BRADY

It is considered “Original Sin.”

DRUMMOND

(With mock amazement)

And all these holy people got themselves “begat” through “Original Sin”? (BRADY does not answer. He scowls, and shifts his weight in his chair) All this sinning make ’em any less holy?

DAVENPORT

Your Honor, where is this leading us? What does it have to do with the State versus Bertram Cates.

JUDGE

Colonel Drummond, the court must be satisfied that this line of questioning has some bearing on the case.

DRUMMOND

(Fiery)

You’ve ruled out all my witnesses. I must be allowed to examine the one witness you’ve left me in my own way!

BRADY

(With dignity)

Your Honor, I am willing to sit here and endure Mr. Drummond’s sneering and his disrespect. For he is pleading the case of the prosecution by his contempt for all that is holy.

DRUMMOND

I object, I object, I object.

BRADY

On what grounds? Is it possible that something is holy to the celebrated agnostic?

DRUMMOND

Yes! (His voice drops, intensely) The individual human mind. In a child’s power to master the multiplication table there is more sanctity than in all your shouted “Amens!”, “Holy, Holies!” and “Hosannahs!” An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man’s knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned to snakes, or the parting of waters! But are we now to halt the march of progress because Mr. Brady frightens us with a fable? (Turning to the jury, reasonably) Gentlemen, progress has never been a bargain. You’ve got to pay for it. Sometimes I think there’s a man behind a counter who says, “All right, you can have a telephone; but you’ll have to give up privacy, the charm of distance. Madam, you may vote; but at a price; you lose the right to retreat behind a powder-puff or a petticoat. Mister, you may conquer the air; but the birds will lose their wonder, and the clouds will smell of gasoline!” (Thoughtfully, seeming to look beyond the courtroom) Darwin moved us forward to a hilltop, where we could look back and see the way from which we came. But for this view, this insight, this knowledge, we must abandon our faith in the pleasant poetry of Genesis.

BRADY

We must not abandon faith! Faith is the important thing!

DRUMMOND

Then why did God plague us with the power to think? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one faculty which lifts man above all other creatures on the earth: the power of his brain to reason. What other merit have we? The elephant is larger, the horse is stronger and swifter, the butterfly more beautiful, the mosquito more prolific, even the simple sponge is more durable! (Wheeling on BRADY) Or does a sponge think?

BRADY

I don’t know. I’m a man, not a sponge.

(There are a few snickers at this; the crowd seems to be slipping away from BRADY and aligning itself more and more with DRUMMOND.)

DRUMMOND