(Applause. Dramatically, BRADY moves to his chair.

Condescendingly, he waves to DRUMMOND.)

BRADY

Your witness, sir.

(BRADY sits. DRUMMOND rises, slouches toward the witness stand.)

DRUMMOND

Well, I sure am glad Colonel Brady didn’t make a speech! (Nobody laughs. The courtroom seems to resent DRUMMOND’S gentle ridicule of the orator. To many, there is an effrontery in DRUMMOND’S very voice—folksy and relaxed. It’s rather like a harmonica following a symphony concert) Howard, I heard you say that the world used to be pretty hot.

HOWARD

That’s what Mr. Cates said.

DRUMMOND

You figure it was any hotter then than it is right now?

HOWARD

Guess it musta been. Mr. Cates read it to us from a book.

DRUMMOND

Do you know what book?

HOWARD

I guess that Mr. Darwin thought it up.

DRUMMOND

(Leaning on the arm of the boy’s chair)

You figure any thing’s wrong about that, Howard?

HOWARD

Well, I dunno—

DAVENPORT

(Leaping up, crisply)

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

DRUMMOND

(To the JUDGE)

I am trying to establish, Your Honor, that Howard—or Colonel Brady—or Charles Darwin—or anyone in this courtroom—or you, sir—has the right to think!

JUDGE

Colonel Drummond, the right to think is not on trial here.

DRUMMOND

(Energetically)

With all respect to the bench, I hold that the right to think is very much on trial! It is fearfully in danger in the proceedings of this court!

BRADY

(Rises)

A man is on trial!

DRUMMOND

A thinking man! And he is threatened with fine and imprisonment because he chooses to speak what he thinks.

JUDGE

Colonel Drummond, would you please rephrase your question.

DRUMMOND

(To HOWARD)

Let’s put it this way, Howard. All this fuss and feathers about Evolution, do you think it hurt you any?

HOWARD

Sir?

DRUMMOND

Did it do you any harm? You still feel reasonably fit? What Mr. Cates told you, did it hurt your baseball game any? Affect your pitching arm?

(He punches HOWARD’S right arm playfully.)

HOWARD

No, sir. I’m a leftie.

DRUMMOND

A southpaw, eh? Still honor your father and mother?

HOWARD

Sure.

DRUMMOND

Haven’t murdered anybody since breakfast?

DAVENPORT

Objection.

JUDGE

Objection sustained.

(DRUMMOND shrugs.)

BRADY

Ask him if his Holy Faith in the scriptures has been shattered—

DRUMMOND

When I need your valuable help, Colonel, you may rest assured I shall humbly ask for it. (Turning) Howard, do you believe everything Mr. Cates told you?

HOWARD

(Frowning)

I’m not sure. I gotta think it over.

DRUMMOND

Good for you. Your pa’s a farmer, isn’t he?

HOWARD

Yes, sir.

DRUMMOND

Got a tractor?

HOWARD

Brand new one.

DRUMMOND

You figure a tractor’s sinful, because it isn’t mentioned in the Bible?

HOWARD

(Thinking)

Don’t know.

DRUMMOND

Moses never made a phone call. Suppose that makes the telephone an instrument of the Devil?

HOWARD

I never thought of it that way.

BRADY

(Rising, booming)

Neither did anybody else! Your Honor, the defense makes the same old error of all Godless men! They confuse material things with the great spiritual realities of the Revealed Word! (Turning to DRUMMOND) Why do you bewilder this child? Does Right have no meaning to you, sir?