Play by Reginald Rose Teaching Activities by Rivka Lewenstein

SAMPLE PAGE FROM 
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
© 2011. A.E.L. Publications

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Twelve Angry Men
14
SEVEN
(
To 
TEN): How did you like that business about the knife? Did you ever hear 
a phonier
1
story? 
TEN
(
Wisely
): Well, look, you’ve gotta expect that. You know what you’re dealing 
with.
SEVEN
: Yeah, I suppose. What’s the matter, you got a cold?
TEN
(
Blowing
): A lulu.
2
These hot-weather colds can kill you. 
SEVEN nods sympathetically.
FOREMAN
(
Briskly
): All right, gentlemen. Let’s take seats.
SEVEN
: Right, this better be fast. I’ve got tickets to 
The Seven Year Itch
3
 
tonight. I 
must be the only guy in the whole world who hasn’t seen it yet. (
He laughs and sits 
down.
) Okay, your honor, start the show.
They all begin to sit down. The FOREMAN is seated at the head of the table. 
EIGHT continues to look out the window.
FOREMAN
(
To 
EIGHT): How about sitting down? (EIGHT 
doesn’t hear him.
)
 
The 
gentleman at the window.
EIGHT turns, startled.
FOREMAN
: How about sitting down?
EIGHT: Oh. I’m sorry.
He heads for a seat.
TEN
(
To 
SIX): It’s tough
4
to figure,
5
isn’t it? A kid kills his father. Bing! Just like that. 
Well, it’s the element.
6 
They let the kids run wild. Maybe it serves ’em right.
7
FOREMAN
: Is everybody here?
1. phonier = more untrue, less believable 
5. figure = understand
2. a lulu = a big one 
(slang)
6. the element = the type of people
3. 
The Seven Year Itch
= a theater play
7. it serves them right = they deserve it
4. tough = difficult 
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