Never assume anything about people
Exorcist Falls“Never assume anything about people” is a maxim Danny Hartman recalls when Jason Crowder refers to something Danny said the previous night. Its force in the exchange lies in the gap between the familiar advice and the more troubling question Crowder is trying to ask: what did Danny know, and how did he know it?
The Phrase in Conversation
Danny repeats the maxim with a boyish smile after Crowder says he has been thinking about something Danny said. Crowder immediately corrects him: the phrase is not what he had in mind. He is recalling Danny’s response after Crowder killed Father Sutherland, when Danny had treated the killing as justified in light of what Crowder knew about the priest.
A Reminder and a Clue
The phrase frames Crowder’s attempt to understand Danny’s apparent acceptance of the killing. Crowder points out that Danny was not in the room when Casey Hartman made most of the statements that informed his judgment, and asks how Danny could know about them. Danny’s guarded expression, glance down the sidewalk, and suggestion that he had his own suspicions leave the question unresolved. In this scene, the maxim becomes more than a general caution: it sharpens the irony of Crowder’s inquiry, as he must consider that Danny’s seemingly simple response may conceal knowledge he has not disclosed.
