7TH JUROR [ turning to the 8TH JUROR]: Do you want some gum?
8TH JUROR [ smiling]: No, thanks.
The 7TH JUROR vigorously chews a piece of gum himself and crosses to the 6TH
JUROR.
7TH JUROR [ mopping his brow]: Y’know something? I phoned up for the weather.
This is the hottest day of the year.
The 6TH JUROR nods and gazes out of the window.
You’d think they’d at least air-condition the place. I almost dropped dead in court.
GUARD: OK, gentlemen. Everybody’s here. If there’s anything you want, I’m right outside. Just knock.
The Guard exits and in the silence the sound is heard of the door being locked.
5TH JUROR: I never knew they locked the door.
10TH JUROR: Sure they lock the door. What’d you think?
5TH JUROR: I don’t know. It just never occurred to me.
The 10TH JUROR crosses and pauses beside the FOREMAN and indicates the slips of paper.
10TH JUROR: Hey, what’s that for?
FOREMAN: Wel, I figured we might want to vote by balots.
10TH JUROR: Great idea! Maybe we can get him elected senator. [ He laughs until he begins to cough. ]
The FOREMAN looks at his watch and compares it with the clock. The 3RD JUROR
takes a cup of water from the watercooler, moves to the 2ND JUROR , and looks around the room as he sips the water.
3RD JUROR [ to the 2ND JUROR]: How’d you like it?
2ND JUROR [ mildly]: I don’t know, it was pretty interesting.
3RD JUROR: Yeah? I was faling asleep.
2ND JUROR: I mean, I’ve never been on a jury before.
3RD JUROR: Realy? I’ve sat on juries, and it always amazes me the way these lawyers can talk, and talk and talk, even when the case is as obvious as this one. I mean, did you ever hear so much talk about nothing?
2ND JUROR: Wel, I guess they’re entitled.
3RD JUROR: Sure they are. Everybody deserves a fair trial. That’s the system.
Listen, I’m the last one to say anything against it, but I’m tel ing you sometimes I think we’d be better off if we took these tough kids and slapped ’em down before they make trouble, you know? Save us a lot of time and money.
The 2ND JUROR looks nervously at the 3RD JUROR , nods, rises, moves to the watercooler, refills his cup and stands alone, sipping.
7TH JUROR [ to the FOREMAN]: Hey, how about getting started here?
3RD JUROR: Yeah, let’s get this over with. We’ve probably al got things to do.
FOREMAN: Wel, I was figuring we’d take a five-minute break. I mean, the old man’s in the bathroom . . .
5TH JUROR [ to the FOREMAN , hesitantly]: Are we going to sit in order?
FOREMAN: I don’t know.
The 8TH JUROR is looking out the window.
12TH JUROR [ to the 8TH JUROR]: Not a bad view.
The 8TH JUROR nods.
What d’you think of the case?
The 8TH JUROR doesn’t answer.
It had a lot of interest for me. No dead spots—know what I mean? I’l tel you we were lucky to get a murder case. I figured us for a burglary or an assault or something.
Those can be the dul est. [ He looks out of the window. ] Say, isn’t that the Woolworth building?
8TH JUROR: That’s right.
12TH JUROR: Funny, I’ve lived here al my life and I’ve never been in it.
The 8TH JUROR gazes out of the window. The 12TH JUROR looks at him for a moment then moves away.
7TH JUROR [ to the 10TH JUROR]: Goddamn waste of time. [ He laughs. ]
10TH JUROR: Yeah, can you imagine, sitting there for three days just for this?
7TH JUROR: And what about that business with the knife? I mean, asking grown-up people to believe that kind of bul shit.
10TH JUROR: Wel, look, you’ve gotta expect that. You know what you’re dealing with.
7TH JUROR: Yeah, I suppose so.
The 10TH JUROR blows his nose vigorously.
What’s the matter, you got a cold?
10TH JUROR: And how. These hot weather colds can kil you. I can hardly touch my nose. Know what I mean? [ He blows his nose loudly. ]
7TH JUROR: Wel, your horn’s al right. Now try your lights. [ He climbs on to the bench and tries the fan. ] Oh, that’s beautiful, the fan doesn’t work. [ He steps down. ]
Somebody take a letter to the mayor. “Dear Stingy . . .”
FOREMAN [ about the fan]: Let me take a look at it.
