{"id":3932,"date":"2022-04-22T23:46:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T23:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highclasswriters.com\/blog\/?p=3932"},"modified":"2022-04-22T23:47:01","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T23:47:01","slug":"essay-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highclasswriters.com\/blog\/essay-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cTwelve Angry Men\u201d by Reginald Rose<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

DESCRIPTIONS OF JURORS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A small, petty man who is impressed with the authority he has and handles himself quite formally. Not overly bright, but dogged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER TWO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A meek, hesitant man who finds it difficult to maintain any opinions of his own. Easily swayed and usually adopts the opinion of the last person to whom he has spoken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER THREE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated man within whom can be detected a streak of sadism. A humorless man who is intolerant of opinions other than his own and accustomed to forcing his wishes and views upon others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER FOUR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seems to be a man of wealth and position. A practiced speaker who presents himself well at all times. Seems to feel a little bit above the rest of the jurors. His only concern is with the facts in this case, and he is appalled at the behavior of the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER FIVE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A na\u00efve, very frightened young man who takes his obligations in this case very seriously, but who finds it difficult to speak up when his elders have the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER SIX<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An honest but dull-witted man who comes upon his decisions slowly and carefully. A man who finds it difficult to create positive opinions, but who must listen to and digest and accept those opinions offered by others which appeal to him most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER SEVEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A loud, flashy, glad-handed salesman type who has more important things to do than to sit on a jury. He is quick to show temper, quick to form opinions on things about which he knows nothing. Is a bully and, of course, a coward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER EIGHT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quiet, thoughtful, gentle man. A man who sees all sides of every question and constantly seeks the truth. A man of strength tempered with compassion. Above all, a man who wants justice to be done and will fight to see that it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER NINE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mild, gentle old man, long since defeated by life and now merely waiting to die. A man who recognizes himself for what he is and mourns the days when it would have been possible to be courageous without shielding himself behind his many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER TEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An angry, bitter man. A man who antagonizes almost at sight. A bigot who places no values on any human life save his own. A man who has been nowhere and is going nowhere and knows it deep within him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER ELEVEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A refugee from Europe who had come to this country in 1941. A man who speaks with an accent and who is ashamed, humble, almost subservient to the people around him, but who will honestly seek justice because he has suffered through so much injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUROR NUMBER TWELVE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slick, bright advertising man who thinks of human beings in terms of percentages, graphs, and polls and has no real understanding of people.<\/em> A superficial snob, but trying to be a good fellow.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Act I<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fade in on a jury box<\/em>. Twelve men are seated in it, listening intently to the voice of the <\/em>JUDGE as he charges them<\/em>. We do not see the <\/em>JUDGE. He speaks in slow, measured tones and his voice is grave<\/em>. The camera drifts over the faces of the <\/em>JURYMEN as the <\/em>JUDGE speaks and we see that most of their heads are turned to camera\u2019s left<\/em>.SEVEN looks down at his hands<\/em>.THREE looks off in another direction, the direction in which the defendant would be sitting<\/em>.TEN keeps moving his head back and forth nervously<\/em>. The <\/em>JUDGE drones on<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JUDGE. Murder in the first degree\u2014premeditated homicide\u2014is the most serious charge tried in our criminal courts. You\u2019ve heard a long and complex case, gentlemen, and it is now your duty to sit down to try and separate the facts from the fancy. One man is dead. The life of another is at stake. If there is a reasonable doubt in your minds as to the guilt of the accused \u2026 then you must declare him not guilty. If, however, there is no reasonable doubt, then he must be found guilty. Whichever way you decide, the verdict must be unanimous. I urge you to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully. You are faced with a grave responsibility. Thank you, gentlemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a long pause<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLERK (droning<\/em>.)The jury will retire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(And now, slowly, almost hesitantly, the members of the jury begin to rise<\/em>. Awkwardly, they file out of the jury box and off camera to the left<\/em>. Camera holds on the jury box, then fades out<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Fade in on a large, bare, unpleasant-looking room<\/em>. This is the jury room in the county criminal court of a large Eastern city<\/em>. It is about 4:00 P<\/em>.M<\/em>. The room is furnished with a long conference table and a dozen chairs<\/em>. The walls are bare, drab, and badly in need of a fresh coat of paint<\/em>. Along one wall is a row of windows which look out on the skyline of the city\u2019s financial district<\/em>. High on another wall is an electric clock<\/em>. A washroom opens off the jury room<\/em>. In one corner of the room is a water fountain<\/em>. On the table are pads, pencils, ashtrays<\/em>. One of the windows is open<\/em>. Papers blow across the table and on to the floor as the door opens<\/em>. Lettered on the outside of the door are the words \u201cJury Room<\/em>.\u201d A uniformed <\/em>GUARD holds the door open<\/em>. Slowly, almost self-consciously, the twelve <\/em>JURORS file in<\/em>. The <\/em>GUARD counts them as they enter the door, his lips moving, but no sound coming forth<\/em>. Four or five of the <\/em>JURORS light cigarettes as they enter the room<\/em>.FIVE lights his pipe, which he smokes constantly throughout the play<\/em>.TWO and <\/em>TWELVE go to the water fountain, <\/em>NINE goes into the washroom, the door of which is lettered \u201cMen<\/em>.\u201d Several of the <\/em>JURORS take seats at the table<\/em>. Others stand awkwardly around the room<\/em>. Several look out the windows<\/em>. These are men who are ill at ease, who do not really know each other to talk to, and who wish they were anywhere but here<\/em>.SEVEN, standing at the window, takes out a pack of gum, takes a piece, and offers it around<\/em>. There are no takers<\/em>. He mops his brow<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (to<\/em> SIX). Y\u2019know something? It\u2019s hot. (SIX nods<\/em>.) You\u2019d think they\u2019d at least air-condition the place. I almost dropped dead in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(SEVEN opens the window a bit wider<\/em>. The<\/em> GUARD looks them over and checks his count<\/em>. Then, satisfied, he makes ready to leave<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GUARD. Okay, gentlemen. Everybody\u2019s here. If there\u2019s anything you want, I\u2019m right outside. Just knock. (He exits, closing the door<\/em>. Silently they all look at the door<\/em>. We hear the lock clicking<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I never knew they locked the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (blowing nose<\/em>). Sure, they lock the door. What did you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I don\u2019t know. It just never occurred to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Some of the<\/em> JURORS are taking off their jackets<\/em>. Others are sitting down at the table<\/em>. They still are reluctant to talk to each other<\/em>. FOREMAN is at head of table, tearing slips of paper for ballots<\/em>. Now we get a close shot of<\/em> EIGHT. He looks out the window<\/em>. We hear<\/em> THREE talking to<\/em> TWO.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Six days. They should have finished it in two. Talk, talk, talk. Did you ever hear so much talk about nothing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (nervously laughing<\/em>). Well \u2026 I guess \u2026 they\u2019re entitled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Everybody gets a fair trial. (He shakes his head<\/em>.) That\u2019s the system. Well, I suppose you can\u2019t say anything against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWO looks at him nervously, nods, and goes over to water cooler<\/em>. Cut to shot of<\/em> EIGHT staring out window<\/em>. Cut to table<\/em>. SEVEN stands at the table, putting out a cigarette<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (to<\/em> TEN). How did you like that business about the knife? Did you ever hear a phonier story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (wisely<\/em>). Well, look, you\u2019ve gotta expect that. You know what you\u2019re dealing with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Yeah, I suppose. What\u2019s the matter, you got a cold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (blowing<\/em>). A lulu. These hot-weather colds can kill you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(SEVEN nods sympathetically<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (briskly<\/em>). All right, gentleman. Let\u2019s take our seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Right. This better be fast. I\u2019ve got tickets to The Seven Year Itch<\/em> tonight. I must be the only guy in the whole world who hasn\u2019t seen it yet. (He laughs and sits down<\/em>.) Okay, your honor, start the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They all begin to sit down<\/em>. The<\/em> FOREMAN is seated at the head of the table<\/em>. EIGHT continues to look out the window<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (to<\/em> EIGHT). How about sitting down? (EIGHT doesn\u2019t hear him<\/em>.) The gentleman at the window. (EIGHT turns, startled<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. How about sitting down?