Studio One (1948–1958): Season 7, Episode 1 - Twelve Angry Men - full transcript

The jurors in a murder trial take their seats in a small, drab room to decide the defendant's fate. At first, all the men vote guilty bar one, who still has many questions not answered in court. Through theories and re-enactments,...

ANNOUNCER:
Westinghouse.

"Westinghouse Studio One."

JUDGE:
Murder in the first degree,

premeditated homicide,

is the most serious charge
tried in our criminal courts.

You've heard a long
and complex case, gentlemen,

and it is now your duty

to sit down to try and separate
the facts from the fantasy.

One man is dead.

The life of another
is in your hands.

If there is a reasonable doubt
in your minds



as to the guilt of the accused,

then you must declare him
not guilty.

If, however,
there is no reasonable doubt

then he must be found guilty.

Whichever way you decide,
the verdict must be unanimous.

I urge you to deliberate
honestly and thoughtfully.

You are faced
with a grave responsibility.

Thank you, gentlemen.

The jury will retire.

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[ Footsteps departing ]

Uh, pardon me.

[ Horn honks ]

Gum?



You know something?
It's hot.

You'd think they'd at least
air-condition this place,

wouldn't you?

I’d like to have dropped dead
in that courtroom.

Okay, gentlemen,
everybody's here.

If there's anything you want,
I’m right outside.

Just knock.

I never knew
they locked the door.

Sure, they lock the door.
What do you think?

I don't know.
It just never occurred to me.

That's all.

[ Clears throat ]

Six days.

They should have finished it
in two.

Talk, talk, talk.

You ever hear so much talk
about nothing?

Well, I guess they're entitled.

Everybody gets a fair trial.

Well, as a system, I suppose you
can't say anything against it.

[ Coughs, clears throat ]

What's the matter?
You got a cold?

Yeah. These hot-weather colds
will kill you, you know.

[ Knocking on table ]

FOREMAN: All right, gentlemen,
let's take seats.

In order, please.

Okay.
Better make this fast.

I got a couple of seats for
"The Seven Year Itch" tonight.

I must be the only guy
in the whole world

who hasn't seen it yet.

Okay, Your Honor,
start the show.

[ Clears throat, sniffs ]

How about sitting down?

The gentleman at the window.

-How about sitting down, please?
-Oh, sorry.

Well, it's rather hard
to figure here, then.

A kid kills his father.
Bang! Like that.

Well, it must be the element.

Everybody here?

The old man's in the other room.

We'd like to get started.

Oh, uh, uh, forgive me,
gentlemen.

I didn't mean
to keep you waiting.

All right, all right,
just take your seat, please.

All right, you gentlemen can
work this any way you want to.

By that, I mean I’m not going to
give you any rules.

-You can discuss it --
-Well, uh, let's vote now.

Who knows?
Maybe we can all go home.

Yeah, let's find out
who's where.

Anybody doesn't want to vote?

-Okay.
-[ Clears throat ]

All those voting "guilty,"
raise your right hands.

[ Clears throat ]

1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8, 9 --

8, 9, 10, 11.

That's 11 for guilty.

So, who's voting "not guilty"?

One. Okay.

It's 11 to 1 for "guilty."

Now we know where we are.

Somebody's in left field.

Do you think he's not guilty?

Well, I don't know.

I never saw a guiltier man
in my life.

You sat right in the courtroom,
heard the same thing we did.

That man's a dangerous killer.
You could see it.

Well, he's a 19-year-old boy.

That's old enough to knife
his own father.

They proved it.

Did you believe him?

I don't know if I believed him
or not.

Maybe I didn't.

Well, so, what did you vote
"not guilty" for?

Well, there were 11 votes
for "guilty."

I don't know.

It just isn't so easy for me
to hold up my hand

and send a boy off to die

without, uh, talking about it
a little.

Who says it's easy for me?

I didn't say
it was easy for you.

What, just because I voted fast?
I think the kid's guilty.

You couldn't change my mind if
you talked for a hundred years.

Look, I’m not trying to change
your mind.

I’m just trying to say

that I think we should, uh, talk
about it a little.

