Twelve Angry
Men
Reginald Rose
ACT 2
Act II
1. Do you agree with Juror Seven when he says that they all have a right to know who
voted “not guilty?” Why or why not?
2. Why does Juror Seven feel that Juror Five is the one who changed his vote?
3. What is Juror Nine’s explanation for changing his vote?
4. Why does Juror Eight snatch away the paper on which Three is playing tic-tac-toe?
5. What point about the old man’s testimony did Juror Eight first question?
6. What observation does Juror Nine make about the old witness?
7. What does Juror Seven say that insults Juror Eleven?
9. Describe Juror Three as he demonstrates the stabbing.
10. What is contradictory about the wound and the type of knife used in the murder?
11. What disproves the testimony of the woman who saw the murder through the windows
of the passing el train?
12. Explain why most of the other jurors turn their backs on Juror Ten during his
monologue.
13. Who is the last juror to be convinced to change his vote? Why do you think he did
change his vote?
14. Do you feel the defendant is innocent or guilty? Explain your own decision.
Remember: “if there is reasonable doubt, you must declare him not guilty.”
EVIDENCE FROM ACT 1
TESTIMONY OF THE NEIGHBOR(OLD MAN):
TIMELINE:
- 12:10- FIGHT
- “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU”
- HEARS A BODY FALL
- OPENS THE DOOR AND SEES A BOY RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS
- CALLS THE POLICE
- POLICE FIND THE BODY- TIME OF DEATH AROUND MIDNIGHT
TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE HALL: ARGUMENT AT 8 PM
TESTIMONY OF THE WOMAN LIVING OPPOSITE THEM:
-CAN’T SLEEP. LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW AND SEES THE KID STAB HIS
FATHER WHILE THE ELEVATED TRAIN PASSES.
EVIDENCE FROM ACT 1
BOY SAYS HE WAS AT THE CINEMA BUT DOESN’T HAVE THE TICKET AND
DOESN’T REMEMBER THE MOVIE. (12PM)
THE CASHIER DOESN’T REMEMBER HIM.
BOY’S TESTIMONY:
BOY IS SLAPPED BY HIS FATHER
LEAVES AT 8PM
BUYS A SWITCHKNIFE AND FALLS OFF HIS POCKET
DEFENDANT’S BACKGROUND:
STEALING A CAR
MUGGING
STABBING SOMEONE IN THE ARM
KNIFE FIGHTING.
—-HE HAS BEEN SENT TO REFORM SCHOOL—-
P. 28
“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.”
Why does he say this?
P.28
“NINE: This gentleman chose not to stand alone against us. That's 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.”
Why does he vote NOT GUILTY? Because of the facts or his
feelings?
P. 32/33- THEY ANALYZE THE TESTIMONY OF THE MAN AND WOMAN
TESTIMONY OF THE NEIGHBOR(OLD MAN):
“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU” AND SECONDS LATER, HE HEARS A BODY FALL.
THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE EL TRAIN IS PASSING.
TESTIMONY OF THE WOMAN:
LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW AND SEES THE KID STAB HIS FATHER WHILE
THE 2 LAST CARS OF THE EL TRAIN PASS.
(IT TAKES 2 SECONDS FOR EACH CAR OF A TRAIN TO PASS A POINT, 10
SECONDS FOR ALL OF IT) (THE NOISE IS DEAFENING)-- FACTS
IF THE KILLING HAPPENS IN THE 4TH AND 5TH CAR, THE SCREAMING
HAPPENS IN THE 2ND OR 3RD. —-- “EIGHT: SOMETHING DOESN’T FIT”
TESTIMONY OF THE NEIGHBOR(OLD MAN):
15 SECONDS AFTER THE BODY FALLS, HE OPENS THE DOOR AND SEES
THE BOY RUNNING OUT.
PAGE 33 AND 34
“NINE; The seam of his jacket was split 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-his name in the
newspapers. Nobody knows him after seventy-five years. This is 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. …
TWELVE. And you're trying to tell us he lied about a thing like this just so he could be
important?
NINE. No, he wouldn't really lie. But perhaps he'd make himself believe that he heard
those words and recognized the boy's face.”
NINE UNDERSTANDS THE MAN BECAUSE HE COULD BE THAT MAN; LONELY
AND NOT LOOKED AFTER BY ANYONE. HE SEES DETAILS THAT MANY MIGHT
HAVE CONSIDERED INSIGNIFICANT.
DO YOU THINK THE MAN LIED? OR IS IT THAT HE CAME TO BELIEVE AN
SLIGHTLY VERSION OF THE FACTS? IS THIS A LIE?
DOUBT AND CERTAINTY ARE NOT SOLELY A PRODUCT OF REASON, BUT ALSO
EMOTION AND MEMORY.