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Oh, I\u2019m sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He heads for a seat<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (to<\/em> SIX). It\u2019s tough to figure, isn\u2019t it? A kid kills his father. Bing! Just like that. Well, it\u2019s the element. They let the kids run wild. Maybe it serves \u2018em right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Is everybody here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. The old man\u2019s inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The<\/em> FOREMAN turns to the washroom just as the door opens<\/em>. NINE comes out, embarrassed<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. We\u2019d like to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. Forgive me, gentlemen. I didn\u2019t mean to keep you waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. It\u2019s all right. Find a seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(NINE heads for a seat and sits down<\/em>. They look at the<\/em> FOREMAN expectantly<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. All right. Now, you gentlemen can handle this any way you want to. I mean, I\u2019m not going to make any rules. If we want to discuss it first and then vote, that\u2019s one way. Or we can vote right now to see how we stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Let\u2019s vote now. Who knows, maybe we can all go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Yeah. Let\u2019s see who\u2019s where.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Right. Let\u2019s vote now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Anybody doesn\u2019t want to vote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the table<\/em>. There is no answer<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, all those voting guilty raise your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Seven or eight hands go up immediately<\/em>. Several others go up more slowly<\/em>. Everyone looks around the table<\/em>. There are two hands not raised,<\/em> NINE\u2019s and<\/em> EIGHT\u2019s. NINE\u2019s hand goes up slowly now as the<\/em> FOREMAN counts<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. . . . Nine . . . ten . . . eleven . . . That\u2019s eleven for guilty. Okay. Not guilty? (EIGHT\u2019s hand is raised<\/em>.) One. Right. Okay. Eleven to one, guilty. Now we know where we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Somebody\u2019s in left field. (To<\/em> EIGHT) You think he\u2019s not guilty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (quietly<\/em>). I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I never saw a guiltier man in my life. You sat right in court and heard the same thing I did. The man\u2019s a dangerous killer. You could see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. He\u2019s nineteen years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. That\u2019s old enough. He knifed his own father. Four inches into the chest. An innocent nineteen-year-old kid. They proved it a dozen different ways. Do you want me to list them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (to <\/em>EIGHT). Well, do you believe his story?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I don\u2019t know whether I believe it or not. Maybe I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. So what\u2019d you vote not guilty for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. There were eleven votes for guilty. It\u2019s not so easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Who says it\u2019s easy for me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. No one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. What, just because I voted fast? I think the guy\u2019s guilty. You couldn\u2019t change my mind if you talked for a hundred years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I don\u2019t want to change your mind. I just want to talk for a while. Look, this boy\u2019s been kicked around all his life. You know, living in a slum, his mother dead since he was nine. That\u2019s not a very good head start. He\u2019s a tough, angry kid. You know why slum kids get that way? Because we knock \u2018em on the head once a day, every day. I think maybe we owe him a few words. That\u2019s all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the table<\/em>. Some of them look back coldly<\/em>. Some cannot look at him<\/em>. Only<\/em> NINE nods slowly<\/em>. TWELVE doodles steadily<\/em>. FOUR begins to comb his hair<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. I don\u2019t mind telling you this, mister. We don\u2019t owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn\u2019t he? You know what that trial cost? He\u2019s lucky he got it. Look, we\u2019re all grownups here. You\u2019re not going to tell us that we\u2019re supposed to believe him, knowing what he is. I\u2019ve lived among \u2018em all my life. You can\u2019t believe a word they say. You know that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE (to<\/em> TEN very slowly<\/em>). I don\u2019t know that. What a terrible thing for a man to believe! Since when is dishonesty a group characteristic? You have no monopoly on the truth\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (interrupting<\/em>). All right. It\u2019s not Sunday. We don\u2019t need a sermon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. What this man says is very dangerous\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT puts his hand on<\/em> NINE\u2019s arm and stops him<\/em>. Somehow his touch and his gentle expression calm the old man<\/em>. He draws a deep breath and relaxes<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I don\u2019t see any need for arguing like this. I think we ought to be able to behave like gentlemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. If we\u2019re going to discuss this case, let\u2019s discuss the facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. I think that\u2019s a good point. We have a job to do. Let\u2019s do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN (with accent<\/em>). If you gentlemen don\u2019t mind, I\u2019m going to close the window. (He gets up and does so<\/em>.)(Apologetically<\/em>) It was blowing on my neck. (TEN blows his nose fiercely<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. I may have an idea here. I\u2019m just thinking out loud now, but it seems to me that it\u2019s up to us to convince this gentleman\u2014(indicating <\/em>EIGHT)\u2014that we\u2019re right and he\u2019s wrong. Maybe if we each took a minute or two you know, try it on for size\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. That sounds fair enough. Supposing we go once around the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Okay, let\u2019s start it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Right. (To<\/em> TWO) I guess you\u2019re first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (timidly<\/em>). Oh. Well \u2026 (Long pause<\/em>) I just think he\u2019s guilty. I thought it was obvious. I mean nobody proved otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (quietly<\/em>). Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn\u2019t have to open his mouth. That\u2019s in the Constitution. The Fifth Amendment. You\u2019ve heard of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (flustered<\/em>). Well, sure, I\u2019ve heard of it. I know what it is. I \u2026 what I meant \u2026 well, anyway, I think he was guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Okay, let\u2019s get to the facts. Number one, let\u2019s take the old man who lived on the second floor right underneath the room where the murder took place. At ten minutes after twelve on the night of the killing he heard loud noises in the upstairs apartment. He said it sounded like a fight. Then he heard the kid say to his father, \u201cI\u2019m gonna kill you.\u201d A second later he heard a body falling, and he ran to the door of his apartment, looked out, and saw the kid running down the stairs and out of the house. Then he called the police. They found the father with a knife in his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. And the coroner fixed the time of death at around midnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Right. Now what else do you want?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. The boy\u2019s entire story is flimsy. He claimed he was at the movies. That\u2019s a little ridiculous, isn\u2019t it? He couldn\u2019t even remember what pictures he saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. That\u2019s right. Did you hear that? (To<\/em> FOUR) You\u2019re absolutely right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Look, what about the woman across the street? If her testimony doesn\u2019t prove it, then nothing does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. That\u2019s right. She saw the killing, didn\u2019t she?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Let\u2019s go in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (loud<\/em>). Just a minute. Here\u2019s a woman who\u2019s lying in bed and can\u2019t sleep. It\u2019s hot, you know. (He gets up and begins to walk around, blowing his nose and talking<\/em>.) Anyway, she looks out the window, and right across the street she sees the kid stick the knife into his father. She\u2019s known the kid all his life. His window is right opposite hers, across the el tracks, and she swore she saw him do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Through the windows of a passing elevated train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Okay. And they proved in court that you can look through the windows of a passing el train at night and see what\u2019s happening on the other side. They proved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I\u2019d like to ask you something. How come you believed her? She\u2019s one of \u201cthem\u201d too, isn\u2019t she?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TEN walks over to<\/em> EIGHT.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. You\u2019re a pretty smart fellow, aren\u2019t you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (rising<\/em>). Now take it easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE gets up and goes to<\/em> TEN.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Come on. Sit down. (He leads<\/em> TEN back to his seat<\/em>.) What\u2019re you letting him get you all upset for? Relax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Let\u2019s calm down now. (To<\/em> FIVE) It\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I\u2019ll pass it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. That\u2019s your privilege. (To<\/em> SIX) How about you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX (slowly<\/em>). I don\u2019t know. I started to be convinced, you know, with the testimony from those people across the hall. Didn\u2019t they say something about an argument between the father and the boy around seven o\u2019clock that night? I mean, I can be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. I think it was eight o\u2019clock. Not seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. That\u2019s right. Eight o\u2019clock. They heard the father hit the boy twice and then saw the boy walk angrily out of the house. What does that prove?