CharIes: THE 1920s IN AMERICA --
JAZZ MUSIC, GIRLS WHO SMOKE, AND WING WALKERS.
LIKE A GIANT PARTY, ONLY WITHOUT THE BOOZE.
CHANGE WAS IN THE AIR.
SKYSCRAPERS DISPLACED FAMILY FARMS...
AND REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS...
CHALLENGED TIME-HONORED TRADITIONS.
CLARENCE DARROW, LEGENDARY DEFENSE ATTORNEY...
MADE H EADLI N ES DEFENDING MURDERERS...
AND RAILING AGAINST FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANITY.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN...
THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR 30 YEARS...
FOUGHT FOR THE BIBLE, THE WORKING MAN...
AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
COVERING THEM BOTH IN THE PAGES OF THE BALTIMORE SUN...
WAS H.L. MENCKEN --
THE MOST IN FLUENTIAL AND MOST FEARED WRITER IN AMERICA.
THEY CALLED THEM THE ROARING '20s...
BUT NOT EVERY TOWN WAS ROARING.
TAKE MY HOMETOWN OF DAYTON, TENNESSEE, FOR INSTANCE.
MY NAM E'S CHARLES B. ANDERSON ...
AND I WORKED AT THE DAYTON HERALD...
A SMALL NEWSPAPER STARTED BY MY FATHER, STEWART ANDERSON.
MY DAD BEGAN HIS CAREER...
AT ONE OF THE GREATEST NEWSPAPERS IN AMERICA.
BUT IN DAYTON, IN 1925, BIG NEWS FOR US...
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WIN FOR THE LAST PLACE DAYTON MINERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRST BIG STORY OF THAT YEAR...
WAS THE CLOSING OF THE CUMBERLAND COAL MINE...
THE LIFEBLOOD OF DAYTON.
BUT THE SECOND AND FAR BIGGER STORY...
WOULD TURN OUT TO SAVE US.
WELL [CHUCKLES] SAVE US AND RUIN US ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
[ APPLAUSE ]
COME ON, MINERS! LET'S GO!
COME ON, HOWARD!
COME ON, HOWARD, BE SMART OUT THERE, NOW! COME ON!
THE DAYTON MINERS HAVE THE BASES LOADED...
IN THIS SEASON'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
TWO OUTS IN THE NINTH. THE STANDS ARE JAMMED.
THE ENTIRE NATION GLUED TO THEIR RADIOS.
BALL ON E!
WILL COACH JOHN SCOPES BE ABLE TO LEAD THEM TO VICTORY?
Man: COME ON, BOYS. COME ON. HIT IT OUT OF HERE.
PITCHER'S GOT NOTHING ON YOU .
COME ON!
[ SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT ]
Rauiston: BALL TWO!
WHAT IN SAM HILL?
HARRY, YOU CAN'T STEAL WITH THE BASES LOADED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
COACH SCOPES GAVE ME THE STEAL SIGN, DIDN'T HE?
GO BACK! GO BACK!
GO BACK TO FIRST! GO BACK TO FIRST!
YOU'RE OUT!
RUNNERS ARE OUT OF ORDER!
COME ON, BOYS. COME ON, BOYS.
WE'LL GET THEM NEXT TIME, ALL RIGHT?
[ GROANS ]
WELL, THERE GOES THIS WEEK'S LEAD STORY.
LET'S GO.
Rose: THERE'S ALWAYS THE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL.
YOU DID YOUR BEST.
- HEY, THERE, GEORGE. - HI.
- HEY, GEORGE. - ROSE.
CHARLIE.
HEY, WHAT'S WRONG?
THE COAL MINE'S CLOSING.
IT'S OVER.
YOU WANT TO BUY 300 ACRES OVERLOOKING DAYTON?
ONLY $10,000.
YOU GET THE SHAFT FOR FREE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
OH , AT LEAST SOMETHING'S RUNNING.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
IT'S THE TRAIN .
IT'S OKAY. GO.
I'M REAL SORRY.
- WE'LL TALK LATER. - OKAY, CHARLIE.
WELL, ANOTHER WINLESS SEASON FOR THE DAYTON MINERS, HUH?
SURPRISE, SURPRISE.
[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]
- MORNING, CHARLES. - MORNING, FRED!
Man: NOW ARRIVING IN DAYTON!
NEXT STOP, KNOXVILLE!
[ STEAM HISSES ]
DALLAS TRIBUNE. NEW YORK TIMES.
OH.
- MA'AM , MAY I? - THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU .
[ MAN SNORING LIGHTLY ]
BALTIMORE SUN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH .
- PARDON ME. - HEY, CHARLIE.
H EY, DOC. STAYING DRY?
I'M TRYING TO!
MARCO.
POLO.
OH , GOOD. MORE PAPERS.
H.L. MENCKEN. HE IS THE GREATEST WRITER EVER.
EVERYONE AROUND HERE SAYS THAT YOUR FATHER WAS.
- YEAH? BUT HE MAKES PEOPLE LAUGH, ROSE. - M M-H M M.
- HE MAKES 'EM THINK, TOO. - STOP. HOLD ON.
HOLD ON. LET ME DO IT. LET ME DO IT.
[ LAUGHS ] STOP.
LIKE YOUR ARTICLE ABOUT ABIGAIL --
I REALLY LOVE THAT ARTICLE.
ROSE, IF I'M EVER GONNA MAKE ANY KIND OF DIFFERENCE...
I NEED TO LEAVE THIS TOWN.
HOW'D YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN BALTIMORE?
ANOTH ER JOSEPH SWARTZBERGER AWARD.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
NOTHIN' TO SNEEZE AT.
HERE'S YOUR PRIZE MONEY.
YEAH , WELL, MENCKEN SURE SNEEZED.
I SUBMITTED THAT WINNING ARTICLE...
TO TH E BALTI MORE SU N OVER A MONTH AGO.
NOTHING.
WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD...
WORKING FOR ONE OF THE BIG NEWSPAPERS.
BUT YOU COULD DO A LOT OF BAD, TOO.
LIKE YOUR DAD USED TO SAY, "IT ALL DEPENDS UPON --"
"-- WHOM YOU'RE WRITING FOR."
I KNOW, I KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, M R. BIG CITY REPORTER...
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN IS SPEAKING...
ON THE ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW TONIGHT IN CHATTANOOGA --
CREATION, EVOLUTION, POLITICS.
- TONIGHT? - TONIGHT.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
OH, AND, UH ...
TAKE THE BEST STORY EDITOR IN TENNESSEE WITH YOU .
BETTER HURRY.
OKAY. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
MY SISTER, CHARLIE. I PROMISED ABIGAIL A VISIT.
- WELL, LET'S GO. - OKAY.
Rose: I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT MY SISTER.
CharIes: ABIGAIL'S A FIGHTER, ROSE.
SHE'S HAD TO BE HER WHOLE LIFE.
I KNOW THAT.
I J UST DON'T TH I N K SHE BELONGS AT THE COLONY...
NOT EVEN FOR A DAY.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
OKAY. I'M GONNA GO INSIDE.
I'LL GET THE BAG.
AbigaiI: "YET LONELY, LONELY STILL...
"LET US PROSPER AS WE WILL.
