YEAR 11 ENGLISH: Rose, Reginald. Twelve Angry Men.

First published 1955, revised and rewritten by Reginald Rose, 1977.

Roses inspiration for Twelve Angry Men came from his own experience as a juror in a manslaughter
trial. He was overwhelmed by the process and by the protracted deliberation of the jury.

Below is a brief summary of some of the main points regarding the issues at play during the
deliberations in the jury room. Page references are given and results of the vote are shown in the
margin with ***. This summary may help with identification of quotes, responding to the themes such
as Justice and the Judicial System, Prejudice and Stereotyping, Conflict and Reason and Logic versus
Emotion amongst others.

ACT I:
Jury room of a New York Court of Law, 1957. Hot summer experience makes for a good drama. From
Judge: duty of jurors to separate the facts from the fancy and to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully.

Is there a reasonable doubt? not guilty verdict;

Is there no reasonable doubt? accused will be guilty.

Death sentence mandatory for murder in the first degree and decision by jurors must be unanimous.
Jurors faced with grave responsibility.

p. 2: [Door of jury room locked by guard]

p. 3: 3rd Juror: but Im telling you sometimes I think money. [loud, outspoken, prejudiced]

pp. 3-4: 12th Juror: we were lucky to get a murder case

p. 4: 10th Juror: youve gotta expect that. You know what youre dealing with.

p. 5: 12th Juror: the way he [the prosecuting attorney] hammered home his points, one by one, in
logical sequence I was very impressed.

Guide p. 2. No names used in the play indicative of the plays focus on the case and its broader ethical
implications, rather than the personal details of characters lives. ] guard a perfunctory and practical
purpose, defendant, victim, lawyers and witnesses in the trial are never named.

p. 6: 10th Juror: its those people! Im tellin you they let the kids run wild up there [the accuseds
background]

p. 6: 4th Juror: customary [to take a preliminary vote].

Foreman (3) if vote guilty send the accused to the electric chair.

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p 6: all hands up for a guilty vote except 8th Juror [9th Juror did hesitate].

p. 7: 8th Juror: slowly raised his hand to vote not guilty.

p. 7: 8th Juror in response to 3rd Jurors comment., the mans a killer, states, The Man! Hes sixteen
years old.

p. 7: 8th Juror: I just want to talk.

p. 7: 8th Juror: not easy for me to raise without talking about it first.

p. 7: 8th Juror: talking about somebodys life here cant decide in five minutes. Suppose were
wrong?

p. 8: 8th Juror: demonstrates sympathy for the accused I think maybe we owe him a few words.

p. 8: 10th Juror: [in response] youre not going to tell us were supposed to believe that kid, knowing
what he is? you cant believe a word they say. I mean theyre born liars.

p. 9. Foreman agrees to 12th Jurors suggestion go around the table each juror to speak for one
minute aiming to explain to 8th Juror how and why 8th Juror is wrong.

p. 9: 2nd Juror: something saw him [the accused] do it.

p. 9: 3rd Juror: You cant refute facts [accused is guilty].

p. 10: 8th Juror: - in response to 10th Juror and female witness, How come you believe the woman? Shes
one of them too, isnt she?

p. 11: 6th Juror: motive very important. If theres no motive, wheres the case? Testimony from
those people across the hall from the kids apartment very powerful .

p. 11: 8th Juror: saw the boy walk angrily out of the house. What does that prove?

p. 11: 7th Juror: Look at his record. He was in Childrens Court at fourteen, he was in Reform School
been arrested for mugging .

p. 11: 8th Juror: Its a motive for him to be an angry kid. Ill just say that.

p. 12: 3rd Juror: [reveals personal situation]

p. 12: 4th Juror: here to decide whether hes guilty or innocent of murder, not to go into reasons why
he grew up this way slums are breeding grounds for criminals.

p. 12: Foreman to 5th Juror: Theres nothing personal . [regarding 5th Juror revealing his background]

p. 13: [Foreman offers 10th Juror Foremans role and responsibility]

p. 13: [pause]

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p. 13: 8th Juror: But I started to feel the defence counsel wasnt doing his job. He let too many things go.
Little things.

p. 14: 8th Juror: I kept putting myself in the boys place. I would have asked for another lawyer, I think. I
mean [refutes reliability of evidence presented by eyewitness] heard the killing and then saw the
boy running out afterwards.

p. 14: 8th Juror: Could they be wrong? [re eyewitness]

p. 14: 12th Juror: This isnt an exact science. It isnt.

p. 14: 3rd Juror: [introduces switch-knife found in fathers chest, bought on the night of the murder]

p. 15: 4th Juror: The knife, and the way it was bought, is pretty strong evidence. Dont you think so?

