Inherit the Wind (1999) - full transcript

[CHIMING]

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪



♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. ♪

- GOOD MORNING, YOUNG LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... - MORNING.

...AND VISITORS.

FOR OUR SCIENCE LESSON TODAY,

WE SHALL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS OF DARWIN'S THEORY

OF THE DESCENT OF MAN.

AS I TOLD YOU YESTERDAY,

DARWIN'S THEORY TELLS US

THAT WE EVOLVED FROM A LOWER ORDER OF ANIMALS,

FROM THE FIRST WRIGGLING PROTOZOA IN THE SEA

TO THE APE AND FINALLY TO MAN.

BERTRAM T. CATES...

COME OFF IT, SAM. YOU'VE KNOWN ME ALL MY LIFE.



BERTRAM CATES, YOU ARE CHARGED

WITH VIOLATION OF PUBLIC ACT 31428,

VOLUME 37 OF THE STATE CODE,

WHICH MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANY TEACHER OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TO TEACH ANY THEORY THAT DENIES THE CREATION OF MAN

AS TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE AND TO TEACH INSTEAD

THAT MAN HAS DESCENDED FROM A LOWER ORDER OF ANIMALS.

BERTRAM T. CATES, I HEREBY PLACE YOU UNDER ARREST.

THE AMERICAN MARTYR WAS BORN THIS MORNING

AT PRECISELY 8:00 A.M. EASTERN STANDSTILL TIME.

HIS NAME IS BERTRAM CATES.

WHERE? HEAVENLY HILLSBORO, IF YOU PLEASE.

AND THE ALMANAC SAYS...

THE POPULATION IS 2,164.

ELEVATION: 702 FEET,

INTELLECTUAL QUOTIENT: ZERO.

WE'LL BECOME THE NEWS CAPITAL FOR THE ENTIRE

UNCIVILIZED WORLD. BUT THAT WON'T BE THE SOUND

OF CRICKETS THE BLOCKHEADS OF HILLSBORO HEAR,

BUT THE MACHINE-GUNNERY OF TELEGRAPH KEYS

BEATING OUT THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY.

IT'S DARWIN VERSUS JEHOVAH,

AND THE DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMOST.

NOW GET ME A TICKET ON THE NEXT TRAIN OUT.

EVERYBODY JUST CALM DOWN!

LISTEN TO THIS: "MONKEY SHINES IN HILLSBORO."

"THE MONKEY TRIAL." I'M TELLING YOU

THE WHOLE WORLD IS LAUGHING AT US.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE. THIS ONE'S FROM CHICAGO--

"HEAVENLY HILLSBORO--

DOES IT HAVE A HOLE IN ITS HEAD

OR IS ITS HEAD IN A HOLE?"

I'M TELLING YOU, WE'VE GONE TOO FAR.

OH, LET THEM LAUGH. WE ARE FIGHTING THE LORD'S BATTLE HERE.

I'D A SIGHT RATHER HAVE SOME HEATHEN LAUGH AT ME

THAN HAVE MY SONS LAUGH AT MY BIBLE.

THEY MOCKED THE LORD, TOO, DIDN'T THEY?

AND THEY SPAT UPON HIM AND HE TURNED TO THEM HIS OTHER CHEEK.

LOOK, REVEREND, WE DON'T WANT TO SMITE THEM BACK.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THEM STOP.

TOM, YOU'RE THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO?

IN VIEW OF MY POSITION,

I HARDLY THINK IT ETHICAL TO EXPRESS MY OPINION.

MAYBE YOU OUGHT GO BACK TO LAW SCHOOL THEN.

WHAT DO WE CARE WHAT A BUNCH OF CITY FELLAS AND FOREIGNERS THINK?

YOU EVER HAD A FRENCHMAN STAY IN YOUR HOTEL?

AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, JOE? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SOLD A POUND OF GRITS

TO SOME FANCY MAN FROM NEW YORK CITY?

- YOU'RE MISSING THE POINT. - JUST HOLD ON.

FRIENDS, FRIENDS, AS YOU KNOW I DEAL IN FIGURES,

ACCOUNTS, CHECKS, BALANCES.

MY BANK OPERATES ON A PRINCIPLE OF PRACTICAL REALITY,

AND SO DO I.

ARE YOU AWARE, MY FRIENDS, THAT THE GREAT UNIVERSITIES

WILL CONSIDER APPLICANT STUDENTS FROM OUR STATE

INELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS LAW?

I DON'T KNOW WHOSE IDEA IT WAS

TO HANG A SHINGLE ON HILLSBORO

SPELLING HORSE-AND-BUGGY,

BUT AS FOR ME, I WON'T INVEST IN ANTIQUITY.

I WANT MY BANKS HOLDING CREDIT

IN NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ILLINOIS,

AND I MAY WANT MY SON TO GO YALE.

NOW, I BELIEVE IN-- AS MUCH AS ANYONE IN THIS ROOM--

IN A BASIC FUNDAMENTALIST INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE,

- BUT WE CAN'T CLOSE OUR EYES TO ALL PROGRESS-- - WAIT A MINUTE!

"BRADY VOLUNTEERS TO PROSECUTE IN MONKEY TRIAL."

MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

GOD HAS SENT US HIS RIGHT HAND.

I'LL BE WORKING WITH HIM.

THEY'LL COME FROM THE HILLS.

THIS TOWN WILL FILL UP LIKE A RAIN BARREL IN A FLOOD.

IT'LL BE BIGGER THAN THE STATE FAIR.

THEY'RE GONNA NEED PLACES TO SLEEP.

THEY GOT TO EAT.

THIS'LL PUT HILLSBORO ON THE MAP.

WE MUST GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD.

LET US PRAY.

YOU BETTER START PRAYING, SON.

IMAGINE-- MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY COMING HERE.

I VOTED FOR HIM FOR PRESIDENT--

TWICE--

IN 1900 AND AGAIN IN '08.

I WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE THE FIRST TIME HE RAN,

BUT MY PA DID.

I SEEN HIM ONCE AT A CHAUTAUQUA MEETING IN CHATTANOOGA.

WHEN HE SPOKE, THE TENT POLES SHOOK.

WHO'S YOUR LAWYER GOING TO BE, SON?

I DON'T KNOW YET. SOME ORGANIZATION IN NEW YORK

IS SUPPOSED TO BE SENDING SOMEBODY.

- WELL, HE'D BETTER BE LOUD. - [KNOCK ON DOOR]

NOW WHO CAN THAT BE?

OH, BERT, YOU DON'T MIND, DO YOU?

JUST FOR THE LOOKS OF IT?

CAN'T TELL WHO IT MIGHT BE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE IN JAIL-- I'D BETTER BE IN JAIL.

[KNOCKING]

[KNOCKING]

I'M COMING, I'M COMING.

WHO IS IT?

- MR. MEEKER? - WELL, HELLO, RACHEL.

COME ON IN.

YOU GOT A PRESENT FOR BERT?

MR. MEEKER, PLEASE DON'T TELL MY FATHER I CAME HERE.

THE REVEREND DON'T TELL ME HIS BUSINESS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD TELL HIM MINE.

IS BERT ALL RIGHT?

DON'T KNOW WHY HE SHOULDN'T BE.

THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD IS IN JAIL.

LONG AS I'VE BEEN BAILIFF HERE, WE NEVER HAD NOTHING BUT DRUNKS, VAGRANTS,

A COUPLE OF CHICKEN THIEVES.

SEEMS KINDA QUEER TO HAVE A SCHOOLTEACHER IN A JAIL.

MIGHT IMPROVE THE WRITING ON THE WALLS.

YOU WAIT HERE, I'LL BRING HIM UP.

[CLEARS THROAT] DON'T RUN OFF, BERT.

BERT, TELL THEM YOU'RE SORRY;

THAT IT WAS ALL A MISTAKE, PLEASE.

SURE. TELL THEM IF THEY LET MY BODY OUT OF JAIL,

I'D LOCK UP MY MIND? COULD YOU STAND THAT, RACHEL?

AT LEAST WE'D BE TOGETHER.

IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME.

RACH, DO YOU REMEMBER

THOSE LONG WALKS ON THOSE WARM, DARK NIGHTS ALONG THE RIVERBANK,

WONDERING WHAT THE STARS WERE FOR?

OR WHAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON?

THERE WOULD BE NO MORE OF THAT.

WE COULD STILL HAVE THAT.

NO, RACHEL, WE COULDN'T.

[MEEKER] YOU GOT ANOTHER VISITOR, BERT.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE FATE OF LEARNING

WILL BE DECIDED FOR THE NEXT 10,000 YEARS.

CAN IT BE THAT BOTH BEAUTY AND BIOLOGY ARE ON OUR SIDE?

WHO ARE YOU?

HORNBECK'S THE NAME. E.K. HORNBECK,

BALTIMORE HERALD.

I'VE HEARD OF YOU.

MY TYPEWRITER'S BEEN SINGING

A SWEET, SAD SONG ABOUT THE HILLSBORO HERETIC--

B. CATES, MODERN-DAY DREYFUS,

ROMEO WITH A BIOLOGY BOOK.

AND YOU MUST BE JULIET.

MY NAME IS RACHEL BROWN.

YOU MAKE ME SOUND LIKE A MARTYR.

YOU COULD BE.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T WON YOUR HALO YET.

THAT COMES AFTER YOU'VE BEEN TOSSED INTO THE ARENA

- WITH THE LION. - YOU MEAN BRADY?

- BULL'S-EYE. - I DON'T WANT BERT TO BE A MARTYR.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE, ANYWAY?

- GOOD QUESTION. - ALL I WANT TO DO IS TEACH MY STUDENTS

THAT MAN WASN'T STUCK HERE LIKE A GERANIUM IN A FLOWERPOT,

THAT LIFE COMES FROM A LONG MIRACLE.

IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN IN SEVEN DAYS.

- COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. - [RACHEL] IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

A SCHOOLTEACHER IS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

HE SHOULD DO WHAT THE LAW AND THE SCHOOL BOARD TELL HIM TO DO.

- [LAUGHS] - I DON'T SEE ANYTHING FUNNY IN THIS, MR. HORNBECK.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED. NEITHER DO I.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE US ALONE?

YOU NEWSPAPER PEOPLE

HAVE STIRRED UP ENOUGH TROUBLE FOR BERT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT, ANYWAY?

I CAME TO TELL BOY SOCRATES HERE

THAT THE BALTIMORE HERALD IS OPPOSED TO HEMLOCK.

DON'T WORRY, JULIET,

I MAY BE RANCID BUTTER,

BUT I'M ON YOUR SIDE OF THE BREAD.

I'M AFRAID, BERT.

I'M AFRAID TOO.

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS, IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE PILGRIM FATHERS ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE PILGRIM FATHERS ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE PILGRIM FATHERS ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE HEBREW CHILDREN ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE HEBREW CHILDREN ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR THE HEBREW CHILDREN ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR MOTHERS ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ IT WAS GOOD FOR OLD JONAH ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION ♪

♪ AND IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. ♪

HELLO, SWEETHEART, HELLO.

FRIENDS OF HILLSBORO, MRS. BRADY AND I

ARE DELIGHTED TO BE AMONG YOU.

WE ALL VOTED FOR YOU THREE TIMES!

I SINCERELY HOPE IT WAS IN THREE SEPARATE ELECTIONS.

I COULD ONLY WISH FOR ONE THING--

THAT YOU HAD NOT GIVEN US QUITE SO WARM A WELCOME.

HERE YOU ARE.

OH, BLESS YOU, NO THANK YOU.

MR. MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY,

AS MAYOR OF HILLSBORO, MAY I SAY THIS MUNICIPALITY

IS PROUD TO HAVE WITHIN ITS CITY LIMITS

- THE WARRIOR WHO HAS ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR US ORDINARY PEOPLE. - [CROWD] AMEN!

WHY, THE LADY FOLKS OF THIS TOWN WOULDN'T HAVE THE VOTE

IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU FIGHTING

TO GIVE THEM ALL THAT SUFFRAGE.

MR. PRESIDENT WILSON WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE

AND WON THE WAR

IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU SUPPORTING HIM

AND BEING HIS SECRETARY OF STATE.

- IN CONCLUSION... - FAN, MISTER?

COMPLIMENTS MASON'S FUNERAL PARLOR, JUST 5¢.

I'D RATHER DIE FIRST.

[MAYOR] ...A COMMISSION

AS HONORARY COLONEL IN THE STATE MILITIA.

COLONEL BRADY-- I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.

WHO, MAY I ASK, IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE COMMUNITY?

THE REVEREND JEREMIAH BROWN.

HOW DO YOU DO, SIR?

WOULD YOU STEP IN AND STAND ON MY RIGHT?

- MY PLEASURE. - THANK YOU.

FRIENDS OF HILLSBORO, YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE COME HERE.

NOT MERELY TO PROSECUTE A LAWBREAKER,

I HAVE COME BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED IN THE SCHOOLROOM

IN YOUR TOWN THAT HAS UNLOOSED A WICKED ATTACK

FROM THE BIG CITIES OF THE NORTH.

WE DID NOT SEEK THIS STRUGGLE.

WE ARE SIMPLE PEOPLE

WHO ASK ONLY TO LIVE IN BROTHERHOOD AND PEACE, AND CHERISH OUR LOVED ONES,

TEACH OUR CHILDREN THE WAYS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

AND OF THE LORD.

BUT WHAT WOULD THEY TEACH THEM, THESE IDOLATERS,

THESE PRIESTS OF EVILUTION?

WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE THEM DO?

THEY WOULD HAVE THEM MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE STARS

AND FORGET HIM WHO HOLDS THE STARS

IN HIS HAND. THEY WOULD ROB THEM

OF THEIR CREATOR IN THE BEGINNING,

AND THEIR HOPE OF HEAVEN IN THE END.

AND FOR THE MORALITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

THEY WOULD SUBSTITUTE THE IMMORALITY

OF SELF LOVE. THEY ARE LOST, MY FRIENDS.

FOR I TELL YOU, IF MAN BELIEVES HE IS DESCENDED FROM THE BEAST,

HE MUST REMAIN A BEAST!

AND AS THE YOUNG WOLF TURNS ON THE OLD,

SO THESE INNOCENT ONES, CORRUPTED AND DESPAIRING OF SALVATION,

WILL TURN UPON THEIR FATHERS.

WE WILL HAVE A LAND OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH,

OF PESTILENCE, FIRE, HATRED, AND DEATH.