The 3RD JUROR moves above the 4TH JUROR , leans over and scans the 4TH
JUROR ’s newspaper. The FOREMAN climbs on the bench and examines the fan.
It doesn’t work. [ He climbs down. ]
3RD JUROR [ to the 4TH JUROR]: I didn’t get a chance to look at the newspapers today. Anything new going on?
4TH JUROR: I was just wondering how the market closed.
3RD JUROR: I wouldn’t know. Say, are you on the Exchange or something?
4TH JUROR: I’m a broker.
3RD JUROR: Realy? I run a messenger service. “The Beck and Cal Company.” The name’s my wife’s idea. I employ thirty-seven people. . . . Started with nothing.
7TH JUROR [ looking at his watch]: Hey, Mr. Foreman, let’s go. What d’you say?
FOREMAN: Al right, gentlemen. Let’s take seats.
7TH JUROR [ to the 2ND JUROR]: This better be fast. I got tickets to a bal game tonight. Yankees—Cleveland. We got this new kid pitching, Modjelewski, or whatever his name is. He’s a bul , this kid. [ He shoots his hand forward and out to indicate the path of a curve ball. ] Shhooooom. A real jug handle. There is no reaction at all from the 2ND JUROR.
You’re quite a bal fan, aren’t you? [ He turns to the FOREMAN.] Where do you want us to sit?
FOREMAN: Wel, I was thinking we ought to sit in order, by jury numbers. [ He points with each number. ] Two, three, four, and so on, if that’s OK with you gentlemen?
10TH JUROR: What’s the difference?
4TH JUROR: I think it’s reasonable to sit according to number.
10TH JUROR [ rising]: Let it be. [ He moves and sits on chair 10. ] The JURORS
begin to take their seats. The 8TH JUROR continues to stare out of the window. The 9TH JUROR is still in the lavatory.
12TH JUROR [ to the 11TH JUROR]: What was your impression of the prosecuting attorney?
11TH JUROR [ with a German accent]: I beg pardon?
12TH JUROR: I thought he was realy sharp. I mean, the way he hammered home his points, one by one, in logical sequence. It takes a good brain to do that. I was very impressed.
11TH JUROR: Yes, I think he did an expert job.
12TH JUROR: I mean, he had a lot of drive, too. Real drive.
7TH JUROR: OK, let’s get this show on the road.
FOREMAN [ to the 8TH JUROR]: How about sitting down?
The 8TH JUROR does not hear the FOREMAN.
The gentleman at the window.
The 8TH JUROR turns, startled.
How about sitting down?
8TH JUROR: Oh, I’m sorry. [ He moves to his chair and sits. ]
The 9TH JUROR enters the washroom from the lavatory and washes his hands.
10TH JUROR [ across the table to the 4TH JUROR]: It’s pretty tough to figure, isn’t it?
A kid kil s his father. Bing! Just like that.
12TH JUROR: Wel, if you analyze the figures . . .
10TH JUROR: What figures? It’s those people! I’m telin’ you they let the kids run wild up there. Wel , maybe it serves ’em right. Know what I mean?
The FOREMAN crosses to the washroom door.
7TH JUROR [ to the 5TH JUROR]: Hey, you a Yankee fan?
5TH JUROR: No. Milwaukee.
7TH JUROR: Milwaukee! That’s like being hit on the head with a crowbar once a day.
Listen, who they got—I’m asking you, who they got besides great groundskeepers?
FOREMAN [ to the 9TH JUROR]: We’d like to get started
.
The 9TH JUROR enters from the washroom.
9TH JUROR: I’m sorry.
The 9TH JUROR crosses and takes his seat.
7TH JUROR: Milwaukee!
FOREMAN: Al right. Now you gentlemen can handle this any way you want to. I mean, I’m not going to have any rules. If we want to discuss first and then vote, that’s one way. Or we can vote right now to see how we stand. [ He pauses and looks around. ] Wel , that’s al I have to say.
4TH JUROR: I think it’s customary to take a preliminary vote.
7TH JUROR: Yeah, let’s vote. Who knows, maybe we can al go home.
FOREMAN: It’s up to you. Just let’s remember we’ve got a first degree murder charge here. If we vote “guilty,” we send the accused to the electric chair. That’s mandatory.
4TH JUROR: I think we al know that.
3RD JUROR: Come on, let’s vote.
10TH JUROR: Yeah, let’s see who’s where.