[carved handle, only one of its kind he had ever had in stock (shopkeeper)]

p. 15: 4th Juror: [Long explanation]

p. 15: [The accused lost the knife claimed it slipped through his clothing]

p. 16: 4th Juror (cont.) [actual explanation of what happened]

p. 16: 8th Juror: [Introduces the idea that this explanation could be correct, Its possible. Im just saying
that its possible.

p. 16: Italics. [8th Jurors own knife same as alleged murder weapon purchased from pawn shop]

pp. 17-18: 8th Juror: how come he [the accused] showed what was going to be the murder weapon to
three friends of his just a couple of hours before the killing?

p. 18: 5th Juror: Im not sure

[First to stand up against the group]

p. 18: 3rd Juror: Who do you think you are to start cross-examining us?

p. 18: 8th Juror: Isnt that whats supposed to happen in a jury-room?

p. 18: 7th Juror: The kidll be tried again and found guilty sure as hes born.

p. 18: 9th Juror: Its only one night. A boy may die.

p. 18: 8th Juror: [proposition call for a secret written vote 8th Juror abstain 11 votes for guilty I
wont stand alone if anyone votes not guilty, well stay and talk this thing out]

p. 19: 10th Juror: who was it? I want to know.

p. 19: 11th Juror: This was a secret ballot. We agreed on this.

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p. 20: 3rd Juror: Were trying to put a guilty man into the chair fairy tales and were listening.

p. 20: 9th Juror: He [5th Juror] didnt change his vote. I did. Would you like me to tell you why?

p. 20: 9th Juror: [re 8th Juror] he doesnt say the boy is not guilty. He just isnt sure I respect his
motives but I want to hear more.

p. 20: [Vote 10:2]

p. 21: 12th Juror: [ideas from an advertising agency]

p. 22: 7th Juror to 8th Juror: lets go home before we get sore throats.

p. 22: 6th Juror: we shoulda been done already .

p. 22: 8th Juror: [in response to 6th Juror asking him, You think hes innocent?] relies with, I dont
know. Its possible.

p. 22: 6th Juror: Suppose you talk us outa this and the kid really did knife his father?

p. 23: 6th Juror: [who else had a motive to kill (the accuseds) father?]

p. 23: 8th Juror: were supposed to decide whether or not the boy on trial is guilty beyond reasonable
a reasonable doubt.

p. 23: 8th Juror: [outlines details of father and a few possibilities as to why another person may have
killed him [ By any one of the people he was known to hang out with.

p. 24: 8th Juror: how clearly the old man could have heard a boys voice through the ceiling

p. 24: 8th Juror: ambitious district attorney putting on a show. Look, the old man knows the boys
[accuseds] voice very well. .

p. 25: 8th Juror: [rejects possibility woman could see the stabbing through the windows (with no lights
on in train as train just being moved) of the final two cars of a 6 car train] states, It doesnt sound
right to me.

p. 25: 8th Juror: I wonder if anybody has an idea

p. 25: 7th Juror: What has that got to do with anything?

p. 26: 8th Juror: I lived in a second-floor apartment the noise is almost unbearable.

p. 26: 8th Juror: First, the old man in the apartment downstairs says he heard the boy [the accused] say
Im going to kill you and a split second later he heard the body hit the floor. One second later. Right?

p. 26: 8th Juror: Second, the woman saw killing through elevated train. Right?

not possible the old man could have heard the boy saying to his father, Im going to kill you

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p. 26: 8th Juror: Well, I think that testimony which could put a human being in the electric chair should
be that accurate.

p. 26: 5th Juror: I dont think he could have heard it.

p. 27: 9th Juror: I think I know him better than anyone here it would be so hard for him to recede into
the background.

p. 27: 9th Juror: . made himself believe hed heard those words and recognised the boys face.

p. 27: 4th Juror: This case is based on a reasonable and logical progression of facts .

p. 27: 11th Juror: Facts may be coloured by the personalities of the people who present them.

p. 28: 8th Juror: saying youre going to kill someone doesnt mean they are going to kill someone .

p. 28: 10th Juror: Hes a common, ignorant slob .

p, 28: 5th Juror: Id like to change my vote to not guilty.

*** p. 28: Foreman: Vote is 9:3 in favour of guilty.

p. 29: 8th Juror: Sometimes the facts that are staring you in the face are wrong.

p. 29: 8th Juror: [information re (court appointed) defence counsel]

p. 29: 11th Juror: if he really had killed his father, why would he come back three hours later?
Wouldnt he be afraid of being caught?

p. 29: 4th Juror: He [the accused] had to get the knife before the police did.

p. 29: 11th Juror: if he knew the knife could be identified, why did he leave it there in the first place?

p. 30: 11th Juror: I dont believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I am simply asking
questions.

p. 30: 12th Juror: Id take a chance to go back because it was the middle of the night no-one would
find the body until the next day.

p. 30: 11th Juror: [yes but] the boy must certainly have heard that scream and known that somebody
saw something .

p. 30: 8th Juror: Maybe all those things are so maybe theyre not theres enough doubt to make us
wonder .

p. 30: 10th Juror: Did or didnt the old man see the kid running out of the house Well, did he or didnt
he?

p. 31: 10th Juror: Im telling you the facts are being changed witness doubted no reason for it.