IT IS FOR THIS CRIME--

THIS CRIME AGAINST MAN AND GOD--

THAT WE MUST MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT TEACHER

WHO WOULD SOW THE SEEDS OF FRUSTRATION

AND DESPAIR IN THE MINDS OF OUR YOUNG ONES HERE.

THE WHOLE WORLD MUST SEE HOW THIS CRIMINAL--

NO, IT ISN'T TRUE.

BERT CASE ISN'T A CRIMINAL.

[BRADY] WHAT IS YOUR NAME, YOUNG LADY?

- RACHEL BROWN. - SHE'S MY DAUGHTER...

- COLONEL BRADY. - YOUR DAUGHTER, REVEREND,

A LOVELY YOUNG WOMAN SHE IS TOO.

YOU'RE A SCHOOLTEACHER TOO, I SEE.

- YES. - I'M SURE YOU TEACH ACCORDING TO THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD.

YES, I TRY.

HAS THIS MR. CATES EVER TRIED TO POLLUTE YOUR MIND

WITH ANY OF HIS HEATHEN DOGMA?

BERT ISN'T A HEATHEN, MR. BRADY.

- RACHEL! - [BOOING]

[BRADY] NO NO NO, MY FRIENDS. THIS YOUNG WOMAN'S INABILITY

TO RECOGNIZE THE FACE OF EVIL

TESTIFIES TO HER OWN INNOCENCE.

MY DEAR, I UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF LOYALTY,

OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY, IF YOU WILL,

THAT MOVES YOU TO DEFEND A COLLEAGUE FALLEN FROM GRACE.

AND I HAVE NO PERSONAL MALICE TOWARD THIS MISGUIDED YOUNG MAN.

BUT HE IS CONDEMNED BY HIS OWN ACTS

AND NO ONE ON EARTH CAN DEFEND HIM

FROM THE JUST PUNISHMENT THAT AWAITS HIM.

- [CHEERING] - ARE YOU TAKING QUESTIONS, COLONEL BRADY?

BY ALL MEANS. DO I KNOW YOU, SIR?

WORKING PRESS. E.K. HORNBECK

- OF THE BALTIMORE HERALD. - YES...

I'VE OFTEN TAKEN ISSUE

WITH THE MOCKING TONE OF MR. HORNBECK'S COLUMNS.

BUT I WILL ENTERTAIN HIS QUERY NONETHELESS.

I WONDER IF YOU HAVE ANY REACTION

TO WHO YOUR ADVERSARY'S GOING TO BE IN THIS CASE.

I'VE NOT YET BEEN INFORMED WHO MY ADVERSARY IS,

BUT GIVEN THE BELIEF IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR CAUSE,

IT HARDLY MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.

IT'S HENRY DRUMMOND, COLONEL.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

WHO'S HENRY DRUMMOND?

HENRY DRUMMOND THE ATHEIST. HE'S A VICIOUS,

GODLESS MAN, A CREATURE OF DARKNESS,

AN AGENT OF THE DEVIL.

- DON'T LET HIM IN TOWN. - KEEP HIM OUT!

KEEP HIM OUT! KEEP HIM OUT!

KEEP HIM OUT!

DEAR FRIENDS, PLEASE, PLEASE,

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD WELCOME HENRY DRUMMOND.

IF THE ENEMY SENDS HIS GOLIATH INTO BATTLE,

IT MAGNIFIES OUR CAUSE.

HENRY DRUMMOND HAS STALKED THE COURTROOMS OF THIS LAND

FOR 40 YEARS.

WHEN HE FIGHTS, HEADLINES FOLLOW.

THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING OUR VICTORY OVER DRUMMOND.

IF ST. GEORGE HAD KILLED

A DRAGONFLY INSTEAD OF A DRAGON,

WHO WOULD REMEMBER HIM?

WE HERE IN HILLSBORO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO SLAY NOT ONLY

THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE,

BUT THE DEVIL HIMSELF!

♪ IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR BRADY ♪

♪ IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR BRADY ♪

♪ IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR BRADY ♪

♪ THEN IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. ♪

RACHEL, I WAITED SUPPER FOR YOU.

IT'S ON THE TABLE.

PEACE WILL COME, MY DAUGHTER.

WE MUST THANK GOD THE SINNER STANDS NAKED AND EXPOSED.

STOP PREACHING, PA.

- YOU'RE UPSET, MY DARLING. - I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU.

LET'S EAT SOMETHING, WE'LL TALK AFTER.

NO. RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT LEAVING BERT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU HEARD WHAT MR. BRADY SAID.

I LOVE HIM, PA. I LOVE HIM.

IT'S THE LOVE OF JUDAS. RACHEL,

THIS MAN HAS NOTHING TO OFFER YOU BUT SIN.

WHAT'S HE DONE? WHAT'S HE DONE THAT'S SO TERRIBLE?

WHY DO YOU HATE HIM SO?

BECAUSE I LOVE GOD, AND I HATE HIS ENEMIES.

BERT LOVES GOD.

THEN WHAT IS HE DOING WITH HENRY DRUMMOND?

WHY IS HE BRINGING HENRY DRUMMOND HERE

TO SPEW HIS ATHEISTIC FILTH INTO THE EARS OF OUR PEOPLE?

RACHEL, RACHEL, YOU'RE A SCHOOLTEACHER.

YOU KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO MOLD MINDS FOR GOOD

OR TWIST THEM FOR EVIL.

BERT DIDN'T TWIST ANY MINDS.

[SCREAMS]

YOU'RE INFECTED

WITH THE POISON OF HIS AGNOSTICISM.

RACHEL, RACHEL,

GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES, BEG FOR FORGIVENESS.

FORGIVENESS FOR WHAT?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME.

YOU HAVE BETRAYED YOUR FAITH.

I HAVEN'T BETRAYED ANYBODY.

I'M GLAD YOUR MOTHER'S NOT ALIVE TO HEAR THIS.

- PA, LISTEN TO ME. - IF SHE IS WATCHING DOWN FROM HEAVEN,

I ASK HER TO FORGIVE YOU, TO FORGIVE ME.

FORGIVE HER, MOTHER. OH, DEAR GOD.

PA, EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,

I'D WAKE UP AT NIGHT AFRAID OF THE DARK,

LIKE THE WHOLE HOUSE WAS UPSIDE DOWN

AND IF I DIDN'T HANG ON TO THE MATTRESS,

I'D FALL OUT INTO THE SKY--

I WANTED TO RUN TO YOU TO HAVE YOU TELL ME THAT I WAS SAFE.

...FOR I HAVE TRIED TO BE BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER TO OUR CHILD!

BUT I WAS ALWAYS MORE AFRAID OF YOU THAN OF FALLING.

- IT'S THE SAME WAY NOW. - I HAVE FAILED.

- I HAVE FAILED. - PA!

TELL ME WHAT TO DO. GUIDE MY FALTERING STEPS.

I LOVE MY DAUGHTER. HOW CAN I SAVE HER?

- TELL ME WHAT TO DO. - PA, GET UP.

GET UP. GET UP.

AND I SHALL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU,

AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN.

AND A NEW HEART ALSO WILL I GIVE YOU.

AND A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU.

NO.

[SOBBING]

[CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[DRIVER] HILLSBORO!

- THANK YOU. - THANK YOU, SIR.

HELLO, DEVIL. WELCOME TO HELL.

HELLO, HORNBECK.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE MANSION HOUSE IS?

THAT'S WHERE I'M STAYING. FOLLOW ME.

HILLSBORO, HEAVENLY HILLSBORO, THE BUCKLE ON THE BIBLE BELT.

POPCORN.

COTTON CANDY! COTTON CANDY!

- WANT SOME? - NO.

[LAUGHS] QUITE A CIRCUS, HUH?

LOOK AT THIS.

GRANDPA, WELCOME TO HILLSBORO!

HAVE YOU COME TO TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION,

OR THE DEFENSE?

POPCORN?

YOU'RE ON THE JURY, KID.

HEY HEY, ARE YOU HENRY DRUMMOND?

YES, I AM.

I'M ROYCE McHENRY, FARMER HEREABOUTS.

NICE TO KNOW YOU, MR. McHENRY.

I WANT TO TELL YOU WE'RE JUST PLAIN FOLK DOWN HERE.

WE DON'T NEED NO OUTSIDERS TELLING US

HOW OR WHAT TO THINK.

WELL, THAT'S NOT MY MISSION, MR. McHENRY.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM?

THEY GET A LITTLE RILED UP, DON'T THEY?

THEIR MESSIAH ARRIVED YESTERDAY.

MIGHT AS WELL GIVE YOUR ULCERS A BREAK, DRUMMOND.

GO HOME. YOU'LL WIN NO VICTORIES HERE.

I'VE BEEN A LAWYER LONG ENOUGH

TO KNOW YOU DON'T WIN ANY TOTAL VICTORIES ANYWHERE.

TOTAL VICTORIES? THERE'S ONLY ONE MAN IN THIS TOWN

WHO KNOWS HOW TO THINK AND HE'S IN JAIL.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

- LOCAL GREETING COMMITTEE. - AHA.

MR. DRUMMOND?

WE'RE MEMBERS OF MR. CATES' HOMEROOM AND BIOLOGY CLASS.

WE LIKE MR. CATES.

WE HOPE YOU DO RIGHT BY HIM.

I DO TOO, SON. I DO TOO.

OH, THANK YOU.

[BRADY] THEN WE WILL CARRY THE FIGHT

TO THE PEOPLE OF EACH SOVEREIGN STATE...

SARAH!

YOU'RE LOOKING AS LOVELY AS ALWAYS.

- IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, HENRY. - EXCUSE ME, GENTLEMEN.

I ONLY WISH IT WEREN'T UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

HENRY DRUMMOND! HOW ARE YOU, HENRY?

HELLO, MATT.

I SEE YOU'VE ALREADY MADE FRIENDS WITH THE YOUNGER SET.

YOUTH APPEALS TO ME THESE DAYS.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER, HENRY.

YOU'RE NOT EATING AGAIN?

MATT, YOU KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID

ABOUT OVEREATING IN THIS HEAT.

WE NEED STRENGTH FOR THE FIGHT AHEAD.

- HERE'S YOUR ROOM KEY. - THANK YOU.

OH, IT'S YOU AGAIN, MR. HORNBECK.

I READ YOUR ARTICLE YESTERDAY.

VERY BIASED REPORTING, I MUST SAY.

IT IS A NEWSPAPER'S DUTY TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED...

AND AFFLICT THE COMFORTABLE. SEE YOU IN COURT, COUNSELOR.

I DON'T LIKE THAT FELLOW.

HENRY, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF HILLSBORO.

THIS IS MR. CARTER, THE MAYOR.

WELCOME TO HILLSBORO.

- THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. - PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FOR THIS DISTRICT,

MR. DAVENPORT. WE'LL BE WORKING TOGETHER.

MR. DRUMMOND, WHILE WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH YOUR IDEAS,

WE CERTAINLY RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOICE THEM.

GOOD BOY.

MR. DRUMMOND AND I HAVE FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE

IN A GOOD MANY BATTLES FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE COMMON PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

TWICE HE CAMPAIGNED FOR ME WHEN I RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

- ISN'T THAT RIGHT, HENRY? - THAT'S RIGHT, MATT.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

WE FIND OURSELVES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF AN ISSUE.

WELL, THAT'S EVOLUTION FOR YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMAN. THANK YOU.

- SARAH. - [CHEERING]

[BOOING]

YOU MAY TAKE A SEAT IN THE JURY BOX, MR. JENKINS.

MR. MEEKER, CALL A VENIREMAN TO FILL THE TWELFTH SEAT ON THE JURY.

JESSE H. DUNLAP! YOU'RE NEXT, JESSE.

THERE'LL BE NO MORE OF THAT PICTURE TAKING, I WARNED YA!

I WILL TOLERATE NO DISTURBANCE OR DEMONSTRATIONS IN THIS COURTROOM.

THIS IS A TRIAL, NOT A DOG AND PONY SHOW.

...STUFFING HIS FACE WITH FRIED CHICKEN,

AND BELCHING PLATITUDES.

YOU REPORTERS KEEP YOUR VOICES DOWN

OR I'LL BAN YOU FROM THE COURT.

I JUST GOT THE HOOK. I'LL CALL YOU LATER.

...THE COURT WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION

ON A MATTER OF PROCEDURE?

[JUDGE] WILL THE LEARNED PROSECUTOR STATE THE MOTION?

IT HAS BEEN CALLED TO MY ATTENTION

THAT THE TEMPERATURE IN THIS ROOM

IS NOW 97 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

AND IT MAY GET HOTTER!

[LAUGHTER]

I DON'T THINK THE DIGNITY OF THE COURT WILL SUFFER

SHOULD WE DISPOSE OF A FEW SUPERFLUOUS OUTER GARMENTS.

[JUDGE] DOES THE DEFENSE HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO COLONEL BRADY'S MOTION?

NO, BUT I JUST WONDER IF THE DIGNITY OF THE COURT CAN BE UPHELD

WITH THESE GALLUSES I'VE GOT ON.

WE'LL TAKE THAT CHANCE, MR. DRUMMOND.

THOSE WHO WISH TO REMOVE THEIR COATS MAY DO SO.

[BRADY] IS THE COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE

SHOWING US THE LATEST FASHIONS

FROM THE GREAT METROPOLITAN CITY OF CHICAGO?

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT.

I BROUGHT THESE ALONG SPECIAL. IT JUST SO HAPPENS

I PURCHASED THEM AT THE GENERAL STORE IN YOUR HOMETOWN,

MR. BRADY-- WEEPING WATER, NEBRASKA.

[LAUGHTER]

- [GAVEL POUNDS] - [JUDGE] LET US PROCEED

WITH THE SELECTION OF THE FINAL JUROR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND OCCUPATION.

JESSE H. DUNLAP, FARMING IMPLEMENTS. WE SELL TRACTOR--

SIT DOWN, JESSE.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE, MR. DUNLAP?

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY WORD OF GOD, AND MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

AMEN!

[MAN] HALLELUJAH.

I BELIEVE THIS MAN IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PROSECUTION.

[JUDGE] MR. DRUMMOND?

NO QUESTIONS. NOT ACCEPTABLE.

DOES MR. DRUMMOND REFUSE THIS MAN A PLACE ON THE JURY

SIMPLY BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN THE BIBLE?

IF YOU CAN FIND AN EVOLUTIONIST IN THIS TOWN,

YOU CAN REFUSE HIM.

I OBJECT TO THE COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE

REJECTING A WORTHY CITIZEN

WITHOUT SO MUCH AS ASKING HIM A QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT, MR. BRADY, I'LL ASK HIM A QUESTION.

