DUNLAP

(Shaking a fist at CATES)

Cates, you sinner!

(The JUDGE raps for order. There is confusion in the courtroom.)

CATES

Religion’s supposed to comfort people, isn’t it? Not frighten them to death!

JUDGE

We will have order, please!

(DRUMMOND tugs CATES back to his seat.)

DRUMMOND

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

(The JUDGE nods.)

BRADY

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. Will you tell the jury some more of Mr. Cates’ opinions on the subject of religion?

DRUMMOND

Objection! Objection! Objection! Hearsay testimony is not admissible.

JUDGE

The court sees no objection to this line of questioning. Proceed, Colonel Brady.

BRADY

Will you merely repeat in your own words some of the conversations you had with the defendant?

(RACHEL’S eyes meet BERT’S. She hesitates.)

RACHEL

I don’t remember exactly—

BRADY

(Helpfully)

What you told me the other day. That presumably “humorous” remark Mr. Cates made about the Heavenly Father.

RACHEL

Bert said—

(She stops.)

BRADY

Go ahead, my dear.

RACHEL

(Pathetically)

I can’t—

JUDGE

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

RACHEL

Bert was just talking about some of the things he’d read. He—He—

BRADY

Were you shocked when he told you these things? (RACHEL looks down) Describe to the court your innermost feelings when Bertram Cates said to you: “God did not create Man! Man created God!”

(There is a flurry of reaction.)

DRUMMOND

(Leaping to his feet)

Objection!

RACHEL

(Blurting)

Bert didn’t say that! He was just joking. What he said was: “God created Man in His own image—and Man, being a gentleman, returned the compliment.”

(HORNBECK guffaws and pointedly scribbles this down.

BRADY is pleased. RACHEL seems hopelessly torn.)

BRADY

Go on, my dear. Tell us some more. What did he say about the holy state of matrimony? Did he compare it with the breeding of animals?

RACHEL

No, he didn’t say that—He didn’t mean that. That’s not what I told you. All he said was—

(She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. An emotional block makes her unable to utter a sound. Her lips move wordlessly.)

JUDGE

Are you ill, Miss Brown? Would you care for a glass of water?

(The fatuity of this suggestion makes RACHEL crumble into a near breakdown.)

BRADY

Under the circumstances, I believe the witness should be dismissed.

DRUMMOND

And will the defense have no chance to challenge some of these statements the prosecutor has put in the mouth of the witness?

(CATES is moved by RACHEL’S obvious distress.)

CATES

(To DRUMMOND)

Don’t plague her. Let her go.

DRUMMOND

(Pauses, then sighs)

No questions.

JUDGE

For the time being, the witness is excused. (REVEREND BROWN comes forward to help his daughter from the stand. His demeanor is unsympathetic as he escorts her from the courtroom. There is a hushed babble of excitement) Does the prosecution wish to call any further witnesses?