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Well, it doesn\u2019t exactly prove anything. It\u2019s just part of the picture. I didn\u2019t say it proved anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Anything else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(SIX goes to the water fountain<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (to <\/em>SEVEN). All right. How about you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. I don\u2019t know, most of it\u2019s been said already. We can talk all day about this thing but I think we\u2019re wasting our time. Look at the kid\u2019s record. At fifteen he was in reform school. He stole a car. He\u2019s been arrested for mugging. He was picked up for knife-fighting. I think they said he stabbed somebody in the arm. This is a very fine boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Ever since he was five years old his father beat him up regularly. He used his fists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. So would I! A kid like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You\u2019re right. It\u2019s the kids. The way they are\u2014you know? They don\u2019t listen. (Bitter<\/em>) I\u2019ve got a kid. When he was eight years old he ran away from a fight. I saw him. I was so ashamed. I told him right out, \u201cI\u2019m gonna make a man out of you or I\u2019m gonna bust you up into little pieces trying.\u201d When he was fifteen he hit me in the face. He\u2019s big, you know. I haven\u2019t seen him in three years. Rotten kid! You work your heart out . . . (Pause<\/em>) All right. Let\u2019s get on with it. (Looks away, embarrassed<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. We\u2019re missing the point here. This boy\u2014let\u2019s say he\u2019s a product of a filthy neighborhood and a broken home. We can\u2019t help that. We\u2019re not here to go into the reasons why slums are breeding grounds for criminals. They are. I know it. So do you. The children who come out of slum backgrounds are potential menaces to society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. You said it there. I don\u2019t want any part of them, believe me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a dead silence for a moment, and then <\/em>FIVE speaks haltingly<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I\u2019ve lived in a slum all my life\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Oh, now wait a second!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I used to play in a back yard that was filled with garbage. Maybe it still smells on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Now let\u2019s be reasonable. There\u2019s nothing personal\u2014(FIVE stands up<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. There is something personal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Then he catches himself and, seeing everyone looking at him, sits down, fists clenched<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (persuasively<\/em>).Come on, now. He didn\u2019t mean you, feller. Let\u2019s not be so sensitive\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a long pause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. I can understand his sensitivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Now let\u2019s stop the bickering. We\u2019re wasting time. (To <\/em>EIGHT) It\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. All right. I had a peculiar feeling about this trial. Somehow I felt that the defense counsel never really conducted a thorough cross-examination. I mean, he was appointed by the court to defend the boy. He hardly seemed interested. Too many questions were left unasked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (annoyed<\/em>). What about the ones that were asked? For instance, let\u2019s talk about that cute little switch-knife. You know, the one that fine up-right kid admitted buying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. All right. Let\u2019s talk about it. Let\u2019s get it in here and look at it. I\u2019d like to see it again, Mr. Foreman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The <\/em>FOREMAN looks at him questioningly and then gets up and goes to the door<\/em>. During the following dialogue the <\/em>FOREMAN knocks, the <\/em>GUARD comes in, the <\/em>FOREMAN whispers to him, the <\/em>GUARD nods and leaves, locking the door<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. We all know what it looks like. I don\u2019t see why we have to look at it again. (To <\/em>FOUR) What do you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. The gentleman has a right to see exhibits in evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shrugging<\/em>). Okay with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR (to <\/em>EIGHT). This knife is a pretty strong piece of evidence, don\u2019t you agree?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. The boy admits going out of his house at eight o\u2019clock after being slapped by his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Or punched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Or punched. He went to a neighborhood store and bought a switch-knife. The storekeeper was arrested the following day when he admitted selling it to the boy. It\u2019s a very unusual knife. The storekeeper identified it and said it was the only one of its kind he had in stock. Why did the boy get it? (Sarcastically<\/em>)As a present for a friend of his, he says. Am I right so far?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You bet he\u2019s right. (To all<\/em>) Now listen to this man. He knows what he\u2019s talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Next, the boy claims that on the way home the knife must have fallen through a hole in his coat pocket, that he never saw it again. Now there\u2019s a story, gentlemen. You know what actually happened. The boy took the knife home and a few hours later stabbed his father with it and even remembered to wipe off the fingerprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The door opens and the GUARD walks in with an oddly designed knife with a tag on it. FOUR gets up and takes it from him. The GUARD exits.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Everyone connected with the case identified this knife. Now are you trying to tell me that someone picked it up off the street and went to the boy\u2019s house and stabbed his father with it just to be amusing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. No. I\u2019m saying that it\u2019s possible that the boy lost the knife and that someone else stabbed his father with a similar knife. It\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOUR flips open the knife and jams it into the table.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Take a look at the knife. It\u2019s a very strange knife. I\u2019ve never seen one like it before in my life. Neither had the storekeeper who sold it to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT reaches casually into his pocket and withdraws an object. No one notices this. He stands up quietly.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Aren\u2019t you trying to make us accept a pretty incredible coincidence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I\u2019m not trying to make anyone accept it. I\u2019m just saying it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shouting). And I\u2019m saying it\u2019s not possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT swiftly flicks open the blade of the switch-knife and quickly jams it into the table next to the first one. They are exactly alike. There are several gasps and everyone stares at the knife. There is a long silence.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (slowly, amazed<\/em>). What are you trying to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (loud<\/em>). Yeah, what is this? Who do you think you are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Look at it! It\u2019s the same knife!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Quiet! Let\u2019s be quiet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They quiet down<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Where did you get it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I got it last night in a little junk shop around the corner from the boy\u2019s house. It cost two dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Now listen to me! You pulled a real smart trick here, but you proved absolutely zero. Maybe there are ten knives like that, so what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Maybe there are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. The boy lied and you know it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. He may have lied. (To<\/em> TEN) Do you think he lied?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN(violently<\/em>). Now that\u2019s a stupid question. Sure he lied!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> FOUR). Do you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. You don\u2019t have to ask me that. You know my answer. He lied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> FIVE). Do you think he lied?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FIVE can\u2019t answer immediately<\/em>. He looks around nervously<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I \u2026 I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Now wait a second. What are you, the guy\u2019s lawyer? Listen, there are still eleven of us who think he\u2019s guilty. You\u2019re alone. What do you think you\u2019re going to accomplish? If you want to be stubborn and hang this jury he\u2019ll be tried again and found guilty, sure as he\u2019s born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. You\u2019re probably right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. So what are you going to do about it? We can be here all night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. It\u2019s only one night. A man may die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(SEVEN glances at <\/em>NINE for a long while, but has no answer<\/em>. EIGHT looks closely at<\/em> NINE and we can begin to sense a rapport between them<\/em>. There is a long silence<\/em>. Then suddenly everyone begins to talk at once<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Well, whose fault is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Do you think maybe if we went over it again? What I mean is\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Did anyone force him to kill his father? (To<\/em> THREE) How do you like him? Like someone forced him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Perhaps this is not the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. No one forced anyone. But listen\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. Look, gentlemen, we can spitball all night here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Well, I was going to say\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Just a minute. Some of us\u2019ve got better things to do than sit around a jury room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I can\u2019t understand a word in here. Why do we all have to talk at once?