HOW ARE YOU?

KIND OF HOT.

SO AM I. EXCUSED.

[JUDGE] YOU ARE EXCUSED FROM JURY DUTY, MR. DUNLAP.

- YOU MAY STEP DOWN. - AND I OBJECT TO THE NOTE OF LEVITY

THE COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE

IS INTRODUCING INTO THESE PROCEEDINGS.

[JUDGE] THE BENCH AGREES WITH YOU IN SPIRIT, COLONEL BRADY.

REALLY? WELL, I OBJECT TO THIS DAMN "COLONEL" BUSINESS.

APPARENTLY I AM NOT AWARE OF THE MILITARY RECORD OF MR. BRADY.

WELL, HE WAS MADE HONORARY COLONEL

IN OUR STATE MILITIA THE DAY HE ARRIVED IN HILLSBORO.

THAT TITLE AUTOMATICALLY PREJUDICES MY CLIENT'S CASE.

IT CONJURES UP SOME IMAGE OF THE PROSECUTOR

ASTRIDE A WHITE HORSE,

DECKED OUT IN FULL REGALIA OF A MILITIA COLONEL

AND WITH ALL THE FORCES OF RIGHT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AMASSED BEHIND HIM.

[JUDGE] WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE YOU A FAIR HEARING IN THIS COURTROOM.

WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING PREJUDICIAL TO YOUR CLIENT.

WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST WE DO, COUNSELOR?

BREAK HIM. MAKE HIM A PRIVATE.

I HAVE NO SERIOUS OBJECTION

TO THE HONORARY TITLE OF PRIVATE BRADY.

YOUR HONOR?

[JUDGE] YOU KNOW OUR MAYOR, MR. DRUMMOND.

HE HAS A SUGGESTION TO MAKE.

BY THE AUTHORITY OF--

WELL, I'M SURE THE GOVERNOR WON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION--

I HEREBY APPOINT YOU, MR. DRUMMOND,

A TEMPORARY HONORARY COLONEL

IN THE STATE MILITIA.

WELL...

WHAT CAN I SAY?

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY, SIR,

THAT ONE ATTAINS THE EXALTED RANK

OF TEMPORARY HONORARY COLONEL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THEY OUGHT TO GET HIM A UNIFORM OF TAR AND FEATHERS--

THAT'D TEACH HIM SOME RESPECT.

- [GAVEL POUNDS] - COLONEL BRADY,

COLONEL DRUMMOND,

YOU WILL EXAMINE THE NEXT VENIREMAN.

GEORGE SILLERS, COME TO THE STAND.

STATE YOUR NAME AND OCCUPATION.

GEORGE SILLERS. I WORK AT THE FEED STORE.

BE SEATED, GEORGE.

TELL ME, SIR, WOULD YOU CALL YOURSELF A RELIGIOUS MAN?

I GUESS I'M AS RELIGIOUS AS THE NEXT MAN.

IN HILLSBORO, SIR, THAT MEANS A GREAT DEAL.

TELL ME, MR. SILLERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN?

NONE AS I KNOW OF.

[LAUGHTER]

IF YOU HAD A SON OR A DAUGHTER,

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF THAT SWEET CHILD CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE DAY

AND TOLD YOU THAT A GODLESS TEACHER--

OBJECTION! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SELECTING JURYMEN.

THE PROSECUTION IS ALREADY DENOUNCING MY CLIENT

BEFORE THE TRIAL HAS EVEN STARTED.

[JUDGE] OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

MR. SILLERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPINIONS

IN REGARD TO THE DEFENDANT

THAT MIGHT PREJUDICE YOU ON HIS BEHALF?

CATES?

I DON'T HARDLY KNOW HIM.

HE COME IN AND BOUGHT PEAT MOSS ONCE.

HE PAID HIS BILL ON TIME.

MR. SILLERS IMPRESSES ME

AS AN HONEST, GOD-FEARING MAN. I ACCEPT HIM.

[JUDGE] THANK YOU, COLONEL BRADY. COLONEL DRUMMOND?

UH, MR. SILLERS,

YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU ARE A RELIGIOUS MAN.

TELL ME,

DO YOU WORK AT IT VERY HARD?

WELL, I'M PRETTY BUSY DOWN AT THE FEED STORE.

SO THE WIFE TENDS TO THE RELIGION FOR BOTH OF US.

OH, I SEE. YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS LIFE,

SHE TAKES CARE OF THE NEXT ONE.

THAT IS OBJECTED TO AS IMMATERIAL AND ARGUMENTATIVE.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

WHILE YOUR WIFE IS TENDING TO THE RELIGION,

DID YOU EVER BUMP INTO A FELLOW NAMED CHARLES DARWIN?

NOT TILL JUST RECENT.

FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS MR. DARWIN,

DO YOU THINK HE'S SOMEONE YOU WIFE WOULD HAVE OVER FOR SUNDAY DINNER?

[BRADY] YOUR HONOR, MY WORTHY OPPONENT FROM CHICAGO

IS CLUTTERING UP THE ISSUE WITH HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS.

I HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED

THAT MR. SILLERS IS NOT WORKING HARD AT RELIGION.

FOR YOUR SAKE, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT

IF HE'S WORKING HARD AT EVOLUTION.

I'M JUST WORKING AT THE FEED STORE.

[LAUGHTER]

- MR. SILLERS, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN RENDER IMPARTIAL-- - PASS THIS.

OUT OF ORDER. THE PROSECUTION HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED THIS MAN.

ALL I WANT IS A FAIR TRIAL.

- SO DO I. - UNLESS THE STATE OF MIND

OF THE MEMBERS OF THE JURY

CONFORMS TO THE LAWS AND PATTERNS OF SOCIETY--

CONFORM CONFORM! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? RUN THE ENTIRE JURY

THROUGH A MEAT GRINDER SO THEY'LL ALL COME OUT THE SAME?

TAKE A BOX SEAT, MR. SILLERS.

- YOUR HONOR-- - GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE BOTH OUT OF ORDER.

THE BENCH RULES THAT THE JURY HAS BEEN SELECTED.

DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT,

THE COURT WILL ADJOURN UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00.

[CROWD MURMURING]

- REVEREND BROWN WANTED ME TO READ THIS. - OH, ONE MOMENT.

THE REVEREND BROWN HAS ASKED ME TO READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

"THERE WILL BE A PRAYER MEETING TONIGHT AT THE TOWN SQUARE,

PRAY FOR JUSTICE AND GUIDANCE. ALL ARE INVITED."

[DRUMMOND] I OBJECT TO THIS COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT?

YES, FOR REVEREND BROWN'S PRODUCT.

WHY DON'T YOU ANNOUNCE A MEETING FOR EVOLUTION?

- I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A MEETING. - THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

YOUR HONOR, IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT EVERYBODY COMING INTO THIS COURTROOM

HAS TO WALK IN UNDER A BANNER THAT SAYS "READ YOUR BIBLE."

I WANT THAT BANNER TAKEN DOWN--

[CROWD] NO! NO!

--OR ELSE ANOTHER ONE PUT UP THAT'S JUST AS BIG

WITH LETTERS JUST AS BIG THAT SAYS "READ YOUR DARWIN."

- [JUDGE] THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS. - [DRUMMOND] IT CERTAINLY IS.

- ORDER! ORDER! - FRIENDS,

WE WANT THE LEARNED COUNSEL FROM THE NORTH

TO RECEIVE EVERY FAIRNESS AND CONSIDERATION

IN THIS TRIAL. WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT HE IS OUR GUEST.

GUEST, HELL! I'M A LAWYER IN A COURTROOM.

THEN BEHAVE LIKE A LAWYER.

- [JUDGE] YOU'RE BOTH OUT OF ORDER. - STOP USING THIS COURTROOM

AS A SOUNDING BOARD FOR YOUR OBSCENE IDEAS,

DIRTYING THE MINDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

YOU ARE BOTH OUT OF ORDER. COURT STANDS ADJOURNED.

MY CONDUCT AS A LAWYER IS NOT IN QUESTION IN THIS COURTROOM.

- LEAST OF ALL BY YOU! - WELL, YOUR LANGUAGE IS!

I DON'T SWEAR JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT!

LANGUAGE IS A POOR ENOUGH FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

WE NEED EVERY DAMN WORD WE'VE GOT.

THERE'S DAMNED FEW OF THOSE WORDS THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS!

WE'LL FIX YOU, BERT CATES! ATHEIST!

ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, THAT'S ABOUT ENOUGH.

ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, LET'S CLEAR THE COURTROOM NOW.

- EVERYBODY GO HOME. - JUST REMEMBER THE BALTIMORE HERALD IS WITH YOU...

- RIGHT UP TO THE LYNCHING. - BERT...

YOU'VE GOT TO CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF NOW.

- RIGHT NOW. - EXCUSE ME, WHO ARE YOU, YOUNG LADY?

THIS IS RACHEL BROWN. WE'RE ENGAGED.

[HORNBECK] REVEREND BROWN'S DAUGHTER.

DON'T YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING?

THEY'RE USING YOU AS A WEAPON AGAINST YOUR OWN PEOPLE.

WHAT YOU THINK OR BELIEVE ISN'T THE POINT ANYMORE.

YOU'RE HELPING SOMETHING BAD.

IT'S NOT QUITE THAT SIMPLE, YOUNG LADY.

GOOD OR BAD, BLACK OR WHITE, NIGHT OR DAY.

DO YOU KNOW THAT AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD

THAT THE TWILIGHT IS SIX MONTHS LONG?

BERT AND I DON'T LIVE ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

WE LIVE IN HILLSBORO. AND WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN

IT'S DARK. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO COME HERE AND MAKE IT DIFFERENT?

I DIDN'T COME HERE TO MAKE HILLSBORO DIFFERENT.

I CAME HERE TO FIGHT FOR HIS RIGHT TO BE DIFFERENT.

THAT'S THE POINT. NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY, BOY?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POINT IS ANYMORE.

I TRIED TO TEACH THEIR KIDS. I TRIED TO OPEN THE MINDS OF THEIR KIDS.

THEIR KIDS. I TRIED TO GIVE THEM KNOWLEDGE THEY COULD USE

AND THEY'RE USING IT AS A STRANGLEHOLD ON ME.

YOU'RE LEARNING, CATES.

DISILLUSIONMENT IS WHAT LITTLE HEROES ARE MADE OUT OF.

- YOU'RE OFF TO A GOOD START. - WHERE DO I FINISH?

DEAD? WITH A PAPER MEDAL ON MY CHEST?

"BERT CATES, WORLD'S BIGGEST CHUMP.

HE DIED FIGHTING." LET'S FACE IT--

TO HIM I'M A HEADLINE; TO YOU I'M A CAUSE.

AND TO YOURSELF?

YOU CHOSE TO GET INTO THIS-- NOT FOR HIS HEADLINE

OR FOR MY CAUSE,

MAYBE NOT EVEN FOR THEIR KIDS.

EVERY SAINT IS SELF-EMPLOYED.

YOU DID IT FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU FOUND SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD HAPPEN THIS WAY.

THESE PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AS IF I WERE A MURDERER.

YOU ARE, IN A WAY.

YOU TEAR DOWN ONE OF THEIR LITTLE FAIRY TALES,

AND THEY'LL COME DOWN ON YOU

WITH THE WRATH OF GOD, BRADY AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE EVERY DAMN TIME.

ANYWAY, IT'S UP TO YOU, CATES.

I CAN CHANGE YOUR PLEA. WE'LL JUST FORGET ABOUT THE WHOLE BUSINESS.

ON ONE CONDITION-- YOU TELL ME

YOU REALLY THINK THE LAW IS RIGHT

AND YOU ARE WRONG.

I'LL PACK MY GRIP, GO BACK TO CHICAGO

WHERE IT'S A COOL 100 IN THE SHADE.

BERT, I'VE GONE TO MY FATHER'S CHURCH

EVERY SUNDAY AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.

THIS IS WHERE MY CHILDREN WILL BE BORN.

WHAT KIND OF A LIFE COULD WE HAVE

IF I GIVE UP NOW? YOUR FATHER'S KIND?

HALLELUJAH AND IGNORANCE HERE WE COME?

- I CAN'T LIVE THAT WAY. - SORRY, BERT.

I GOT TO TAKE YOU BACK NOW.

YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE, HORNBECK?

ONLY WITH THE SOUND OF MY OWN WORDS, THANK GOD.

[BRADY] THANK YOU, O LORD, DEAR FATHER,

FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, FOR THY BOUNTY

MAKE US WORTHY OF THY GRACE, AMEN.

GO AHEAD, HENRY. I SAID GRACE FOR YOU, TOO.

GOT ANY IDEA HOW LONG THE TRIAL WILL LAST?

A MONTH, MAYBE LONGER. IT DEPENDS WHETHER THEY'LL LET US CALL WITNESSES.

...SINGLE STATE IN THIS UNION WHERE THE EVOLUTIONISTS

- HAVE A MAJORITY. - BRADY'S CROSS OF GOLD SPEECH.

OH, WELL, I'LL CONGRATULATE HIM AS SOON AS I FINISH THIS SOUP.

[REPORTER] MR. BRADY, HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE UNFAVORABLE...

EXCUSE ME, GENTLEMEN.

SARAH? SARAH.

WHY DON'T YOU SIT WITH ME? HE'S GOING TO BE AWHILE.

- LOVELY. - COULD I ORDER YOU SOMETHING?

OH, NO THANK YOU.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE HAT WITH THE BLUE FEATHER?

- BLUE FEATHER? - YOU USED TO WEAR IT TO ALL THE CONVENTIONS

- AND IT WAS MUCH TOO BECOMING. - OH, HENRY!

WHATEVER HAPPENED

TO THAT SKINNY BLACK TIE YOU USED TO WEAR?

NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE, LIKE AN OLD SHOELACE.

- IT WENT BACK IN THE SHOE. - [LAUGHTER]

HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU, SARAH?

A LITTLE GRAYER. AND YOU?

- A LITTLE GRIMMER. - I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I WATCHED YOU IN COURT TODAY. YOU SEEMED TO BE ENJOYING YOURSELF AS MUCH AS EVER.

THAT'S MATT. HE BRINGS OUT THE WORST IN ME.

WE'VE MISSED YOU, HENRY.

YOU DON'T MAKE MANY GOOD FRIENDS IN THIS LIFETIME.

I NEVER DREAMED OUR IDEAS COULD SEPARATE US.

[BRADY] I HAVE BEEN TO THEIR CITIES,

THE ALTARS UPON WHICH THEY SACRIFICE THE FUTURES OF THEIR CHILDREN

TO THE GODS OF SCIENCE.

