User blog:CboyC95/Fanfiction - 12 Angry Louds

Lincoln:(To the viewers) You know, if there is one person in this house who always keeps things in check, it's our dad. Living with a family of eleven kids is never easy. But somehow, dad has always managed to make through all of it when we need him. And that's why we love him.

Lynn Sr.: *yawns* Good morning, everyone.

Kids: Good morning, dad.

Rita: Good morning, dear. (kisses Lynn Sr.'s cheek)

Lynn Sr.: Mmm. Breakfast sure looks good, hun.

Rita: Actually, the kids helped in making it.

Lori: We want to make this a special breakfast for you, dad.

Lynn Sr.: You kids didn't have to do that.

Lana: We want to, dad. 'Cause your the most awesomest dad ever.

Kids: Yeah.

Lynn Sr.: If I'm the luckiest man to have kids like you. (The kids hug Lynn Sr.) You kids can let me go. I have to get the mail.

(Lynn Sr. sifts through the mail in hand until he finds one that caught his attention. He open the mail, then reads the letter is shocked)

Lincoln: Dad?

Rita: Honey? What's wrong?

Lynn Sr.: Jury duty.

Rita: What?

Lynn Sr.: I got jury duty.

Leni: Dad's got Jerry duty?

Lisa: He said jury duty. Not Jerry duty.

Leni: That’s what I said. Jerry duty.

Rita: Jury duty? Are you sure? (reads the letter) Oh my. It does say that.

Lincoln: But dad. You promised we'd go fishing with Clyde and his dads today.

Lynn Sr.: Sorry, son. Maybe not today.

Luna: Wow. Bummer.

Lynn: Yeah. With a capital B.

Luan: Talk about answering the call of duty. Get it? *laugh*

Lynn Sr.: Luan. Don’t use jokes like that.

Luan: But all I said was...

Lynn Sr.: Luan.

Luan: Sorry, dad.

Lincoln: (on walkie talkie) Clyde. Come in. Code green. I repeat, code green.

Clyde: Your dad's not going on the fishing trip?

Lincoln: Yeah. He's got jury duty. Are your dads still going?

Clyde: No. They got jury duty too.

Lincoln: Huh? Since when?

Clyde: Just now. I hope it's nothing serious.

Lola: Please, dad, you can't go!

Lynn Sr.: Sorry, sweetie. I have to. I can't just say no. There are crimes for not going to jury duty.

Lucy: I feel a fraction of my soul disappearing.

Lily: Poo poo.

Rita: Don't cry, Lily. Daddy's not going away.

Lana: Hey dad. What do you do on jury duty?

Lynn Sr.: Well Lana. A person on jury duty is called a juror. A jury is made up of a group of people, and they decide if a person is guilty, or not guilty.

Lana: Oh. So it's not the judge who does that?

Lynn Sr.: Oh no. The jury listens to the whole case, then everyone has to agree guilty or not guilty, then finally the judge enforces it to let the person go or take him away.

Lucy: Maybe to be executed.

Lynn Sr.: Uh, not like that, Lucy. But that person does get taken away if he did the crime.

Leni: Wow. Being on a Jerry must be hard.

Others: Jury!

Leni: That’s what I said.

Rita: Honey. Did it say when you have to be there?

Lynn Sr.: Oh. It said I to be at the courthouse by one. What time is it?

Rita: it's 20 past 11.

Lynn Sr.: Oh. I got to get dressed.

(Lynn Sr. later comes out dressed and is ready to head outside)

Lynn Sr.: Got to go now. Don’t want to be late. Love you.

Rita: Bye, honey. (kisses Lynn Sr.) Be safe.

Lynn Sr.: I will. Bye, kids.

Kids: Bye, dad!

(Lynn Sr. hops inside vanzilla then starting backing out of driveway before suddenly stopping)

Mr. Grouse: Hey! Watch where your going, Loud! You trying to run me over!?

Lynn Sr.: Sorry about that, Mr. Grouse. I didn't see you there.

Mr. Grouse: What!? You didn’t see me walking!? I swear, you people are all the same.

Lynn Sr.: Wait. Mr. Grouse, you need a ride?

Mr. Grouse: Nah. I'll catch a bus.

Lynn Sr.: Where are you heading? If you don't mind me asking?

Mr. Grouse: The courthouse. Why?

Lynn Sr.: I'm on my way there too. What for?

Mr. Grouse: Jury duty.

Lynn Sr.: Really? I got jury duty too.

Mr. Grouse: Oh great. If it ain't bad enough I get jury duty on a relaxing weekend, now I got to deal with you. See you at court.

