Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose

Author:Reginald Rose [Rose, Reginald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Teatro, Drama
Publisher: ePubLibre
Published: 1954-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

ACT II

The same. Immediately following.

When the CURTAIN rises, the JURORS are in the same positions as they were at the end of the previous act, looking at the 3RD JUROR. There is silence. The 3RD JUROR crosses to the window. The other JURORS move about the room. There is an awkward silence.

The GUARD unlocks the door and enters.

GUARD: Is there anything wrong, gentlemen? I heard some noise.

FOREMAN: No. There’s nothing wrong.

The FOREMAN collects the apartment plan from the table.

Just a little argument. Everything’s OK.

The FOREMAN hands the plan to the GUARD.

We’re finished with this.

The GUARD takes the plan, looks carefully around the room, then exits, locking the door behind him.

There is a pause. The others look at the 3RD JUROR.

3RD JUROR: Well, what are you staring at?

The others, embarrassed, turn away. Some of them take their seats.

12TH JUROR: Well—I suppose someone has to—start it off again.

2ND JUROR: It’s getting late. [To the FOREMAN.] What do they do, take us out to a restaurant for supper?

FOREMAN: How do I know?

2ND JUROR: I wonder if they let us go home in case we can’t finish tonight. I’ve got a boy with mumps. He’s out to here. The wife says he looks like Khrushchev.

The room begins to darken perceptibly now.

11TH JUROR: Pardon. This fighting. This is not why we are here, to fight. We have a responsibility. This, I have always thought, is a remarkable thing about democracy. That we are, uh, what is the word? 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 never heard of before. We have nothing to gain or lose by our verdict. This is one of the reasons we are strong. We should not make it a personal thing.

12TH JUROR: Um, if no one else has an idea, I may have a cutie here. I mean, I haven’t put much thought into it. Anyway, lemme throw it out on the stoop and see if the cat licks it up.

FOREMAN: See if the cat licks it up? [He laughs.]

12TH JUROR: Well, it wasn’t much of an idea, anyway.

5TH JUROR: Look how dark it’s getting. We’re gonna have a storm. Boy, it’s hot.

The 4TH JUROR, in tie and jacket, is seemingly not bothered by the heat at all. The 5TH JUROR turns to him.

Pardon me, don’t you sweat?

4TH JUROR: No. I don’t.

6TH JUROR: Uh, listen, I was wondering if maybe we shouldn’t take another vote.

7TH JUROR: Great idea. Maybe we can follow this one up with dancing and refreshments.

6TH JUROR: Mr. Foreman?

FOREMAN: It’s all right with me. Anyone doesn’t want to vote?

No one answers for a moment.

3RD JUROR: I think we ought to have an open ballot. Call out your votes, y’know. Let’s see who stands where.

FOREMAN: That sounds fair. Anyone object? The last vote was eight to four in favor of guilty. All right. I’ll call off your jury numbers. I vote “guilty”. Number Two?

2ND JUROR: “Not Guilty”.

FOREMAN: Number Three?

3RD JUROR: “Guilty”.

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