BRADY

Reverend, I’m looking forward to your prayer meeting.

BROWN

You will find our people are fervent in their belief.

(MRS. BRADY crosses to her husband.)

MRS. BRADY

I know it’s warm, Matt; but these night breezes can be treacherous. And you know how you perspire.

(She takes a small kerchief out of her handbag and tucks it around his neck. He laughs a little.)

BRADY

Mother is always so worried about my throat.

BROWN

(Consulting his watch)

I always like to begin my meetings at the time announced.

BRADY

Most commendable. Proceed, Reverend. After you.

(BROWN mounts the few steps to the platform. BRADY follows him, loving the feel of the board beneath his feet. This is the squared circle where he had fought so many bouts with the English language, and won. The prayer meeting is motion picture, radio, and tent-show to these people. To them, the REVEREND BROWN is a combination Milton Sills and Douglas Fairbanks. He grasps the podium and stares down at them sternly. BRADY is benign. He sits with his legs crossed, an arm crooked over one corner of his chair. BROWN is milking the expectant pause. Just as he is ready to speak, DRUMMOND comes in and stands at the fringe of the crowd. BROWN glowers at DRUMMOND. The crowd chants.)

BROWN

Brothers and sisters, I come to you on the Wings of the Word. The Wings of the Word are beating loud in the treetops! The Lord’s Word is howling in the Wind, and flashing in the belly of the Cloud!

WOMAN

I hear it!

MAN

I see it, Reverend!

BROWN

And we believe the Word!

ALL

We believe!

BROWN

We believe the Glory of the Word!

ALL

Glory, Glory! Amen, amen!

(RACHEL comes on, but remains at the fringes of the crowd.)

BROWN

Hearken to the Word! (He lowers his voice) The Word tells us that the World was created in Seven Days. In the beginning, the earth was without form, and void. And the Lord said, “Let there be light!”

VOICES

Ahhhh…!

BROWN

And there was light! And the Lord saw the Light and the Light saw the Lord, and the Light said, “Am I good, Lord?” And the Lord said, “Thou art good!”

MAN

(Deep-voiced, singing)

And the evening and the morning were the first day!

VOICES

Amen, amen!

BROWN

(Calling out)

The Lord said, “Let there be Firmament!” And even as He spoke, it was so! And the Firmament bowed down before Him and said, “Am I good, Lord?” And the Lord said, “Thou art good!”

MAN

(Singing)

And the evening and the morning were the second day!

VOICES

Amen, amen!

BROWN

On the Third Day brought He forth the Dry Land, and the Grass, and the Fruit Tree! And on the Fourth Day made He the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars—and He pronounced them Good!

VOICES

Amen.

BROWN

On the Fifth Day He peopled the sea with fish. And the air with fowl. And made He great whales. And He blessed them all. But on the morning of the Sixth Day, the Lord rose, and His eye was dark, and a scowl lay across His face. (Shouts) Why? Why was the Lord troubled?