(Lynn Sr., Mr. Grouse, Howard, and Harold sat in the jury box along with eight other jurors as the judge is about to give his explanation. Among them are Mrs. Johnson, and Coach Packowski)

Judge: And that the concludes the court's explanation of the legal aspects of this case. Now ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I bring my final instruction to you. Murder in the first degree. Premeditated homicide is the serious charge tried in our criminal courts. You've listened to the testimonies, and you have had the law read to you and interpreted as it applies to this case. It has now become your duty to separate the facts from the fancy. One man is dead. The life of another is at stake. I urge you to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully. If there is reasonable doubt, then you must bring me a verdict of not guilty. If however there is no reasonable doubt, then you must in good conscience find the accused guilty. However you decide, your vote must be unanimous. In the event you find the accused guilty, the bench will not give a recommendation of mercy. The death sentence is mandatory in this case. I don't envy you your job. You are faced with a grave responsibility. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

(The bailiff escorts the jurors to the jury room)

Bailiff: Alright folks, let's move along.

Coach Packowski: Hey, you wants some gum?

Lynn Sr.: No thanks.

Coach Packowski: You should've seen the forecast today. The hottest day of the year.

Mrs. Johnson: Really? Oh dear.

Coach Packowski: You think with the conditions of this place we should've dropped dead in the courtroom.

Bailiff: Alright, everyone's here. Anyone need anything, I'll be right outside, just knock.

(The bailiff exited the room and shut the door. Howard try to open the door only to find it locked)

Howard: I didn't think they locked the door.

Gruff man: Sure they locked the door. What do you think.

Howard: I don't know, it just never occurred to me.

Gruff man: Hey, what's that for.

Mrs. Johnson: Oh. I thought we vote by ballots.

Gruff man: Good idea. Maybe we ought to elect him senator.

Mr. Grouse: So what do you think?

Harold: I thought it was pretty interesting.

Mr. Grouse: Yeah, well I was half asleep.

Harold: Well, this is my first time being on a jury.

Mr. Grouse: Yeah, well I've been on juries before. It always amazes me how these lawyers can talk and talk and talk. Even on a case as obvious as this one. I mean it never hurts to talk about nothing.

Harold: Well I guess they're entitled.

Mr. Grouse: Sure. Everybody's entitled to a fair trial. That's the system. Listen, I'm the last person to say anything against it, but sometimes I we'd all better off if we take these tough kids, and smack them down before they cause any trouble. You know I mean? Save us time and trouble.

Coach Packowski: Okay. Let's get this thing going. What do you fellas say?

Mrs. Johnson: Well I thought we'd all might take a 5 minute break I mean, the gentleman in the restroom hasn't come out yet...

Howard: Do we sit in order?

Mrs. Johnson: I don’t know. What do you think?

Well-dressed man: Not a bad view, huh? So what did you think of the case? Had a lot of interests to me. No dead spots. You know what I mean? We were lucky if you get a murder case, huh? Oh yeah, as I figured something like burglary, assault, those can be, ugh. To notice, right? Say isn't that the Commerce building?

Lynn Sr.: That’s right.

Well-dressed man: You know what's funny? I lived here all my life, but I’ve never been here?

Coach Packowski: What a waste of time.

Gruff man: Yeah. Can you imagine. Sitting here for three days just for this.

Coach Packowski: What about the business with the knife? Gotta be dumb to believe that kind of malarkey.

Gruff man: Yeah, you got to learn to expect that. You know what I'm saying?

Coach Packowski: Yeah I suppose so. Got a cold?

Gruff man: Oh yeah. And how. These hot weather colds can kill you. You know what I’m saying? Hardly touched my nose.

Coach Packowski: Whoa whoa whoa. Careful, or you might pop your eyes out. Oh great. The AC’s not even working. Somebody take a letter to the mayor. The court's air conditioner’s on the fritz.

Howard: I’ll take a look at it.

Mr. Grouse: Hey I didn't get a chance to look at the news this morning. Anything new going on?

Fancy woman: I’m just wondering if the market closes.

Mr. Grouse: Oh yeah, you on the exchange or something?

Fancy woman: I’m the CEO of a cosmetic brand.

Mr. Grouse: Really? I work at a messenger service. I earned 40 bucks an hour. It's not much but it helps pay the bills.

Coach Packowski: Hey are we gonna get this over with or what?

Mrs. Johnson: Alright everyone, let's take our seats.

Coach Packowski: Hope this goes fast. I got tickets to a ball game tonight. Tigers and Cleveland. Heard they got this new kid pitchin’, Muchelowski. Real jobber. You guys are quite the fans aren't you?

Harold: Well, not me.

Howard: I used to go to baseball games.

Coach Packowski: Maybe I'll save you a ticket when this is over. So Agnes. Where do you want us to sit?

Mrs. Johnson: Well, I thought we might sit in order. Maybe by our given jury number. One, two three, four, five, and so on, if that is fine by everybody?

(All the jurors sit in their designated seats)

Well-dressed man: So what was your impression of the prosecuting attorney?