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. He\u2019s right. I think we ought to get on with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT has been listening to this exchange closely<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (to<\/em> EIGHT). Well, what do you say? You\u2019re the one holding up the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (standing<\/em>). I\u2019ve got a proposition to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(We catch a close shot of<\/em> FIVE looking steadily at him as he talks<\/em>. FIVE, seemingly puzzled, listens closely<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I want to call for a vote. I want you eleven men to vote by secret ballot. I\u2019ll abstain. If there are still eleven votes for guilty, I won\u2019t stand alone. We\u2019ll take in a guilty verdict right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Okay. Let\u2019s do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. That sounds fair. Is everyone agreed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They all nod their heads<\/em>. EIGHT walks over to the window, looks out for a moment and then faces them<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Pass these along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The<\/em> FOREMAN passes ballot slips to all of them, and now<\/em> EIGHT watches them tensely as they begin to write<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                                                    (Fade out<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Act II<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fade in on same scene, no time lapse<\/em>.EIGHT stands tensely watching as the <\/em>JURORS write on their ballots<\/em>. He stays perfectly still as one by one they fold the ballots and pass them along to the <\/em>FOREMAN. The <\/em>FOREMAN takes them, riffles through the folded ballots, counts eleven and now begins to open them<\/em>. He reads each one out loud and lays it aside<\/em>. They watch him quietly, and all we hear is his voice and the sound of <\/em>TWO sucking on a cough drop<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He pauses at the tenth ballot and then reads it<\/em>.)Not Guilty. (THREE slams down hard on the table<\/em>. The <\/em>FOREMAN opens the last ballot<\/em>.)Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (angry<\/em>).How do you like that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Who was it? I think we have a right to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Excuse me. This was a secret ballot. We agreed on this point, no? If the gentleman wants it to remain secret\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (standing up angrily<\/em>).What do you mean? There are no secrets in here! I know who it was. (He turns to <\/em>FIVE.) What\u2019s the matter with you? You come in here and you vote guilty and then this slick preacher starts to tear your heart out with stories about a poor little kid who just couldn\u2019t help becoming a murderer. So you change your vote. If that isn\u2019t the most sickening\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FIVE stares at <\/em>THREE, frightened at this outburst<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Now hold it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Hold it? We\u2019re trying to put a guilty man into the chair where he belongs\u2014and all of a sudden we\u2019re paying attention to fairy tales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Now just a minute\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Please. I would like to say something here. I have always thought that a man was entitled to have unpopular opinions in this country. This is the reason I came here. I wanted to have the right to disagree. In my own country, I am ashamed to say\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. What do we have to listen to now\u2014the whole history of your country?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Yeah, let\u2019s stick to the subject. (To<\/em> FIVE) I want to ask you what made you change your vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a long pause as <\/em>SEVEN and <\/em>FIVE eye each other angrily<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE (quietly<\/em>). There\u2019s nothing for him to tell you. He didn\u2019t change his vote. I did.(There is a pause<\/em>.) Maybe you\u2019d like to know why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. No, we wouldn\u2019t like to know why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. The man wants to talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. Thank you. (Pointing at <\/em>EIGHT)This gentleman chose to stand alone against us. That\u2019s his right. It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone even if you believe in something very strongly. He left the verdict up to us. He gambled for support and I gave it to him. I want to hear more. The vote is ten to two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. That\u2019s fine. If the speech is over, let\u2019s go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOREMAN gets up, goes to the door, knocks, hands <\/em>GUARD the tagged switch-knife and sits down again<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (to <\/em>FIVE).Look, buddy, I was a little excited. Well, you know how it is. I \u2026 I didn\u2019t mean to get nasty. Nothing personal. (FIVE looks at him<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (to <\/em>EIGHT). Look, supposing you answer me this. If the kid didn\u2019t kill him, who did?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. As far as I know, we\u2019re supposed to decide whether or not the boy on trial is guilty. We\u2019re not concerned with anyone else\u2019s motives here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is an important thing to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (to<\/em> TEN).Everyone\u2019s a lawyer. (To<\/em> NINE)Supposing you explain what your reasonable doubts are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. This is not easy. So far, it\u2019s only a feeling I have. A feeling. Perhaps you don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. A feeling! What are we gonna do, spend the night talking about your feelings? What about the facts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You said a mouthful. (To<\/em> NINE)Look, the old man heard the kid yell, \u201cI\u2019m gonna kill you.\u201d A second later he heard the father\u2019s body falling and he saw the boy running out of the house fifteen seconds after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. That\u2019s right. And let\u2019s not forget the woman across the street. She looked into the open window and saw the boy stab his father. She saw it. Now if that\u2019s not enough for you \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. It\u2019s not enough for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. How do you like him? It\u2019s like talking into a dead phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. The woman saw the killing through the window of a moving elevated train. The train had five cars, and she saw it through the windows of the last two. She remembers the most insignificant details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Cut to close shot of <\/em>TWELVE who doodles a picture of an el train on a scrap of paper<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Well, what have you got to say about that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I don\u2019t know. It doesn\u2019t sound right to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Well, supposing you think about it. (To <\/em>TWELVE)Lend me your pencil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWELVE gives it to him<\/em>. He draws a tick-tack-toe square on the same sheet of paper on which <\/em>TWELVE has drawn the train<\/em>. He fills in an X, hands the pencil to <\/em>TWELVE.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Your turn. We might as well pass the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWELVE takes the pencil<\/em>.EIGHT stands up and snatches the paper away<\/em>.THREE leaps up<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Wait a minute!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (hard<\/em>). This isn\u2019t a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (angry<\/em>). Who do you think you are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (rising<\/em>). All right, let\u2019s take it easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I\u2019ve got a good mind to walk around this table and belt him one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Now, please. I don\u2019t want any fights in here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Did ya see him? The nerve! The absolute nerve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. All right. Forget it. It don\u2019t mean anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. How about sitting down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. This isn\u2019t a game. Who does he think he is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He lets them sit him down<\/em>. EIGHT remains standing, holding the scrap of paper<\/em>. He looks at it closely now and seems to be suddenly interested in it<\/em>. Then he throws it back toward <\/em>THREE. It lands in center of table<\/em>. THREE is angered again at this, but<\/em> FOUR puts his hand on his arm<\/em>. EIGHT speaks now and his voice is more intense<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to <\/em>FOUR).Take a look at that sketch. How long does it take an elevated train going at top speed to pass a given point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. What has that got to do with anything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. How long? Guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I wouldn\u2019t have the slightest idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to <\/em>FIVE). What do you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. About ten or twelve seconds, maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I\u2019d say that was a fair guess. Anyone else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. I would think about ten seconds, perhaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. About ten seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. All right. Say ten seconds. What are you getting at?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. This. An el train passes a given point in ten seconds. That given point is the window of the room in which the killing took place. You can almost reach out of the window of that room and touch the el. Right? (Several of them nod<\/em>.)All right. Now let me ask you this. Did anyone here ever live right next to the el tracks? I have. When your window is open and the train goes by, the noise is almost unbearable. You can\u2019t hear yourself think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Okay. You can\u2019t hear yourself think. Will you get to the point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. The old man heard the boy say, \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d and one second later he heard a body fall. One second. That\u2019s the testimony, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. The woman across the street looked through the windows of the last two cars of the el and saw the body fall. Right? The last two<\/em> cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. What are you giving us here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. An el takes ten seconds to pass a given point or two seconds per car. That el had been going by the old man\u2019s window for at least six seconds, and maybe more, before the body fell, according to the woman. The old man would have had to hear the boy say, \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d while the front of the el was roaring past his nose. It\u2019s not possible that he could have heard it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What d\u2019ya mean! Sure he could have heard it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Could he?