This kid's been kicked around
all of his life.

I mean, raised in a slum.

His mother's been dead
since he was 9 years old.

That's not a very good
head start.

What's that got to do
with the price of coffee?

I just feel that we owe him
a few words.

-That's all I’m --
-Oh, all right.

We're all grown-ups here.

You're not trying to tell us

that we're supposed to believe
his story, knowing what he is.

I’ve lived among them
all my life.

You can't believe a word
they say.

You know that.

That's a terrible thing
for a man to believe!

Since when is dishonesty
a group characteristic?

All right, it's not Sunday.
We don't need a sermon.

But what this man says
is very dangerous.

I don't see any need
for arguing like this.

I think we ought to be able
to behave like gentlemen.

JUROR #7: Right.

If we're gonna discuss the case,
let's discuss the facts.

I think that's a good point.
We have a job to do.

Let's do it.

[ European accent ]
If you gentlemen don't mind,

I’m going to open the window
more.

[ Coughs, clears throat ]

I felt the need for some air.

Perhaps if we each
took a turn --

You know, try it on for size?

That's a good idea.

Supposing we go once
around the table, huh?

-Okay, let's get started.
-Right.

Well, I guess you're first.

[ Clears throat ]

Oh, oh.

Well...I just think he's guilty.

I thought it was obvious.

I mean, nobody proved otherwise.

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.

Well, sure, I know that.

What I meant was, is --

Well, I just think
he was guilty.

Okay, let's get to the facts.

Number one, let's take the
old man who lived downstairs,

on the second floor,

in the room right underneath
where the killing took place.

At 10 minutes after 12:00
on the night of the murder,

he heard loud noises
in the upstairs apartment.

He said it sounded like a fight.

Then he heard the kid say to his
father, "I’m gonna kill you."

A second later,
he heard a body falling.

And he ran to the door
of his apartment, looked out,

and saw the kid running down
the stairs and out of the house.

That's when he called
the police.

They found the father
with a knife in his chest.

[ Chuckles ]
Now, what else do you want?

JUROR #4: The boy's entire story
is flimsy.

He claims he was at the movies.
Now, that's ridiculous.

He couldn't even remember the
names of the pictures he saw.

Well, what about the woman
across the street?

If her testimony doesn't prove
anything, nothing does.

-Let's go in order.
-Now, wait a minute!

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Now,
here's a woman who's in bed.

She can't sleep.

It's hot, you know?

Anyway, she looks out
her window, across the street,

and sees the kid stick the knife
into his father.

She's known the kid
all his life.

Now, this is right
across the street.

She looks through the window,
across the el tracks,

and sees him do it.

She swore
that she saw him do it.

Through the windows
of a passing elevated train.

Well, it was proved in court
that you can look

through the windows
of a passing elevated train

and see what's happening
on the other side at night.

-It was proven!
-Let me ask you something.

How come you believe her?

She's just one of them, too,
isn't she?

You're a pretty smart
young fellow.

Just a minute.
Hold on.

Wait a minute.

What are you letting him
get you all upset for?

Relax.

Let's all just calm down.

It's your turn.

Um...I’ll pass it.

That's your privilege.

How about you?

Well, uh --
Well, I don't know.

When, uh --
When you look at it,

what more is there to say?

Well, look,
I got something to say.

I think we're just wasting
our time.

Look at the kid's record.

When he was 15 years old,
he was in reform school.

He stole a car.

Then they pick him up
for knife fighting.

I think they said he stabbed
somebody in the arm.

This is a very fine boy.

Ever since he was 5 years old,

his father's beat him up
regularly.

He used his fists.

Well, so would I
with a kid like that.

That's right.
It's the kids.

I got a kid.

When he was 8 years old,
he ran away from a fight.

I saw him.

I told him right out,

"I’m gonna make a man
out of you,

or I’m gonna bust you
into little pieces trying."

Then when he was 15 years old,
he hit me in the face.

He's big, you know?

Kids.
You work your heart out.

I haven't seen him
in three years.

Come on.
Let's get on with it.

We're missing the point here.