"OU R OLD H EARTS SEEM SO EMPTY EVERY WAY.
"WE CAN ONLY GO THROUGH A MIST...
"SEE THE FACES WE HAVE KISSED
IN THE ORCHARD WHERE THE CHILDREN USED TO PLAY."
GOOD. YES? [ CHUCKLES ]
ROSIE!
HEY, ABBY.
COME HERE.
HEY, SALLY.
HI , ROSE.
OH .
M R. CHARLES.
MISS ABIGAIL.
WRONG.
WRONG AGAIN .
TRY ONE MORE TIME.
THAT'S WRONG AGAIN BUT HERE YOU GO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
- CHEATER. - OH .
YOU'LL BE HOME SOON . I PROMISE.
J UST A FEW MORE WEEKS, RIGHT, UNCLE PHIL?
JUST A FEW TESTS AND SOME OBSERVATION.
OKAY.
Rose: OH , DEAR. CharIes: OH , NO.
BRYAN'S SPEECH! WE'RE GON NA MISS IT!
CAREFUL!
COME ON !
[ RADIO TUNING ]
Bryan:AND ARE YOU AWARE OF DARWIN'S VIEW...
REGARDING THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE SEXES?
ARE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO TO TEACH...
THAT MEN ARE BIOLOGICALLY SUPERIOR IN INTELLIGENCE...
TO WOMEN?
SCIENCE.
TALK ABOUT IGNORING THE EVIDENCE!
H M M .
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOMEN OF TENNESSEE...
WE FOUGHT TOGETHER FOR YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
NOW LET'S FIGHT TOGETHER...
FOR THE DIGNITY OF YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
LET'S FIGHT TOGETHER TO PASS THE BUTLER ACT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Rose: NOW WITH ABIGAIL...
IT JUST FEELS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER.
MY FAMILY'S JUST SLIPPING AWAY.
CHARLES, YOUR DRINKS ARE READY.
ROSE, YOUR MOTHER HAD AN ILLNESS.
THEY'RE JUST DOING A FEW APTITUDE TESTS ON ABBY, THAT'S ALL.
OKAY?
OKAY.
RIGHT.
[ BELL JINGLES ]
THANKS, DOC. I APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH .
DOC, COME ON OVER HERE.
H EY, M R. SCOPES.
JUST THE MAN. THERE YOU ARE.
GO FI N D YOU RSELF ANOTHER PARTNER, SON .
- OFF YOU GO. - ALL RIGHT.
TH ERE YOU GO.
JOH N NY BOY, WE GOT A LITTLE PLAN H ERE
TO BRI NG ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE
I NTO TH E TOWN FOR A LOOK-SEE.
SOM ETH I NG TO PUT US BACK ON TH E MAP.
TH E AM ERICAN CIVI L LI BERTI ES UNION IN NEW YORK --
AN D I KNOW SOM E OF 'EM FOR PERSONAL --
SAYS H ERE THAT TH EY WI LL SPONSOR A TEST CASE...
ON TH E ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW THAT BRYAN J UST GOT PASSED.
IT'S NOT AN ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW.
WELL, IT AIN'T A LOVE LETTER EITHER.
ALL THEY NEED IS A TEACHER...
WILLING TO BE ARRESTED AND STAND TRIAL.
A MATH TEACHER?
TECHNICALITY.
NOW, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE...
SEES NO PROBLEM WITH YOU R JOB AT ALL.
AND YOU DID BREAK THE LAW.
I DID?
WHEN YOU SUBSTITUTED...
FOR FERGUSON'S BIOLOGY CLASS.
IT'S ALL IN THE BOOK.
M R. ATTORNEY GENERAL HERE WILL PROSECUTE...
ALL BETWEEN FRIENDS.
SAY, DOC...
HOW ABOUT PUTTING A "MONKEY MALTED" ON THE MENU.
CHOCOLATE WITH BANANA MIXED IN OR SOMETHING?
WE NEED PLENTY OF GIMMICKS LIKE THAT FOR THE CROWDS --
TOYS, EXHIBITS, MOTION-PICTURE STARS.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE HEADLINES!
NO OFFENSE, CHARLIE BOY...
BUT WE'RE THINKIN' A LITTLE LARGER HERE
THAN THE DAYTON DIDDLYSQUAT.
WELL, SO IS CHARLIE.
WELL, YEAH , BUT...
WE SHOULD GET SOME BIG-NAME EVOLUTIONISTS TO TESTIFY.
RIGHT? AND THEN WE'LL HAVE OURSELVES A SHOW.
H .G. WELLS, HENRY OSBORN , EINSTEIN MAYBE.
JOHN , WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TEST THE LAW?
WOULD YOU BE FOOL ENOUGH TO LEND YOUR NAME?
CharIes: JOHN SCOPES.
S-C-O-P-E-S.
IT'S A GREAT STORY, M R. MENCKEN ...
AND I'VE GOT INSIDE ACCESS TO EVERYBODY.
THIS IS NOT NEWS, KID. IT'S BUCOLICBUNKUM .
IF YOU CAN GET ANY NATIONAL FIGURE...
TO JOIN DAYTON'S LITTLE BOOSTER CLUB, CALL ME.
NOT BEFORE.
[ SIGHS ] NATIONAL FIGURE.
IN THIS TOWN?
WAIT A SECOND.
OPERATOR...
GET ME WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
[ ORGAN PLAYING ]
YOU SEE RAPPLEYEA?
NO.
YOU THINK HE'S COMING?
YES, CHARLES, I THINK HE'S COMING.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
SORRY.
RAPP, ANY BIG NAMES FOR THE TRIAL YET?
[ GROANS ]
WELL, THAT'S TOO BAD.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD PRAY MORE.
SHH !
SORRY.
IS IT WORKING?
NO. H .G. WELLS IS A COMMUNIST.
AND PROFESSOR EINSTEIN --
REMIND MEN EVER TO SEND MY KIDS TO PRINCETON .
NOT NOW, NOT NEVER.
SH H !
CHARLES, JUST...
REALLY? [ COINS CLINK ]
WELL, MAYBE I CAN HELP YOU GET THINGS STARTED.
I'VE GOT YOUR MAN .
[ MUSIC STOPS ]
HALLELUJAH ! [ CHUCKLES ]
YOU PLAYED THAT BEAUTIFULLY, MR. RILEY.
- HEY, RAPP? - U H-H U H .
YOU KNOW, THE NEWSPAPERS SAY...
THAT EVERYONE THINKS THE TRIAL IS JUST A PUBLICITY STUNT.
WELL, IT IS A PUBLICITY STUNT.
BUT THEY'LL SHOW UP TO WATCH .
THE WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN SHOW?
I'M BETTING ON IT.
I BOUGHT THE 300 ACRES FROM THE COAL MINE MYSELF.
10,000 CLAMS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND AFTER WE PULL THIS SHOW OFF...
I'LL SELL IT FOR $20,000.
AND IT ISN'T JUST...
THE WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN SHOW ANYMORE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
DARROW AGAINST BRYAN?
THAT'LL BRING 'EM IN FROM RHODESIA.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Mr. SheIton: YOU SURE THE CROWDS ARE COMING?