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. He said the boy yelled it out. That\u2019s enough for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. I don\u2019t think he could have heard it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Maybe he didn\u2019t hear it. I mean with the el noise\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What are you people talking about? Are you calling the old man a liar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Well, it stands to reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You\u2019re crazy. Why would he lie? What\u2019s he got to gain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. Attention, maybe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You keep coming up with these bright sayings. Why don\u2019t you send one in to a newspaper? They pay two dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT looks hard at<\/em> THREE and then turns to<\/em> NINE.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (softly<\/em>). Why might the old man have lied? You have a right to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. It\u2019s just that I looked at him for a very long time. The seam of his jacket was split under the arm. Did you notice that? He was a very old man with a torn jacket, and he carried two canes. I think I know him better than anyone here. This is a quiet, frightened, insignificant man who has been nothing all his life, who has never had recognition\u2014his name in the newspapers. Nobody knows him after seventy-five years. That\u2019s a very sad thing. A man like this needs to be recognized. To be questioned, and listened to, and quoted just once. This is very important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. And you\u2019re trying to tell us he lied about a thing like this just so that he could be important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. No, he wouldn\u2019t really lie. But perhaps he\u2019d make himself believe that he heard those words and recognized the boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (loud<\/em>). Well, that\u2019s the most fantastic story I\u2019ve ever heard. How can you make up a thing like that? What do you know about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE (low<\/em>). I speak from experience. (There is a long pause, then the<\/em> FOREMAN clears his throat<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (to EIGHT). All right. Is there anything else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT is looking at<\/em> NINE.TWO offers the<\/em> FOREMAN a box of cough drops<\/em>. The <\/em>FOREMAN pushes it away<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (hesitantly<\/em>). Anybody \u2026 want a cough \u2026 drop?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (sharply). Come on. Let\u2019s get on with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I\u2019ll take one. (TWO almost gratefully slides him one along the table<\/em>.) Thanks. (TWO nods and<\/em> EIGHT puts the cough drop in his mouth<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Now. There\u2019s something else I\u2019d like to point out here. I think we proved that the old man couldn\u2019t have heard the boy say, \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d but supposing he really did hear it? This phrase: how many times has each of you used it? Probably hundreds. \u201cIf you do that once more junior, I\u2019m going to murder you.\u201d \u201cCome on, Rocky, kill him!\u201d We say it every day. This doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re going to kill someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Wait a minute. The phrase was \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d and the kid screamed it out at the top of his lungs. Don\u2019t try and tell me he didn\u2019t mean it. Anybody says a thing like that the way he said it\u2014they mean it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. And how they mean it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Well, let me ask you this. Do you really think the boy would shout out a thing like that so the whole neighborhood would hear it? I don\u2019t think so. He\u2019s much too bright for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (exploding<\/em>). Bright! He\u2019s a common, ignorant slob. He don\u2019t even speak good English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN (slowly<\/em>). He doesn\u2019t<\/em> even speak good English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TEN stares angrily at<\/em> ELEVEN, and there is silence for a moment<\/em>. Then<\/em> FIVE looks around the table nervously<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I\u2019d like to change my vote to not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE gets up and walks to the window, furious, but trying to control himself<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Are you sure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Yes. I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. The vote is nine to three in favor of guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Well, if that isn\u2019t the end. (To<\/em> FIVE) What are you basing it on? Stories this guy\u2014(indicating <\/em>EIGHT)\u2014made up! He oughta write for Amazing Detective Monthly<\/em>. He\u2019d make a fortune. Listen, the kid had a lawyer, didn\u2019t he? Why didn\u2019t his lawyer bring up all these points?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Lawyers can\u2019t think of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Oh brother! (To<\/em> EIGHT) You sit in here and pull stories out of thin air. Now we\u2019re supposed to believe that the old man didn\u2019t get up out of bed, run to the door, and see the kid beat it downstairs fifteen seconds after the killing. He\u2019s only saying he did to be important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Did the old man say he ran to the door?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Ran. Walked. What\u2019s the difference? He got there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I don\u2019t remember what he said. But I don\u2019t see how he could run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. He said he went from his bedroom to the front door. That\u2019s enough, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Where was his bedroom again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Down the hall somewhere. I thought you remembered everything. Don\u2019t you remember that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. No. Mr. Foreman, I\u2019d like to take a look at the diagram of the apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Why don\u2019t we have them run the trial over just so you can get everything straight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Mr. Foreman\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN (rising<\/em>). I heard you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The <\/em>FOREMAN gets up, goes to the door during following dialogue<\/em>. He knocks on door, <\/em>GUARD opens it, he whispers to <\/em>GUARD, GUARD nods and closes door<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (to <\/em>EIGHT). All right. What\u2019s this for? How come you\u2019re the only one in the room who wants to see exhibits all the time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. I want to see this one, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. And I want to stop wasting time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. If we\u2019re going to start wading through all that nonsense about where the body was found . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. We\u2019re not. We\u2019re going to find out how a man who\u2019s had two strokes in the past three years, and who walks with a pair of canes, could get to his front door in fifteen seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. He said twenty seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. He said fifteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. How does he know how long fifteen seconds is? You can\u2019t judge that kind of thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. He said fifteen. He was positive about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (angry<\/em>). He\u2019s an old man. You saw him. Half the time he was confused. How could he be positive about \u2026 anything?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE looks around sheepishly, unable to cover up his blunder<\/em>. The door opens and the <\/em>GUARD walks in, carrying a large pen-and-ink diagram of the apartment<\/em>. It is a railroad flat<\/em>. A bedroom faces the el tracks<\/em>. Behind it is a series of rooms off a long hall<\/em>. In the front bedroom is a diagram of the spot where the body was found<\/em>. At the back of the apartment we see the entrance into the apartment hall from the building hall<\/em>. We see a flight of stairs in the building hall<\/em>. The diagram is clearly labeled and included in the information on it are the dimensions of the various rooms<\/em>. The <\/em>GUARD gives the diagram to the <\/em>FOREMAN.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GUARD. This what you wanted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. That\u2019s right. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The <\/em>GUARD nods and exits, <\/em>EIGHT goes to <\/em>FOREMAN and reaches for it<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. May I?