(DRUMMOND, for once in his life has hit a legal roadblock.)

DRUMMOND

(Scowling)

In other words, the court rules out any expert testimony on Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species or Descent of Man?

JUDGE

The court so rules.

(DRUMMOND is flabbergasted. His case is cooked and he knows it. He looks around helplessly.)

DRUMMOND

(There’s the glint of an idea in his eye)

Would the court admit expert testimony regarding a book known as the Holy Bible?

JUDGE

(Hesitates, turns to BRADY)

Any objection, Colonel Brady?

BRADY

If the counsel can advance the case of the defendant through the use of the Holy Scriptures, the prosecution will take no exception!

DRUMMOND

Good! (With relish) I call to the stand one of the world’s foremost experts on the Bible and its teachings—Matthew Harrison Brady!

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

DAVENPORT

Your Honor, this is preposterous!

JUDGE

(Confused)

I—well, it’s highly unorthodox. I’ve never known an instance where the defense called the prosecuting attorney as a witness.

(BRADY rises. Waits for the crowd’s reaction to subside.)

BRADY

Your Honor, this entire trial is unorthodox. If the interests of Right and Justice will be served, I will take the stand.

DAVENPORT

(Helplessly)

But Colonel Brady—

(Buzz of awed reaction. The giants are about to meet head-on. The JUDGE raps the gavel again, nervously.)

JUDGE

(To BRADY)

The court will support you if you wish to decline to testify—as a witness against your own case….

BRADY

(With conviction)

Your Honor, I shall not testify against anything. I shall speak out, as I have all my life—on behalf of the Living Truth of the Holy Scriptures!

(DAVENPORT sits, resigned but nervous.)

JUDGE

(To MEEKER, in a nervous whisper)

Uh—Mr. Meeker, you’d better swear in the witness, please…

(DRUMMOND moistens his lips in anticipation. BRADY moves to the witness stand in grandiose style. MEEKER holds out a Bible. BRADY puts his left hand on the book, and raises his right hand.)

MEEKER

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

BRADY

(Booming)

I do.

MRS. KREBS

And he will!

(BRADY sits, confident and assured. His air is that of a benign and learned mathematician about to be quizzed by a schoolboy on matters of short division.)

DRUMMOND

Am I correct, sir, in calling on you as an authority on the Bible?

BRADY

I believe it is not boastful to say that I have studied the Bible as much as any layman. And I have tried to live according to its precepts.

DRUMMOND

Bully for you. Now, I suppose you can quote me chapter and verse right straight through the King James Version, can’t you?

BRADY

There are many portions of the Holy Bible that I have committed to memory.

(DRUMMOND crosses to counsel table and picks up a copy of Darwin.)

DRUMMOND

I don’t suppose you’ve memorized many passages from the Origin of Species?

BRADY

I am not in the least interested in the pagan hypotheses of that book.