Indian woman: I beg your pardon?

Well-dressed man: I mean I thought he was really sharp. You know, the way he hammered home his points you know? One by one in logical sequence? I mean, come on. Take a smart mind to do something like that, you know? I was very impressed.

Indian woman: Yes. I think he did an excellent job.

Well-dressed man: I mean he had a lot of drive too. You know what I mean? Real… drive.

Coach Packowski: Okay. Let's get this show on the road. Come on.

Mrs. Johnson: Oh right, Mr. Loud, do mind taking your seat? Mr. Loud we’re all waiting on you.

Lynn Sr.: Sorry about that. I was just thinking.

Gruff man: Pretty tough to figure, isn't it? Boy kills his father, bam! Just like that.

Well-dressed man: Well, if you analyze the figures…

Gruff man: What figures? I’m telling you, they let the kids run wild out there. Maybe serves him right. You know what I mean?

Coach Packowski: Hey you. You a Tiger fan?

Howard: No. Cubs.

Coach Packowski: Cubs? Hehe. It's like getting smacked everyday with a crowbar. Who do they got? No seriously. Who do they got except maybe some good groundskeepers.

(The last juror an old man walked into the room)

Mrs. Johnson: Alright, now-oh! I'm so sorry, sir. I forgot about you.

Old man: No. I’m sorry I thought…

Mrs. Johnson: Nono we were just going to get started. So, you can take your seat.

Coach Packowski: Heh. Cubs.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright, everyone. I suppose any of you have any suggestion on how we should do this? We can either discuss it then vote or, vote right now and see where we stand.

Fancy woman: I believe it is customary to take a preliminary vote.

Coach Packowski: Alright. Let's vote. Who knows, maybe we can all go home, huh?

Mrs. Johnson: Now just remember there are first degree murder charges. We vote guilty we send the accused to the electric chair. Now that's mandatory.

Fancy woman: I think we're all aware of that.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. Now remember, this has to be a twelve to nothing vote either way. Everyone okay with that?

Mr. Grouse: Come on. Let's vote.

Gruff man: Yeah. Let's see who's where.

Mrs. Johnson: All those voting guilty, raise your hand.

(The jurors hands are raised)

Mrs. Johnson: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. Hm. Eleven votes guilty. All those voting not guilty, raise your hand.

(Lynn Sr. slowly raised his hand)

Mrs. Johnson: I see. One vote not guilty. Votes are eleven to one in favor of guilty. Now we know where we stand.

Gruff man: Aw jeez. There's always one.

Coach Packowski: What do we do now?

Lynn Sr.: Well I… guess we talk.

Gruff man: Boy, oh boy.

Mr. Grouse: Wait. Loud. Do you really think he's innocent?

Lynn Sr.: I don't know.

Mr. Grouse: Hey let's be reasonable here. You sat in the courtroom like the rest of us, and you heard the same thing we did, he’s a dangerous killer. You can see it.

Lynn Sr.: He? The boy’s only eleven years old.

Mr. Grouse: So? That’s old enough to me. He knifed his father. Four inches into his stomach.

Slacker: I mean it's obvious. I was convinced from the first day.

Mr. Grouse: Well who was it? Look, I really think this is one of those open and shut things. I mean they proved that it does in different ways. Would you like me to list them for you?

Lynn Sr.: No.

Gruff man: Then what do you want?

Lynn Sr.: Nothing. I… I just want to talk.

Coach Packowski: Talk? What's there to talk about. We all agreed. There was nothing false about it. Nothing except you.

Gruff man: I want to ask you something. Do you believe his story?

Lynn Sr.: I don't know if I believe it or not. Maybe I don't.

Coach Packowski: Then why did you vote not guilty?

Lynn Sr.: Look, there were eleven for guilty. I mean it's not easy for me to just raise my hand and send a boy off to die without at least talking first.

Coach Packowski: Who says this is up to me?

Lynn Sr.: No one.

Coach Packowski: I mean you can talk talk talk just because I voted fast? I think he's guilty. You can talk for a hundred years. You still wouldn't change my mind.

Lynn Sr.: I’m not trying to change your mind it's just that we're talking about somebody's life here. We can't just decided in 30 seconds. Suppose we’re wrong?

Coach Packowski: Heh. Suppose we’re wrong. You can suppose anything. We all believe he's guilty. Suppose it takes us 30 seconds to finish, so what?

Lynn Sr.: Look. Let's take an hour. You’re ball game doesn't start ‘til six.

Coach Packowski: Alright slugger. You’re up.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. Anybody have something to say? Mr. McBride, how about you?

Harold: Not me.

Old man: I'm willing to put in an hour.

Lynn Sr.: Thank you.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright.

Gruff man: Okay. Well, I heard a pretty good story last night. This woman comes running into the doctor's office stripped without...

