About an hour passes before Lawrence addresses the subject of his troubled past, which began with a 1996 incident in which police found him, armed and disoriented, in the middle of a busy Los Angeles intersection.

The Associated Press reported back then that, according to his doctor, Lawrence had suffered a seizure after failing to take prescribed medication. He admits he took something that day that he got from "the dopeman," though he doesn't specify what the drug was. He's also forthright about the fact that he was carrying a gun.

And that arrest at a club in 1997? Some guy bumped into him while he was dancing, he says. Then a bunch of cops showed up with shotguns and took him away.

Lawrence also talks briefly about how he collapsed while jogging in 100-degree weather in August 1999, and was brought to a hospital with a temperature of 107 degrees. He speaks solemnly about how he almost died, and had to learn to walk and talk again.

"One thing I truly learned," he said. "We fall down, but we get back up again."

Appreciative applause. Then he segues back into: "I love sex."

"Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat" is rated R for strong crude sexual dialogue and pervasive foul language. Running time: 104 minutes.