12 Angry Men Page #4

NO. 8:
No one.

NO. 7:
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.

NO. 8:
I don't want to change your mind. I just want to talk for a while. Look, this boy's been kicked around all

his life. You know, living in a slum, his mother dead since he was nine. That's not a very good head start. He's a

tough, angry kid. You know why slum kids get that way? Because we knock 'em on the head once a day, every

day. I think maybe we owe him a few words. That's all.

[He looks around the table. Some of them look back coldly. Some cannot look at him. Only NO. 9 nods slowly.

NO. 12 doodles steadily. NO. 4 begins to comb his hair.]

NO. 10:
I don't mind telling you this, mister. We don't owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn't he? You know

what that trial cost? He's lucky he got it. Look, we're all grownups here. You're not going to tell us that we're

supposed to believe him, knowing what he is. I've lived among 'em all my life. You can't believe a word they

say. You know that.

NO. 9:
(to NO. 10 very slowly). I don't 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.

NO. 3 {interrupting) All right. It's not Sunday. We don't need a sermon.

NO. 9:
What this man says is very dangerous.

[NO. 8 puts his hand on NO. 9's arm and stops him. Somehow his touch and his gentle expression calm the old

man. He draws a deep breath and relaxes.]

NO.4:
I don't see any need for arguing like this. I think we ought to be able to behave like gentlemen.

NO.7:
Right!

NO. 4:
If we're going to discuss this case, let's discuss the facts.

FOREMAN:
I think that's a good point. We have a job to do. Let's do it.

NO.11:
(with accent). If you gentlemen don't mind, I'm going to close the window.

(He gets up and does so.) (Apologetically) It was blowing on my neck.

[NO. 10 blows his nose fiercely.]

NO. 12:
I may have an idea here. I'm just thinking out loud now but it seems to me that it's up to us to convince

this gentleman (indicating NO. 8) that we're right and he's wrong. Maybe if we each took a minute or two, you

know, if we sort of try it on for size.

FOREMAN:
That sounds fair enough. Supposing we go once around the table.

NO. 7:
Okay, let's start it off.

FOREMAN:
Right (To NO. 2) I guess you're first.

NO.2:
(timidly). Oh. Well. . . (Long pause) I just think he's guilty. I thought

it was obvious. I mean nobody proved otherwise.

NO. 8:
(quietly). 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. The Fifth Amendment. You've heard of it.

NO. 2:
(flustered). Well, sure, I've heard of it. I know what it is. I . . . what

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