Lynn Sr.: That's not what we're sitting here for!

Gruff man: Okay, then you tell me. What are we sitting here for?

Lynn Sr.: I don't know. Look, this boy’s been kicked around his whole life. You know, living in a ghetto. His mother dead since he was five years old. He spent a year and a half in a orphanage while his father served prison time for forgery. Not a very good headstart. He suffered a terrible childhood. I think we owe him a few words. That's all.

Gruff man: Well I don't mind telling you this, mister. We don’t owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn’t he? Come on, what do you think this trial costs? He's lucky he got it. Listen, listen. I lived among 'em all my life, you can't believe a word they say. I mean, they're born liars.

Old man: You know, it suddenly occurred to me that you must be an ignorant man.

Gruff man: What do you mean? What's he talking about here?

Old man: You think you hold a monopoly on the truth?

Gruff man: What are you making a federal case about this for? Can you believe this guy?

Mrs. Johnson: Alright, now let's just calm down...

Old man: I think certain things should be pointed out to this man.

Mr. Grouse: Come on, it's not sunday. We don’t need a sermon in here.

Gruff man: Monopoly, for Pete's sake.

Fancy woman: If we are going to discuss this case let's just stick to the facts.

Mrs. Johnson: She's right everyone. We have a job to do. So, let's do it. I suppose Mr. Loud can tell us why? I mean, what is he thinking? Maybe we can show him where he's probably mixed up.

Indian woman: Pardon me but, what are you drawing?

Well-dressed man: Huh? Oh. It's one of the projects I work on down at the ad agency. "Rice Pops: The breakfast with the built in balance" Heh heh. I wrote that line.

Indian woman: Yes. That is very catchy.

Mrs. Johnson: If you don't mind...

Well-dressed man: Oh. I'm sorry. It's just that I have this habit of doodling, you know? It keeps me thinking clearly.

Mrs. Johnson: We're trying to get somewhere, if you're forgetting. I mean we can sit here forever, everyone.

Well-dressed man: Wait. Uh, maybe this is an idea. This is just off the top of my head. I don’t know, I'm just thinking out loud here but, you know it seems it's up to us to convince this gentleman that we're right, and he's wrong. So, maybe if we can each take a minute or two to just kinda... it's just a quick thought.

Mrs. Johnson: Nono. I think that's a good idea. How about we all go around once around the table by jury number. Sound good?

(The other jurors sans Lynn Sr. agreed)

Mrs. Johnson: Alright, that means you're up first.

Mr. Grouse: Okay. Now here's what I think. And I have no personal feelings in this at all, I'm just talking facts. Number one: let's take the old man who lived on the second floor apartment building, underneath the room where the murder took place. At 10 after 12 at the evening of the murder, he heard loud noises from the apartment upstairs. He said it sounded like a fight. Then he heard the kid yell out "I'm gonna kill you!". A second later he heard a body hit the floor. He ran out to the door of his apartment, looked out, and the kid run down the stairs, and out of the house. Then he called the police. They found the father with a knife in his stomach.

Mrs. Johnson: And the coroner affixed the time of death around midnight.

Mr. Grouse: Right. Those are the facts. You can't rebut facts. The boy is guilty. Look, I'm as sympathetic as the next guy, I mean, I know that he's only a kid, but he's gotta pay for what he did.

Coach Packowski: I'm with you, bub.

Fancy woman: I think it seems obvious to me anyway, the boy's entire story was flimsy. He claimed was at a late night arcade at the time of the killing yet one hour later he couldn't remember the name of the arcade itself or some of the games there.

Mr. Grouse: That’s right. She's absolutely right.

Fancy woman: And no one had saw him go into or out of the arcade.

Gruff man: Wait a minute. What about the woman across the street? Now if her testimony don’t prove it, nothing does.

Indian woman: That’s right. She was the one who actually saw the killing.

Mrs. Johnson: Yes, but let's go in order, okay?

Gruff man: Wait. Just a minute. Now there's a woman, right? She's lying in bed, can't sleep, right? She's dying from the heat, you know what I mean? Anyway, she looks out the window, right across the street, she sees the kid stick the knife in his father. The time was 12:10 on the nose. Everything fits. Now she known this kid all his life, his window's right opposite of her's, right across the highway. And she sworn she saw him do it.

Lynn Sr.: Even though the actual stabbing was obscured by a big rig?

Gruff man: Right. She saw the father and the boy with the knife in his hands just as the truck drove by. As it drove past, both were gone from the window. But she did confirmed that the boy did stabbed his father.

Lynn Sr.: I like to ask you something.

Gruff man: Sure.

Lynn Sr.: You don’t believe the boy.

Gruff man: No.

Lynn Sr.: Then how come you believe the woman? She could be one of them too, isn't she?