George: HAVE l EVER LET YOU DOWN BEFORE, HUH?
EXCEPT FOR CLOSING DOWN THE COAL MINE.
HA HA.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Rose: OOH, "MONKEY TRIAL."
WHO THOUGHT OF THAT?
Charies: MENCKEN. WHY?
[ AIRPLANE APPROACHING ]
OH, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.
THAT'S GOT TO BE HIM .
WHAT, IS HE TOO GOOD FOR THE TRAIN?
THERE WAS A LITTLE CHOCOLATE ON YOU .
[ CHUCKLES ] IT'S OKAY.
GO GET HIM .
H EY. [ IMITATES MONKEY ]
[ LAUGHS ] [ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I'M A MONKEY!
YOU'RE MY MONKEY.
[ LAUGHS ]
Mencken: SO, YOU GOT SOME WRITING SAMPLES?
Charles: YES, SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TH EM?
[ U RI NATI NG ]
[ ZI PPER CLOSES ]
[ SIGHS ]
YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE TH E GESTU RE, CHARLES...
BUT, U H , GOT TO U N DERSTAN D...
BUYI NG M E AN AI RPLAN E TICKET FROM BALTI MORE...
DOES NOT LAN D YOU A JOB WITH TH E SU N .
I U N DERSTAN D.
SO, WHAT HAVE WE GOT H ERE?
LET M E SEE. PATRIOTIC M USH .
PU RITAN ICAL MALARKEY.
OH , YES, AN D A STORY ABOUT A HALF-BREED.
YOU'RE A GOOD WRITER, KID.
A LITTLE RIGI D ABOUT TH E RU LES, BUT QU ITE GOOD.
BUT ON LY 90% OF GREAT WRITI NG IS INNATE ABILITY.
THE OTHER 90% IS KNOWING WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT.
I DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT...
THE PUMPKIN QUEEN'S ADVICE TO TEENAGE GIRLS.
TELL ME ABOUT HER SECRET LOVE CHILD.
LOVE CHILD?
SHE DOESN'T HAVE ONE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? IT'S A SECRET.
BESIDES, I SAID "ALLEGED."
WELL, THAT'S NOT --
ONWARD.
[ "HAIL TO THE CHIEF" PLAYS ]
[ IN DISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Woman: LOOK AT THAT! WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN!
[ HORNS HONK ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
SPEECH ! SPEECH !
SPEECH?
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AFTER THERE UNSUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTIAL BIDS...
YOU'D HEARD ENOUGH !
[ LAUGHTER ]
CITIZENS OF DAYTON AND VISITORS TO THIS, UH ...
"FRU ITFU L BOWL IN THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY..."
MY WIFE AND I ARE SO PLEASED TO BE HERE.
MY FRIENDS, TH IS IS NO M I NOR SQUABBLE WE HAVE HERE IN DAYTON.
THIS IS A BATTLE ROYAL!
[ CROWD CHEERS ]
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH !
[ CROWD CHEERS ] CharIes: M R. BRYAN !
IS IT YOUR POSITION THAT THE BIBLE...
DOU BLES AS A SCIENTIFIC TEXTBOOK?
OH , NO. NOT AT ALL.
SCIENCE BOOKS HAVE TO BE CORRECTED ALL TH E TIME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Charles: ROSE, IT'S GREAT...
THAT YOU GOT THAT JOB IN THE STENOPOOL...
BUT IF I GET THIS JOB WITH THE SUN...
WE'RE GONNA NEED SOMEBODY AT THE TRIAL...
TO REPORT FOR THE HERALD.
YOU'RE A TALENTED WRITER, ROSE.
IT'S ABOUT HIGH TIME THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS IT.
H M M .
I SEE...
AN AMOEBA.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I SEE...
A TICKET OUT OF THIS TOWN ...
FOR MR. AND MRS. CHARLES ANDERSON .
CHARLIE...
COME ON, ROSE.
ONE OF THESE TIMES, YOU GOT TO SAY YES.
MARRIAGE IS FOREVER, CHARLIE.
FOREVER DOESN'T LIVE IN MY WORLD.
THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO PACK YOUR BAGS AND MOVE INTO MINE.
W-WHAT?
[ CHUCKLES ] A RING.
YEAH .
ROSE...
YOUR RING. M M-H M M .
OF COURSE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I-I PAWNED IT.
WHAT?!
CHARLIE!
IT'S JUST I-I NEEDED THE EXTRA MONEY
FOR MENCKEN'S AIRPLANE TICKET AND --
HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW YOU'D FINALLY SAY YES?
AND THAT REALLY HURT.
GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE.
LOOK, I'LL JUST WIN A JOURNALIST AWARD FOR THE TRIAL, RIGHT?
THEN I'LL BUY YOU A BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG RING.
OR MAYBE I WILL WIN IT...
AND I WILL BUY MYSELF A BIG RING.
OKAY. HOW ABOUT A KISS?
NO, I'M NOT GONNA KISS YOU .
Charles: COME HERE. Rose: NO.
Rose: NO. GET OUT OF HERE. CharIes: COME ON .
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
T-THAT'S DARROW'S TRAIN .
I-I PROMISED MENCKEN THAT I WAS GONNA BE THERE.
GO.
I LOVE YOU , ROSE ELIZABETH WILLIAMS.
YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT.
FOXHALL MAN , NEBRASKA MAN , NEANDERTHAL MAN --
ALL LINKS IN AN UNBROKEN CHAIN .
AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MEN MAY BE LIKE 1 0,000 YEARS FROM NOW?
METCALF BEEN HERE YET?
I WANT ALL TH E EXPERT WITN ESSES HERE, IN FORCE.
ESPECIALLY HIM .
NOT THAT I'VE HEARD, M R. DARROW.
CharIes: MENCKEN ! U H , M R. MENCKEN .
I-I'M SORRY.
WH ERE WERE YOU , CHARLES?
THE GREAT CLARENCE DARROW WAS PELTED WITH ROSARIES...
AT THE STATION ,...
AN D YOU M ISSED THE STORY.
SORRY TO HAVE MISSED YOU R ARRIVAL, M R. DARROW.
IT'S J UST MY GI RLFRI EN D -- WELL, MY FIANCEE NOW...
...WE JUST GOT ENGAGED.
THAT'S GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS.
EXCUSE ME.
LET ME BUY LUNCH, M R. DARROW.
YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS TOWN.
WAIT, M R. MENCKEN .
NOW, I'D LIKE A SECOND CHANCE.
TO MISS ANOTHER STORY?
OKAY, WAIT.
WAIT.
NOW...
WHAT IF I COULD, UH , MAKE A STORY?
SO, YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY.
I AM .
I USED TO PRACTICE.
I HAD NO IDEA.
Bryan: MISS WILLIAMS, DID YOU HAVE ANY I DEA...
THAT DARWIN FRETTED OVER VACCINATIONS...
BECAUSE THEY WOULD HELP SAVE PEOPLE...
THAT NATURAL SELECTION WOULD KILL OFF?
OR TAKE HELPING THE POOR.
DID YOU EVER HEAR THAT CHARITY HURT MANKIND...
INSTEAD OF UPLIFTED IT?
THAT SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE, M R. BRYAN .