We're not dealing
with juvenile delinquency.

This boy.

Let's say he's the product

of a filthy neighborhood
and a broken home.

We can't help that.

We're not here to go
into the reasons

why slums are breeding grounds
for criminals.

They are.

I know it.
You know it.

You said something there,
mister.

I don't want any part of them,
believe me.

I’ve lived in a slum
all of my life.

JUROR #10:
Oh, wait a second!

I used to play in a backyard
that was filled with garbage.

Maybe it still smells on me,
huh?

Look,
there's nothing personal here.

There is something personal
here.

Come on.
He didn't mean you, fella.

Let's not get so sensitive.

I can understand
his sensitivity.

Look, let's stop this bickering.
We're wasting time.

It's your turn.

Oh, well, I, um --

I had a peculiar feeling
about the trial.

I felt that the, uh --
the boy --

or the, uh,
counsel for the defense,

uh, didn't make a thorough
enough cross-examination.

There were too many questions
left unasked.

Well, what about the ones
that were asked?

For instance, let's talk about
that cute little switch knife.

You know, the one that nice,
honest kid admitted buying.

All right, let's, uh --
let's talk about that.

I’d like to see that knife,
if I could, again, Mr. Foreman.

Could we get it in here?

We all know what it looks like.

I don't see why
we have to look at it again.

What do you think?

The gentleman has the right
to view exhibits in evidence.

Okay with me.

This knife is a pretty
important piece of evidence.

Don't you agree?

Oh, yes.
Yes, I do.

The boy admits buying
a switch knife that night

at a neighborhood store
at about 8:00.

When the storekeeper
was arrested,

he identified the knife
as the only one of its kind

that he had in stock.

Why did the boy get it?

As a present for a friend
of his, he says.

Am I right so far?

-Right, absolutely.
-You bet you're right.

Now, listen to this man.

He knows
what he's talking about.

Next, the boy claims,
on the way home,

the knife must have dropped
through a hole in his pocket

because he never saw it again.

Now, there's a story, gentlemen.

You all know what happened.

The boy took the knife home

and, a few hours later,
stabbed his father

and even remembered
to wipe off the fingerprints.

There you are.
Thank you.

Everyone connected with the case
has identified this knife.

Now, are you trying to tell me

that someone picked it up
off the street,

went to the boy's house,

and stabbed the father
just to be amusing?

No, no, I’m just saying
that it is possible

that the boy lost the knife

and that somebody else stabbed
his father with a similar knife.

I just say it's possible.

Take a look at that knife.

That's a very strange knife.

Aren't you trying to make us
accept a pretty incredible

piece of coincidence?

JUROR #8: I’m not trying
to make you accept anything.

I just say it's possible.

JUROR #3:
And I say it's not possible.

What are you trying to do?

Yeah, what is this?
Who do you think you are?

Look, everybody --

Look at it. Look at it.
It's the same knife.

Where did you get it?

I bought it in a little
junk shop around the corner

from the kid's house last night.

$2.

Now, listen to me.

You pulled
a real smart trick here,

but you proved absolutely zero.

Maybe there are 10 knives
like that. So what?

Maybe there are.

The boy lied, and you know it.

Maybe he lied.
I don't know.

-Do you think he lied?
-That's a stupid question.

Of course he lied!

Do you think he lied?

I don't know.

Say, what do you think
you're gonna accomplish?

If you get stubborn
and hang this jury,

they'll just try the kid again
and find him guilty,

as sure as he's born.

Well, you're probably right
about that.

So, what are you gonna do
about it?

We could be here all night!

It's only one night.

A man may die because of us.

Well, whose fault is that?

Look, why don't we take this
again step-by-step?

What I mean is if you have
the piece of evidence --

Look, nobody forced the kid
to kill his father!

How do you like that guy?

Nobody forced him to do it!

[ Indistinct arguing ]

I can't understand a word!

Must we all talk at once?

He's right. I think we just
ought to get on with it.

Now, everybody sit down.

What do you say?

You're the one
that's holding up the show.

All right, I’ve got
a proposition to make.