Other jurors: Oooo?

Gruff man: Oh, you're a pretty smart fella, ain't you? Nonono. What are you so wise about? Can you believe this guy?

Mr. Grouse: Alright, calm down. Why are you letting him get you so upset for, huh?

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. Let's just take it easy, and try to keep it peaceful in here, alright? Now, who's turn was it? Um... Mr. McBride I think you were next.

Harold: Well it's hard for me to put into words I... I just think he's guilty. I thought it was obvious from the word go. I mean, nobody proved otherwise.

Lynn Sr.: Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of prove is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn't have to open his mouth. That's in the Constitution, you've heard of it?

Harold: Sure I've heard of it. I know it is, it's just that... the boy is guilty. I mean, somebody saw him do it.

Howard: I'll... I'll pass.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. That's your privilege. Next person?

Slacker: Well, I don’t know. I mean, I was convinced early in the case. I was looking for a motive. That's very important. But without a motive, where's your case. Well anyway, there was that testimony of the people who lived across the hall in the boy's apartment, didn’t they say something about the boy and his father having a fight the night of the killing, at 7:00 pm? I mean, I could be wrong.

Indian woman: Actually, it was 8 o clock. Not seven.

Lynn Sr.: That’s right. It was 8 o clock. They said they heard an argument, but they couldn't hear what it was about. Then they heard the father hit the boy twice, then they saw the boy walk angrily out of the house. Now what does that prove?

Slacker: Well, it doesn't prove anything it's just part of the whole picture. I didn't say it proved anything.

Lynn Sr.: You said it revealed a motive for the killing. The prosecuting attorney said the same thing. I don't think that's a very strong motive. This kid's been hit so many times in his life that violence is practically a normal state of affairs for him. I just can't see two slaps in the face provoke him to commit murder.

Fancy woman: Perhaps it may have been two slaps too many. Everyone has a breaking point.

Mrs. Johnson: Anything else?

Slacker: No.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright then. Thank you. Coach Packowski, I think you're up next.

Coach Packowski: It's already been said before. I mean, come on, look at this kid's record. He' done five for cryin' out loud. When he was six years old he got juvens court for throwing a rock at his teacher. He's got reform school a year later and stole a car. He got picked up for mugging, and twice. TWICE he got caught for trying to stab a few kids. They say he was handy with a knife, you know that? Oh yeah. Real good kid.

Lynn Sr.: Ever since he was eight years old, his father beat him up on a normal basis. He used his fists.

Coach Packowski: So would I on a kid like that.

Fancy woman: Would you call those beatings a motive for him to kill his father?

Lynn Sr.: I don't know, I say that's a motive for being an angry kid, I'll say that.

Mr. Grouse: Ah. It's the kids. The way they are these days. Angry, hostile, can't do a thing with them. Even how they talk to you. When I was younger, I used to call my father 'sir'. That's right, sir. You hear a kid call their father that these days?

Lynn Sr.: Fathers don’t seem to think that's important anymore.

Gruff man: Oh yeah? How many do you got?

Mr. Grouse: Oh this ought to be a good one.

Lynn Sr.: Eleven.

(The other jurors sans Mr. Grouse, Howard and Harold, Mrs. Johnson, and Coach Packowski are shocked)

Well-dressed man: Whoa. That many?

Indian woman: Did he say he had eleven children?

Gruff man: Wait w-wait wait. Did you say eleven?

Lynn Sr.: That’s right. Ten girls and one boy.

Gruff man: How old is the boy?

Lynn Sr.: Eleven. My oldest daughter is seventeen, and my youngest daughter is close to a year old.

Mr. Grouse: He's right, you know. I know that for a fact because I live next to this man, and let me tell you, it's like a zoo over there. You not the only one with kids, you know. Guess how many I got? One, and he was Nineteen when I last saw him. We did everything for that boy and what happened, when he was nine he ran away from a fight. I saw him. I was so ashamed I almost threw up. I told him flat out, "I'm gonna make a man out of you, or I'm gonna bust you in half trying!" I made a man out of him alright. When he was sixteen, we got into a bout. He hit me in the face. He's big, you know? I hadn't seen him in four years. Rotten kid. I mean you work your heart out for them and... alright. Let's move on.

Fancy woman: I think we're missing the point here. This boy, let's say he's a product of a filthy neighborhood and a broken home. We can't help that. We are here to determine whether his is guilty or innocent of murder. Not to go into why he was bought up that way. He was born in a ghetto. Ghettos are breeding grounds for criminals. I know it and so do you. It's no secret that children who come from ghetto backgrounds are detrimental to society...

Gruff man: Oh you can say that again. Oh no, the kids who crawl of places like that, are real trash. I don't what anything with them. I'm telling you.

Howard: Hey I grew up in a ghetto all my life. And I suffered being bullied by that trash at school five days a week!