[ CH UCKLES ] WELL, YOU SHOW ME ONE HOSPITAL...
OR ONE SOUP KITCHEN , FOR THAT MATTER...
THAT'S NAMED AFTER CHARLES DARWIN .
H IS CLOSING ARGUMENT, IF HE CAN KEEP IT TO THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Bryan: [ CHUCKLES ]
NOW, MOTHER, ARE YOU SUGGESTING...
THAT I M IGHT SOM ETI M ES TALK TOO M UCH?
LADI ES, EXCUSE M E.
WELL, I TH I N K I'VE TAKEN U P ENOUGH OF YOU R TI M E.
I LI KE TH E ARTICLE, CHARLES, BUT TH IS H EADLI N E --
"DAYTON WELCOM ES BRYAN" -- IT'S SO DU LL AN D BORI NG.
H I , CHARLES.
H EY, M ISS CAROLI N E.
IT'S TH E PU M PKI N QU EEN , RIGHT?
AH , YES. I'VE BEEN READI NG ABOUT YOU .
HOW'S TH E LITTLE ON E?
WHAT LITTLE ON E?
OKAY, HOW ABOUT, U H ...
"GU NS BLAZE FOR BRYAN I N DAYTON"?
[ BELL J I NGLES ]
[ GU NSHOT ]
I DON'T WANT TO H EAR ANY MORE OF THAT EVOLUTION NONSENSE!
YOU H EAR M E?! [ GU NSHOT ]
George: HAVE YOU LOST YOU R M I N D -- - NOT NOW, GEORGE!
GIVE M E TH E GU N . GIVE M E TH E GU N .
DON'T GIVE M E TH E GU N . GET I NSI DE. GET I NSI DE.
CharIes: HOW'S THAT FOR GU NS BLAZI NG?
H M M?
AH . YEAH?
YES. I LI KE IT. I LI KE IT.
CHARLES B. AN DERSON , TH E BALTI MORE SU N .
[ GASPS ] YOU GOT TH E JOB!
AS OF NOW, YEAH . HOW?
WELL, IT'S KI N D OF A STORY, A LONG STORY.
[ I N DISTI NCT TALKI NG ]
Bryan: GOOD TO SEE YOU .
[ APPLAUSE ]
MY FRI EN D.
GOOD TO SEE YOU . GOOD TO SEE YOU .
SAY, I BROUGHT YOU SOM ETH I NG H ERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BaiIiff: [ CLEARS TH ROAT ]
THE HONORABLE JUDGE JOHN T. RAULSTON.
OYEZ, OYEZ, OYEZ.
RauIston: THE COURT, ON THIS LOVELY FRIDAY MORNING...
WI LL COM E TO ORDER.
REVEREN D SUTH ERLAN D?
LET US PRAY.
OH, GOD, OUR DIVINE FATHER...
WE RECOGNIZE THEE AS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
HEAR US IN THESE, OUR PRAYERS.
AND HELP US TO BE LOYAL TO THE LORD JESUS AND TO THE TRUTH.
AM EN .
I'D LI KE FI RST TO WELCOM E COLON EL DARROW FROM CH ICAGO.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AN D, OF COU RSE, TH E GREAT COM MON ER...
COLONEL BRYAN, UP FROM FLORIDA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
I'M CALLING TO ORDER...
TH E CASE OF TH E STATE vs. JOH N THOMAS SCOPES.
M R. ATTORN EY GEN ERAL, ARE YOU READY TO PROCEED?
YES, SI R.
YOU R HONOR, WE WOU LD FI RST LI KE TO DISCUSS OU R I DEA...
THAT TH E SCI ENTI FIC EXPERTS ARE RELEVANT WITN ESSES...
IF ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLAINING TO THE JURY...
WHAT EVOLUTION IS.
[ CH UCKLES ]
GEN ERAL STEWART?
WELL, I'M FRAN K TO STATE THAT WE WI LL BE OBJ ECTI NG...
TO THAT SORT OF TESTI MONY AS LEGALLY I RRELEVANT.
AN D WE'D PREFER TO STICK TO TH E USUAL ORDER...
AN D SELECT TH E J U RY FI RST.
VERY WELL.
M R. BAI LI FF.
REVEREN D J .P. SUTH ERLAN D.
Man: GO GET 'EM !
ARE TH EY ALL GON NA BE REVEREN DS?
[ LAUGHTER ]
BAILIFF?
BaiIiff: MR. JAMES RILEY.
M R. RI LEY, YOU SAY...
YOU'VE N EVER READ ANYTH I NG ABOUT EVOLUTION?
U H , NO, SI R.
I CAN'T READ.
I'M SORRY. I DI DN'T H EAR THAT.
I SAI D...
...I'M U NABLE TO READ.
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.
WELL, THAT CAN SOM ETI M ES COM E I N HAN DY, SI R.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
[ I N DISTI NCT TALKI NG ]
M R. BRYAN? EXCUSE M E, M R. BRYAN?
WI LL YOU BE SEEKI NG JAI L TI M E FOR PROFESSOR SCOPES?
OH , TH E LAW DOESN'T PROVI DE FOR ANY JAI L TI M E.
BUT SI NCE I HAVE ALREADY OFFERED TO PAY ANY FI N E...
I N TH E EVENT PROFESSOR SCOPES IS FOU N D GU I LTY...
I HOPE YOU WON'T BEGRU DGE US...
I F WE RECOM M EN D TH E SMALLEST FI N E POSSI BLE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
TH E REAL ISSU E IS THAT TH E PU BLIC SCHOOLS...
ARE BEI NG FU N DED BY FORCE.
USING TAXES TO FINANCE THE TEACHING...
OF ANY THEORY OF ORIGINS --
BRYAN'S OR DARROW'S OR SOM E COM BI NATION OF TH E TWO -
IS TYRAN N ICAL AN D SI N FU L!
PREACH IT, BROTH ER! PREACH IT!
YES! HALLELUJAH .
HALLELUJAH .
TH E BALTI MORE SU N . WELCOM E TO TH E BIG LEAGU ES.
CharIes: THAN KS. Man: MA'AM .
H EY, CHARLI E, YOU WOU LDN'T KNOW ANYTH I NG...
ABOUT THAT GU N FIGHT BEI NG STAGED, WOU LD YOU?
CHARLES, A MOM ENT?
BE RIGHT BACK.
Mencken: SO, WHAT DID YOU SEE?
TH E FI RST LIVE RADIO BROADCAST OF A TRIAL I N H ISTORY.
EVERYON E'S GON NA WRITE ABOUT THAT.
OKAY. U M ...
A CH RISTIAN PRAYER TO START TH I NGS OFF.
NOW, THAT SEEM ED A LITTLE U N FAI R.
AN D TH EN TH E J U RY WAS SELECTED --
SIX BAPTISTS, FOU R M ETHODISTS, ON E AGNOSTIC...
CHARLES, YOU MAKE IT SOU N D LI KE A GROCERY LIST.
KEEP IT SI M PLE, BUT GIVE IT PU NCH .
BI BLE TH U M PERS?
BI BLE TH U M PERS.
WITH LOVI NG CU P EARS AN D HOM EMADE HAI RCUTS, H M M?