[ Coughs ]

I want to call for another vote,

and I want you 11 gentlemen
to vote by secret ballot.

I’ll abstain.

And if there are still 11 votes
for "guilty,"

I won't stand alone anymore.

We'll take in a "guilty" verdict
right away.

Okay, let's do it.

Sounds fair.
Everyone agreed?

Pass these along.

ANNOUNCER: We return now
to "Westinghouse Studio One"

and "Twelve Angry Men."

[ Horns honking ]

[ Clears throat ]

[ Paper rustling ]

FOREMAN:
Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Not guilty.

JUROR #10:
How do you like that?

FOREMAN:
Guilty.

Who was that?
I think we got a right to know!

I know who it was.

It's all this slick preacher.

Tears your heart out

with stories
about a poor little slum kid

who just couldn't help
becoming a murderer.

And you change your vote.

If that isn't the most --
the most ridiculous --

Now hold it. Hold it.
Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.

Please, 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.

In my own country,
I am ashamed to say --

Look, what are we
supposed to do now,

listen to the whole history
of your country?

JUROR #7: Yeah, look,
let's stick to the subject.

I want to ask you.
What made you change your vote?

JUROR #9:
He didn't change his vote.

I did.

Maybe you'd like to know why,
hmm?

JUROR #3: No,
we wouldn't want to know why.

FOREMAN:
The man wants to talk.

Thank you.

This gentleman chose
not to stand alone against us.

Well, that's his right.

He left the responsibility
entirely up to us.

He gambled for support,
and I gave it to him.

All right,
now the speech is over.

Let's go on.

Look, buddy,
I got a little excited.

You know how it is.

I didn't mean to get nasty
or personal.

Sure.

Hey.

Hey, you.
I’d like to ask you something.

If the kid didn't kill him,
who did?

Well, we're not concerned
with anyone else here.

Our job is just to figure out

whether the boy
who's on trial here is guilty.

Guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt.

Now, that's a very important
thing to remember.

Everybody's a lawyer!

You said a mouthful.

Look, the old man heard the kid
yell, "I’m gonna kill you."

A second later, he heard
the father's body falling.

He saw the kid running out of
the house 15 seconds after that.

That's right.

And let's not forget
the woman across the street.

She saw the killing.

Now, if that doesn't
convince you --

I’m sorry.
It's not enough for me.

The woman saw the killing

through the moving cars
of an elevated train.

The train had five cars,

and she saw it
through the last two cars.

She remembers
the most insignificant details.

What are you gonna say
about that?

I don't know. It just
doesn't sound right to me.

Well
suppose you think about it.

Here, lend me your pencil.

There.
It's your turn.

Might as well pass the time.

-Now, wait a minute.
-This isn't a game!

Who do you think you are?

I’ve got a good mind to walk
around this table and belt him!

Please, please!
I don't want anyone hurt!

[ Indistinct arguing ]

Now, listen.
Take it easy!

-It don't mean anything!
-How about sitting down?

Get back to your seat.

Who does he think he is?
Sit down.

Wait a minute.

Now, just --
Now, look at this sketch.

Now, there's an elevated train
with five cars.

Now, that elevated train was
going past the old man's window

at the exact second
of the killing,

according to the woman
across the street.

Do you know what kind of a noise
that makes?

Now, remember
the old man's testimony.

"I’m gonna kill you,"
and then one second later --

one second --
he heard a body fall.

Now, just think about that
for a minute.

Do you think it's possible

he could have heard this boy
say, "I’m gonna kill you"

with an elevated train roaring
past the end of his nose?

What do you mean?
Sure, he could have heard it.

He could?

He said the kid yelled it out.
That's enough for me.

JUROR #9: I don't think
he could have heard it.

Maybe he didn't hear it.

I mean,
with the el noise and all.

What are you people
talking about?

You're calling
the old man a liar?

-Well, it stands to reason --
-You're crazy.

Why would he lie?
What's he got to gain?

Attention, maybe.

You keep coming up
with these bright sayings.

Why don't you send one in
to a newspaper?

They pay $2.

Why might he have lied, sir?
Go ahead.