THE DOUBT AND CERTAINTY OF THE JURORS IS BASED ON EVIDENCE WHICH
IS SHIFTING BETWEEN CERTAINTY TO DOUBT.
P. 35
“THREE. One thing more. The phrase was ''I'm going to kill
you." And the kid screamed it out at the top of his lungs.”
“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't think so. He's much too bright
for that”
“TEN [exploding). Bright! He's a common ignorant slob. He
don't even speak good English!”
(THERE WERE NO FINGERPRINTS ON THE KNIFE, SO THE BOY MUST HAVE
CLEANED THEM)
IF THE BOY WAS CLEVER ENOUGH TO CLEAN THE FINGERPRINTS, DOES
IT MAKE SENSE THAT HE SCREAMED “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU?” WHY?
P. 36
FIVE changes his vote. Is his vote based on facts or feelings?
His reasons are:
- KNIFE
- THE OLD MAN SAYING HE HEARD THE BOY SCREAMING
Why is this unlikely?
- THE OLD MAN SAYING HE RAN to the door and saw the boy 15
seconds after the body fell.
Why is this unlikely?
How do they prove this statement
Wrong?
Who support the idea of recreating the walk? Why?
Who are against?
Which certainties become doubts?
P. 38
“THREE [angrily]. He's an old man. You saw that. Half the time he was confused.
How could he be positive about anything? [Looks around sheepishly, unable to
cover his blunder.] Well, ah-you know.”
Why does THREE consider his statement a mistake?
Three undermines the man’s testimony and therefore states there is reasonable
doubt, which he is stubbornly trying to avoid.
How is this quote somehow similar to the following quote?
“TEN [to EIGHT)' …….. I've lived among 'em all my life. You can't believe a word they
say. You know that.” HE EXPECTS NO ONE TO BELIEVE THE BOY’S STORY.
- A MOMENT LATER-
“TEN: She's known the kid all his life. His window is right opposite hers--across the
el tracks-and she swore she saw him do it. HOWEVER, HE EXPECTS EVERYONE TO
BELIEVE THE WOMAN.
EIGHT. Weren't you telling us just a minute or two ago that
you can't trust them? That you can't believe them.“
Who supports the idea of recreating the walk? Why?
Who are against?
They recreate the walk and it takes EIGHT 39 seconds to walk
20 feet, not 15. There’s a big difference.
Who starts doubting?
How does THREE react to this doubts?
P.43
EIGHT: You want to see this boy die because
you personally want it-not because of the facts. You are a
beast. You disgust me.
THREE . Shut up! [Lounges at EIGHT, is caught by two of the
JURORS and is held.] Let me go! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!
EIGHT [Softly). You don't really mean you'll kill me, do you?
Do you think EIGHT provokes him? If so, why?
Does THREE really mean his words? If not, why couldn’t the
same have happened to the accused?
Why does EIGHT say those last words?
3c - ACT 2 DIRECTIONS: BULLRICH
CLERK:
GUARD: NORMAN
JUDGE:
foreman/ JUROR 1: OLIVERA
JUROR 2: OLMOS
JUROR 3 PEREYRA
JUROR 4: PETERS
JUROR 5: RUIZ G.
JUROR 6: RUSSO
JUROR 7: SACKMANN
JUROR 8: SAENZ V
JUROR 9: SANTAMARINA
JUROR 10: SERRA G
JUROR 11: SOUTHALL
JUROR 12: VACA G
3A - ACT 2 STAGE DIRECTIONS: FACU
CLERK: MARENCO
GUARD: MEDINGER
JUDGE:
JUROR 1: BULBARELLA
JUROR 2: RENTERÍA
JUROR 3 SIMON P
JUROR 4: MARINO
JUROR 5: URANGA B
JUROR 6: FUENTES R
JUROR 7: CASTELLI
JUROR 8: BARLETTA
JUROR 9: BAUSILI
JUROR 10: PEÑA
JUROR 11: MARENCO
JUROR 12: BUSTILLO
3B - ACT 1 STAGE DIRECTIONS: LEONARD
CLERK: FALCON
GUARD: LAS HERAS
JUDGE:
JUROR 1/ FOREMAN: MIHURA
JUROR 2: MONTES DE O
JUROR 3 MOYANO
JUROR 4: PEREZ/ URRACA
JUROR 5: TRIGO
JUROR 6: MAQUEDA/ BUCHANAN
JUROR 7: VALLEJOS/BURGUEÑO
JUROR 8: Vazquez
JUROR 9: WEINERT
JUROR 10: ZAVALA
JUROR 11: ARENAZA
JUROR 12: BECU