SEE, PAI NT A PICTU RE.
ANYTH I NG ELSE?
[ SCOFFS ]
TH E PROSECUTION WANTS TO PREVENT...
ALL SCI ENTISTS FROM TAKI NG TH E STAN D.
CharIes: THAT'S RIGHT. Mencken: WHY?
WHY? WHAT ARE TH EY AFRAI D OF?
REM EM BER "DAVI D VERSUS GOLIATH"?
H M M? H M M?
HAS OU R SH EPH ERD BOY LOST H IS STON ES?
EXCUSE M E. WHY WOU LD YOU MOCK M E?
GEE, I DON'T KNOW. U H ...
BECAUSE YOU'RE BACKWARD AN D PROU D OF IT?
WOU LDN'T M I N D SEEI NG H ER WITHOUT H ER BON N ET.
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
GENTLEM EN FOR TH E DEFENSE?
YOU R HONOR, WE WOU LD LI KE TO MAKE A PRETRIAL MOTION ...
TO DISM ISS TH E I N DICTM ENT AGAI NST OU R CLI ENT.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
PROCEED, COLONEL.
Darrow: MAY I SAY FIRST, YOUR HONOR...
THAT I SHALL ALWAYS REM EM BER TH IS COU RT...
FOR GIVI NG M E TH E GREAT TITLE OF "COLON EL."
IT'S NOT TH E CUSTOM OF OU R COU RTS U P NORTH .
AN D I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT BACK TH ERE WITH YOU , COLON EL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BETTER THAT THAN THIS STATE'S FOOLISH, MISCHIEVOUS...
AN D WICKED STATUTE AGAI NST ALL LEARN I NG!
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
[ H U M M I NG ]
RAPP!
TH E DEFENSE J UST MADE A MOTION TO DISM ISS TH E TRIAL.
YOU M IGHT N EED TO LOWER THAT PRICE, NOT RAISE IT.
TH E ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW MAKES TH E BI BLE...
TH E M EASU RI NG STICK OF EVERY MAN'S EDUCATION .
ARE YOU R MATH EMATICS GOOD?
TU RN TO 1 ELIJAH , CHAPTER 2.
IS YOU R PH I LOSOPHY GOOD? TU RN TO SAMSON 2, CHAPTER 3.
HOW ABOUT CH EM ISTRY?
WELL, FOR THAT WE N EED TO READ
ABOUT FI RE AN D BRI MSTON E, I SU PPOSE.
WE BETTER WRAP U P TODAY, COLON EL.
J UST ON E M I N UTE LONGER, YOU R HONOR.
LET M E ADD TH IS. IGNORANCE AN D FANATICISM ARE ALL AROU N D US.
I F TODAY YOU CAN MAKE EVOLUTION A CRI M E I N TH E PU BLIC SCHOOL...
WELL, TOMORROW YOU CAN MAKE IT A CRI M E I N TH E PRIVATE SCHOOL.
AFTER A WH I LE, YOU R HONOR...
IT'S MAN AGAI NST MAN , CREED AGAI NST CREED,
U NTI L, WITH BAN N ERS FLYI NG AN D DRU MS BEATI NG...
WE ARE MARCH I NG BACKWARDS...
TO THOSE GLORIOUS DAYS WH EN BIGOTS BU RN ED AT TH E STAKE...
THOSE M EN WHO DARED BRI NG ANY EN LIGHTEN M ENT TO TH E H U MAN M I N D!
BRAVO! YEAH !
[ LIGHT APPLAUSE ]
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
REGARDI NG TH E DEFENSE'S PRETRIAL MOTION ...
TO DISM ISS TH IS CASE...
I'LL PRESENT MY RU LI NG FI RST TH I NG MON DAY MORN I NG.
COU RT IS ADJOU RN ED. [ GAVEL BANGS ]
WHAT'D I M ISS?
A LOT!
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
IT'S BEAUTI FU L, ROSE.
NOBODY EVER WRITES ABOUT M RS. BRYAN .
TH IS IS AWARD-WI N N I NG STU FF.
I REALLY LI KE THAT SH E H ELPS WRITE H IS SPEECH ES...
AN D WEEKLY COLU M NS.
- REALLY? - YEAH .
THAT'S PLAGIARISM . NOW, TH ERE'S A STORY.
IT'S NOT PLAGIARISM .
I SAI D "ALLEGED."
CHARLI E.
WHAT?
[ SIGHS ]
MY SH I FT'S ABOUT TO START.
"...KNOW LITTLE OF ANYTH I NG WORTH KNOWI NG
"AN D TH ERE IS NOT TH E SLIGHTEST I NCLI NATION AMONG TH EM ...
TO I NCREASE TH EI R KNOWLEDGE."
IS THAT WHAT'S GOI NG ON I N TH IS TOWN , H M M?
YAN KEE BASTARD!
BUT, GEORGE, YOU'RE A YAN KEE.
NOW IS NOT TH E TI M E, DOC.
AN D DI D YOU SEE WHAT CHARLI E WROTE?
UGH .
M M-H M M .
[ SIGHS ]
Rose: YOU REPORTED TO TH E WHOLE WORLD...
THAT M R. RI LEY CAN'T READ.
H E SAI D SO H I MSELF U N DER OATH .
THAT'S A HALF-TRUTH !
WHY DI DN'T YOU ALSO M ENTION ...
THAT H E'S TH E MOST TALENTED ORGAN IST I N EAST TEN N ESSEE?
WHAT DOES ON E HAVE TO DO WITH TH E OTH ER?
I'M NOT WRITI NG PU FF PI ECES H ERE, ROSE.
OH , AN D I AM?
COM E ON . THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYI NG.
ROSE, YOU CAN'T GET AH EAD BY BEI NG SOFT ON TH E LOCALS.
ON OU R FRI EN DS.
[ SIGHS ]
I HAVE TO FI N ISH TH IS ARTICLE.
I'M SORRY.
YES. VERY GOOD. YES. THAT'S N ICE.
ROSE, HAVE YOU SEE WHAT TH E GI RLS HAVE BEEN MAKI NG?
OH .
YES. THAT'S N ICE.
ROSE, I N EED TO SPEAK WITH YOU PRIVATELY.
[ I N DISTI NCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Mencken: STEWART AN DERSON .
[ CH UCKLES ]
[ GU ITAR PLAYI NG ]
♪ YOU MAY TH I N K IT'S NOT TH E TI M E ♪
♪ TH I N K IT'S NOT TH E PLACE ♪
♪ BUT GOD HAS WARN ED US ALL THAT TH E EN D OF TH E RACE ♪
♪ COU LD BE AROU N D TH E CORN ER ♪
♪ J UST AROU N D TH E BEN D... ♪
WHAT'S WRONG?
NOTH I NG.
COM E ON , ROSE, WHAT'S GOI NG ON?
U NCLE PH I L SAI D THAT ABBY HAS A REPRODUCTIVE ISSU E.
SH E N EEDS AN OPERATION .
H E SAI D THAT SH E'LL BE FI N E.
IT'S J UST THAT --
SH E HASN'T COM PLAI N ED ABOUT PAI N OR ANYTH I NG.
NOW, H E IS A TRAI N ED PROFESSIONAL, RIGHT?
