(BRADY rises. DAVENPORT immediately steps back, deferring to his superior.)

BRADY

In Hillsboro, sir, that means a great deal. Do you have any children, Mr. Sillers?

SILLERS

Not as I know of.

BRADY

If you had a son, Mr. Sillers, or a daughter, what would you think if that sweet child came home from school and told you that a Godless teacher—

DRUMMOND

Objection! We’re supposed to be choosing jury members! The prosecution’s denouncing the defendant before the trial has even begun!

JUDGE

Objection sustained.

(The JUDGE and BRADY exchange meaningless smiles.)

BRADY

Mr. Sillers. Do you have any personal opinions with regard to the defendant that might prejudice you on his behalf?

SILLERS

Cates? I don’t hardly know him. He bought some peat moss from me once, and paid his bill.

BRADY

Mr. Sillers impresses me as an honest, God-fearing man. I accept him.

JUDGE

Thank you, Colonel Brady. Colonel Drummond?

DRUMMOND

(Strolling toward the witness chair)

Mr. Sillers, you just said you were a religious man. Tell me something. Do you work at it very hard?

SILLERS

Well, I’m pretty busy down at the feed store. My wife tends to the religion for both of us.

DRUMMOND

In other words, you take care of this life, and your wife takes care of the next one?

DAVENPORT

Objection.

JUDGE

Objection sustained.

DRUMMOND

While your wife was tending to the religion, Mr. Sillers, did you ever happen to bump into a fella named Charles Darwin?

SILLERS

Not till recent.

DRUMMOND

From what you’ve heard about this Darwin, do you think your wife would want to have him over for Sunday dinner?

(BRADY rises magnificently.)

BRADY

Your Honor, my worthy opponent from Chicago is cluttering the issue with hypothetical questions—

DRUMMOND

(Wheeling)

I’m doing your job, Colonel.

DAVENPORT

(Leaping up)

The prosecution is perfectly able to handle its own arguments.

DRUMMOND

Look, I’ve established that Mr. Sillers isn’t working very hard at religion. Now, for your sake, I want to make sure he isn’t working at Evolution.

SILLERS

(Simply)

I’m just working at the feed store.

DRUMMOND

(To the JUDGE)

This man’s all right. (Turning) Take a box seat, Mr. Sillers.

BRADY

I am not altogether satisfied that Mr. Sillers will render impartial—

DRUMMOND

Out of order. The prosecution has already accepted this man.

(The following becomes a simultaneous wrangle among the attorneys.)

BRADY

I want a fair trial.

DRUMMOND

So do I!

BRADY

Unless the state of mind of the members of the jury conforms to the laws and patterns of society—

DRUMMOND

Conform! Conform! What do you want to do—run the jury through a meat-grinder, so they all come out the same?

DAVENPORT

Your Honor!

BRADY

I’ve seen what you can do to a jury. Twist and tangle them. Nobody’s forgotten the Endicott Publishing case—where you made the jury believe the obscenity was in their own minds, not on the printed page. It was immoral what you did to that jury. Tricking them. Judgment by confusion. Think you can get away with it here?