HE STILL HAS A LOUD VOICE.

[BRADY] ...CONFUSION, SELF-DESTRUCTION,

NEW WAYS TO KILL EACH OTHER IN WARS.

I TELL YOU THE WAY OF SCIENTISM IS THE WAY OF DARKNESS.

HE STILL HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK,

I DON'T THINK MATT WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT PRESIDENT,

BUT I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HIM FOR KING...

IF I KNEW I WAS GONNA GET YOU AS QUEEN.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

YOUR MAJESTY'S LOYAL OPPOSITION.

NOW THAT'LL BE ALL FOR THIS EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

HENRY, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, THERE'S NOTHING PERSONAL IN ALL THIS.

- OF COURSE, SARAH. - IT'S ALMOST TIME, DEAR.

HENRY, I DO HOPE THAT YOU'LL ATTEND REVEREND BROWN'S PRAYER MEETING.

IT MAY BRING YOU SOME ENLIGHTENMENT.

YES, HENRY, DO COME ALONG. THE AIR WILL DO YOU GOOD.

[BROWN] HEARKEN TO THE WORD!

THE WORD TELLS US

THE WORLD WAS CREATED IN SIX DAYS.

IN FIVE DAYS, HE CREATED THE EARTH

AND THE STARS

AND THE CONTINENTS AND THE SEAS AND ALL THE CREATURES THEREIN,

- THE BEASTS AND THE FISHES. - HALLELUJAH!

ON THE MORNING OF THE SIXTH DAY,

THE LORD ROSE AND HIS EYE WAS DARK

AND A SCOWL LAY ACROSS HIS FACE.

WHY? WHY WAS THE LORD TROUBLED?

TELL US WHY. WHY?

HE LOOKED ABOUT HIM, DID THE LORD,

AT ALL HIS HANDIWORK BOWED DOWN BEFORE HIM,

AND HE SAID, "IT IS NOT GOOD!

IT IS NOT FINISHED!

I SHALL MAKE ME...

- A MAN!" - [CHEERING]

- AND THE LORD MADE MAN... - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SILENT PRAYER?

- DO WE BELIEVE? - YES!

- DO WE BELIEVE THE WORD? - YES!

- DO WE BELIEVE THE TRUTH OF THE WORD? - YES! YES!

DO WE CURSE THE MAN WHO DENIES THE WORD?

YES!

DO WE CALL DOWN HELLFIRE

ON THE MAN WHO HAS SINS AGAINST THE WORD?

YES!

O LORD OF THE TEMPEST AND THE THUNDER,

O LORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WRATH,

WE PRAY THAT THOU WILT MAKE US A SIGN!

HALLELUJAH!

STRIKE DOWN THIS SINNER

AS THOU DIDST THY ENEMIES OF OLD

IN THE DAYS OF THE PHARAOHS.

- YES! - LET HIM FEEL

THE TERROR

OF THY SWORD. FOR ALL ETERNITY

LET HIS SOUL WRITHE IN ANGUISH

- AND DAMNATION! - NO!

- DON'T PRAY TO DESTROY BERT! - GET AWAY.

- LORD... - NO!

WE CALL DOWN THE SAME CURSE

ON THOSE WHO WOULD ASK GRACE FOR THIS SINNER,

THOUGH THEY BE BLOOD OF MY BLOOD, FLESH OF MY FLESH!

REVEREND BROWN!

REVEREND BROWN, I KNOW THAT IT IS

THE GREAT ZEAL OF YOUR FAITH

THAT MAKES YOU UTTER THIS PRAYER,

BUT SOMETIMES IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE OVERZEALOUS,

SO WE DESTROY THAT WHICH WE HOPE TO SAVE

AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT EMPTINESS.

REMEMBER THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS--

"HE THAT TROUBLETH HIS OWN HOUSE

SHALL INHERIT THE WIND."

THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US

THAT GOD FORGIVES HIS CHILDREN,

AND WE, AS GOD'S CHILDREN, SHOULD FORGIVE EACH OTHER.

MY DEAR FRIENDS, RETURN TO YOUR HOMES. GO HOME.

MAY THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU ALL.

IF I HAVE SINNED,

I AM PUNISHED.

- [CRYING] - WE'LL TAKE YOU HOME, MY DEAR.

I CAN'T GO HOME. HE HATES ME.

HE DOESN'T HATE YOU.

HE DAMNED ME. MY OWN FATHER DAMNED ME TO HELL.

NO MAN HAS THE POWER TO DAMN.

HE'S ALWAYS DONE IT.

HE DID IT TO BERT AND HE DID IT TO THE LITTLE STEBBINS BOY.

- THE STEBBINS BOY? - THAT'S HOW THE WHOLE THING STARTED.

THAT'S WHY BERT LEFT THE CHURCH.

MRS. STEBBINS' BOY WAS JUST AN INNOCENT CHILD.

GOD HAS NO WRATH FOR THE INNOCENT, MY DEAR.

THAT'S WHAT BERT SAID.

IF I COULD ONLY EXPLAIN IT CLEARLY,

THEY'D UNDERSTAND, MR. BRADY.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN.

COME ALONG. LET'S GO HOME.

- COME ON, GIRL. - THANK YOU.

- HELLO, HENRY. - [DRUMMOND] SARAH.

I'LL BE RIGHT UP, DEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

- GOOD NIGHT, HENRY. - [DRUMMOND] GOOD NIGHT, SARAH.

- YOU'RE UP LATE. - TOO HOT TO SLEEP.

NO USE KIDDING OURSELVES, HENRY.

WE'RE JUST NOT THE MEN WE USED TO BE.

HELL, FROM THE SIZE OF THAT MEAL

I SAW YOU EAT TONIGHT,

I'D THINK YOU HADN'T CHANGED IN 40 YEARS.

[LAUGHTER]

IT'S FUNNY

HOW TWO PEOPLE CAN START FROM THE SAME PLACE

AND JUST DRIFT APART.

I THINK IT'S THE LIFE PROCESS.

THERE USED TO BE A MUTUALITY OF UNDERSTANDING

AND ADMIRATION BETWEEN US, HENRY.

TELL ME, MY OLD FRIEND,

WHY HAVE YOU MOVED SO FAR AWAY FROM ME?

ALL MOTION IS RELATIVE, MATT.

MAYBE IT'S YOU WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY

BY STANDING STILL.

IF PROGRESS MEANS ABANDONING GOD,

ABANDONING THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS--

I SAW AN EXAMPLE OF THAT FAITH TONIGHT.

IT'S A PRETTY DEADLY INSTRUMENT, IF YOU ASK ME.

WHAT YOU SAW WAS A REFLECTION OF THE VIOLENCE AND HATRED

IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM, HENRY-- YOUR WORLD.

BUT THEY WERE DRIVEN TO IT BECAUSE THEIR FAITH WAS CHALLENGED.

THESE ARE SIMPLE PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE.

THEY WORK HARD. THEY NEED TO BELIEVE IN

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE SEEKING SOMETHING

MORE PERFECT THAN WHAT THEY HAVE.

HMM, WINDOW SHOPPING FOR HEAVEN.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM, HENRY?

IT'S ALL THEY HAVE.

IT'S LIKE...

A GOLDEN CHALICE OF HOPE.

HA HA HA! LIKE MY GOLDEN DANCER.

- YOUR WHAT? - GOLDEN DANCER.

SHE WAS IN THE BIG SIDE WINDOW

OF THE GENERAL STORE IN WAKEMAN, OHIO.

I USED TO STAND ON THE STREET AND LOOK IN

AND SAY, "IF I COULD JUST HAVE THE GOLDEN DANCER,

I'D HAVE EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT I WANT."

THE GOLDEN DANCER-- MAN, I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

I WAS A VERY GOOD JUDGE OF ROCKING HORSES.

A BIG RED MANE, BLUE EYES,

- GOLD ALL OVER WITH PURPLE SPOTS. - OH BOY.

AND WHEN THE SUN HIT HER STIRRUPS,

SHE WAS A DAZZLING SIGHT TO SEE.

BUT SHE WAS A WEEK'S WAGES TO MY FATHER,

SO THERE WAS ALWAYS A PLATE-GLASS WINDOW

BETWEEN ME AND THE GOLDEN DANCER.

TILL ONE MORNING--

IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN CHRISTMAS--

IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY BIRTHDAY.

ANYWAY, I WOKE UP

AND THERE AT THE FOOT OF MY BED

WAS THE GOLDEN DANCER.

MY MOTHER HAD SKIMPED ON THE GROCERIES,

MY FATHER HAD WORKED NIGHTS FOR A MONTH.

I JUMPED INTO THE SADDLE

AND I STARTED TO ROCK...

AND IT BROKE IN TWO.

THE WOOD WAS ROTTEN. THE THING WAS PUT TOGETHER

WITH SPIT AND SEALING WAX--

ALL SHINE AND NO SUBSTANCE.

SO, MATT, WHENEVER I FIND ANYTHING

NICE AND SHINY AND BRIGHT

AND SEEMINGLY PERFECT AND PAINTED ALL GOLD

WITH PURPLE SPOTS, I LOOK BEHIND THE PAINT.

IF WHAT I FIND IS A LIE, I SHOW IT UP FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS.

YOU SAY YOU'RE GIVING THE PEOPLE HOPE?

I SAY YOU'RE STEALING HOPE FROM THE PEOPLE.

AS LONG AS THE PREREQUISITE FOR YOUR SHINING PARADISE

IS IGNORANCE AND ALL THAT IGNORANCE BREEDS--

POVERTY, BIGOTRY AND HATE...

I SAY THE HELL WITH IT.

[BRADY] NOW, HOWARD, TELL THEM WHAT ELSE

MR. CATES SAID TO YOU IN THE CLASSROOM.

WELL, HE SAID AT FIRST

THE EARTH WAS TOO HOT FOR ANY LIFE.

THEN IT COOLED DOWN A MITE

AND CELLS AND THINGS BEGUN TO LIVE.

CELLS?

LITTLE BUGS, LIKE, IN THE WATER.

AFTER THAT, THE LITTLE BUGS GOT TO BE BIGGER BUGS

AND THEY SPROUTED LEGS

AND CRAWLED UP ON THE LAND.

AND HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE, ACCORDING TO MR. CATES?

COUPLE MILLION YEARS... MAYBE LONGER.

THEN COME THE FISHES AND THE REPTILES AND THE MAMMALS.

- MAN'S A MAMMAL. - [BRADY] ALONG WITH THE DOGS,

AND THE CATTLE IN THE FIELDS. DID HE SAY THAT?

YES, SIR.

NOW, HOWARD, HOW DID MAN

COME OUT OF THIS SLIMY MESS

OF BUGS AND SERPENTS,

ACCORDING TO YOUR PROFESSOR?

MAN WAS SORT OF EVOLUTED...

FROM THE OLD-WORLD MONKEYS.

[LAUGHS]

DID YOU HEAR THAT, MY FRIENDS?

OLD-WORLD MONKEYS.

ACCORDING TO MR. CATES, YOU AND I

ARE NOT EVEN DESCENDED FROM GOOD AMERICAN MONKEYS.

[LAUGHTER]

NOW, HOWARD, LISTEN, CAREFULLY.

IN ALL THIS TALK OF BUGS AND EVOLUTION,

OF SLIME AND OOZE,

DID MR. CATES EVER MAKE ANY REFERENCE TO GOD?

NOT AS I REMEMBER.

AND THE MIRACLE HE ACHIEVED IN SEVEN DAYS

AS DESCRIBED IN THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK OF GENESIS?

NO, SIR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--

OBJECTION!

I ASK THAT THE COURT PLEASE ADVISE THE LEARNED COUNSEL

THAT THIS IS NOT A CHAUTAUQUA TENT.

HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUBMITTING EVIDENCE TO A JURY.

AND THERE ARE NO LADIES ON THE JURY.

YOUR HONOR, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF MAKING A SPEECH.

THERE IS NO NEED.

I AM SURE THAT EVERYONE ON THE JURY,

EVERYONE WITHIN THE SOUND OF THIS BOY'S VOICE

HAS BEEN MOVED BY HIS TRAGIC CONFUSION.

HE HAS BEEN TAUGHT

THAT HE WRIGGLED UP LIKE AN ANIMAL

OUT OF THE FILTH AND THE MUCK BELOW.

I TELL YOU, THESE BIBLE-HATERS,

THESE EVOLUTIONISTS ARE BREWERS OF POISON!

AND THE LEGISLATURE OF THIS SOVEREIGN STATE

HAS HAD THE WISDOM TO DEMAND

THAT THE PEDDLERS OF POISON-- BE IT IN BOTTLES OR IN BOOKS--

CLEARLY LABEL

THE PRODUCT THEY ATTEMPT TO SELL.

IF THIS LAW IS NOT UPHELD,

THIS BOY WILL FIND HIMSELF ONE OF A GENERATION

SHORN OF ITS FAITH

BY THE TEACHINGS OF GODLESS SCIENCE.

BUT IF THE FULL PENALTY OF THE LAW

IS METED OUT TO BERTRAM CATES,

THE FAITHFUL ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE WATCHING US

AND LISTENING TO OUR EVERY WORD

WILL RISE UP

AND CALL THIS COURTROOM BLESSED!

- [CROWD] AMEN. AMEN! - [APPLAUSE]

BOY, I AM GLAD THAT COLONEL BRADY DIDN'T MAKE A SPEECH.

NOW, HOWARD...

I HEARD YOU SAY THE WORLD USED TO BE PRETTY HOT.

THAT'S WHAT MR. CATES SAID.

YOU THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY HOTTER THAN IT IS NOW?

IT MUST HAVE BEEN. MR. CATES READ IT TO US FROM A BOOK.

IS THIS THE BOOK?

CHARLES DARWIN'S ORIGIN OF SPECIES?

- YES, SIR. - NOW, HOWARD,

DO YOU THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG IN THAT?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

OBJECTION. YOUR HONOR, THE DEFENSE IS ASKING

THAT A HIGH-SCHOOL BOY HAND DOWN AN OPINION

ON A QUESTION OF MORALITY.

I AM TRYING TO ESTABLISH, SIR, THAT HOWARD

OR COLONEL BRADY, CHARLES DARWIN,

ANYONE IN THIS COURTROOM OR YOU, SIR,

HAS THE RIGHT TO THINK.

MR. DRUMMOND, THE RIGHT TO THINK IS NOT ON TRIAL HERE.