AN D H ER U NCLE.
WELL, I'M H ER SISTER.
H EY.
NOW, YOU KNOW I WOU LD N EVER...
LET ANYTH I NG HAPPEN TO ABIGAI L, RIGHT?
- RIGHT. - OKAY.
SO TH ERE'S NOTH I NG TO WORRY ABOUT.
OKAY.
NOW, U H , I GOT TO GO.
LET M E GU ESS: M R. M ENCKEN .
I THOUGHT WE WERE GON NA READ TH ROUGH MY ARTICLE.
IT'S J UST THAT M ENCKEN'S GON NA I NTRODUCE M E
TO SOM E OF TH E GUYS.
OKAY.
HOW ABOUT LATER?
J U DGE RAU LSTON ASKED M E...
TO BE H IS STENOGRAPH ER FOR H IS RU LI NG.
IT COU LD GO PAST M I DN IGHT.
I'M SU RE THAT YOU R ARTICLE IS TERRI FIC.
I HAVE TO GO.
[ SIGHS ]
[ PIANO PLAYI NG ]
AH !
[ APPLAUSE ]
AH .
YOU KNOW, BEETHOVEN AN D I ARE RELATED...
I F YOU GO BACK FAR ENOUGH .
HOW FAR?
OH , U H , TH E COCKROACH OR TH EREABOUTS.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH , COM E ON , CHARLES, LOOSEN U P.
WH ERE IS TH E LITTLE TOMATO TON IGHT?
SH E'S, U H , TAKI NG DICTATION ...
FOR TH E J U DGE'S RU LI NG ON TH E MOTION TO DISM ISS.
STOP TH E PRESSES.
YOU M EAN YOU R LITTLE GAL WI LL KNOW TON IGHT...
WH ETH ER OR NOT TH E TRIAL WI LL PROCEED ON MON DAY?
NO, I'M NOT GON NA USE ROSE TO GET A SCOOP.
OKAY.
TH EN , U H , YOU'D BETTER GET CREATIVE, CHARLES.
[ HORN HON KS ]
'MORN I NG, J U DGE. YOU HAVE A MOM ENT?
SORRY, CHARLES.WE'RE HAVI NG SOM E PICTU RES MADE...
AT TH E COU RTHOUSE BEFORE CH U RCH .
- CAN WE TALK LATER, TH EN? - WELL, U H ...
HOW ABOUT MON DAY...
BETWEEN YOU R RU LI NG AN D TH E START OF TH E TRIAL?
SU RE. WE'LL HAVE SOM E TI M E TH EN .
[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
RauIston: EXCUSE M E, GENTLEM EN .
Mencken: OH , YOU R HONOR.
[ CLEARS TH ROAT ]
NOT YOU , M R. M ENCKEN .
I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT TH E BALTI MORE SU N ...
IS RU N N I NG A STORY PU RPORTI NG TO KNOW ALREADY...
HOW I WI LL BE RU LI NG ON TOMORROW'S MOTION TO DISM ISS.
M R. M ENCKEN , IT'S YOU R PAPER.
I TRUST YOU KNOW TH E ANONYMOUS SOU RCE.
WELL, TH E SOU RCE AN D I , YOU R HONOR, ARE VERY --
WELL, WE'RE -- WE'RE VERY CLOSE.
BUT MY LI PS ARE SEALED.
COU LD ON LY HAVE BEEN TH E STENOGRAPH ER.
WAIT, YOU R HONOR.
U H ...
IT WASN'T ROSE.
I-IT WAS YOU ...
AT, U H , BREAKFAST.
[ SIGHS ]
[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACH ]
"GU NS BLAZE FOR BRYAN I N DAYTON ."
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
ROSE...
NO, NO, NO. TH IS IS BETTER:
"J U DGE SPI LLS BEANS OVER BREAKFAST."
WELL...H E DI D.
YOU TRICKED H I M , CHARLI E.
COM E ON , ROSE.
IT'S PART OF TH E JOB.
DECEIT?
YOU'RE MAKI NG TH E J U DGE LOOK STU PI D.
YOU'RE...
YOU'RE MAKI NG ALL OF US LOOK STU PI D.
M R. M ENCKEN --
M R. M ENCKEN CAN'T BE TRUSTED!
JOU RNALISM SHOU LD BE BASED ON TELLI NG TH E TRUTH .
YOU R FATH ER FOU N DED TH IS PAPER ON TELLI NG TH E TRUTH .
CHARLI E, YOU R FATH ER WOU LD N EVER HAVE DON E TH IS.
I'M NOT MY FATH ER!
MY FATH ER HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 1 5 YEARS!
BUT H E LEFT YOU TH E DAYTON H ERALD...
AN D A PATH TO FOLLOW.
A PATH GOI NG NOWH ERE.
WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?
WHY CAN'T YOU SEE --
[ DOOR OPENS ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
ROSE...
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
STRAIGHT SHOOTI NG FROM H ERE ON OUT.
I PROM ISE.
CHARLES, YOU'RE AN AMAZI NG WRITER.
AN D I DON'T M EAN TO TH ROW COLD WATER
ON YOU R CHANCE TO WRITE FOR TH E SU N .
I REALLY DON'T.
TH EY'RE HAPPY WITH M E, ROSE --
NOT J UST M ENCKEN , BUT TH E BIGS I N BALTI MORE.
BUT TH ERE'S A DREAM THAT I'VE BEEN CH ERISH I NG...
A LOT LONGER THAN WRITI NG FOR TH E SU N .
WHAT ARE YOU DOI NG?
IT'S PERFECT.
IS TH IS YOU?
YES, IT IS.
[ PEN SCRATCH ES ]
TH EN YOU'RE TH E ON E THAT WROTE THAT MY DADDY'S IGNORANT?
[ GRU NTS ] AAH !
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
SORRY, M R. AN DERSON .
I'M GON NA WAIT OUTSI DE.
IT'S OU R CH I LDREN , OU R TAXES.
SHOU LDN'T TH E PEOPLE HOLDI NG TH E PAYCH ECK MAKE TH E RU LES?
NOW, BOYS, WE WANT YOU TO GO I N TH ERE AN D SIT TALL.
MAKE US PROU D.
[ BU RPS ]
NO MORE COLA.
I SU RE WOU LD HATE TO GET PROFESSOR SCOPES I N TROU BLE.
NOW, HON EY, YOU J UST TELL TH E TRUTH .
M R. DARROW J UST CON FUSES M E.
M R. DARROW?
WH EN DI D YOU BOYS SPEAK WITH M R. DARROW?
M R. DARROW COACH ED TH E SCHOOLBOYS J UST YESTERDAY...
ON WHAT TO SAY...
BECAUSE JOH N'S LESSON ON EVOLUTION N EVER HAPPEN ED.
SO WHAT?
WELL, SHOU LDN'T SOM EBODY SAY SOM ETH I NG? TELL TH E TRUTH?
AN D CAUSE A M ISTRIAL?
COM E ON , ROSE. NOBODY'S GETTI NG H U RT.
NOBODY?
[ SCOFFS ]
TH E BOYS ARE BEI NG TAUGHT TO LI E I N COU RT BY AN ATTORN EY.