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The <\/em>FOREMAN nods<\/em>.EIGHT takes the diagram and sets it up on a chair so that all can see it<\/em>.EIGHT looks it over<\/em>. Several of the <\/em>JURORS get up to see it better<\/em>.THREE, TEN, and<\/em> SEVEN, however, barely bother to look at it<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (to<\/em> TEN). Do me a favor. Wake me up when this is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (ignoring him<\/em>). All right. This is the apartment in which the killing took place. The old man\u2019s apartment is directly beneath it and exactly the same. (Pointing<\/em>)Here are the el tracks. The bedroom. Another bedroom. Living room. Bathroom. Kitchen. And this is the hall. Here\u2019s the front door to the apartment. And here are the steps. (Pointing to front bedroom and then front door<\/em>.) Now the old man was in bed in this room. He says he got up, went out into the hall, down the hall to the front door, opened it and looked out just in time to see the boy racing down the stairs. Am I right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. That\u2019s the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Fifteen seconds after he heard the body fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. His bed was at the window. It\u2019s\u2014(looking closer<\/em>)\u2014twelve feet from his bed to the bedroom door. The length of the hall is forty-three feet, six inches. He had to get up out of bed, get his canes, walk twelve feet, open the bedroom door, walk forty-three feet, and open the front door\u2014all in fifteen seconds. Do you think this is possible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. You know it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. He can only walk very slowly. They had to help him into the witness chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You make it sound like a long walk. It\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT gets up, goes to the end of the room, and takes two chairs<\/em>. He puts them together to indicate a bed<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. For an old man who uses canes, it\u2019s a long walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE(to<\/em> EIGHT.) What are you doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I want to try this thing. Let\u2019s see how long it took him. I\u2019m going to pace off twelve feet\u2014the length of the bedroom. (He begins to do so<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You\u2019re crazy. You can\u2019t re-create a thing like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Perhaps if we could see it \u2026 this is an important point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (mad<\/em>). It\u2019s a ridiculous waste of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Let him do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Hand me a chair. (Someone pushes a chair to him<\/em>.) All right. This is the bedroom door. Now how far would you say it is from here to the door of this room?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. I\u2019d say it was twenty feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Just about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Twenty feet is close enough. All right, from here to the door and back is about forty feet. It\u2019s shorter than the length of the hall, wouldn\u2019t you say that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. A few feet, maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Look, this is absolutely insane. What makes you think you can\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Do you mind if I try it? According to you, it\u2019ll only take fifteen seconds. We can spare that. (He walks over to the two chairs now and lies down on them<\/em>.)Who\u2019s got a watch with a second hand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. When you want me to start, stamp your foot. That\u2019ll be the body falling. Time me from there.(He lies down on the chairs<\/em>.) Let\u2019s say he keeps his canes right at his bedside. Right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Okay. I\u2019m ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They all watch carefully<\/em>. TWO stares at his watch, waiting for the second hand to reach sixty<\/em>. Then, as it does, he stamps his foot loudly<\/em>. EIGHT begins to get up<\/em>. Slowly he swings his leg over the edges of the chairs, reaches for imaginary canes, and struggles to his feet<\/em>. TWO stares at the watch<\/em>. EIGHT walks as a crippled old man would walk, toward the chair which is serving as the bedroom door<\/em>. He gets to it and pretends to open it<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (shouting<\/em>). Speed it up. He walked twice as fast as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT, not having stopped for this outburst, begins to walk to simulated forty-foot hallway<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. This is, I think, even more quickly than the old man walked in the courtroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. If you think I should go faster, I will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He speeds up his pace slightly. He reaches the door and turns now, heading back, hobbling as an old man would hobble, bent over his imaginary canes. They watch him tensely. He hobbles back to the chair, which also serves as the front door. He stops there and pretends to unlock the door. Then he pretends to push it open.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (loud<\/em>). Stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. What\u2019s the time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Fifteen \u2026 twenty \u2026 thirty \u2026 thirty-one seconds exactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Thirty-one seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Some of the <\/em>JURORS adlib their surprise to each other<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. It\u2019s my guess that the old man was trying to get to the door, heard someone racing down the stairs, and assumed it was the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. I think that\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (infuriated<\/em>). Assumed? Now, listen to me you people. I\u2019ve seen all kinds of dishonesty in my day \u2026 but this little display takes the cake.      (To <\/em>FOUR) Tell him, will you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOUR sits silently<\/em>.THREE looks at him and then he strides over to<\/em> EIGHT.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You come in here with your heart bleeding all over the floor about slum kids and injustice but you make up these wild stories, and you\u2019ve got some soft-hearted old ladies listening to you. Well I\u2019m not. I\u2019m getting real sick of it. (To all<\/em>) What\u2019s the matter with you people? This kid is guilty! He\u2019s got to burn! We\u2019re letting him slip through our fingers here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (calmly<\/em>). Our fingers? Are you his executioner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (raging<\/em>). I\u2019m one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Perhaps you\u2019d like to pull the switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shouting<\/em>). For this kid? You\u2019d bet I\u2019d like to pull the switch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. I\u2019m sorry for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shouting<\/em>). Don\u2019t start with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. What it must feel like to want to pull the switch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Shut up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. You\u2019re a sadist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (louder<\/em>). Shut up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (strong<\/em>). You want to see this boy die because you personally want it\u2014not because of the facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shouting<\/em>). Shut up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He lunges at <\/em>EIGHT,<\/em> but is caught by two of the<\/em> JURORS and held<\/em>. He struggles as <\/em>EIGHT watches calmly<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (screaming<\/em>). Let me go! I\u2019ll kill him. I\u2019ll kill him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (softly<\/em>). You don\u2019t really mean you\u2019ll kill me, do you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE stops struggling now and stares at<\/em> EIGHT. All the <\/em>JURORS watch in silence as we fade out<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Act III<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fade in on same scene. No time lapse. THREE glares angrily at EIGHT. He is still held by two JURORS. After a long pause, he shakes himself loose and turns away. He walks to the windows. The other JURORS stand around the room now, shocked by his display of anger. There is silence. Then the door opens and the GUARD enters. He looks around the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GUARD. Is there anything wrong, gentlemen? I heard some noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. No. There\u2019s nothing wrong. (He points to the large diagram of the apartment<\/em>.)You can take that back. We\u2019re finished with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The GUARD nods and takes the diagram. He looks curiously at some of the JURORS and exits. The JURORS still are silent. Some of them slowly begin to sit down. THREE still stands at the window. He turns around now. The JURORS look at him.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (loud<\/em>). Well, what are you looking at?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They turn away<\/em>. He goes back to his seat now<\/em>. Silently the rest of the <\/em>JURORS take their seats<\/em>.TWELVE begins to doodle<\/em>.TEN blows his nose, but no one speaks<\/em>. Then, finally<\/em>\u2014)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I don\u2019t see why we have to behave like children here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Nor do I. We have a responsibility. This is a remarkable thing about democracy. That we are \u2026 what is the word? \u2026 Ah, notified! That we are notified by mail to come down to this place and decide on the guilt or innocence of a man we have not known before. We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. This is one of the reasons why we are strong. We should not make it a personal thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a long, awkward pause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. Well\u2014we\u2019re still nowhere. Who\u2019s got an idea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. I think maybe we should try another vote. Mr. Foreman?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. It\u2019s all right with me. Anybody doesn\u2019t want to vote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the table.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. All right, let\u2019s do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I want an open ballot. Let\u2019s call out our votes. I want to know who stands where.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. That sounds fair. Anyone object? (No one does<\/em>.) All right. I\u2019ll call off your jury numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He takes a pencil and paper and makes marks now in one of two columns after each vote.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. I vote guilty. Number two?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Three?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Four?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Five?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Six?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Seven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Eight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Nine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Ten?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Eleven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Number Twelve?