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p. 31: 8th Juror: Id like to call another vote.

p. 31: 3rd Juror: I never saw so much time spent on nothing.

p. 31: Foreman: those in favour of not guilty raise their hands.

p. 31: 11th Juror: I vote not guilty *** Three jurors not guilty.

*** p. 31: Foreman: The vote is eight to four, favour of guilty .

p. 32: 11th Juror: I have reasonable doubt in my mind.

p. 32: 7th Juror: I mean, youre sitting in here [8th Juror] pulling stories outa thin air.

p. 32: 5th Juror: Did the old man say he ran to the door?

p. 32: 5th Juror: But I dont see how he could run.

p. 32: 7th Juror: Why dont we have them run the trial over just so you can get everything straight.

p. 33: 8th Juror: Id like to see if a very old man who drags one leg when he walks can get from his bed
to his front door in fifteen seconds.

p. 33: 9th Juror: He said fifteen seconds. He was very positive about that.

p. 33: 3rd Juror: Hes an old man half the time he was confused How could he be positive about
anything?

p. 33: 8th Juror: Lets see if the details bear him out he go to his front door as soon as he could. He
swore that it couldnt have been more than fifteen seconds running immediately.

p. 34: 8th Juror: Now, the old man was in bed looked out just in time to see the boy.

p. 34: 8th Juror: Do you think he could have done it?

p. 34: 8th Juror: I want to try this thing. Lets see how long it took him.

p. 35: 8th Juror: When you want me to start, stamp your food. Thatll be the body falling. Time me
from there.

pp. 35-36: [Re-enactment: 42 seconds]

p. 36: 8th Juror: and assumed it was the boy.

pp. 36-37: 3rd Juror: sanctimonious talk about slum kids and injustice . were letting him [the
accused] slip through our fingers here.

p. 37: 8th Juror: [to 3rd Juror] Are you the executioner?

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p. 37: 8th Juror: Ever since we walked into this room youve [3rd Juror] been behaving like a self-
appointed public avenger.

p. 37: 3rd Juror: [3rd Juror lunges at 8th Juror] Let go of me, God damn it! Ill kill him! Ill kill him! [with
reference to 8th Juror].

p. 37: 8th Juror: You dont really mean that youll kill me, do you?

ACT II:
[All looking at the 3rd Juror]

p. 38: 2nd Juror: wife says he looks like Khruschev [Russian President]

p. 39: 11th Juror: a remarkable thing about democracy we have nothing to gain or lose byour
verdict. This is one of the reasons we are strong .

p. 39: 6th Juror: another vote .

p. 39: 3rd Juror: Call out your votes

*** p. 40: Foreman: Six to six.

p. 40: 10th Juror: Six to six A kid like that. .

p. 40: 9th Juror: I dont think the kind of boy he is has anything to do with it. The facts are supposed to
determine the case.

p. 40: 7th Juror: Tell me, how come you switched?

p. 40: 2nd Juror: Therere a lot of details that never came out.

p. 41: 10th Juror: letting yourself get bulldozed by a bunch a intellectuals.

Youre like everyone else. You think too much, you get mixed up. .

p. 41: Foreman: [with reference to rain] Think itll cool things off?

p. 42: 4th Juror: He did an excellent job.

p. 42: 3rd Juror: Im a certain kind of person, I get moved by this. But let me tell you, Im sincere.

p. 42: 4th Juror: We all are.

Just by using logic.

p. 42: 10th Juror: Logic, holy cow!

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p. 43: 10th Juror: lets go and tell the Judge lets tell him were hung break my brains over scum
like that?

p. 43: 3rd Juror: You took an oath in the courtroom. You cant just quit.

Its dishonest. Why dont you vote not guilty?

p. 43: 10th Juror: Were goin nowhere here. Im ready to walk into court right now and declare a
hung jury.

p. 44: 8th Juror: I dont think the court will accept a hung jury. We havent been here very long.

p. 44: 7th Juror: The arrogance of the guy.

Because Ill knock his goddam Middle European head off. [Re 11th Juror questioning 7th Jurors
understanding of reasonable doubt.

p. 44: 8th Juror: after he claimed he was at the movies during the hours the killing took place,
couldnt name the pictures he saw or the stars who appeared in them.

p. 44: 8th Juror: do you think youd remember such details after an upsetting experience such as
being struck in the face by your father?

pp. 44-45: 8th Juror: questioned by the police in the kitchen of his apartment while the body of his
father was lying on the floor in the bedroom. Do you think you could remember details under such
circumstances.

p. 45: 8th Juror: He remembered the movies in court. He named them correctly and he named the stars
who played in them.

pp. 45-46: 4th Juror: [asked to remember previous nights and cant immediately remember the second
feature by 8th Juror]

p. 46: 9th Juror: I think it is a big point.