You have a right to speak.

Well, it's just
that I looked at him

for a very, very long time.

He was a very, very old man
with a torn jacket.

And he carried two canes.

Now, this is a quiet,
frightened, insignificant man

who has been nothing
all his life

and who have never had
any recognition.

Nobody knows him after 75 years.

Gentlemen, that is a very,
very sad thing.

A man like this
needs to be recognized,

to be quoted just once.

This is very important.

That's the most fantastic thing
I ever heard in my life.

How can you make up things
like that?

What do you know about it?

I speak from experience.

Is there anything else?

[ Coughs ]

Anybody want a cough drop?

Come on.
Let's get on with it.

Oh, yeah,
I’ll take a cough drop.

Now, look,
I’ve got something to say.

Now, I think that we've proved

that the old man couldn't
possibly have heard the boy say,

"I’m gonna kill you."

But let's suppose
that he did hear it,

that he really did hear it.

Now, this phrase -- How many
times has each of you used it?

"Junior, if you do that again,
I’m gonna kill you."

We say it every day.

It doesn't actually mean
that you're gonna kill somebody.

Now, wait a minute!

The phrase was
"I’m going to kill you."

And the kid shouted it out
at the top of his lungs.

Anybody says a thing like that
the way he said it,

they mean it.

And how they mean it!

Do you think he'd shout out

so the whole neighborhood
would hear it?

I don't think he would.
He's too bright for that.

Bright? Why, he's nothing
but a common, ignorant slob.

He don't even know
how to speak English!

He doesn't even know
how to speak English.

I’d like to change my vote
to "not guilty."

-FOREMAN: You sure?
-JUROR #5: Yes, I’m sure.

FOREMAN: The vote is now 9 to 3
in favor of "guilty."

JUROR #7:
Oh, brother!

You come in here and pull
stories out of the thin air.

I suppose now
we're supposed to believe

that the old man
didn't get up out of bed,

didn't run to the door,

and didn't see the kid
go down the stairs

15 seconds after the killing.

He's only saying he did
to be important?

Well, wait. Wait.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Did the old man say
that he ran to the door?

Ran, walked.
What's difference does it make?

He got there.

[ Fingers snap ]

Where was the old man's bedroom
again?

Down the hall a ways.

You're supposed to remember
everything.

Don't you remember that?

No.

Mr. Foreman,

could we see the diagram
of that apartment again, please?

Why don't we run
this whole trial all over again

so that you can get everything
straight?

-Mr. Foreman, could we please --
-l heard you.

[ Clears throat ]

All right, what is all this?

How come you're the only one
in the room

that has to see exhibits
all the time?

If we have to wade through
all that nonsense

about where the body
was found --

We don't.

We're just gonna try to find out

how an old man who's had
two strokes in three years

and walks with a couple of canes
can get up and get out of bed

and get through the front door
in 15 seconds.

-He said 20 seconds.
-No, he said 15.

How long does he know -- How
does he know about 15 seconds?

How can you judge
a thing like that?

He said 15.
He was very positive about it.

He's an old man.
You saw him.

Half the time he was confused.

How can he be positive
about anything?

That's right.

May I, please?
Thank you.

Now, uh --

Look, uh,
will you do me a favor?

Wake me up
when this is all over.

All right, now,
here is the apartment

where the killing took place.

As you remember,
the old man's apartment

is beneath and exactly the same.

Now, here's the elevated train,
a bedroom, a bedroom,

living room, bathroom, kitchen.

And here's that hallway
and front door.

Now, the old man says that he
was in bed in this room, right?

He got up, went through the
hallway, out to the front door,

and opened it just in time

to see the boy come rushing
down the stairs, hmm?

Now, his bed is at this window.

And it is, uh...

12 feet from his bed
to the bedroom door.

And the length of the hall is...

[ Muttering ]

...uh, 43 feet, 6 inches.

Now, he would have had to get
out of bed,

uh, get his canes -- right? --

walk 12 feet,
open the bedroom door,

walk 43 feet,

open the front door,

and all in 15 seconds.

Now, do you think
that's possible?