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. Guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. Six to six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (mad<\/em>).I\u2019ll tell you something. The crime is being committed right in this room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. The vote is six to six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I\u2019m ready to walk into court right now and declare a hung jury. There\u2019s no point in this going on any more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. I go for that, too. Let\u2019s take it into the judge and let the kid take his chances with twelve other guys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE (to <\/em>SEVEN). You mean you still don\u2019t think there\u2019s room for reasonable doubt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. No I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. I beg your pardon. Maybe you don\u2019t understand the term \u201creasonable doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (angry<\/em>). What do you mean I don\u2019t understand it? Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? (To all<\/em>)How do you like this guy? He comes over here running for his life, and before he can even take a big breath he\u2019s telling us how to run the show. The arrogance of him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE (to<\/em> SEVEN). Wait a second. Nobody around here\u2019s asking where you came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. I was born right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Or where your father came from \u2026 (He looks at <\/em>SEVEN, who doesn\u2019t answer but looks away<\/em>.) Maybe it wouldn\u2019t hurt us to take a few tips from people who come running here! Maybe they learned something we don\u2019t know. We\u2019re not so perfect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Please\u2014I am used to this. It\u2019s all right. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. It\u2019s not all right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Okay, okay, I apologize. Is that what you want?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. That\u2019s what I want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. All right. Let\u2019s stop the arguing. Who\u2019s got something constructive to say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (hesitantly<\/em>). Well, something\u2019s been bothering me a little \u2026 this whole business about the stab wound and how it was made, the downward angle of it. You know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Don\u2019t tell me we\u2019re gonna start that. They went over it and over it in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. I know they did\u2014but I don\u2019t go along with it. The boy is five feet eight inches tall. His father was six two. That\u2019s a difference of six inches. It\u2019s a very awkward thing to stab down<\/em> into the chest of someone who\u2019s half a foot taller than you are. (THREE jumps up, holding the knife<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Look, you\u2019re not going to be satisfied till you see it again. I\u2019m going to give you a demonstration. Somebody get up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the table<\/em>. EIGHT stands up and walks towards him<\/em>. THREE closes the knife and puts it in his pocket<\/em>. They stand face to face and look at each other for a moment<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Okay. (To<\/em> TWO) Now watch this. I don\u2019t want to have to do it again. (He crouches down now until he is quite a bit shorter than <\/em>EIGHT.) Is that six inches?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. That\u2019s more than six inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Okay, let it be more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He reaches into his pocket and takes out the knife<\/em>. He flicks it open, changes position in his hand, and holds the knife aloft, ready to stab<\/em>. He and<\/em> EIGHT look steadily into each other\u2019s eyes<\/em>. Then he stabs downward, hard<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO (shouting<\/em>). Look out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He stops just as the blade reaches<\/em> EIGHT\u2019s chest<\/em>.THREE laughs<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. That\u2019s not funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. What\u2019s the matter with you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Just calm down. Nobody\u2019s hurt, are they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (low<\/em>). No. Nobody\u2019s hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. All right. There\u2019s your angle. Take a look at it. Down and in. That\u2019s how I\u2019d stab a taller man in the chest, and that\u2019s how it was done. Take a look at it and tell me if I\u2019m wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWO doesn\u2019t answer<\/em>. THREE looks at him for a moment, then jams the knife into the table and sits down<\/em>. They all look at the knife<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Down and in. I guess there\u2019s no argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT picks the knife out of the table and closes it<\/em>. He flicks it open and, changing its position in his hand, stabs downward with it<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> SIX). Did you ever stab a man?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Of course not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> THREE). Did you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (loud<\/em>). No, I didn\u2019t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Where do you get all your information about how it was done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What do you mean? It\u2019s just common sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Have you ever seen a man stabbed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (pauses and looks around the room nervously<\/em>). No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. All right. I want to ask you something. The boy was an experienced knife fighter. He was even sent to reform school for knifing someone, isn\u2019t that so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. That\u2019s right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Look at this. (EIGHT closes the knife, flicks it open, and changed the position on the knife so that he can stab overhanded<\/em>.) Doesn\u2019t it seem like an awkward way to handle a knife?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What are you asking me for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(EIGHT closes the blade and flicks it open, holds it ready to slash underhanded<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Wait a minute! Give me that. (He reaches out for the knife<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Have you ever seen a knife fight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Yes, I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. In the movies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. In my backyard. On my stoop. In the vacant lot across the street. Too many of them. Switch-knives came with the neighborhood where I lived. Funny I didn\u2019t think of it before. I guess you try to forget those things. (Flicking the knife open<\/em>.) Anyone who\u2019s ever used a switch-knife would never have stabbed downward. You don\u2019t handle a switch-knife that way. You use it underhanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Then he couldn\u2019t have made the kind of wound which killed his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. No. He couldn\u2019t have. Not if he\u2019d ever had any experience with switch-knives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I don\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Neither do I. You\u2019re giving us a lot of mumbo jumbo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> TWELVE). What do you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE (hesitantly<\/em>). Well \u2026 I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to<\/em> SEVEN). What about you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Listen. I\u2019ll tell you something. I\u2019m a little sick of this whole thing already. We\u2019re getting nowhere fast. Let\u2019s break it up and go home. I\u2019m changing my vote to not guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. You\u2019re what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. You heard me. I\u2019ve had enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What do you mean, you\u2019ve had enough? That\u2019s no answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN (angry<\/em>). I think perhaps you\u2019re right. This is not an answer. (To<\/em> SEVEN) What kind of man are you? You have sat here and voted guilty with everyone else because there are some theater tickets burning a hole in your pocket. Now you have changed your vote for the same reason. I do not think you have the right to play like this with a man\u2019s life. This is an ugly and terrible thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Now, wait a minute \u2026 you can\u2019t talk like that to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN(strong<\/em>). I can talk like that to you! If you want to vote not guilty, then do it because you are convinced the man is not guilty. If you believe he is guilty, then vote that way. Or don\u2019t you have the \u2026 the guts\u2014the guts to do what you think is right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. Now listen \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Is it guilty or not guilty?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (hesitantly<\/em>). I told you. Not \u2026 guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN (hard<\/em>). Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN. I don\u2019t have to\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. You have to! Say it! Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They stare at each other for a long while.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEVEN (low<\/em>). I \u2026 don\u2019t think \u2026 he\u2019s guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (fast<\/em>). I want another vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Okay, there\u2019s another vote called for. I guess the quickest way is a show of hands. Anybody object? <\/em>(No one does<\/em>.) All right. All those voting not guilty, raise your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWO, <\/em>FIVE, <\/em>SIX, <\/em>SEVEN,<\/em> EIGHT, <\/em>NINE, and<\/em> ELEVEN raise their hands immediately<\/em>. Then, slowly,<\/em> TWELVE raises his hand<\/em>.The FOREMAN looks around the table carefully and then he too raises his hand<\/em>. He looks around the table, counting silently<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Nine. (The hands go down<\/em>.) All those voting guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE,<\/em> FOUR, and<\/em> TEN raise their hands<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Three. (They lower their hands<\/em>.) The vote is nine to three in favor of acquittal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. I don\u2019t understand you people. How can you believe this kid is innocent? Look, you know how those people lie. I don\u2019t have to tell you. They don\u2019t know what truth is. And lemme tell you, they\u2014(FIVE gets up from table, turns his back to it, and goes to window<\/em>)\u2014don\u2019t need any real big reason to kill someone either. You know, they get drunk, and bang<\/em>, someone\u2019s lying in the gutter. Nobody\u2019s blaming them. That\u2019s how they are. You know what I mean? Violent! (NINE gets up and does the same<\/em>. He is followed by<\/em> ELEVEN.