Harold: Howie.

Gruff man: Now wait a second!

Howard: I used to play in a backyard that was filled with garbage! Maybe you can smell some of it!

(The jurors began to argue)

Mrs. Johnson: Take it easy. Let's be reasonable. There's nothing personal.

Howard: No, there is something personal!

Mr. Grouse: Alright. He wasn't talking about you. Don’t be so sensitive.

Indian woman: Desensitivity. I understand.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright, let's just calm down and relax, alright? We're not here to argue, everyone. Let's get back to our seats. Now who's turn was it? I think it's your turn.

Lynn Sr.: I wasn't expecting a turn. I thought you all were suppose to be convincing me, wasn’t that the whole point?

Mrs. Johnson: That’s right. I forgot. My mistake.

Gruff man: What the heck's the difference? I mean, he’s the one who's keeping us here. Come on, let's here what he's got to say.

Mrs. Johnson: Now wait a minute. We decided to do it a certain way, so let's stick to what we said.

Gruff man: Stop being such a kid.

Mrs. Johnson: Kid? What do you mean by that?

Gruff man: What do think I mean? K-I-D kids.

Mrs. Johnson: Why is it because I trying to keep things nice and organized, and keep things smooth? Well I'll you know that I'm a certified teacher.

Gruff man: Well excuse me, miss teacher. I didn't know we're in the middle of class. Was I being disruptive? Are we taking a pop quiz? Or are gonna give this man an A+ for being such a good student.

Mrs. Johnson: Now you're making fun of me? You want to sit here? You want the responsibility? I'll tell you this, I'll just sit over here and keep my mouth shut, how about that?

Gruff man: No need to make a fuss about it. Calm down, will you?

Mrs. Johnson: Why are you telling me to calm down? You want to sit in the chair, sit in the chair. You think it's so smooth and easy or what, you think it's that simple? Well Mr. 'I'm better than a dumb teacher', let's see how you would handle this?

Gruff man: Can you believe this woman?

Well-dressed man: Hey hey hey. Let's take it easy, alright? The whole things under control.

Mrs. Johnson: This man bought it up. You want to take over?

Well-dressed man: No. Nonono. You're doing a beautiful job, okay? Nobody wants to change, am I right?

Coach Packowski: You're doing great, Mrs. J. You just hang in there, alright?

Gruff man: Alright. Come on. Let's hear from somebody.

Lynn Sr.: Well if you want me to tell you how I feel about this, I guess that's alright with me. Well, I haven't got anything brilliant. I don't know anymore than you do. According to the testimony, the boy looks guilty. Maybe he is. I sat in court for three days listening while the evidence is building up. Eveybody sounded so positive that I had a perculiar feeling about this whole trial. I mean, nothing is that positive. I even have questions I would've liked to ask. Maybe they weren't to meant anything, I just had a funny feeling that the defense attorney just let too many things go of little things.

Gruff man: What do you mean little things? Come on, listen, when these guys don’t ask questions, it's because they know the answers already, and they figured they'll be hurt by it.

Lynn Sr.: Maybe. It's also possible for a lawyer to just be plain stupid, isn't it?

Slacker: Sounds like you met my brother-in-law.

Lynn Sr.: I kept trying to put myself in the boy's place. I wouldn't have asked for another lawyer I think. If I was on trial for my life, I want my lawyer to the prosecution witnesses to pieces or at least try. Look, there was only one alledged eyewitness. Somebody else said they heard the killing and saw the boy run out afterwards. There was a lot of circumstantial evidence but actually those two witnesses were on the entire case not the prosecution. Suppose they were wrong?

Well-dressed man: What do you mean 'suppose they were wrong?' I mean, what's the point of having witnesses at all?

Lynn Sr.: Well could they be wrong?

Well-dressed man: Well, look, they sat in the stand under oath, what are you trying to say?

Lynn Sr.: They're only people, people make mistakes, so they can be wrong.

Well-dressed man: No. I don't think so.

Lynn Sr.: Do you know so?

Well-dressed man: Now listen, nobody can know a thing like that, alright? I mean, come on, this isn't you know, an exact science.

Lynn Sr.: Alright it isn't.

Mr. Grouse: Alright. Let's get to the point. Let's talk about the switch blade they found in the father's stomach.

Harold: Hang on, there are some people who didn't get a chance to talk.

Mr. Grouse: Listen, they can talk whenever they want. You just be quiet a second, you hear? Alright, let's talk about the blade. You know, the one where our fine upright lad admitted to find in his father's collection on the night of the murder. Let's talk about that.

Lynn Sr.: Alright. Let's talk about it. Let's get it in here. I'd like to see it again. Mrs. Johnson?

Mr. Grouse: We all know what it looks like. What are we gonna get out of seeing it again?