FOREMAN: Anybody doesn’t want to vote? [ He looks around. ] The others are silent.
Al right. This has to be a twelve-to-nothing vote either way. That’s the law. OK, are we ready? Al those voting “guilty” raise your hands.
Seven or eight hands go up immediately. Several others go up more slowly.
Everyone looks around the table as the FOREMAN rises and begins to count hands. The 9TH JUROR ’s hand goes up now, and all hands are raised except the 8TH JUROR ’s. . . . Nine—ten—eleven. That’s eleven for “guilty.” OK. “Not guilty”?
The 8TH JUROR slowly raises his hand.
One. Right. OK, eleven to one—“guilty.” Now we know where we are. [ He resumes his seat. ]
10TH JUROR: Boy-oh-boy! There’s always one.
7TH JUROR [ after a pause]: So, what do we do now?
8TH JUROR: Wel, I guess we talk.
10TH JUROR: Boy-oh-boy!
3RD JUROR [ leaning over toward the 8TH JUROR]: Wel, look, do you realy think he’s innocent?
8TH JUROR: I don’t know.
3RD JUROR: I mean, let’s be reasonable. You sat in court and heard the same things we did. The man’s a dangerous kil er. You could see it.
8TH JUROR: The man! He’s sixteen years old.
3RD JUROR: Wel, that’s old enough. He knifed his own father. Four inches into the chest.
6TH JUROR [ to the 8TH JUROR]: It’s pretty obvious. I mean, I was convinced from the first day.
3RD JUROR: Wel, who wasn’t? [ To the 8TH JUROR.] I realy think this is one of those open and shut things. They proved it a dozen different ways. Would you like me to list them for you?
8TH JUROR: No.
10TH JUROR: Then what do you want?
8TH JUROR: Nothing. I just want to talk.
7TH JUROR: Wel, what’s there to talk about? Eleven men here agree. Nobody had to think twice about it, except you.
10TH JUROR: I want to ask you something. Do you believe his story?
8TH JUROR: I don’t know whether I believe it or not. Maybe I don’t.
7TH JUROR: So what’d you vote “not guilty” for?
8TH JUROR: There were eleven votes for “guilty.” It’s not easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first.
7TH JUROR: Who says it’s easy for me?
8TH JUROR: No one.
7TH JUROR: What, just because I voted fast? I think the guy’s guilty. You couldn’t change my mind if you talked for a hundred years.
8TH JUROR: I’m not trying to change your mind. It’s just that we’re talking about somebody’s life here. I mean, we can’t decide in five minutes. Suppose we’re wrong?
7TH JUROR: Suppose we’re wrong! Suppose this whole building fel on my head.
You can suppose anything.
8TH JUROR: That’s right.
7TH JUROR [ after a pause]: What’s the difference how long it takes? We honestly think he’s guilty. So suppose we finish in five minutes? So what?
8TH JUROR: Let’s take an hour. The bal game doesn’t start til eight o’clock.
7TH JUROR [ smiling]: OK, slugger, be my guest. There is a silence.
FOREMAN [ hesitantly]: Wel, who’s got something to say?
He looks at the 2ND JUROR.
How about you?
2ND JUROR: Not me.
9TH JUROR: I’m wiling to put in an hour.
10TH JUROR: Great. I heard a pretty good story last night. This woman comes running into the doctor’s office, stripped to the waist—
8TH JUROR: That’s not what we’re sitting here for.
10TH JUROR: Al right, then you tel me. What are we sitting here for?
8TH JUROR: Maybe for no reason. I don’t know. Look, this boy’s been kicked around al his life. You know—living in a slum, his mother dead since he was nine. He spent a year and a half in an orphanage while his father served a jail term for forgery. That’s not a very good head start. He’s had a pretty terrible sixteen years. I think maybe we owe him a few words. That’s al .
10TH JUROR: I don’t mind teling you this, mister. We don’t owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn’t he? What d’you think the trial cost? He’s lucky he got it. Know what I mean? [ He rises and looks around at the others. ] Look, we’re al grown-ups here.
We heard the facts, didn’t we? Now, you’re not going to tel us that we’re supposed to believe that kid, knowing what he is. Listen, I’ve lived among ’em al my life. You can’t believe a word they say. I mean, they’re born liars.
9TH JUROR: It suddenly occurs to me that you must be an ignorant man.
10TH JUROR: What do you mean? What’s he talking about?
