Column Chronicles: The Idiot Jury, Act Three

The Idiot Jury

A play in three acts
by Frank Cotolo
September 25, 2025

ACT 3

Eleven of the twelve jurors are cackling with one another and noisy.

J5 -- Ok, now I'm pissed. (REACHES INTO HER SWEATER AND PULLS OUT A REVOLVER). Everyone be quiet or else. (POINTS REVOLVER AT THE JURORS. THEY SHUT UP.) Now listen to me, the foreperson, the leader, the organizer, the boss of this bunch. We are going to talk about the evidence and come up with a unanimous decision about the accused or I'm going to fire this revolver.
J9 -- At who?
J6 -- At whom.
J2 -- She wouldn't dare.
J7 -- She dared to bring a revolver into court so I bet she'd dare.
J10 -- Gimme odds.
J5 -- No betting in the deliberation process you jerks.
J8 -- No betting but there's shooting?
J3 -- Wait. Isn't that gun a piece of evidence?
J5 -- Yes. It's the gun found with the fingerprints of the accused on it which is why he is being accused of the crime.
J7 -- It's a murder case?
J4 -- She didn't die.
J6 -- Who didn't die?

J10 -- The victim of the crime.
J3 -- Then how could the defendant be accused of murder?
J5 -- (DROPS THE REVOLVER ON THE TABLE AND SITS DOWN) It's not loaded.
J1 -- You see, she was never going to fire a gun at a jury.
J4 -- This is a good time to break for lunch. We'll all think better on full stomachs.
J5 -- (STANDS AND SHOUTS) Lunch.

Jurors talk to each another about what to order for lunch, while J1 who sits next to J5.

J5 -- Thank you. That is so sweet and understanding and it gives me hope that we can continue and serve our democracy today in this jury.
J1 -- You're welcome. Now, what do you want for lunch?

LIGHTS OUT

THE END

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.