Summary
Several days later, the prosecution (Brady and
Davenport) and the defense (Drummond) interview townspeople to serve
as members of the jury. The scene opens during of the prosecution’s
questioning of a local man, Bannister. Davenport asks Bannister
whether he attends church. Bannister answers, “Only on Sundays,”
and Davenport approves him as a juror. Drummond asks Bannister whether
he has read about evolution or Darwin, and whether he reads the
Bible. Bannister says he is illiterate, and Drummond approves him
as a juror.
Before the bailiff calls the next juror, Brady asks the
judge if the people in the courtroom may remove their coats because
of the heat. The judge agrees. When people remove their coats, Drummond’s bright
purple suspenders are revealed, prompting hoots from the crowd.
Brady asks Drummond if his suspenders reflect the latest fashions
in Chicago. To Brady’s embarrassment, Drummond replies that he bought
the suspenders in Brady’s Nebraska hometown.
The judge pounds his gavel and demands order. A man named Dunlap
is next to be interviewed. Davenport asks Dunlap whether he believes
in the Bible. Dunlap replies that he believes in the word of God
and in Brady. The audience cheers Dunlap, and Davenport accepts
him as a juror. Drummond, however, refuses Dunlap without questioning
him. Brady objects. Drummond replies that he wouldn’t object to
Brady dismissing an evolutionist as a juror. To go through the formality
of questioning Dunlap, Drummond asks him, “How are you?” Dunlap
replies “Kinda hot,” and Drummond again dismisses him.
Brady objects to Drummond’s levity. Although the judge
doesn’t sustain Brady’s objection, he admits to agreeing with him.
The judge addresses Brady as “Colonel Brady,” which prompts Drummond
to object to Brady’s title on the grounds that he doesn’t know much about
Brady’s record as a soldier. The judge explains that Brady received
the title as an honor. Drummond claims that Brady’s title harms
Cates’s case. The judge gestures to the mayor, who says that he
can’t take back Brady’s honorary title but says he will temporarily
grant Drummond the title of colonel as well.
The judge calls the court to order. A man named Sillers
is next to be interviewed. Davenport asks Sillers whether he is
religious, and Sillers claims to be as religious as anyone else
in Hillsboro. Brady steps up and asks Sillers whether he has any
children. Sillers replies that he does not. Brady outlines a hypothetical
situation in which Sillers’s child came home describing a “Godless
teacher.” Drummond objects, and the judge sustains the objection.
Brady asks Sillers whether he has any opinions that might prejudice
him in the case. Sillers says he knows Cates only as a customer,
not personally. Brady accepts Sillers as a juror.
Drummond asks Sillers whether he puts much effort into
religion. Sillers says he focuses on his job while his wife tends
to religious matters for both of them. Drummond recasts Sillers’s
response by suggesting that he takes care of the matters of life
on earth while his wife prepares both of them for the afterlife.
Davenport objects, and the judge sustains the objection. Drummond
asks Sillers whether he has ever encountered a man named Charles
Darwin. Sillers says he only lately heard of Darwin. Drummond asks
Sillers whether he would have Darwin over for dinner. Brady begins
to object, but Drummond cuts him off. Davenport also objects, but
Drummond says he is trying to confirm that Sillers puts equally
small effort into matters of religion and evolution. Sillers points
out that he merely works at the feed store. Drummond approves him
as a juror.