WITH ALL RESPECT TO THE BENCH, SIR,

I SAY THAT THE RIGHT TO THINK IS VERY MUCH ON TRIAL.

IT IS FEARFULLY IN DANGER

IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS COURT.

A MAN IS ON TRIAL!

A THINKING MAN!

AND HE'S THREATENED WITH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT

FOR CHOOSING TO SPEAK WHAT HE THINKS.

MR. DRUMMOND, WILL YOU PLEASE REPHRASE YOUR QUESTION?

OHHH...

ALL RIGHT, HOWARD, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.

ALL THIS FUSS AND FEATHERS ABOUT EVOLUTION,

DO YOU THINK IT HURT YOU?

- SIR? - HARM YOU IN ANY WAY?

YOU SEEM REASONABLY FIT.

DID WHAT MR. CATES TOLD YOU

AFFECT YOUR BALLGAME AT ALL?

OR DID IT INJURE YOUR PITCHING ARM?

NO, SIR. I'M A LEFTY.

OH, YOU'RE A SOUTHPAW, HUH?

AND YOU STILL HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER?

- SURE. - HAVEN'T MURDERED ANYBODY SINCE BREAKFAST?

OBJECTION. THIS IS AN ABSURD PIECE OF JACTITATION.

- OF WHAT? - WOULD YOU REPHRASE YOUR OBJECTION, MR. DAVENPORT?

JACTITATION-- A FALSE CLAIM-- IN THIS INSTANCE,

AS TO THE MURDER OF KNOWN OR UNKNOWN PERSONS.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

ASK HIM IF HIS FAITH IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES HAS BEEN SHATTERED.

WHEN I NEED YOUR VALUABLE HELP, COLONEL BRADY,

YOU CAN REST ASSURED I SHALL HUMBLY ASK FOR IT.

ANY TIME, COLONEL DRUMMOND. ANY TIME.

HE'S THE ONLY MAN I KNOW

WHO CAN STRUT SITTING DOWN.

DID YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING MR. CATES TOLD YOU?

I'M NOT SURE.

- I GOT TO THINK IT OVER. - GOOD FOR YOU.

YOUR FATHER'S A FARMER, ISN'T HE?

- YES, SIR. - YOU GOT A TRACTOR?

BRAND-NEW ONE.

YOU FIGURE A TRACTOR'S SINFUL

BECAUSE IT'S NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?

- OH-- - MOSES NEVER MADE A PHONE CALL.

DOES THAT MAKE THE TELEPHONE AN INSTRUMENT OF THE DEVIL?

I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY.

NEITHER DID ANYBODY ELSE, ACCORDING TO BRADY.

[BRADY] 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.

WHY DO YOU BEWILDER THIS BOY?

DOES RIGHT HAVE NO MEANING TO YOU, SIR?

AT THE RISK OF PREJUDICING THE CASE OF MY CLIENT,

I MUST TELL YOU

THAT RIGHT HAS ABSOLUTELY

NO MEANING TO ME WHATSOEVER.

TRUTH HAS MEANING...

AS A DIRECTION, GENTLEMEN.

BUT ONE OF THE PECULIAR IMBECILITIES OF OUR TIME

IS THE GRID OF MORALITY WE HAVE PLACED ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR

SO THAT EVERY ACT OF MAN

MUST BE MEASURED AGAINST

AN ARBITRARY LATITUDE OF RIGHT

AND THE LONGITUDE OF WRONG

IN EXACT MINUTES, SECONDS AND DEGREES.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, HOWARD?

- NO, SIR. - MAYBE SOMEDAY YOU WILL.

YOU'RE EXCUSED, SON.

THIS BOY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT I DO.

I'VE SEEN WHAT YOU CAN DO TO A JURY--

TWISTING AND TANGLING THEM.

NO ONE'S FORGOTTEN THE ENDICOTT PUBLISHING CASE,

WHERE YOU MADE THE JURY BELIEVE THE OBSCENITY WAS IN THEIR OWN MINDS.

IT WAS IMMORAL, WHAT YOU DID TO THAT JURY!

TRICKING THEM-- JUDGMENT OF CONFUSION,

YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT HERE?

I'M NOT TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING!

ALL I WANT TO DO IS PREVENT THE CLOCK-STOPPERS

FROM DUMPING A LOT OF MEDIEVAL GARBAGE

INTO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

[JUDGE] THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL COURT.

DAMN IT, YOU GOT TO STOP THEM SOMEWHERE!

IT'S OBVIOUS WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO--

MAKE US FORGET THE LAWBREAKER

AND PUT THE LAW ON TRIAL.

WE HAVE THE ANSWER FOR YOU, SIR,

IN OUR NEXT WITNESS. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL

MISS RACHEL BROWN TO THE STAND?

- YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS? - [BAILIFF] MISS RACHEL BROWN?

WILL MISS RACHEL BROWN COME TO THE WITNESS STAND?

MY DEAR,

JUST REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU TOLD ME LAST NIGHT.

- RACHEL, WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM? - TAKE IT EASY.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, RACHEL.

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD?

- YES. - BE SEATED.

[BRADY] MISS BROWN, YOU'RE AN OLD FRIEND OF THE DEFENDANT BERTRAM CATES.

YES.

WE'RE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.

DO YOU ATTEND THE SAME CHURCH?

YES... WE DID.

- DO YOU NOW? - WHAT?

ATTEND THE SAME CHURCH?

NO.

DID MR. CATES LEAVE THE CHURCH?

NO, NOT REALLY,

NOT THE SPIRIT OF IT.

BUT THE BODY OF IT, CORRECT?

MR. CATES LEFT THE CHURCH

THAT YOU AND HE ONCE ATTENDED TOGETHER?

- YES. - WHY?

BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STEBBINS BOY.

THE STEBBINS BOY, WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT, PLEASE?

IT WAS TWO SUMMERS AGO.

THE LITTLE STEBBINS BOY WAS

JUST 13 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS ONE OF BERT'S STUDENTS.

HE USED TO COME OVER TO LOOK THROUGH BERT'S MICROSCOPE.

BERT SAID HE HAD A QUICK MIND

AND HE MIGHT EVEN BE A SCIENTIST WHEN HE GREW UP.

YES?

ONE DAY HE WENT SWIMMING IN THE RIVER WITH THE OTHER BOYS.

HE GOT A CRAMP AND DROWNED.

GO ON.

AT THE FUNERAL,

PA PREACHED THAT TOMMY DIDN'T DIE IN A STATE OF GRACE

BECAUSE HIS FATHER WOULDN'T ALLOW HIM TO BE BAPTIZED.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOUR FATHER REALLY SAID?

- THAT TOMMY'S SOUL WAS DAMNED, WRITHING IN HELLFIRE! - ORDER!

RELIGION IS SUPPOSED TO COMFORT PEOPLE, ISN'T IT?

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO FRIGHTEN THEM TO DEATH!

- WE WILL HAVE ORDER, PLEASE. - [GAVEL POUNDS]

[RACHEL] DON'T YOU SEE? HE FELT IT WASN'T FAIR

THAT A CHILD COULD NOT GO TO HEAVEN!

IT WASN'T GOD HE ABANDONED, IT WAS ONLY THE CHURCH!

IT IS TRUE THEN, THAT

BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STEBBINS BOY,

BERTRAM CATES LEFT THE CHURCH!

YOU'VE SAID NOTHING WRONG.

WE'RE MERELY BEGINNING TO GET SOME INSIGHT

INTO THE EXPERIENCES THAT SOMETIMES

CAN LEAD A YOUNG MAN ASTRAY.

I OBJECT!

WHETHER OR NOT MY CLIENT WENT ASTRAY

IS A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION.

- STRIKE IT FROM THE RECORD. - OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

THE JURY IS DIRECTED TO DISREGARD THE REMARKS OF COUNSEL.

MISS BROWN, WILL YOU TELL THE JURY

SOME MORE OF MR. CATES'S OPINIONS

ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION?

OBJECTION! OBJECTION.

HEARSAY TESTIMONY IS NOT ADMISSIBLE.

THE COURT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING.

PROCEED, COLONEL BRADY.

JUST REPEAT IN YOUR OWN WORDS, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH THE DEFENDANT.

- RACHEL, YOU CAN'T. - [JUDGE] ORDER!

THE THINGS I SAID TO YOU WERE QUESTIONS YOU ASK YOUR OWN HEART.

IF YOU SAY THEM OUT LOUD, HE'LL MAKE THEM SOUND LIKE ANSWERS.

- ORDER! - HE'LL CRUCIFY ME.

YOU WON'T HURT HIM. THIS IS FOR HIS GOOD. SPEAK UP.

MR. BRADY, PLEASE, I CONFIDED IN YOU--

RACHEL, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE TRUTH.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

MAY I REMIND YOU, MISS BROWN, THAT YOU ARE TESTIFYING UNDER OATH?

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO WITHHOLD PERTINENT INFORMATION.

JUST TELL THE COURT YOUR INNERMOST FEELINGS

WHEN BERTRAM CATES SAID TO YOU, "GOD DID NOT CREATE MAN.

- MAN CREATED GOD." - BERT DIDN'T SAY THAT!

HE WAS JUST BITTER BECAUSE OF THE STEBBINS BOY!

HE SAID MAN CREATED A VENGEFUL GOD

OUT OF HIS OWN BIGOTRY

AND THE DEVIL OUT OF HIS OWN HELL!

WHEN HE WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON,

DID HE EVER ONCE MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVEN?

DID HE EVER MENTION THAT, OR DID HE SAY THERE WAS NOTHING

EXCEPT A WORLD OF STARS AND MOONS AND GALAXIES AND UNIVERSAL DUST?

TELL US, WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HOLY STATE OF MATRIMONY?

- DID HE COMPARE IT WITH THE BREEDING OF ANIMALS? - OBJECTION!

- ORDER! - [BRADY] YOU WANT THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS MIND

SO THEY CAN BRING HIM BACK TO HIS SENSES?

- TELL IT! TELL IT ALL! - [JUDGE] ORDER!

- ORDER. - MATT!

- ORDER ORDER! - [SOBBING]

[BRADY] UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES...

I BELIEVE THE WITNESS SHOULD BE EXCUSED.

WILL THE DEFENSE HAVE NO CHANCE

TO CHALLENGE THE STATEMENTS THAT THE PROSECUTOR

- PUT HAS INTO THE MOUTH OF THE WITNESS? - LET HER GO.

- YOU'VE GOT TO. - I'VE GOT TO WHAT? LET YOU GO TO JAIL?

- STOP TYING MY HANDS. - LET HER GO

OR I'LL CHANGE MY PLEA TO GUILTY.

[SOBBING CONTINUES]

NO QUESTIONS.

FOR THE TIME BEING, THE WITNESS IS EXCUSED.

DOES THE PROSECUTION WISH TO CALL ANY FURTHER WITNESSES?

UH, NOT AT THE PRESENT TIME, YOUR HONOR.

THE PROSECUTION RESTS.

WE SHALL PROCEED WITH THE CASE FOR THE DEFENSE.

COLONEL DRUMMOND.

THE DEFENSE WISHES TO CALL DR. AMOS D. KELLER,

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

- OBJECTION! - ON WHAT GROUNDS?

I FAIL TO SEE WHAT RELEVANCE

THE TESTIMONY OF A ZOOLOGY PROFESSOR

COULD HAVE ON THIS TRIAL.

IT HAS EVERY RELEVANCE.

MY CLIENT IS ON TRIAL FOR TEACHING EVOLUTION.

ANY TESTIMONY RELATED TO

THE ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF THE LAW

MUST BE ADMITTED.

IRRELEVANT, IMMATERIAL, INADMISSIBLE.

WHY? IF BERTRAM CATES WERE ACCUSED OF MURDER,

WOULD IT BE IRRELEVANT TO CALL FOR EXPERT WITNESSES

TO EXAMINE THE WEAPON? YOUR HONOR,

THE DEFENSE WISHES TO PLACE DR. KELLER ON THE STAND

SO THAT HE MAY EXPLAIN TO THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY

JUST EXACTLY WHAT THE EVOLUTIONARY THEORY IS.

THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT EXPLAINED.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR

THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THIS ZOOLOGICAL HOGWASH

SLOBBERED ALL OVER THE SCHOOLROOMS.

I REFUSE TO ALLOW THESE AGNOSTIC SCIENTISTS

TO USE THIS COURTROOM AS A PLATFORM

FROM WHICH THEY CAN SHOUT THEIR HERESIES

INTO THE HEADLINES.

[JUDGE] COLONEL DRUMMOND,

THE COURT RULES THAT ZOOLOGY

IS IRRELEVANT TO THE CASE.

UH-HUH.

VERY WELL.

I CALL DR. ALLEN PAGE,

DEACON OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

AND PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- AT OBERLIN COLLEGE. - OBJECTION.

[JUDGE] OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

[DRUMMOND] IN ONE BREATH DOES THE COURT DENY

THE EXISTENCE OF ZOOLOGY, GEOLOGY, AND ARCHAEOLOGY?

WE DO NOT DENY THE EXISTENCE OF THESE SCIENCES,

BUT THEY DO NOT RELATE TO THIS POINT OF LAW.

I CALL WALTER AARONSON,

PHILOSOPHER, ANTHROPOLOGIST, AUTHOR,

AND ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT MINDS IN THE WORLD TODAY.

ANY OBJECTIONS, MR. BRADY?

- OBJECTION! - ALL RIGHT. YOUR HONOR!

THE DEFENSE HAS BROUGHT TO HILLSBORO

AT GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND GREAT EXPENSE

FIVE NOTED SCIENTISTS.

THEIR TESTIMONY IS ESSENTIAL.

IT WILL SHOW THAT WHAT BERT CATES SPOKE

ONE QUIET SPRING MORNING IN HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL

IS NO CRIME. IT'S AS INCONTROVERTIBLE AS GEOMETRY IS

TO EVERY ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY OF MINDS.

[DAVENPORT] IN THIS COMMUNITY, COLONEL DRUMMOND,

AND IN THIS SOVEREIGN STATE, EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE IS THE CASE.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW IS CLEAR.

WE DO NOT NEED EXPERTS TO QUESTION THE VALIDITY

OF A LAW THAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

IN THAT CASE, LET'S STOP WASTING OUR TIME

AND BUILD A GALLOWS TO HANG HIM FROM.

THAT REMARK, SIR, IS AN INSULT TO THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS AN INSULT TO THE CIVILIZED WORLD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THAT!

YOUR HONOR, I REQUEST PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS CASE.

- ORDER. - COLONEL DRUMMOND, YOU CAN'T QUIT NOW!

