How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Memento.
Quote #1
NATALIE: I did exactly what you told me. I went to Dodd and I said that I didn't have Jimmy's money, or any drugs, that this. Teddy must have taken everything.
LEONARD: And what did he say?
NATALIE: He didn't believe me. He said that if I don't get him the money tomorrow he's gonna kill me. Then he started hitting me.
Did you notice when Leonard flexes his knuckles, almost as if they hurt? Well, that makes sense when we realize in the following present sequence that Leonard hit Natalie and Natalie is just using Leonard for her own purposes. In fact, this scene changes the entire movie. We actually start trusting Teddy more because he was the one who tells Leonard not to trust Natalie. We've been aware of that some manipulation was going on before this, but this is when the bubble bursts.
Quote #2
LEONARD: Yeah, first I just need you to put these things around the room. Pretend they're your things and this is your bedroom.
PROSTITUTE: Should I wear it?
LEONARD: No, no, no. Uh, just like you took it off. I don't want you to use it. I'm sorry. I just mean put them around the room, as if they were your... your things.
Leonard purposefully recreates his past so that he can relive it. Why would he do this when the scenario he recreates is the death of his wife? Why would he when finding a prostitute instead of his wife in the bathroom causes him so much pain? We don't know, but apparently Leonard didn't think it was very smart either because he goes to burn her things, basically preventing his future self from further manipulating his more-future self.
Quote #3
LEONARD: I guess I tell people about Sammy to help them understand. Sammy's story helps me understand my own situation. […] There are pages missing. I guess I've been trying to log them all. I don't know why these are crossed out.
Okay, we don't know this for sure, but Leonard may have been lying to himself this whole time. Could it be him who crossed out or removed everything he didn't want to repeatedly learn from the police report? Is Sammy's story really just Leonard's own story? Is that why it matters so much to him?
Quote #4
LEONARD My car.
TEDDY This "is" your car.
LEONARD Oh, you're in a playful mood. [shows Teddy a picture of his car]. It's not good to make fun of a handicap.
TEDDY Just trying to have a little fun.
Trying to have a little fun? Or trying to cash in the two hundred G's stashed in the trunk? Throughout the whole movie Teddy is trying to get control of Leonard's car; offering him to trade cars or suggesting that he move it for him or get the window fixed. This is just a small manipulation that lies within the larger John G. manipulation that Teddy is using to essentially control Leonard's life.
Quote #5
LEONARD: Hey, mister! I need help! There's a guy in here, he's hurt bad. We gotta get him to a doctor.
TEDDY: All right.
LEONARD: I don't know what happened. I've got this memory thing. Do I know you?
TEDDY: No. Don't worry. I'm a cop.
LEONARD: Is he still breathing?
TEDDY: Well, I don't know. Maybe. What the hell were you guys doing?
LEONARD: I don't remember, I have this condition.
TEDDY: I hope it's not as serious as his, cause this guy's dead. Ow! Lenny! That s*** kills!
LEONARD: So you remember me now, huh?
Finally! We've watched Leonard get manipulated all movie and he's finally using his condition to his advantage and manipulating Teddy. By pretending he's just forgot what happened and that he doesn't know Teddy, he's able to get the leg up on him, which leads to Teddy spilling all the beans, which in this case are truth beans… probably.
Quote #6
LEONARD: Can I just let myself forget what you've told me? Can I just let myself forget what you made me do? You think I just want another puzzle to solve? Another John G to look for? You're a John G. So you can be my John G. Do I lie to myself to be happy? In your case, Teddy... yes, I will.
Whoa. Willfully manipulating himself to kill a man who, although certainly not innocent, did not rape and murder his wife. Talk about controversial manipulation. If Leonard is willing to do this, who's to say that Teddy wasn't telling the truth? Maybe Leonard has already been lying to make himself happy.