You know it's possible.

He can only walk very slowly.

They had to help him
into the witness chair.

You make it sound
like a long walk. It's not.

Here, just, uh --
I’m gonna try something here.

I’m just gonna find out
how long it took him.

Let's see.

I’m gonna pace off
the length of his bedroom.

That's 12 feet, yeah.

You're crazy.

You can't reconstruct
a thing like that.

Perhaps if we could see it.

This is an important point.

It's a ridiculous waste of time.

Well, let him do it!

Hand me this chair right here,
would you, please?

Now, let's assume
that this chair here

is the bedroom door
of the old man's room.

From this chair to the door
of this room here and back

is...40 feet.

Well, anyway, it's shorter
than the length of the hallway.

-Wouldn't you say that?
-A few feet, maybe.

Oh, this is absolutely insane!

What makes you think
you can prove that?

Well, let me try it.

According to the testimony,
it'll only take 15 seconds.

Surely we can spare that.

Now, you got a watch
with a second hand?

-l have.
-Oh, good.

Now, when you want me to start,
stamp your foot.

That'll be the body falling.

And just time me from there.

Oh, yeah, and let's say
that he keeps his canes

right close by the bedside.

All right.

Okay, I’m ready.
Any--

Just a second.
Go!

Oh, come on. Speed it up.
Speed it up.

The old man walked
twice as fast as that!

I think this is even faster
than the old man walked.

Okay, okay, if you want me
to walk faster, I will.

Stop.
What's the time?

Just a second.

So, the 20 --
exactly 28 seconds.

28 seconds?

It's my guess that the old man

was trying to get
to the front door.

He heard someone rushing
down the stairs,

and he assumed that
it was the boy -- assumed it.

Sure, sure,
I think that's possible.

Assumed?
Now, listen to me, you people.

I’ve seen lots of dishonesty
in my day,

but this little display takes
the cake.

Tell him, will you?

What's the matter
with you people?

The kid's guilty!

He's got to burn!

We're letting him slip
through our fingers here.

Slip through our fingers?

Who are you, his executioner?

I’m one of them.

Maybe you'd like to pull
the switch.

For this kid?

You bet I’d like to pull
the switch!

-Well, I’m sorry for you.
-Don't start with me.

How it must feel
to want to pull a switch.

Shut up.

You want this boy to die
because you personally want it,

not because of the facts.

-Shut up.
-You're a sadist.

-Shut up!
-Wait! Wait! Hold it!

Let me go!
I’m gonna kill him!

I’ll kill him!

You don't actually mean
that you'll kill me, do you?

ANNOUNCER: We return now
to "Westinghouse Studio One"

and "Twelve Angry Men."

[ Horns honking ]

Anything wrong, gentlemen?

I heard some noise.

No, there's nothing wrong.

Well, what are you looking at?

I don't see why we have to
behave like children.

Nor do I.

We have a responsibility.

This is the remarkable thing
about democracy,

that we are --
What's the word? --

Notified --
that we are notified by mail

to come down to this place

and decide about the guilt
or innocence

of a man
we have not known before.

We have nothing to gain or lose
by our verdict.

This is one of the reasons
why we are strong.

We should not make it
a personal thing.

Well, we're still nowhere.

Anyone have an idea?

Well, uh,
how about trying another vote?

Mr. Foreman?

It's all right with me.

Anybody who doesn't
want to vote?

All right.

Supposing I call off
your jury numbers?

I vote guilty.

Number 2?

Not guilty.

Number 3?

Guilty!

Number 4?

Guilty.

Number 5?

Not guilty.

Number 6?

Not guilty.

-Number 7?
-Guilty!

-Number 8?
-Uh, not guilty.

-Number 9?
-Not guilty.

Number 10?

Guilty.

Number 11?

Not guilty.

Number 12?

Guilty.

The vote is 6 to 6.

I tell you the crime
is being committed

right in this room!

I’m ready to walk into court
right now

and declare a hung jury!

I go for that, too.

Let the kid take his chance
with 12 other guys.

Do you mean
you still don't think

there's room
for a reasonable doubt?