WHY NOT? YOU WERE READY TO QUIT TO FIVE MINUTES AGO!

[JUDGE] MR. DRUMMOND. MR. DRUMMOND!

WHAT REASONS CAN YOU POSSIBLY HAVE?

THERE'S 100 OF THEM RIGHT THERE!

AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, I HAVE ONE MORE--

I THINK MY CLIENT HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND GUILTY.

[BRADY] IS MR. DRUMMOND SAYING THAT THIS HONEST EXPRESSION OF EMOTION

WILL IN ANY WAY AFFECT THE COURT'S IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW?

I SAY THAT YOU CANNOT ADMINISTER IMPARTIALLY A WICKED LAW.

YOU CAN ONLY PUNISH, ONLY DESTROY.

AND I WARN YOU-- A WICKED LAW, LIKE CHOLERA,

WILL DESTROY EVERYONE IT TOUCHES.

- MR. DRUMMOND-- - CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND

THAT IF YOU CAN TAKE SOMETHING LIKE EVOLUTION

AND MAKE IT A CRIME TO TEACH IT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL,

THEN TOMORROW YOU CAN MAKE IT A CRIME

TO TEACH IT IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL?

AND NEXT YEAR YOU MAKE IT A CRIME TO READ ABOUT IT.

THEN MAYBE YOU CAN START BANNING BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS.

SOON YOU MAY SET CATHOLIC AGAINST PROTESTANT,

PROTESTANT AGAINST PROTESTANT,

AND TRY TO FOIST YOUR OWN BRAND OF RELIGION

UPON THE MIND OF MAN!

IF YOU CAN DO ONE, YOU CAN DO THE OTHER!

BECAUSE IGNORANCE AND FANATICISM IS FOREVER BUSY.

IT NEEDS FEEDING.

AND SOON, YOUR HONOR...

WITH BANNERS WAVING AND WITH DRUMS BEATING,

WE ARE MARCHING BACKWARDS

TO THE GLORIOUS 16th CENTURY

WHEN BIGOTS CONDEMNED GALILEO

FOR DARING TO BRING INTELLIGENCE AND ENLIGHTENMENT

TO THE HUMAN MIND.

I HOPE COUNSEL DOES NOT MEAN TO IMPLY

THIS COURT IS BIGOTED.

YOUR HONOR HAS THE RIGHT TO HOPE.

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO MORE THAN THAT.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO MORE THAN THAT.

AND I EXERCISE THAT POWER.

COLONEL DRUMMOND, I ORDER YOU TO SHOW CAUSE TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF THIS COURT.

IN THE MEANWHILE, I ORDER THAT YOU BE HELD IN CUSTODY OF THE BAILIFF.

BAIL IS FIXED AT $2,000.

$2,000? WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT $4,000?

[JUDGE] I DO MAKE IT FOUR.

YOUR HONOR, MY PAPER WILL POST THE BOND.

CAN YOU PROVE LEGAL AUTHORIZATION

TO MAKE SUCH A COMMITMENT FOR YOUR EMPLOYER?

- I'LL WIRE MY PAPER IMMEDIATELY. - FINE.

UNTIL THEN, COLONEL DRUMMOND CAN ALWAYS AVAIL HIMSELF

OF OUR MUNICIPAL ACCOMMODATIONS.

YOUR HONOR? SIR, I'LL PUT UP MY FARM FOR MR. DRUMMOND.

IT'S WORTH AT LEAST THAT MUCH.

WE HAVE NO WAY OF ASCERTAINING

THE VALUE OF YOUR FARM, SIR.

THE LAW DEMANDS THAT BOND BE POSTED IN CASH.

YOUR HONOR, YOUR HONOR,

MY BANK WILL HONOR THE OFFER

ON SECURITY OF THIS FARM.

HE HAS CONSIDERABLY MORE EQUITY IN IT THAN THAT.

VERY WELL.

YOU CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE COURT CLERK.

EXCUSE ME, WHO ARE YOU?

MY NAME IS JOHN STEBBINS.

[JUDGE] THE COURT IS ADJOURNED

AND WILL RECONVENE TOMORROW MORNING AT 10 A.M.

IT'LL BE A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]

[TOWNSPEOPLE] ♪ GLORY GLORY, HALLELUJAH ♪

♪ GLORY GLORY, HALLELUJAH ♪

♪ GLORY GLORY, HALLELUJAH ♪

♪ AND WE'LL GO MARCHING ON ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG BERT CATES ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG BERT CATES ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG BERT CATES ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ AND WE'LL GO MARCHING ON... ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG BERT CATES ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ AND WE'LL GO MARCHING ON... ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG HENRY DRUMMOND ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG HENRY DRUMMOND ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ WE'LL HANG HENRY DRUMMOND ♪

♪ FROM A SOUR APPLE TREE ♪

♪ AND WE'LL GO MARCHING ON... ♪

♪ GLORY GLORY, HALLELUJAH ♪

♪ GLORY GLORY... ♪

- [KNOCKING] - YEAH?

ALL RIGHT!

[HORNBECK] HOOLIGANS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO BURN BUT YOUR INTELLECTUALS.

THESE ARE THE BOOBS WHO MAKE OUR LAWS.

IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY, COUNSELOR.

HEY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP?

"AFTER A WHILE, YOUR HONOR,

"YOU'LL BE SETTING MAN AGAINST MAN,

"AND CREED AGAINST CREED."

OH, WAKE UP, HENRY.

DARWIN WAS WRONG.

MAN IS STILL AN APE,

AND HIS CREED IS STILL A TOTEM POLE.

THE MINUTE HE ACHIEVED THE UPRIGHT POSITION,

HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE STARS

AND THOUGHT THEY WERE SOMETHING TO EAT.

WHEN HE COULDN'T REACH THEM,

HE DECIDED THEY WERE GROCERIES BELONGING TO A BIGGER ANIMAL

AND THAT'S HOW JEHOVAH WAS BORN.

I WISH I HAD YOUR WORM'S-EYE VIEW OF HISTORY.

IT WOULD MAKE THINGS A LOT EASIER.

OH, NOT FOR YOU!

YOU'D STILL BE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE

OUT OF WHAT IS LAUGHINGLY REFERRED TO

AS THE HUMAN RACE.

TAKE YOUR BLINDERS OFF!

I TELL YOU, THE FUTURE IS ALREADY OBSOLETE.

YOU THINK MAN STILL HAS A NOBLE DESTINY.

I TELL YOU, HE'S ALREADY STARTED

ON HIS BACKWARD MARCH

TO THE SALT AND STUPID SEA FROM WHICH HE CAME.

WHAT ABOUT A MAN LIKE BERT CATES?

CATES?

THE MONKEY WHO TRIED TO FLY.

HE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE TOTEM POLE

AND THEN HE JUMPED.

AND THERE WAS NOBODY THERE TO CATCH HIM--

- NOT EVEN YOU. - ME? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

YOU SAW WHAT THEY DID TO MY WITNESSES.

WHAT YOU NEED IS A DRINK.

WHAT I NEED IS A MIRACLE.

HERE'S A WHOLE BAGFUL...

COURTESY MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

YOUR HONOR...

I FEEL I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY, SIR.

WHATEVER REMARKS

THAT WERE MADE THAT LEAD TO THE CONTEMPT CITATION

I REGRET.

I KNOW YOUR HONOR WAS TRYING TO BE FAIR.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THOSE REMARKS

THAT WERE MADE IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT.

MY FRIENDS... AND COLONEL DRUMMOND,

THE MAN THAT I BELIEVE CAME INTO THE WORLD

TO SAVE MANKIND FROM SIN

TAUGHT THAT TO FORGIVE IS GODLY.

I BELIEVE IN HIS PRINCIPLES.

I ACCEPT COLONEL DRUMMOND'S APOLOGY

AND I WITHDRAW THE CONTEMPT CITATION.

[DRUMMOND] THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

[BRADY] I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD

IN THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS,

I HAVE NO ANIMOSITY TOWARD THE LEARNED COUNSEL

FROM CHICAGO.

HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO

RIDE HOBBY HORSES BEFORE.

PERHAPS HE WILL RETURN TO HIS HOME

HAVING LEARNED A LESSON. AND WE HERE COMMEND HIM

TO LEARN IN HIS HEART

THE WORDS OF HE WHO SAID,

"IF YOU THIRST, COME UNTO ME

AND I WILL GIVE YOU LIFE."

PERHAPS THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN

FROM THE LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE PROSECUTION.

YOUR HONOR, THERE IS ONE OTHER REMARK I MADE YESTERDAY

THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW--

IF THE COURT PLEASES,

I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW MY WITHDRAWAL

AND CONTINUE AS COUNSEL FOR BERTRAM CATES.

I SEE NO REASON WHY COLONEL DRUMMOND

SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE AS COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE.

- PROCEED, COLONEL DRUMMOND. - THANK YOU.

SINCE THE COURT HAS RULED OUT TESTIMONY

ON SCIENCE OR DARWINIAN THEORY,

WOULD THE COURT BE WILLING TO ADMIT

EXPERT TESTIMONY REGARDING A BOOK KNOWN AS THE HOLY BIBLE?

COLONEL BRADY, YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS?

IF COUNSEL CAN ADVANCE THE CASE FOR THE DEFENDANT

BY THE USE OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES,

THE PROSECUTION TAKES NO EXCEPTION.

GOOD. I CALL TO THE STAND

ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST EXPERTS

ON THE BIBLE AND ITS TEACHINGS--

MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

[CROWD MUMBLING]

YOUR HONOR, THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!

- BROTHER, LET US PRAY. - [JUDGE] IT'S HIGHLY UNORTHODOX.

I'VE NEVER KNOWN AN INSTANCE

WHERE THE DEFENSE CALLED THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AS A WITNESS.

YOUR HONOR, THIS ENTIRE TRIAL IS UNORTHODOX

BUT IF THE INTERESTS OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED,

I WILL TAKE THE STAND.

THE COURT WILL SUPPORT YOU IF YOU WISH TO DECLINE TO TESTIFY

AS A WITNESS AGAINST YOUR OWN CASE.

YOUR HONOR, I SHALL NOT TESTIFY AGAINST ANYTHING.

BUT I WILL SPEAK OUT AS I HAVE ALL MY LIFE

ON BEHALF OF THE LIVING TRUTH

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

MR. MEEKER, YOU'D BETTER SWEAR IN THE WITNESS, PLEASE.

IT WON'T BE NECESSARY TO SWEAR HIM IN.

I CAN MAKE AFFIRMATION. I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO SWEARING TO GOD.

[DRUMMOND] I TRUST YOU WILL TELL THE TRUTH.

AM I CORRECT, SIR, IN CALLING ON YOU

AS AN AUTHORITY ON THE BIBLE?

I DO NOT THINK IT IS BOASTFUL TO SAY

THAT I HAVE STUDIED THE BIBLE AS MUCH AS ANY LAYMAN,

AND HAVE TRIED TO LIVE ACCORDING TO ITS PRECEPTS.

BULLY FOR YOU.

I SUPPOSE YOU CAN QUOTE ME CHAPTER AND VERSE

STRAIGHT THROUGH THE KING JAMES VERSION, CAN'T YOU?

THERE ARE MANY PORTIONS THAT I HAVE COMMITTED TO MEMORY.

I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU'VE MEMORIZED MANY PASSAGES FROM THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES?

I HAVE NOT THE LEAST INTEREST

IN THE PAGAN HYPOTHESES OF THAT BOOK.

- YOU NEVER READ IT? - AND I NEVER WILL.

THEN WHERE IN PERDITION

DO YOU GET THE GALL TO WHOOP UP THIS HOLY WAR

AGAINST SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT?

HOW CAN YOU BE SO COCKSURE

THAT THE BODY OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

SYSTEMATIZED IN CHARLES DARWIN'S WRITINGS

IS IN ANY WAY IRRECONCILABLE

WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS?

WOULD YOU STATE THAT QUESTION AGAIN, PLEASE?

LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.

ON PAGE, I THINK, 19,

- YES, DARWIN STATES-- - I OBJECT TO THIS, YOUR HONOR.

COLONEL BRADY HAS BEEN CALLED

AS AN AUTHORITY ON THE BIBLE.

NOW THE GENTLEMAN FROM CHICAGO IS USING THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO READ INTO THE RECORD SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY

WHICH YOU, YOUR HONOR, HAVE PREVIOUSLY RULED IS IRRELEVANT.

IF HE'S GOING TO EXAMINE COLONEL BRADY ON THE BIBLE,

LET HIM STICK TO THE BIBLE,

THE HOLY BIBLE AND ONLY THE BIBLE.

[APPLAUSE]

YOU WILL CONFINE YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE BIBLE.

ALL RIGHT. FORGET IT.

WE'LL PLAY IN YOUR BALLPARK, COLONEL.

LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT:

THIS IS THE BOOK THAT YOU'RE AN EXPERT ON?

THAT IS CORRECT.

MM-HMM. NOW TELL ME,

DO YOU FEEL THAT EVERY WORD

WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK

SHOULD BE TAKEN LITERALLY?

EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE

SHOULD BE ACCEPTED EXACTLY AS IT IS GIVEN THERE.

HOW ABOUT THIS SPOT HERE WHERE

THE WHALE SWALLOWS JONAH?

YOU THINK THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?

THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY A WHALE.

IT SAYS A BIG FISH.

IS IT--

MATTER OF FACT, IT SAYS "A GREAT FISH."

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

I BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO CAN MAKE A WHALE

AND MAKE A MAN AND MAKE THEM BOTH

DO AS HE PLEASES.

GOD BLESS YOU, MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

WE'RE WITH YOU, COLONEL BRADY.

[JUDGE] ORDER, ORDER!

HE'S RIGHT. HE'S RIGHT.

[DRUMMOND] NOW, COLONEL, I RECOLLECT A STORY

IN WHICH JOSHUA MADE THE SUN STAND STILL.

AS AN EXPERT, DO YOU TELL ME

THAT THAT'S AS TRUE AS THE JONAH BUSINESS?

THAT'S A PRETTY NEAT TRICK.

I DO NOT QUESTION OR SCOFF

AT THE MIRACLES OF THE LORD, AS DO YE OF LITTLE FAITH.

HAVE YOU PONDERED WHAT WOULD NATURALLY HAPPEN TO THE EARTH

IF THE SUN STOOD STILL?

YOU CAN TESTIFY TO THAT IF I GET YOU ON THE STAND.