But it indicates that no-one can p rove he [the accused] wasnt. Being accused of murder isnt
necessarily supposed to give him an infallible memory.

p. 46: Foreman: That whole business with the psychiatrist dragged on forever.

I mean, that he was, what dya call it capable of committing murder.

Lets not forget, were talking about a boy who always had murder on his mind.

p. 47: 11th Juror: We should remember that many of us are capable of committing murder. But few
of us do. We impose controls upon ourselves to prevent it. .

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p. 47: 11th Juror: To say that a man is capable of murder does not mean that he has committed
murder.

p. 47: 8th Juror: Youre the one who said, and I quote, I wouldnt give you a nickel for a psychiatrists
testimony.

p. 47: 2nd Juror: [to 8th Juror] Say, could I see that knife for a second?

p. 47: 2nd Juror: there was this whole business about the stab wound and how it was made the
downward angle of it, you know?

I dont go along with it [heights of father and son] very awkward thing to stab down into the chest
of someone whos more than half a foot taller than you are.

p. 48: [3rd Juror and 12 Juror simulating stabbing 8th Juror in the chest]

p. 49: 3rd Juror: Have you seen them used in fights? [to 5th Juror]

p. 49: 5th Juror: You dont use this kind of knife that way, you have to hold it like this to release the
blade. In order to stab downwards, you would have to change your grip.

Anyone whos ever used a switch-knifed never handle it any other way.

p. 49: 8th Juror: Everyone agreed the boy is pretty handy with a knife, didnt they?

p. 50: 12th Juror: Well - I dont know .

p. 50: 7th Juror: Im changing my vote to not guilty .

[following chastisement from 11th Juror], I dont think hes guilty.

p. 50: 8th Juror: Mr Foreman, I want another vote.

*** p. 51: Foreman: 9:3 in favour of not guilty .

p. 51: 10th Juror: These people are born to lie. Now, its the way they are and no intelligent man is
gonna tell me otherwise they dont need any big excuse to kill someone.

p. 52: 10th Juror: Thats how they are, by nature, yknow what I mean? Violent! Human life dont
mean as much to them as it does to us Family dont mean anything to them. They breed like animals
Ive known some who were OK, but thats the exception.

p. 53: 10th Juror: That kid on trial, his type, theyre multiplying five times as fast as we are if we
dont smack them down whenever we can, then they are gonna own us. Theyre gonna breed us out of
existence.

I say get him before his kind gets us. I dont give a goddam about the law .

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p. 53: 8th Juror: Prejudice obscures the truth but we have a reasonable doubt, it is a safeguard which
has enormous value in our system.

p. 54: 4th Juror: that she got a good look at the boy in the act of stabbing his father unshakeable
testimony.

*** p. 54: 3rd Juror: the vote is eight to four.

I think were a hung jury. Lets take it inside to the Judge.

Well never get this thing done.

p. 55: 3rd Juror: [to 12th Juror, reference to J Walter Thompson 1950s New York advertising agency]

p. 55: 9th Juror: but I was wondering why you were rubbing your nose like that? [to 4th Juror]

p. 56: 9th Juror: Your eyeglasses make those deep impressions They must be annoying.

The woman [who testified] that she saw the killing had these same deep marks on the sides of her
nose.

She had those marks. She kept rubbing them in court.

p. 56: Foreman: She had those marks.

She had these deep things, .

p. 57: [Reference to Clarence Darrow a US lawyer best known for defending two wealthy white
students at the University of Chicago [thrill killers] who murdered a fourteen year old white boy in 1924]

p. 57: 4th Juror: No-one wears eyeglasses to bed.

p. 57: 8th Juror: And she herself said that the murder took place just as she looked out and the lights
went off a split second later. She couldnt have had time to put glasses on then.

p. 57: 8th Juror: the womans eyesight is in question now.

p. 57: 2nd Juror: You cant send someone off to die on evidence like that.

p. 58: 10th Juror: Not guilty. Do whatever you want.

p. 58: 4th Juror: I know have reasonable doubt.

*** p. 58: 9th Juror: Its eleven to one.

p. 58: 3rd Juror: Youre not goin to intimidate me. Im entitled to my opinion. I can sit in this goddam
room for a year.

p. 58: 3rd Juror: Im telling you every single thing that went on has been twisted and turned in here.

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p. 59: 3rd Juror: That goddam rotten kid. I know him. What theyre like Jeez, I can feel that knife
goin in.

All right. Not guilty.

p. 59 8th Juror: [retains dignity, integrity and manners]

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