YEAH , BUT IT'S A WH ITE LI E.
AN D DON'T FORGET --
YOU WERE I N TH E DRUGSTORE WH EN TH E PLAN WAS HATCH ED.
WE'RE BOTH I N ON TH IS ON E, ROSE.
COM E ON .
WE'VE GOT THAT APPOI NTM ENT.
A REPRODUCTIVE ISSU E?
M M-H M M .
THAT'S WHAT YOU R U NCLE SAI D?
YES, BUT H E SAI D SH E'LL BE FI N E.
A REPRODUCTIVE ISSU E THAT REQU I RES H ER TO BE STERI LIZED?
SO, TH IS IS N EW, RIGHT?
U H , EUGEN ICS?
N EW SI NCE DARWI N .
IT M EANS "GOOD GEN ES" --
I M PROVI NG TH E QUALITY OF TH E H U MAN GEN E POOL.
[ SCOFFS ] TH IS M UST BE I LLEGAL.
ATTEM PTI NG TO STERI LIZE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EVEN TOLD.
OH , NO, IT MOST CERTAI N LY IS NOT.
1 9 STATES NOW HAVE STERI LIZATION LAWS...
AN D MORE ARE BEI NG ADDED ALL TH E TI M E.
I'M TAKI NG ABIGAI L BACK HOM E.
ROSE, I'M AFRAI D YOU CAN'T.
ABIGAI L HAS A DIAGNOSED M EDICAL CON DITION .
OH , RIGHT...
H ER "REPRODUCTIVE ISSU E."
SH E'S HAD A FU LL BATTERY OF APTITU DE TESTS AN D --
I .Q. TESTS?
YOU WANT TO STERI LIZE MY SISTER -- YOU R N I ECE --
BASED ON AN I .Q. TEST!
MY N I ECE BY MARRIAGE.
ROSE, YOU CAN HAVE ABIGAI L BACK I F SH E'S TREATED.
OTH ERWISE, SH E N EEDS TO STAY H ERE.
NOW, THAT'S TH E LAW.
TH E LAW IS SHAM EFU L. LET'S GO.
I J UST N EED A SIGNATU RE TO AUTHORIZE TH E PROCEDU RE.
YOU'RE NOT GETTI NG ON E.
[ DOOR SLAMS ]
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
RauIston: SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION...
TO THE ADMISSION OF SCIENTIFIC TESTIMONY...
IN THIS TRIAL, COLONEL BRYAN.
THAN K YOU , YOU R HONOR, AN D MY FRI EN DS.
WE HAVE H EARD TH E TESTI MONY OF TH E STU DENTS.
PROFESSOR SCOPES TAUGHT THAT MAN HAS EVOLVED FROM LOWER FORMS.
SO WHY NOW TH E N EED FOR EXPERTS?
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHY:
SO THAT TH EY M IGHT COM E I N H ERE...
AN D PERSUADE TH E ENTI RE WORLD...
THAT EVOLUTION IS A BEAUTI FU L TH I NG.
BUT WHAT ARE THE FRUITS OF A FAITH...
IN DARWIN'S SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST?
U N BRI DLED CAPITALISM WH ERE TH E STRONG CAN CRUSH TH E WEAK?
AN IMPERIALIST FOREIGN POLICY...
THAT CALLS FOR THE ENSLAVING OF OTHER PEOPLE?
OR PERHAPS A PROGRAM OF SCI ENTI FIC BREEDI NG...
DI RECTI NG US AS TO WHO MAY AN D MAY NOT BEAR CH I LDREN?
Man: MARGARET SANGER.
AN D, OF COU RSE, WE HAVE TH E TESTI MONY...
OF MY GOOD FRI EN D FROM CH ICAGO.
OBJ ECTION , YOU R HONOR!
OVERRU LED.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE.
THAN K YOU , YOU R HONOR.
LEOPOLD AN D LOEB HAD ADOPTED N I ETZSCH E'S TH EORY...
OF TH E U BERM ENSCH , OR "SU PERMAN"
WH ICH IS AN EVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT...
THAT J USTI FI ED TH EM ...
I N M U RDERI NG A YOU NGER BOY I N COLD BLOOD.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
NOW, LEOPOLD AN D LOEB SI M PLY THOUGHT...
THAT THEY WERE CARRYING OUT THEIR BIOLOGICAL PREROGATIVE.
THEIR DUTY, EVEN...
TO ELI M I NATE ANYON E WHO WAS SMALLER, WEAKER...
AN D LESS I NTELLIGENT THAN TH EY.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL...
THEY SAY MAN IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MAMMAL.
Rose: UGH .
AND THEN WE COME T O MR. DARROW'S ACCESSORY ARGUMENT...
THAT HIS CLIENTS A RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER...
TH E TH EORY OF EVOLUTION IS.
AN D THAT PROFESSORS WHO TEACH IT...
ARE MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN THE BOYS THEMSELVES!
I OBJ ECT, YOU R HONOR.
TH ERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH I N IT!
WOU LD YOU LI KE FOR M E TO READ YOU R WORDS
FROM TH E TRIAL TRANSCRI PT?
HOW ABOUT IF WE MOVE OFF THE SUBJECT...
OF LEOPOLD AN D LOEB, COLON EL?
H EAR, H EAR!
YOU R HONOR, WE BELI EVE THAT ANY SCI ENTI FIC TESTI MONY...
I N TH IS CASE WOU LD BE TOTALLY I RRELEVANT.
THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE. THE CASE IS PLAIN.
NOW, IF THESE GENTLEMEN WANT TO ENTER...
ON TH E BROADER FI ELD OF EDUCATION ...
CONCERN I NG TH E SU BJ ECT OF EVOLUTION ...
TH EN I SUGGEST THAT WE FI N ISH TH IS CASE...
AN D, AFTER THAT, CONVEN E A MOCK COU RT...
BECAUSE IT WOULD DESERVE THE TITLE OF "MOCK COURT"
I F ITS PU RPOSE IS TO BAN ISH FROM TH E H EARTS OF TH E PEOPLE...
TH E WORD OF GOD AS REVEALED!
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ GAVEL BANGI NG ]
AN D TH EN H ERE, TH E TEXTBOOK SAYS...
THAT EPI LEPTICS AN D TH E HAN DICAPPED...
ARE, "PARASITES U PON TH E SPECI ES"
AN D, "I F SUCH PEOPLE WERE LOWER AN I MALS...
WE'D PROBABLY KI LL TH EM OFF TO PREVENT TH EM FROM SPREADI NG."
CAN I TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BOOK?
[ HORN HON KS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
AH .
[ HORN HON KS ]
WHY ARE WE JOU RNALISTS, CHARLES?
AN D I'M NOT TALKI NG ABOUT WOM EN OR SECON D-RATERS.
I'M TALKI NG ABOUT TH E BEST JOU RNALISTS ALIVE.
TO CHANGE TH E WORLD.
SEE, EVOLUTION IS PROGRESS.
NO LEGISLATION SHOU LD ATTEM PT...
TO STEAL TH IS HOPE FROM TH E PEOPLE.
BUT IT DOESN'T.
DI D YOU READ ROSE'S LAST ARTICLE?