[LAUGHTER]

IF THEY SAY "THE SUN STOOD STILL,"

THEY MUST HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF NOTION

THAT THE SUN MOVES AROUND THE EARTH.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE WAY OF THINGS

OR DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK THAT THE EARTH MOVES AROUND THE SUN?

I HAVE FAITH IN THE BIBLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH FAITH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

THE SUN STOPPED.

GOOD. IF WHAT YOU SAY ACTUALLY HAPPENED--

IF JOSHUA STOPS THAT SUN IN THE SKY--

THE EARTH STOPPED SPINNING ON ITS AXIS,

THE CONTINENTS TOPPLED ALL OVER ONE ANOTHER,

MOUNTAINS FLEW INTO SPACE,

THE EARTH SHRIVELED TO A CINDER AND CRASHED INTO THE SUN.

HOW COME WE MISSED THAT LITTLE TIDBIT OF NEWS?

YOU MISSED IT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN, COLONEL, ACCORDING TO NATURAL LAW,

OR DON'T YOU BELIEVE IN NATURAL LAW?

WOULD YOU BAN COPERNICUS FROM THE CLASSROOM

ALONG WITH CHARLES DARWIN?

OR PASS A LAW THAT ERASES

ALL SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT SINCE JOSHUA?

REVELATIONS, PERIOD!

NATURAL LAW WAS BORN

IN THE MIND OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

HE CAN CHANGE IT, CANCEL IT, DO WITH IT AS HE PLEASES.

IT CONSTANTLY AMAZES ME

THAT YOU APOSTLES OF SCIENCE,

WITH ALL OF YOUR SUPPOSED WISDOM,

FAIL TO GRASP THAT SIMPLE FACT.

CAN I HAVE THE BIBLE?

ALL RIGHT, COLONEL,

UH...

GENESIS, 4:16.

"AND CAIN WENT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

"AND DWELLED IN THE LAND OF NOD

"ON THE EAST OF EDEN,

AND CAIN KNEW HIS WIFE."

WHERE THE HELL DID SHE COME FROM?

- WHO? - MRS. CAIN.

- [SNICKERING] - CAIN'S WIFE.

IF IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE JUST ADAM AND EVE AND CAIN AND ABEL

WHERE DID THIS EXTRA WOMAN SPRING FROM?

- DID YOU FIGURE THAT OUT? - NO, SIR. I LEAVE THE AGNOSTICS TO HUNT FOR HER.

- IT NEVER BOTHERED YOU? - NEVER BOTHERED ME.

- NEVER BOTHERED TO FIND OUT? - NO.

JUST THOUGHT MAYBE THEY PULLED OFF ANOTHER MIRACLE

IN THE NEXT COUNTY, HUH?

THE BIBLE SATISFIES ME. IT IS ENOUGH.

IT FRIGHTENS ME

TO THINK OF THE STATE OF LEARNING IN THIS WORLD

IF EVERYBODY HAD YOUR DRIVING CURIOSITY.

THIS BOOK NOW GOES INTO A LOT OF BEGATS.

"APHRAXAD BEGAT SALAH...

SALAH BEGAT EBER..."

AND SO ON AND SO. ARE THESE PRETTY IMPORTANT FOLKS?

THEY ARE THE GENERATIONS

OF THE HOLY MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BIBLE.

HOW'D THEY GO ABOUT ALL THAT BEGATTING?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I MEAN, DID THEY BEGAT THEN

ABOUT THE SAME AS PEOPLE GET THEMSELVES BEGAT TODAY?

I BELIEVE THE PROCESS IS ABOUT THE SAME.

I DON'T THINK YOUR SCIENTISTS

- HAVE IMPROVED ON IT ANY. - [LAUGHING]

[DRUMMOND] IN OTHER WORDS, THESE FOLK

WERE CONCEIVED AND BROUGHT FORTH

THROUGH THE NORMAL BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION

KNOWN AS SEX.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SEX, COLONEL?

IN WHAT SPIRIT IS THIS QUESTION ASKED?

I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK OF SEX

AS A HUSBAND OR A FATHER,

OR AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. YOU'RE HERE AS AN EXPERT ON THE BIBLE.

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL EVALUATION OF SEX?

IT IS CONSIDERED ORIGINAL SIN.

THOSE HOLY PEOPLE

WERE ALL BEGAT

THROUGH ORIGINAL SIN?

ALL THAT SINNING MAKE THEM ANY LESS HOLY?

YOUR HONOR, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO

WITH THE STATE VS. BERTRAM CATES?

COLONEL DRUMMOND, THE COURT MUST BE SATISFIED

THAT THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING

HAS SOME BEARING ON THE CASE.

YOU RULED OUT ALL MY WITNESSES.

YOU MUST ALLOW ME TO EXAMINE

THE ONE WITNESS YOU'VE LEFT ME MY OWN WAY, YOUR HONOR.

[BRADY] I AM WILLING TO SIT HERE

AND ENDURE MR. DRUMMOND'S SNEERING

AND DISRESPECT, BECAUSE HE IS PLEADING THE CASE

OF THE PROSECUTION

BY HIS CONTEMPT FOR ALL THAT IS HOLY.

I OBJECT! I OBJECT!

- I OBJECT! - [BRADY] ON WHAT GROUNDS?

IS IT POSSIBLE THERE IS SOMETHING

HOLY TO THE CELEBRATED AGNOSTIC?

YES-- THE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN MIND.

IN A CHILD'S POWER TO MASTER THE MULTIPLICATION TABLE

THERE IS MORE SANCTITY

THAN IN ALL OF YOUR SHOUTED "AMENS,"

"HOLY HOLIES" AND "HOSANNAS"!

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 INTO SNAKES

OR THE PARTING OF WATERS.

ARE WE TO STOP THE MARCH OF PROGRESS

BECAUSE MR. BRADY FRIGHTENS US

WITH A FABLE?

GENTLEMEN, PROGRESS HAS NEVER BEEN A BARGAIN.

YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

SOMETIMES I THINK THERE'S A MAN BEHIND A COUNTER

HE SAYS, "ALL RIGHT, I'LL GIVE YOU A TELEPHONE,

"BUT YOU LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY

"AND THE CHARM OF DISTANCE.

"MADAM, YOU MAY VOTE,

"BUT AT A PRICE.

"YOU LOSE YOUR 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 LIKE GASOLINE."

DARWIN LED US TO A HILLTOP

FROM WHERE WE COULD LOOK BACK UPON THE WAY FROM WHICH WE CAME.

BUT FOR THAT VIEW,

THAT INSIGHT, THAT...

KNOWLEDGE,

WE MUST ABANDON OUR FAITH

IN THE PLEASANT POETRY OF GENESIS.

WE MUST NOT ABANDON FAITH!

FAITH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

THEN WHY DID GOD PLAGUE US

WITH THE POWER TO THINK?

MR. BRADY, WHY DO YOU DENY

THE ONE FACULTY THAT LIFTS MAN

ABOVE ALL OTHER CREATURES ON EARTH--

THE POWER OF HIS BRAIN TO REASON?

WHAT OTHER MERIT HAVE WE GOT?

THE ELEPHANT IS LARGER,

THE HORSE IS SWIFTER AND STRONGER,

THE BUTTERFLY MORE BEAUTIFUL,

THE MOSQUITO IS MORE PROLIFIC,

EVEN THE COMMON SPONGE IS MORE DURABLE.

OR DOES A SPONGE THINK?

I DON'T KNOW. I'M A MAN, NOT A SPONGE.

[DRUMMOND] DO YOU THINK A SPONGE THINKS?

IF THE LORD WISHES A SPONGE TO THINK, IT THINKS.

[DRUMMOND] DOES A MAN HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES AS A SPONGE?

OF COURSE.

THIS MAN WISHES TO BE ACCORDED

THE SAME PRIVILEGE AS A SPONGE.

HE WISHES TO THINK!

[GAVEL POUNDS]

BUT YOUR CLIENT IS WRONG!

HE IS DELUDED! HE HAS LOST HIS WAY!

IT'S SAD THAT WE ARE NOT ALL GIFTED

WITH YOUR POSITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

THANK YOU.

A ROCK.

HOW OLD DO YOU THINK THIS ROCK IS?

I AM MORE INTERESTED IN THE ROCK OF AGES

THAN THE AGE OF ROCKS.

- [LAUGHTER] - HA HA!

DR. PAGE OF OBERLIN COLLEGE

TELLS ME THIS ROCK IS OVER 10 MILLION YEARS OLD.

WELL, WELL, MR. DRUMMOND,

YOU FINALLY MANAGED TO SNEAK IN

SOME OF THAT SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY AFTER ALL.

LOOK AT THIS, MR. BRADY...

THESE ARE THE FOSSIL REMAINS

OF A PREHISTORIC MARINE CREATURE.

IT LIVED HERE MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO

WHEN THESE VERY MOUNTAIN RANGES WERE STILL SUBMERGED IN WATER.

I KNOW. THE BIBLE GIVES A VERY FINE ACCOUNT

OF THE FLOOD. BUT YOUR PROFESSOR'S A LITTLE MIXED UP IN HIS DATES.

THAT ROCK IS NO MORE THAN...

6,000 YEARS OLD.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I KNOW BECAUSE A FINE BIBLICAL SCHOLAR,

BISHOP USHER, HAS DETERMINED FOR US

THE EXACT DATE AND HOUR OF THE CREATION.

IT OCCURRED IN 4004 B.C.

WELL, THAT'S BISHOP USHER'S OPINION.

IT IS NOT AN OPINION. IT IS A LITERAL FACT.

- THANK YOU. - [BRADY] WHICH THE GOOD BISHOP ARRIVED AT

BY THE CAREFUL COMPUTATION OF THE AGES OF THE PROPHETS

AS SET DOWN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE DETERMINED

THAT THE LORD BEGAN THE CREATION

ON OCTOBER 23rd,

4004 B.C.

AT, UH, 9 A.M.

EASTERN STANDARD TIME?

[LAUGHTER]

OR ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIME?

IT WASN'T DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, WAS IT?

BECAUSE THE LORD DIDN'T MAKE THE SUN UNTIL THE FOURTH DAY.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT FIRST DAY, WAS THAT A 24-HOUR DAY?

BIBLE SAYS IT WAS A DAY.

THERE WAS NO SUN. HOW COULD YOU TELL?

THE BIBLE SAYS IT WAS A DAY.

A LITERAL DAY? A NORMAL DAY?

- A 24-HOUR DAY? - I DON'T KNOW.

- WHAT DO YOU THINK? - I DO NOT THINK ABOUT THINGS I DO NOT THINK ABOUT.

DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU DO THINK ABOUT?

- [LAUGHTER] - ISN'T IT POSSIBLE

THAT THAT FIRST DAY COULD HAVE BEEN 25 HOURS LONG?

THERE WAS NO WAY TO MEASURE IT.

NO WAY TO TELL. COULD IT HAVE BEEN 25 HOURS?

IT IS POSSIBLE.

OH, SO YOU INTERPRET THAT THE FIRST DAY

RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS

COULD BE OF UNDETERMINED LENGTH?

I MERELY WISH TO STATE THAT THE DAY REFERRED TO

IS NOT NECESSARILY A 24-HOUR DAY.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN 25, IT COULD HAVE BEEN 30 HOURS,

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MONTH, OR A YEAR,

OR A HUNDRED YEARS,

OR 10 MILLION YEARS!

I PROTEST!

THIS IS NOT ONLY IRRELEVANT AND IMMATERIAL,

BUT IT IS ILLEGAL! I DEMAND TO KNOW

THE PURPOSE OF MR. DRUMMOND'S EXAMINATION.

WHAT'S HE TRYING TO DO HERE?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO--

HE'S TRYING TO DESTROY EVERYBODY'S BELIEF IN THE BIBLE

- AND IN GOD. - THE BIBLE IS A BOOK.

IT'S A GOOD BOOK, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY BOOK.

IT IS THE REVEALED WORD OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD

SPAKE TO THE MEN WHO WROTE THE BIBLE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD DIDN'T SPAKE TO CHARLES DARWIN?

BECAUSE GOD TELLS ME TO OPPOSE

THE EVIL TEACHINGS OF THAT MAN.

- GOD SPEAKS TO YOU? - YES.

- HE TELLS YOU WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG? - YES.

- AND YOU ACT ACCORDINGLY? - YES!

THEN YOU, MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY,

THROUGH ORATORY, LEGISLATION OR WHATEVER,

PASS ALONG THE WORD OF GOD

TO THE REST OF THE WORLD!

WELL, MEET THE PROPHET FROM NEBRASKA!

[MURMURING]

PLEASE...

IS THIS REALLY THE WAY OF THINGS?

THAT GOD TELLS YOU WHAT IS GOOD

AND TO BE AGAINST BRADY IS TO BE AGAINST GOD?

NO! EVERY MAN IS A FREE AGENT!

THEN WHAT IS BERTRAM CATES DOING IN A HILLSBORO JAIL?

ORDER!

WHAT IF MR. CATES

HAD ENOUGH INFLUENCE AND LUNG POWER

TO RAILROAD THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE

A LAW THAT ONLY DARWIN CAN BE TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS?

RIDICULOUS! THERE IS ONLY ONE GREAT TRUTH IN THE WORLD.

OF COURSE! THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO BRADY.

GOD SPEAKS TO BRADY, BRADY TELLS THE WORLD!

BRADY, BRADY, BRADY ALMIGHTY!

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!

WHAT IF A LESSER HUMAN BEING--

A CATES OR A DARWIN--

WERE TO HAVE THE AUDACITY

TO THINK THAT GOD MIGHT WHISPER TO THEM,

THAT AN UN-BRADY THOUGHT MIGHT BE HOLY?

MUST A MAN GO TO JAIL BECAUSE HE'S AT ODDS

WITH THE SELF-APPOINTED PROPHET?

LET'S EXTEND THE TESTAMENTS.

WE'LL HAVE A BOOK OF BRADY.

WE'LL SLIP YOU IN NEATLY BETWEEN NUMBERS AND DEUTERONOMY!

- [LAUGHTER] - [BRADY] MY FRIENDS...

YOUR HONOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--

THE WITNESS IS EXCUSED.

YOU KNOW WHAT I STAND FOR,

WHAT I BELIEVE IN.

I BELIEVE...

IN THE TRUTH OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS--

YOUR HONOR, THIS COMPLETES THE TESTIMONY.

--EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY,

JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH--

- [DRUMMOND] THE WITNESS IS EXCUSED. - FIRST SAMUEL--

- [GAVEL BANGS] - SECOND SAMUEL, FIRST KINGS--

[JUDGE] YOU ARE EXCUSE, COLONEL BRADY.