Howard: You bought it up.

Fancy woman: The gentleman has a right to see exhibits and evidence. The knife in the way it was found is pretty strong evidence, don’t you think so?

Lynn Sr.: I do.

Fancy woman: Good. I suppose we take these points as we see fit. One: The boy admitted going out of the house around 8 o clock on the night of the killing after being punched several times by his father.

Lynn Sr.: He didn't say punched, he said hit. There's a difference between a slap and a punch.

Fancy woman: After being hit several times by his father. Two: He said his father was an avid knife collector and likes to collect rare and exotic blades. One of them being a, what do you call them...

Mr. Grouse: Switch blade.

Fancy woman: Yes. Switch blade knife thank you. Three: This isn't what you call an ordinary knife. It had a very unusual blade and carved handle. Four: The storekeeper who sold it to the father identified it in court and said it was the only one of its kind he had ever had in stock. Five: At 8:45 or so, the boy ran into three of his friends in front of a fast food place. An I right so far?

Mr. Grouse: Yeah. You bet she is. Now listen to this woman. She knows what she's talking about.

Fancy woman: The boy spoke with his friends for an hour, leaving them at 9:45, during at which time he snuck back into his house and took the switch blade. Six: Each of them identified the death weapon in court as the same knife the boy showed them. And seven: The boy arrived home around 10 o clock, now, this is the story offered by the boy begins to diverge slightly. He claimes to have stayed home until 11 o clock where he went to one of these late night arcades. He arrived home around 12:15 to see father dead, and himself arrested. Now, what happened to the switch blade? This is quite a charming and imaginative boy, isn't he? He claims that the knife was stolen from his father's collection by somebody who was in his apartment. But nobody remembered the father having any guests. Now this is a tale, everyone. I think it's quite clear that the boy never went to the arcade that night. No one in the building saw him leave at 11, nobody at any arcade identified him. He couldn't even remember the name of what arcade he went to. Now what actually happened is this. The boy stayed home, had another fight with his father, stole the knife from his father's collection, stabbed him to death 10 minutes after 12 then fled from the house. He even remembered to wipe the fingerprints clean from the knife. Everyone connected to the case identified this knife. Now are you really trying to tell me that somebody other than the boy stole it from his father's collection, and stabbed his father with it just to be amusing?

Lynn Sr.: No. I’m saying it's possible that the father lost the knife and somebody stabbed him with a similar knife. It's possible.

Fancy woman: Take a look at this knife. (stabs the knife into the table) I had never seen another one like it. Why do you think the storekeeper sold it to the father? Are you asking us to accept a pretty acceptable coincidence?

Lynn Sr.: I'm not asking you to accept anything I'm just saying it's possible.

Mr. Grouse: Yeah? Well I'm saying it's not possible.

(Lynn Sr. pulls out a switch blade knife)

Mr. Grouse: Wait. What do you doing here? Hey!

(Lynn Sr. stabs the knife into the table to see it is the same as the murder weapon)

Fancy woman: Where did you get that knife?

Lynn Sr.: I went for a walk a couple hours last night just thinking, that knife came from a little pawn shop three blocks from the boy's house. It costs six dollars.

Fancy woman: I’m surprised you managed to keep a weapon hidden. Does your family know about this?

Lynn Sr.: No. They don't.

Fancy woman: You know it's against the law to buy yourselves switch blade knives.

Lynn Sr.: That’s right. I broke the law.

Mr. Grouse: You know, that's a real bright trick you pulled there. But what do you think that proves? Maybe there are ten knives like it, so what?

Lynn Sr.: Maybe there are.

Mr. Grouse.: So what do think that mean, huh? It's the same kind of knife. What is that? The discovery of the age or something?

Indian woman: It would still be an incredible coincidence for another person to stab the father with the same kind of knife.

Mr. Grouse: That’s right. She's absolutely right.

Coach Packowski: Yeah. One in a million. Come on.

Lynn Sr.: But it's possible.

Mrs. Johnson: But not probable. Alright. Let's sit back down, everyone. No point meddling around, okay?

Harold: You know it's kind of interesting that Lynn would find a similar knife the father had.

Mr. Grouse: Interesting? What does that prove? Did that prove anything?

Harold: No. I just...

Mr. Grouse: Interesting. Listen. Why don't you tell me why the boy swiped the knife to begin with?

Lynn Sr.: Well he claimed to...

Mr. Grouse: Yeah yeah. I know. He claims he swiped it so he can show it to his friends. He was going to return it back before his father notices that it's missing. But unfortunately he couldn't because he lost it on the way home.

Lynn Sr.: That’s what he said.

Old man: But the other kid testified that the boy did bring the knife.

Mr. Grouse: Right. How long before the murder? Three weeks. So now you tell me how our noble lad swiped the knife one half after his father smacked him, and an hour after they found it shoved up to here in his father's stomach?

