RACHEL

(Coming to BERT’S side)

Yes!

CATES

People look at me as if I was a murderer. Worse than a murderer! That fella from Minnesota who killed his wife—remember, Rachel—half the town turned out to see ’em put him on the train. They just looked at him as if he was a curiosity—not like they hated him! Not like he’d done anything really wrong! Just different!

DRUMMOND

(Laughs a little to himself)

There’s nothing very original about murdering your wife.

CATES

People I thought were my friends look at me now as if I had horns growing out of my head.

DRUMMOND

You murder a wife, it isn’t nearly as bad as murdering an old wives’ tale. Kill one of their fairy-tale notions, and they call down the wrath of God, Brady, and the state legislature.

RACHEL

You make a joke out of everything. You seem to think it’s so funny!

DRUMMOND

Lady, when you lose your power to laugh, you lose your power to think straight.

CATES

Mr. Drummond, I can’t laugh. I’m scared.

DRUMMOND

Good. You’d be a damned fool if you weren’t.

RACHEL

(Bitterly)

You’re supposed to help Bert; but every time you swear you make it worse for him.

DRUMMOND

(Honestly)

I’m sorry if I offend you. (He smiles) But I don’t swear just for the hell of it. (He fingers his galluses) You see, I figure language is a poor enough means of communication as it is. So we ought to use all the words we’ve got. Besides, there are damned few words that everybody understands.

RACHEL

You don’t care anything about Bert! You just want a chance to make speeches against the Bible!

DRUMMOND

I care a great deal about Bert. I care a great deal about what Bert thinks.

RACHEL

Well, I care about what the people in this town think of him.

DRUMMOND

(Quietly)

Can you buy back his respectability by making him a coward? (He spades his hands in his hip pockets) I understand what Bert’s going through. It’s the loneliest feeling in the world—to find yourself standing up when everybody else is sitting down. To have everybody look at you and say, “What’s the matter with him?” I know. I know what it feels like. Walking down an empty street, listening to the sound of your own footsteps. Shutters closed, blinds drawn, doors locked against you. And you aren’t sure whether you’re walking toward something, or if you’re just walking away. (He takes a deep breath, then turns abruptly) Cates, I’ll change your plea and we’ll call off the whole business—on one condition. If you honestly believe you committed a criminal act against the citizens of this state and the minds of their children. If you honestly believe that you’re wrong and the law’s right. Then the hell with it. I’ll pack my grip and go back to Chicago, where it’s a cool hundred in the shade.

RACHEL

(Eagerly)

Bert knows he’s wrong. Don’t you, Bert?

DRUMMOND

Don’t prompt the witness.