ISAIAH, JEREMIAH,

LAMENTATIONS, EZEKIEL...

COURT IS ADJOURNED UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 10:00.

WELL DONE, HENRY. WELL DONE.

MATT?

LET'S GO HOME.

HOME?

BACK TO THE HOTEL.

YOU WERE ALWAYS A GOOD MAN.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVED MOST IN YOU,

EVEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

PEOPLE SAID YOU MADE MISTAKES, WRONG DECISIONS.

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT THREE TIMES OVER,

SARAH.

I NEVER DOUBTED YOU BECAUSE YOUR DECISIONS

WERE ALWAYS HONEST AND UNSELFISH.

YOU NEVER COMPROMISED YOUR PRINCIPLES JUST TO WIN.

SARAH...

A VICTORY HERE

WOULD BE A MONUMENT TO GOD

THAT WOULD LAST A THOUSAND YEARS!

MATT, THEY TURNED AWAY FROM YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

THEY DIDN'T... DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

I'LL MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND.

MY SPEECH. WHERE IS MY SPEECH?

I'VE GOT TO FIND MY SPEECH.

I'VE GOT TO MAKE THEM LISTEN TO ME. THEY'LL HAVE TO LISTEN!

THEY WILL LISTEN!

THERE IT IS.

I'VE GOT IT ALL HERE, DOWN ON PAPER.

SARAH,

IT ISN'T JUST THIS CASE.

IT'S GOD HIMSELF WHO'S ON TRIAL.

THEY'LL LISTEN TO YOU, DEAR.

OH...

MOTHER,

THEY LAUGHED AT ME. [SOBBING]

HUSH, BABY.

I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN THEY LAUGH AT ME.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, BABY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

[KNOCKING]

COME IN.

OH, MR. MAYOR.

I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE

WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALL MORNING, MERLE.

THE NEWSPAPERS HAVEN'T BEEN VERY KIND TO US.

THE BOYS AT THE CAPITAL SEEM TO THINK

IT WOULDN'T DO ANY HARM TO LET THE WHOLE BUSINESS KINDA...

- SIMMER DOWN. - NOW JUST A MINUTE, MAYOR.

I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE LAW.

OF COURSE YOU HAVE, MERLE.

YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THE LAW REGARDLESS

OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE BOTH UP FOR REELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

NO, SIR. THAT CAN'T BE A FACTOR.

HELLO, MISS BROWN.

I LEFT MY FATHER, BERT.

I MESSED THINGS UP FOR US PRETTY BADLY, DIDN'T I?

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, RACH. BRADY CAN...

- TWIST THINGS. - IT WASN'T HIM.

I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS IN THE BEGINNING. I SHOULD'VE--

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

I'M JUST GLAD YOU'RE HERE. COME SIT WITH US.

WOW, WELCOME BACK TO OUR SIDE.

[MAN] HELLO, HELLO, TESTING TESTING.

ONE TWO THREE FOUR.

TESTING TESTING. ONE TWO THREE FOUR.

HELLO, HELLO--

HELLO.

- WHAT IS THAT? - AN ENUNCIATOR.

OH. YOU GONNA BROADCAST?

OH, WE HAVE A DIRECT WIRE TO WGN IN CHICAGO.

THE WHOLE COUNTRY'S GOING TO HEAR THIS.

WHEN THE JURY GETS BACK IN WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE VERDICT.

BY GOD, YOU'RE REALLY GONNA KNOCK SOME WALLS DOWN. RADIO.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY "GOD" ON THE RADIO.

- WHY THE HELL NOT? - YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY "HELL" EITHER.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A BARREN SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE REACHED A VERDICT, SON. JURY'S COMING BACK IN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? CAN YOU TELL FROM THEIR FACES?

NO.

[BAILIFF] EVERYBODY RISE!

HEAR YE, HEAR YE,

COURT WILL RECONVENE IN THE CASE OF THE STATE

VERSUS BERTRAM CATES.

BE SEATED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS HARRY ESTERBROOK

SPEAKING TO THE VAST AUDIENCE ACROSS AMERICA

FROM THE COURTHOUSE IN HILLSBORO,

WHERE THE JURY IS JUST RETURNING TO THE COURTROOM

TO RENDER ITS VERDICT IN THE FAMOUS HILLSBORO MONKEY TRIAL CASE.

THE JUDGE HAS TAKEN THE BENCH AND IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES

WE SHALL LEARN WHETHER BERTRAM CATES WILL BE FOUND INNOCENT OR GUILTY.

GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY, HAVE YOU REACHED A DECISION?

YES, SIR-- YOUR HONOR-- WE HAVE.

THE JURY'S DECISION IS UNANIMOUS.

BERTRAM CATES IS FOUND GUILTY AS CHARGED.

- [APPLAUSE] - QUIET, PLEASE!

- ORDER. THIS COURT IS STILL IN SESSION. - OPERATOR?

THE PRISONER WILL RISE

TO HEAR THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT.

MR. CATES, DO YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT BEFORE SENTENCE IS PASSED?

YOUR HONOR, I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER.

I DON'T HAVE THE ELOQUENCE OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE

THAT YOU'VE HEARD IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

I'M JUST A SCHOOLTEACHER.

BUT I FEEL I AM--

I'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF VIOLATING AN UNJUST LAW.

I WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE

TO OPPOSE THIS LAW IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.

I--

BERTRAM CATES, YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY

OF VIOLATING PUBLIC ACT VOLUME 37,

STATUTE 31427, AS CHARGED.

THIS VIOLATION IS PUNISHABLE

BY FINE AND/OR IMPRISONMENT.

BUT SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO PREVIOUS VIOLATION OF THIS STATUTE,

THERE'S NO PRECEDENT TO GUIDE THE BENCH

IN PASSING SENTENCE.

THE COURT DEEMS IT PROPER

TO SENTENCE BERTRAM CATES

TO PAY A FINE OF--

$100.

[MURMURING, APPLAUSE]

[JUDGE] ORDER ORDER!

DID YOUR HONOR SAY $100?

THAT IS CORRECT.

THIS SEEMS TO CONCLUDE THE BUSINESS OF THIS TRIAL.

YOUR HONOR, THE PROSECUTION TAKES EXCEPTION.

WHEN THE ISSUES ARE SO TITANIC

A MORE DRASTIC PUNISHMENT MUST BE METED OUT--

I OBJECT.

--TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TRANSGRESSOR,

TO SHOW THE WORLD--

THE AMOUNT OF THIS FINE IS OF NO INTEREST TO ME.

BERTRAM CATES HAS NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER

OF PAYING THIS OR ANY OTHER FINE.

HE WOULDN'T PAY IT IF IT WAS A SINGLE DOLLAR.

WE WILL APPEAL THE CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THIS STATE.

WILL THIS COURT PLEASE GRANT US 30 DAYS TO PREPARE THE APPEAL?

GRANTED. COURT FIXES BOND AT $200.

I BELIEVE THIS CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS OF THIS TRIAL.

THEREFORE, I DECLARE THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED.

YOUR HONOR, IF THE COURT PLEASE,

I SHOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD

A FEW SHORT REMARKS THAT I HAVE PREPARED.

MR. BRADY CAN READ ALL THE REMARKS THAT HE WISHES

IN A CHAUTAUQUA TENT OR IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN,

BUT OUR BUSINESS IN HILLSBORO IS CONCLUDED.

THE DEFENSE ASKS THAT COURT BE ADJOURNED.

I HAVE REMARKS--

[JUDGE] WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS TO HEAR THEM, SIR,

BUT COLONEL DRUMMOND'S POINT OF PROCEDURE IS WELL TAKEN.

I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE WILL WISH TO REMAIN

AFTER COURT IS ADJOURNED

TO HEAR YOUR ADDRESS.

I HEREBY DECLARE THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED,

SINE DIE.

[MAN] DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID?

MY FRIENDS--

LEMONADE! GET YOUR NICE COLD LEMONADE!

[SHOUTING] MY DEAR FRIENDS, YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE.

FRIENDS, FELLOW CITIZENS,

FRIENDS OF THE UNSEEN AUDIENCE--

THAT'S DISCONNECTED, SIR. IT'S NOT ON.

FROM THE HALLOWED HILLS OF SACRED SINAI...

FROM THE DAYS OF REMOTE ANTIQUITY

CAME THE LAW WHICH HAS BEEN OUR BULWARK

- AND OUR SHIELD. - IT'S ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING.

AGE UPON AGE, MEN HAVE LOOKED TO THE LAW

AS THEY WOULD TO THE MOUNTAINS,

WHENCE COMETH OUR STRENGTH!

HERE IN THIS COURTROOM

WE HAVE BEEN VINDICATED.

WE-- WE HAVE BEEN VINDICATED.

IN THE HALLOWED HILLS OF--

SACRED S...

[SARAH] MATT!

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE...

CITIZENS OF THESE UNITED STATES...

IN MY TERMS IN THE WHITE HOUSE

I PLEDGE TO CARRY OUT

MY PROGRAMS FOR THE BETTERMENT

OF THE COMMON PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

AS YOUR NEW PRESIDENT, I SAY

WHAT I HAVE SAID ALL OF MY LIFE.

OH, MATT!

MATT!

DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN.

MATT.

MATT...

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

HENRY...

HE'S DEAD.

MATT BRADY HAD A BEAUTIFUL SOUL.

YES, SARAH.

HE WAS ILL.

I TRIED TO GET HIM TO STOP,

BUT HE COULDN'T.

I'M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU

TO THINK THAT YOU HAD ANYTHING TO DO--

OH NO, I-- I'M JUST SO SORRY.

YES.

[DRUMMOND] I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS WORLD

WITHOUT MATTHEW HARRISON BRADY.

- MR. DRUMMOND? - HUH?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. DID WE WIN OR LOSE?

- YOU WON. - BUT THE JURY FOUND--

THE JURY? WHAT JURY? THE 12 MEN?

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT YOU WON.

THEY'LL READ THEIR PAPER TONIGHT, SEE THAT YOU SMASHED A BAD LAW.

- YOU MADE A JOKE OF IT. - YEAH, BUT THE LAUGH'S ON ME.

NO JOB, THEY PROBABLY WON'T LET ME BACK INTO THE BOARDING HOUSE IN THIS TOWN.

YOU CAN PICK UP AND GO FROM ONE CAUSE TO ANOTHER,

BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIVES OUT HERE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE, MISS BROWN?

I BELIEVE IN BERT.

YOU'RE A LUCKY MAN, BERT.

MR. DRUMMOND, THANKS.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

LOOK AT THEM-- HE LOVES SHE, SHE LOVES HE,

NOW THEY'LL BEGAT A FAMILY.

IT'S A MERRY-GO-ROUND, COUNSELOR.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE GNAT, THE LOUSE

AND THE MAGGOT.

AND THE HUMAN.

WHAT DID HE DIE OF, DID THEY SAY?

HE DIED OF A BUSTED BELLY.

THERE WAS MUCH GREATNESS IN THAT MAN.

CAN I QUOTE YOU IN THE OBITUARY?

YOU CAN WRITE ANY DAMN THING YOU PLEASE.

HOW DO YOU WRITE AN OBITUARY FOR A MAN

WHO'S BEEN DEAD 30 YEARS?

WHAT DID HE SAY TO REVEREND BROWN?

IT FITS! HE DELIVERED HIS OWN OBITUARY.

WHERE DID YOU PUT IT?

HUH?

HERE IT IS.

HIS BOOK.

PROVERBS, WASN'T IT?

"HE THAT TROUBLETH HIS OWN HOUSE

"SHALL INHERIT THE WIND;

AND THE FOOL SHALL BE SERVANT

TO THE WISE IN HEART."

WELL, COLONEL DRUMMOND,

WE'RE GROWING AN ODD CROP OF AGNOSTICS THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY GETTING DAMN SICK AND TIRED OF YOU, HORNBECK.

- WHY? - BECAUSE YOU NEVER PUSHED A NOUN AGAINST A VERB

- EXCEPT TO BLOW SOMETHING UP. - THAT'S A TYPICAL LAWYER'S TRICK--

ACCUSING THE ACCUSER.

- WHAT AM I ACCUSED OF? - CONTEMPT OF CONSCIENCE,

SENTIMENTALITY IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

BECAUSE I WON'T ERASE AN ENTIRE LIFETIME?

NO, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT OF HIM, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT,

SO LET'S LEAVE THE LAMENTATIONS TO THE ILLITERATE.

WHAT IS THIS, BE KIND TO BIGOTS WEEK?

WHY SHOULD WE WEEP FOR HIM?

BECAUSE HE'S DEAD?

HE CRIED ENOUGH FOR HIMSELF--

THE NATIONAL TEAR DUCT

FROM WEEPING WATER, NEBRASKA.

HE FLOODED THE NATION LIKE A ONE-MAN MISSISSIPPI.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS,

- A BIBLE-BEATING BUNCO ARTIST. - A GIANT ONCE LIVED IN THAT BODY,

BUT HE GOT LOST

BECAUSE MATT BRADY WAS LOOKING FOR HIS GOD

TOO HIGH UP AND TOO FAR AWAY.

WHY, YOU HYPOCRITE.

YOU FRAUD.

THE ATHEIST WHO BELIEVES IN GOD.

YOU'RE JUST AS RELIGIOUS AS HE WAS.

DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE TODAY?

WHAT HAPPENED HERE TODAY HAS NO MEANING.

YOU HAVE NO MEANING.

YOUR WHOLE LIFE HAS NO MEANING.

YOU'RE LIKE A GHOST POINTING AN EMPTY SLEEVE

AND SMIRKING AT EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE FEEL

AND NEED AND STRUGGLE FOR.

I PITY YOU.

OH, YOU PITY ME?

ISN'T THERE SOMETHING--

WHAT TOUCHES YOU? WARMS YOU?

EVERY MAN HAS A DREAM. WHAT DO YOU DREAM ABOUT?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING, DO YOU?

LOVE, AN IDEA

MAYBE JUST TO HOLD ON TO.

YOU POOR SLOB. YOU HAVE NOTHING. YOU BELIEVE IN NOTHING.

YOU'RE ALONE AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE GRAVE,

THERE WILL BE NOBODY

TO PULL THE GRASS UP OVER YOU.

NOBODY TO MOURN YOU,

NOBODY TO GIVE ONE DAMN.

YOU WILL BE WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN--

ALONE.

YOU'RE WRONG, HENRY.

YOU'LL BE THERE.

YOU'RE THE TYPE.

WHO ELSE WOULD DEFEND MY RIGHT TO BE LONELY?

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]