Coach Packowski: W-wait wait. He wasn't going to show it to his friends. He just wanted to try it out first.

Lynn Sr.: Well let me ask you this. If the boy did steal the knife to use on his father, then why did he decide to show the murder weapon to his friends just a couple hours before the murder took place?

Mr. Grouse: Look, all that is just talk. The boy lied and you know it.

Lynn Sr.: He might have lied. Do you think he lied?

Gruff man: Yeah. That's a stupid question. Sure he lied.

Lynn Sr.: How about you?

Fancy woman: You know my take on it. He lied.

Lynn Sr: Howard, do you think he lied?

Howard: I'm not sure.

Mr. Grouse: What do you mean you're not sure? What are you the kid's lawyer or something? Who do you think you are to come in here and start cross-examining us?

Lynn Sr.: Isn't that what happens in a jury room?

Mr. Grouse: Oh yeah? Well there's still eleven of us who say he's guilty.

Coach Packowski: I mean, come on. If you want to be stubborn and hang this jury, you go right ahead. The kid will be tried again and found guilty just as sure he was born.

Lynn Sr.: Maybe you're right.

Coach Packowski: So what are we doing here? We'll be here all night.

Old man: It's only one night. A boy may die.

Coach Packowski: Anybody got a deck of cards?

Harold: He shouldn't make a joke about it. Seriously.

Gruff man: Listen, I don’t see what all the stuff with the knife has to do with anything. Somebody saw the kid stab his father. What more do you need? Listen, I have banquet to catch, but you're talking. Now let's just get done and get out of here.

Indian woman: You know, the knife is very important to the district attorney.

(The Indian woman and gruff man begin to argue)

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. That's enough. Let's just move on, okay? These arguments are only showing us down. So, how about...

Slacker: You are the only one.

Lynn Sr.: Alright, look. I got a proposition to make. How about you eleven to vote by secret rigged ballot, and I'll abstain. If there are still eleven guilty votes, then I'll won't stand alone, and we'll take a guilty verdict to the judge. But if there are any votes not guilty, then we'll stay here and talk about it.

Mr. Grouse: You're finally behaving like a reasonable man.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright then. Anybody objects? Okay, pass these down.

(The jurors sans Lynn Sr. are each handed a small piece of paper and a pencil.

Mrs. Johnson: Alright. Guilty. Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty... not guilty. Guilty.

Gruff man: Well how do you like that?

Coach Packowski: The guy flips his darn wig.

Gruff man, Alright, who was it? I want to know.

Indian woman: Excuse me, but this was a secret vote. We agreed on this.

Mr. Grouse: Secret!? What do you mean secret? There are no secrets in a jury room. I know who it was. (walks over to Howard) You know, sir, you're really something. You come in here and vote guilty with the rest of us, and some golden boy preacher over there starts tearing your heart out how this poor little kid couldn't help become a murderer, so you changed your vote. If that isn't the most sickening thing!? Hey! Why don't you drop a quarter in his collection!?

Howard: Wait a minute! You can't talk to me like that!

Harold: Howie, calm down!

Howard: No!

(The jurors begin to argue)

Fancy woman: It doesn't matter. He's very excitable. Forget it.

Mr. Grouse: You bet I'm excitable! We're trying to put a guilty kid in the chair where he belongs, then sombody comes along and starts sharing fairy tales, and we're listening!

Harold: Take it easy.

Mr. Grouse: What do you mean take it easy!? Do you want to see a proven murderer walking the streets again!? Why don't we give him his knife back?! Make it easier for him!

Mrs. Johnson: Can we tone down the yelling, please? Does anybody have anything constructive to say?

Indian woman: Please, I'd like to say something here. I have always thought that in this country that a man was entitled to have a popular opinion.

Coach Packowski: Hey you just stick to the subject, Ghandhi. Why did you change your vote?

Old man: He didn't change his vote. I did. Would you like me to tell you why?

Coach Packowski: No I wouldn't.

Old man: I would like to make it clear, if you don't mind?

Gruff man: We have to listen to this?

Slacker: Be quiet. Let's here what he has to say.

Old man: Thank you. This gentleman has been standing alone against us. He didn't say the boy is not guilty, he's just isn't sure. It's not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled against the odds, and I gave it to him. I respect his courage. I mean, the boy on trial is probably guilty, but I want to hear more.

(Coach Packowski becomes frustrated and walks away to the restroom)

Old man: For the time being, the vote is ten to two! I'm talking here! You have no right...

Lynn Sr.: He can't here you. He'll never will.

Mr. Grouse: Alright. The speech is over. Maybe we can move on.

Mrs. Johnson: I guess we can take a break. Coach Packowski just went into the restroom and I think we have to wait for him.

To be continued (WIP)