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Human life don\u2019t mean as much to them as it does to us. Hey, where are you going? Look, these people are drinking and fighting all the time, and if somebody gets killed, so somebody gets killed. They don\u2019t care. Oh sure, there are some good things about them, too. Look, I\u2019m the first to say that. (EIGHT gets up, and then<\/em> TWO and <\/em>SIX follow him to the window<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. I\u2019ve known a few who were pretty decent, but that\u2019s the exception. Most of them, it\u2019s like they have no feelings. They can do anything. What\u2019s going on here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The<\/em> FOREMAN gets up and goes to the windows, followed by<\/em> SEVEN and <\/em>TWELVE.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. I\u2019m speaking my piece, and you\u2014Listen to me! They\u2019re no good. There\u2019s not one of \u2018em who\u2019s any good. We better watch out. Take it from me. This kid on trial \u2026 (THREE sits at table toying with the knife and<\/em> FOUR gets up and starts for the window<\/em>. All have their backs to <\/em>TEN.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN. Well, don\u2019t you know about them? Listen to me! What are you doing? I\u2019m trying to tell you something\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOUR stands over him as he trails off<\/em>. There is a dead silence<\/em>. Then<\/em> FOUR speaks softly<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I\u2019ve had enough. If you open your mouth again, I\u2019m going to split your skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOUR stands there and looks at him<\/em>. No one moves or speaks<\/em>. TEN looks at him, then looks down at the table<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEN (softly<\/em>). I\u2019m only trying to tell you \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a long pause as<\/em> FOUR stares down at<\/em> TEN.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR (to all<\/em>). All right. Sit down everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They all move back to their seats<\/em>. When they are all seated, <\/em>FOUR then sits down<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR (quietly<\/em>).I still believe the boy is guilty of murder. I\u2019ll tell you why. To me, the most damning evidence was given by the woman across the street who claimed she actually saw the murder committed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. That\u2019s right. As far as I\u2019m concerned, that\u2019s the most important testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. All right. Let\u2019s go over her testimony. What exactly did she say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I believe I can recount it accurately. She said that she went to bed at about eleven o\u2019clock that night. Her bed was next to the open window, and she could look out of the window while lying down and see directly into the window across the street. She tossed and turned for over an hour, unable to fall asleep. Finally she turned toward the window at about twelve-ten and, as she looked out, she saw the boy stab his father. As far as I can see, this is unshakable testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. That\u2019s what I mean. That\u2019s the whole case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(FOUR takes off his eyeglasses and begins to polish them, as they all sit silently watching him<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR (to the <\/em>JURY). Frankly, I don\u2019t see how you can vote for acquittal. (To <\/em>TWELVE) What do you think about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. Well . . . maybe . . . there\u2019s so much evidence to sift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. What do you mean, maybe? He\u2019s absolutely right. You can throw out all the other evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. That was my feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(TWO, polishing his glasses, squints at clock, can\u2019t see it<\/em>.SIX watches him closely<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. What time is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN. Ten minutes of six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. It\u2019s late. You don\u2019t suppose they\u2019d let us go home and finish it in the morning? I\u2019ve got a kid with mumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. Not a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX (to <\/em>TWO). Pardon me. Can\u2019t you see the clock without your glasses?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Not clearly. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Oh, I don\u2019t know. Look, this may be a dumb thought, but what do you do when you wake up at night and want to know what time it is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. What do you mean? I put on my glasses and look at the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. You don\u2019t wear them to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO. Of course not. No one wears eyeglasses to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWELVE. What\u2019s all this for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Well, I was thinking. You know the woman who testified that she saw the killing wears glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. So does my grandmother. So what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Your grandmother isn\u2019t a murder witness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIX. Look, stop me if I\u2019m wrong. This woman wouldn\u2019t wear her eyeglasses to bed, would she?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOREMAN. Wait a minute! Did she wear glasses at all? I don\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVEN (excited<\/em>).Of course she did. The woman wore bifocals. I remember this very clearly. They looked quite strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. That\u2019s right. Bifocals. She never took them off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. She did wear glasses. Funny. I never thought of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Listen, she wasn\u2019t wearing them in bed. That\u2019s for sure. She testified that in the midst of her tossing and turning she rolled over and looked casually out the window. The murder was taking place as she looked out, and the lights went out a split second later. She couldn\u2019t have had time to put on her glasses. Now maybe she honestly thought she saw the boy kill his father. I say that she saw only a blur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. How do you know what she saw? Maybe she\u2019s far-sighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around. No one answers.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (loud<\/em>).How does he know all these things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is silence.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Does anyone think there still is not a reasonable doubt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(He looks around the room, then squarely at <\/em>TEN. TEN looks down and shakes his head no<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (loud<\/em>).I think he\u2019s guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (calmly<\/em>).Does anyone else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR (quietly<\/em>). No. I\u2019m convinced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT (to <\/em>THREE). You\u2019re alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I don\u2019t care whether I\u2019m alone or not! I have a right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. You have a right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There is a pause<\/em>. They all look at <\/em>THREE.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. Well, I told you I think the kid\u2019s guilty. What else do you want?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. Your arguments. (They all look at<\/em> THREE.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE. I gave you my arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. We\u2019re not convinced. We\u2019re waiting to hear them again. We have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE runs to <\/em>FOUR and grabs his arm<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (pleading<\/em>).Listen. What\u2019s the matter with you? You\u2019re the guy. You made all the arguments. You can\u2019t turn now. A guilty man\u2019s gonna be walking the streets. A murderer. He\u2019s got to die! Stay with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOUR. I\u2019m sorry. There\u2019s a reasonable doubt in my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. We\u2019re waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE turns violently on him<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (shouting<\/em>).Well, you\u2019re not going to intimidate me! (They all look at <\/em>THREE.)I\u2019m entitled to my opinion! (No one answers him<\/em>.) It\u2019s gonna be a hung jury! That\u2019s it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT. There\u2019s nothing we can do about that, except hope that some night, maybe in a few months, you\u2019ll get some sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIVE. You\u2019re all alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NINE. It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE looks around at all of them for a long time<\/em>. They sit silently, waiting for him to speak, and all of them despise him for his stubbornness<\/em>. Then, suddenly, his face contorts as if he is about to cry, and he slams his fist down on the table<\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE (thundering<\/em>). All right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(THREE turns his back on them<\/em>. There is silence for a moment and then the <\/em>FOREMAN goes to the door and knocks on it<\/em>. It opens<\/em>. The<\/em> GUARD looks in and sees them all standing<\/em>. The <\/em>GUARD holds the door for them as they begin slowly to file out<\/em>. EIGHT waits at the door as the others file past him<\/em>. Finally he and<\/em> THREE are the only ones left<\/em>.THREE turns around and sees that they are alone<\/em>. Slowly he moves toward the door<\/em>. Then he stops at the table<\/em>. He pulls the switch-knife out of the table and walks over to<\/em> EIGHT with it<\/em>. He holds it in the approved knife-fighter fashion and looks long and hard at <\/em>EIGHT, pointing the knife at his belly<\/em>. EIGHT stares back<\/em>. Then<\/em> THREE turns the knife around<\/em>.EIGHT takes it by the handle<\/em>. THREE exits<\/em>. EIGHT closes the knife, puts it away and, taking a last look around the room, exits, closing the door<\/em>. The camera moves in close on the littered table in the empty room, and we clearly see a slip of crumpled paper on which are scribbled the words \u201cNot guilty<\/em>.\u201d<\/em>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cTwelve Angry Men\u201d by Reginald Rose DESCRIPTIONS OF JURORS FOREMAN A small, petty man who is impressed with the authority […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEssay - 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