8
Anderton seeks out Iris Hineman, the originator of the Precrime methodology and
instrumentation, to see how he might have been framed, how someone could artificially simulate a
previsualization. It is here that he learns about the existence of “minority reports” for the first time:
HINEMAN: […] The Precogs are never wrong…. But, occasionally, they do disagree.
ANDERTON: What?
HINEMAN: Most of the time, all three Precognitives will see an event in the same way. But once
in a while, one of them will see things differently than the other two.
ANDERTON: Jesus Christ -- why didn’t I know about this?
HINEMAN: Because these Minority Reports are destroyed the instant they occur.
ANDERTON: Why?
HINEMAN: Obviously, for Precrime to function, there can’t be any suggestion of fallibility. After
all, what good is a Justice system that instills doubt? It may be reasonable, but it’s still doubt….
ANDERTON: You’re saying that I’ve halo’d
12
innocent people?
HINEMAN: I’m saying that every so often those accused of a precrime might, just might, have an
alternate future.
ANDERTON: Does Burgess know about this? About the Minority Report? […]
HINEMAN: Yes, of course, he knew, but at the time, he felt -- we both felt their existence was...
an insignificant variable.
ANDERTON: Insignificant to you maybe, but what about those people I put away with alternate
futures? My God, if the country knew there was a chance they might not --
HINEMAN: The system would collapse.
13
The moment is earth-shattering for Anderton, undercutting the moral certainty that gave
him self- confidence in his work, that allowed him to so vigorously pursue that work, and to so
passionately and effectively campaign for Precrime’s enlargement and proliferation. The
existence of the minority reports – and the fact that their existence was concealed from him,
Precrime’s Chief Detective – enshrouds his life work and personal commitments, his very sense
of self and self-knowledge, in a sinister darkness. This is also a turning point in the film, as our
Convention