OVERLAY REPORT

In the film *Se7en* (1995), the story is a dual-protagonist narrative featuring **Detective William Somerset** (Morgan Freeman) and **Detective David Mills** (Brad Pitt). While both are central, **Detective William Somerset** is widely considered the primary protagonist and the film’s moral and narrative anchor. He is the character the audience follows at the start and end of the film, and his world-weary perspective provides the philosophical framework for the story. **Detective David Mills** serves as the co-lead and the emotional catalyst, representing the tragic "fall" that the killer, John Doe, seeks to engineer. Below are the most memorable lines for each character, along with the specific context that makes them iconic. --- ### **Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman)** Somerset is a veteran detective just days away from retirement. His lines reflect his cynicism, his intellectual approach to crime, and his deep-seated disillusionment with the nameless, decaying city. * **"Ernest Hemingway once wrote: 'The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.' I agree with the second part."** * **Context:** This is the film's closing line, delivered in a voiceover as Somerset reflects on the horrific conclusion of the case. It encapsulates the film's bleak tone while suggesting that despite the darkness, there is a reason to keep struggling against it. * **"This guy's methodical, exacting, and worst of all, patient."** * **Context:** Somerset says this early in the investigation to warn the impulsive Mills. It establishes the formidable nature of their antagonist, John Doe, and highlights Somerset's respect for the "craft" of the killer's madness. * **"David, if you kill him, he will win."** * **Context:** Spoken during the climactic "box" scene in the desert. Somerset is desperately pleading with Mills not to give in to his rage, realizing that John Doe’s plan is to make Mills the final "sin" (Wrath). --- ### **Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt)** Mills is young, idealistic, and hot-headed. His lines often highlight his lack of patience and his visceral, emotional reaction to the crimes, which contrasts with Somerset’s calm. * **"What's in the box?!"** * **Context:** Perhaps the most famous line in 1990s cinema. Mills screams this repeatedly during the finale as he realizes John Doe has delivered a package to the desert. His increasing hysteria and the slow realization of the tragedy inside the box mark the film's emotional peak. * **"He's a nut-bag! Just because the f**ker's got a library card doesn't make him Yoda!"** * **Context:** This occurs while Somerset is using library records and classical literature (Dante, Milton) to profile the killer. Mills’ dismissive, humorous remark highlights the personality clash between the two detectives and Mills' preference for "old-fashioned" police work over intellectualizing. * **"You're no messiah. You're a movie of the week. You're a f**king t-shirt, at best."** * **Context:** During the car ride to the desert, Mills attempts to belittle John Doe’s self-importance. He tries to strip Doe of his "divine mission" by reducing him to a common, pathetic criminal, though his anger suggests Doe's philosophy is actually getting under his skin. --- ### **Summary of Roles** * **William Somerset:** The "Observer" and "Sage." He provides the intellectual depth and the final reflection on the tragedy. * **David Mills:** The "Action" and "Tragedy." He is the one who undergoes the most significant character arc, ending in total psychological devastation.