9TH JUROR: Do you think you have a monopoly on the truth?
10TH JUROR: What are you making a Federal Case out of it for? [ To the others. ]
How d’ya like this guy?
9TH JUROR [ to the others]: I think certain things should be pointed out to this man.
3RD JUROR: Al right. It’s not Sunday. We don’t need a sermon in here.
10TH JUROR: Monopoly! For Chrissakes.
The 9TH JUROR half rises but then feels the 8TH JUROR ’s hand firmly on his arm, gently pulling him down. The 12TH JUROR doodles on his notepad.
4TH JUROR: If we’re going to discuss this case, let’s stick to the facts.
FOREMAN: Right. We have a job to do. Let’s do it. Maybe if the gentleman who’s disagreeing down there could tel us why. You know, tel us what he thinks—we could show him where he’s probably mixed up.
11TH JUROR [ looking at the 12TH JUROR ’s doodle]: What are you doing?
12TH JUROR: Mmm? Oh. [ He holds up the doodle. ] It’s one of the products I work on at the ad agency. Rice Pops. “The Breakfast with the Built-in Bounce.” I wrote that line.
11TH JUROR [ smiling in spite of himself ]: It’s very catchy.
FOREMAN: If you don’t mind!
The 2ND JUROR rises, goes to the coat hooks and takes a package of cough drops from his jacket pocket.
12TH JUROR: I’m sorry. I have this habit of doodling. It keeps me thinking clearly.
FOREMAN: We’re trying to get someplace here. Y’know we can sit here forever . . .
12TH JUROR: Wel, look, maybe this is an idea. I’m just thinking out loud, but it seems to me it’s up to us to convince this gentleman—[ he indicates the 8TH
JUROR] that we’re right and he’s wrong. Maybe if we each took a minute or two. I mean, it’s just a quick thought . . .
FOREMAN: No, I think it’s a good one. Supposing we go once around the table in order of jury numbers.
7TH JUROR: Anything. Let’s start it off.
FOREMAN: OK. [ To the 2ND JUROR.] That means you’re first.
2ND JUROR: Oh. Wel . . . [ He pauses nervously. ] Wel, it’s hard to put into words. I just—think he’s guilty. I thought it was obvious from the word go. I mean nobody proved otherwise.
8TH JUROR: Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn’t have to open his mouth. That’s in the
Constitution. You’ve heard of it.
2ND JUROR [ flustered]: Wel, sure I’ve heard of it. I know what it is. I—what I meant—
wel , the man is guilty. I mean, somebody saw him do it. [ He looks around helplessly. ]
3RD JUROR: OK. [ He refers to his notes. ] Now, here’s what I think, and I have no personal feelings about this. I’m talking facts. Number one. Let’s 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 kil ing he heard loud noises in the apartment upstairs. He said it sounded like a fight. Then he heard the kid shout out,
“I’m gonna kil you.” A second later he heard a body fal 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 cal ed the police. They found the father with a knife in his chest.
FOREMAN: And the coroner fixed the time of the death at around midnight.
3RD JUROR: Right. I mean, there are facts for you. You can’t refute facts. This boy is guilty. Look, I’m as sentimental as the next guy. I know the kid is only sixteen, but he’s stil got to pay for what he did.
7TH JUROR: I’m with you, pops.
4TH JUROR [ removing his eyeglasses]: It was obvious to me, anyway, that the boy’s entire story was flimsy. He claimed he was at the movies during the time of the kil ing and yet one hour later he couldn’t remember what films he saw or who played in them.
3RD JUROR: That’s right. Did you hear that? [ To the 4TH JUROR.] You’re absolutely right.
4TH JUROR: No one saw him going into or out of the theater.
10TH JUROR: Listen, what about that woman across the street? If her testimony don’t prove it, nothing does.
11TH JUROR: That’s right. She was the one who actualy saw the kiling.
FOREMAN [ half rising]: Let’s go in order here.
10TH JUROR [ rising, handkerchief in hand]: Just a minute. Here’s a woman . . . [ He blows his nose.] Here’s a woman who’s lying in bed and can’t sleep. She’s dying with the heat. Know what I mean? Anyway, she looks out the window and right across the street she sees the kid stick the knife into his father. The time is twelve ten on the nose. Everything fits. Look, she’s known the kid al his life. His window is right opposite hers, across the el tracks, and she swore she saw him do it.
Twelve Angry Men Page 2