No, I don't.

I beg your pardon.

Maybe you do not understand
the term "reasonable doubt."

What do you mean
I don't understand it?

Who do you think
you're talking to -- me?

The nerve of this guy!

He comes running over here
for his life,

and before he gets
a deep breath,

he starts telling us
how to run the show.

The arrogance of him!

Now, now, wait a minute.

Now, nobody's asking
where you came from.

I was born right here!

Or where your father came from.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt us

to take a few tips from people
who come running here.

Maybe they learn something
we don't know.

We're none of us that perfect.

FOREMAN:
Look, let's stop the arguing.

Now, who's got something
constructive to say?

Well, there's one thing that's
been bothering me a little,

and that's the whole business
about this stab wound,

the way it was made,
the downward angle of it.

Oh, don't tell me
we're going to start that again.

They went over it and over it
in court.

I know they did, but I don't
happen to go along with it.

Now,
this boy is 5'8" inches tall.

His father was 6'2".

Now,
that's a difference of 6 inches.

It seems to me
a very awkward thing

to stab down
into the chest of a man

who's half a foot taller
than you are.

Look, you're not going to be
satisfied till you see it again.

I’ll give you a demonstration.

Somebody stand up.

Okay.

Now watch this.

I don't want to have to do it
again.

Is that 6 inches?

That's more than 6 inches.

All right, let it be more.

-[ Indistinct shouting ]
-Easy!

-Hey, that's not funny!
-What's the matter with you?

Now, just calm down, will you?

Nobody's hurt, are they?

No, no, nobody's hurt.

All right, there's your angle.

Take a look at it.
Down and in.

That's how it was done.

Down and in.

I guess there's no argument,
huh?

Uh, look, I want you
to watch something here

for just a moment, please.

Now...

Now, doesn't that seem like an
awkward way to handle a knife?

-That's what I’ve been saying.
-Wait. Wait.

Now, watch this.

Carefully.

Wait a minute.
Give me the knife.

Did you ever see a knife fight?

Yes, I have,
in my own neighborhood,

too many of them.

It's funny I didn't
think about it before.

I guess you try to forget
things like that.

Anybody who's ever handled
a switchblade before

would never have stabbed
downward.

You don't use a switchblade
that way.

You use it underhand.

Well, then, he couldn't
have made the kind of wound

that killed his father.

Not if he'd ever had any
experience with switchblades,

no.

-I don't believe it.
-I don't, either.

You're giving us
a lot of mumbo jumbo.

What do you think?

Uh...I don't know.

What about you?

Look, I want to tell you
something.

I’m getting a little sick
of this whole thing already.

Let's break it up and go home.

I’m changing my vote
to "not guilty."

-You're what?
-You heard me.

What kind of a man are you,

playing like this
with a human being's life,

simply because there are
some theater tickets

burning a hole in your pocket?

This is an ugly
and terrible thing to do.

Look, you can't talk like that
to me.

I can talk like that to you.

If you want to vote
"not guilty,"

then do so
because you are convinced

that the man is not guilty,
not because you are in a hurry.

Look, I don't have to tell you
why I’m --

Don't you have the guts?
Say it.

Why do you vote "not guilty"?

Because.

I don't think he's guilty.

I want another vote now.

All right,
there's another vote called for.

I guess the quickest way
would be by a show of hands.

Everyone agree?

All right, all those voting
"not guilty," raise your hands.

1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6, 7, 8...

9.

Those voting "guilty,"
raise your hands.

3.

The vote is 9 to 3,
in favor of acquittal.

I can't understand you people.

How can you believe
that this kid is innocent?

You know how these people lie.

I don't have to tell you that.

They don't know
what the truth is.

They -- They -- Look, and I want
to tell you another thing.

They don't need any big reason
to kill somebody, either.

They drink, and they get
into a fight and bang!

Somebody's lying in the gutter.

Nobody can blame them
because that's the way they are.

Don't you see what I mean?
They're violent.

Human life doesn't mean as much
to them as it does to us.

Where are you going?

Look, these people are drinking
and fighting all the time.

