Inherit the Wind: Act Two, Scene II

He is wretched in a starched collar and Sunday suit.

(DRUMMOND is about to protest against prompting the witness; then he decides it isn't worth the trouble.)

And the legislature of this sovereign state has had the wisdom to demand that the peddlers of poison—in bottles or in books—clearly label the products they attempt to sell!

The courtroom seems to resent DRUMMOND’S gentle ridicule of the orator.

The courtroom seems to resent DRUMMOND’S gentle ridicule of the orator.

The defense is asking that a thirteen-year-old boy hand down an opinion on a question of morality!

Suppose that makes the telephone an instrument of the Devil?

(Turning to DRUMMOND) Why do you bewilder this child?

Arms out, DAVENPORT pleads to the court, but is unheard.

Realizing that I may prejudice the case of my client, I must say that “Right” has no meaning to me whatsoever!

But one of the peculiar imbecilities of our time is the grid of morality we have placed on human behavior: so that every act of man must be measured against an arbitrary latitude of right and longitude of wrong—in exact minutes, seconds, and degrees!

RACHEL emerges from among the spectators.

MEEKER swears her in perfunctorily.

So you have had ample opportunity to know the defendant, Mr. Cates, professionally?

Your Honor, I request that the defendant’s remarks be stricken from the record.

But how can we strike this young man’s bigoted opinions from the memory of this community?

(BRADY turns, about to play his trump card) Now, my dear.

Hearsay testimony is not admissible.

May I remind you, Miss Brown, that you are testifying under oath, and it is unlawful to withhold pertinent information.

HORNBECK guffaws and pointedly scribbles this down.

What did he say about the holy state of matrimony?

Don’t plague her.

There is a hushed babble of excitement) Does the prosecution wish to call any further witnesses?

Any testimony relating to his alleged infringement of the law must be admitted!

And I refuse to allow these agnostic scientists to employ this courtroom as a sounding board, as a platform from which they can shout their heresies into the headlines!

It is incontrovertible as geometry in every enlightened community of minds!

DRUMMOND is flabbergasted.

I—well, it’s highly unorthodox.

BRADY moves to the witness stand in grandiose style.

I am not in the least interested in the pagan hypotheses of that book.

(BRADY is annoyed at DRUMMOND’S elementary attitude and condescension.)

(Doggedly)

(He reads) “And Aphraxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber” and so on and so on.

(With mock amazement)

In a child’s power to master the multiplication table there is more sanctity than in all your shouted “Amens!”

DRUMMOND ignores this glib gag.

I’m trying to stop you bigots and ignoramuses from controlling the education of the United States!

So you, Matthew Harrison Brady, through oratory, legislation, or whatever, pass along God’s orders to the rest of the world!

BRADY is almost in a frenzy.