considerable evidence against Stampler and public opinion holds him almost certainly guilty. When Vail confronts his client and accuses him of having lied, Aaron breaks down and transforms into a new persona, a violent sociopath who calls himself "Roy". He confesses to the murder of the archbishop and throws Vail against the wall, injuring him. After the incident is over, Aaron appears to have no recollection of it. Molly Arrington, the psychiatrist examining Aaron, is convinced he suffers from multiple personality disorder. However, as they are already in the middle of the trial, they cannot enter an insanity plea.

Vail sets up a confrontation at the trial. After Venable questions him harshly, Aaron turns into Roy and charges at her, threatening to snap her neck if anyone comes near him. Aaron is subdued by the court marshals and is rushed back to his cell. In light of Aaron's apparent insanity, the judge dismisses the jury and remands Aaron to a mental hospital.

In the final scene of the film, Vail visits Aaron to tell him this news. Aaron says he recalls nothing of what happened in the courtroom, having again "lost time." However, as Vail is leaving, Aaron asks him to "tell Ms. Venable I hope her neck is okay", which is not something that Aaron should have been able to remember if he had "lost time."

When Vail points this out, Stampler reveals that he had been pretending to be insane the whole time. Stampler further claims to have murdered the archbishop, as well as his girlfriend, Linda, whom Rushman also molested. Stunned and disillusioned, Vail walks out of the courtroom, with Roy taunting him from the cell.

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