And if somebody gets killed,
somebody gets killed.

They don't care.

Most of them --

Well, it seems they --
they haven't got any feelings.

They, uh --
They'll do anything.

Say, what's going on here?

Listen to me.

There isn't one of them
that's got any good in him,

not one of them.

You listen to what I tell you.
That kid that's on trial there.

Don't you know about them?

What are you doing?

Look, I’m trying to tell you
something here,

and you won't even listen to me.
I -- I --

I’ve had enough.

You open your mouth again,
and I’ll split your skull.

All right, everybody, sit down.

I still think the boy is guilty,
and I’ll tell you why.

The most damning
piece of evidence

came from that woman who said

that she actually
saw the murder committed.

That's right.

As far as I’m concerned, that's
the most important testimony.

JUROR #4: She went to bed
at about 11:00 that night.

Her bed was right
at the open window.

She could look across the street
and into the other window.

She tossed and turned for about
an hour, unable to sleep.

Finally, at about 12:10,
she turned toward the window,

looked across the street,

and saw the boy stab his father.

Now, to me,
that's unshakable testimony.

That's what I mean.
That's the whole case!

Frankly, I don't see
how you can vote for acquittal.

What do you think?

Well, maybe -- There's so much
evidence to sift.

But you can throw out
all the other evidence.

That was my feeling.

Does anybody know
the correct time?

My watch
seems to have stopped.

1 minute of 6:00.

It's that late?

You don't suppose
they could let us go home

and finish this tomorrow,
do you?

I got a kid at home
with the mumps.

Not a chance.

Pardon me.

Can't you see that clock
without your glasses?

Well, not too clearly.
Why?

Well, what do you do
when you wake up at night

and you want to know
what time it is?

What are you talking about?

I put on my glasses
and look at the clock.

And you don't wear your glasses
to bed?

Are you crazy?
Nobody wears glasses to bed.

What's all this for?

Well, I was just thinking.

The woman who testified that she
saw this killing wears glasses.

Well, she wouldn't wear
the glasses to bed, would she?

Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Did she wear glasses at all?
I don't seem to remember.

Of course she did.
The woman wore bifocals.

I remember this very clearly.
They looked quite strong.

She did wear glasses.

Funny. I forgot.

She wasn't wearing her glasses
in bed.

That's for sure.
You're right.

She testified that,
in her tossing and turning,

she rolled over and looked
casually out the window,

and the crime was taking place
as she looked out.

And a split second later,
the lights went out.

She couldn't have had time
to put on her glasses.

Look, I think that this women
honestly thought

that she saw this boy
kill his father,

but I’ll tell you
what she really saw.

A blur, just a blur.

How do you know what she saw?

How does he know
all these things?

Well, does anybody still say

that there's not at least
a reasonable doubt?

No.

Well, I think he's guilty!

Anybody else?

No, I’m convinced.

You're alone.

I don't care
whether I’m alone or not.

I have a right.

Yes, you do.
You have a right.

Well, I told you.

I think he's guilty.

Now, what else do you want?

Your arguments.

I gave you my arguments.

But we're not convinced.
We want to hear them again.

We have the time.

Listen,
what's the matter with you?

You're the guy.
You've made all the arguments.

You can't turn now.
Stick with me.

I’m sorry.

There's a reasonable doubt
in my mind.

We're waiting.

Well, you're not
going to intimidate me!

I got a right to my opinion!

It'll be a hung jury!
That's it!

Well, there's nothing we can do
about that,

except hope that some night,
a few months from now,

you'll get some sleep.

Now you're all alone.

It takes a great deal of courage
to stand alone.

All right!

They're waiting.

JUDGE:
Murder in the first degree,

premeditated homicide,

is the most serious charge
tried in our criminal courts.

You've heard a long
and complex case, gentlemen,

and it is now your duty

to sit down to try and separate
the facts from the fantasy.

One man is dead.

The life of another
is in your hands.

If there is a reasonable doubt
in your minds

as to the guilt of the accused,

then you must declare him
not guilty.

If, however,
there is no reasonable doubt

then he must be found guilty.

Whichever way you decide --