Monday 30 December 2013

"12 Angry Men" by Reginald Rose (in English)



Juror #8: (after conducting an experiment to see if the old man could have reached his door in 15 seconds) Here's what I think happened: the old man heard the fight between the boy and his father a few hours earlier. Then, when he's lying in his bed, he heard a body hit the floor in the boy's apartment, heard the woman scream from across the street, got to his front door as fast as he could, heard somebody racing down the stairs and *assumed* it was the boy!

Juror #6: I think that's possible!

Juror #3: (from the other side of the room) *"Assumed"?*

(Everyone looks at #3 as he chuckles)

Juror #3: Brother, I've seen all kinds of dishonesty in my day, but this little display takes the cake. Y'all come in here with your hearts bleedin' all over the floor about slum kids and injustice, you listen to some fairy tales... Suddenly, you start gettin' through to some of these old ladies. Well, you're not getting through to me, I've had enough. (starts shouting)  What's the *matter* with you guys? You all *know* he's guilty! He's *got* to burn! You're letting him slip through our fingers!

Juror #8: (brow furrowing) "Slip through our fingers"? Are you his executioner?

Juror #3: I'm one of 'em!

Juror #8: ...Perhaps you'd like to pull the switch?

Juror #3: For this kid? You bet I would!

Juror #8: (baiting him) I feel sorry for you. What it must feel like to want to pull the switch! Ever since you walked into this room, you've been acting like a self-appointed public avenger. You want to see this boy die because you *personally* want it, not because of the facts! You're a sadist!

(#3 lunges wildly at #8, who holds his ground. Several jurors hold #3 back)

Juror #3: I'll kill him! I'll - *kill him!*

Juror #8: (calmly) You don't *really* mean you'll kill me, do you?

 

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