[ SCOFFS ]
WELL, NOW, WAIT A M I N UTE.
I N TEN N ESSEE, YOU CAN STI LL TEACH ...
TH E EVOLUTION OF 2 M I LLION SPECI ES.
TH E ON LY TH I NG YOU CAN'T TEACH ...
IS THAT MAN KI N D EVOLVED FROM TH E MON KEYS...
WH ICH MAKES IT AN ANTI-EVOLUTION LAW, 1 00%.
DON'T GET SUCKERED I N BY TH EI R RELIGION .
WELL, CAN'T YOU BELI EVE I N BOTH EVOLUTION AN D RELIGION?
CAN YOU M IX J UST A LITTLE VOM IT I NTO A GLASS OF M I LK, H U H?
SCI ENCE IS REALITY.
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU R TEETH AN D BON ES.
BUT RELIGION IS BU I LT ON FAI RY TALES.
BETTER NOT M IX TH E TWO, NOT EVEN A LITTLE.
LET M E TELL YOU A STORY OF TWO REPORTERS, CHARLES...
SI DE BY SI DE ON TH E SAM E N EWSPAPER
I N A MAJOR AM ERICAN CITY.
ON E OF TH EM , SOM E SAI D, STRETCH ED TH E TRUTH .
I WOU LD DISAGREE.
BUT I F H E DI D, H E ALWAYS HAD A GOOD REASON , A H IGH ER CAUSE.
TH E CAUSE, H E LEARN ED...
IS MORE I M PORTANT THAN ANY PARTICU LAR DETAI L.
I N TI M E, H E BECAM E...
ON E OF TH E MOST I N FLU ENTIAL COLU M N ISTS I N AM ERICA.
AN D TH E OTH ER?
WHAT BECAM E OF H I M?
YOU TELL M E.
YOU'VE GOT TALENT, SON ,
AS M UCH AS I'VE EVER SEEN I N SOM EON E YOU R AGE.
YOU CAN USE IT FOR GOOD, TOO.
DON'T LET IT DI E I N DAYTON .
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
"LI KE WATCH I NG A FAT LADY LAN D AN KLES-U P ON TH E ICE...
"...IN COURT TODAY THE AUDIENCE HAD TO LAUGH I N THEIR SLEEVES...
"WH EN WI LLIAM J EN N I NGS BRYAN ...
DEN I ED THAT H E H I MSELF IS A MAM MAL."
THAT'S GOOD.
AWARD-WINNING GOOD.
CHARLES...
I HEARD IT ALL.
M R. BRYAN SAI D NO SUCH TH I NG.
I'M MAKI NG A LARGER POI NT H ERE.
WHAT?
IT'S MY OPI N ION .
OH , IT IS?
IT IS.
IT'S MY OPI N ION THAT FU N DAM ENTALISTS LI KE BRYAN ...
ARE KEEPI NG KI DS I N TH E DARK ABOUT EVOLUTION OUT OF FEAR!
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
[ CLEARS TH ROAT ]
[ TYPEWRITER CLICKS ]
[ ROOSTER CROWS ]
[ SH EEP BLEATS ]
Darrow: I TH I N K IT'D BE A GOOD I DEA...
TO REVI EW TH E FOSSI L EVI DENCE FOR MAN KI N D.
MAYBE TH E J U DGE WI LL ALLOW YOU GENTLEM EN TO TESTI FY AFTER ALL.
FOXHALL MAN --
WE HAVE NO FOSSI LS FOR FOXHALL MAN ...
BUT TH EY DI D FI N D TH E TOOLS AN D TH E FI RE PITS.
JAVA MAN --
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW BON E FRAGM ENTS OF JAVA MAN .
CORRECT.
N EBRASKA MAN --
YES, FOR TH EM , WE HAVE A TOOTH .
A TOOTH?
WE HAVE A TOOTH !
WOW.
AN D SO TH EY MARKED AN D M EASU RED, MARKED AN D M EASU RED.
U NCLE PH I L SAI D H E COU LD TELL FROM MY FACE...
THAT I'D BE A GOOD DISHWASH ER.
WITH TH IS FACE, YOU COU LD BE ANYTH I NG YOU WANT.
[ CH UCKLES ]
OKAY. YOU H U NGRY?
LET'S GO.
AN D TH EN , AS TH E H U MAN EM BRYO PROGRESSES...
TH ROUGH 40 WEEKS OF GESTATION ...
IT VI RTUALLY REVISITS OU R ENTI RE EVOLUTIONARY H ISTORY.
FROM A SI NGLE CELL TO A FISH-LI KE STAGE WITH GI LLS...
TO A STAGE WITH WEBBED HAN DS AN D AN AM PH I BIAN TAI L...
AN D TH EN TO TH E MAM MAL STAGE...
WITH A COVERI NG OF HAI R, LI KE A MON KEY.
AN D, FI NALLY, A H U MAN CH I LD.
AN D TH ERE'S NO WAY AROU N D TH E EVI DENCE?
LOOK FOR YOU RSELF.
ROSE, TH IS ISN'T ABOUT YOU OR EVEN ABOUT ABIGAI L.
EVEN I N OU R OWN FAM I LY...
STARTI NG WITH YOU R GRAN DMOTH ER --
DON'T YOU TH I N K TH REE GEN ERATIONS OF H EARTACH E...
IS ENOUGH?
ROSE, I F YOU SIGN TH E PAPERS AUTHORIZI NG H ER SU RGERY...
ABIGAI L GOES HOM E WITH YOU I N A FEW DAYS.
RESIST...
AN D I MAY HAVE TO GAI N CUSTODY OF H ER MYSELF...
AS H ER U NCLE.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
GENTLEM EN , I FEAR THAT WE'RE M ISSI NG SOM ETH I NG H ERE.
WE'RE FORGETTI NG ABOUT M R. BRYAN .
WHO'S BRYAN?
I'M BEI NG SERIOUS, H EN RY.
HOW MUCH FOSSIL EVIDENCE IS THERE, REALLY, FOR EVOLUTION?
FROM TH E STAN DPOI NT OF A SKEPTIC?
FROM TH E STAN DPOI NT OF TH E AVERAGE AM ERICAN .
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN H ERE, WI LLIAM J EN N I NGS BRYAN ...
COU LD PICK TH E ENTI RE FOSSI L H ISTORY OF MAN KI N D U P...
WITH H IS BUTT CH EEKS I N ON E SQUAT.
[ CH UCKLES ] I AGREE.
AND TAKE YOUR VIEW THAT THE BIBLE...
ACTUALLY DESCRI BES EVOLUTION .
I'M BRYAN . WE'RE I N COU RT.
DR. M ETCALF, YOU SAY YOU'RE A CH RISTIAN .
YOU BELI EVE TH E BI BLE?
SO, YOU BELI EVE THAT J ESUS WAS BORN OF A VI RGI N?
[ CH UCKLES ]
WELL, ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT POSSI BLE BIOLOGICALLY.
OH? WELL, DO YOU AT LEAST BELI EVE...
THAT H E WAS RESU RRECTED FROM TH E DEAD?
I N A SENSE, YES. H IS I DEAS ROSE.
H IS I DEAS?
M R. AN DERSON , HOW FAR WI LL THAT I DEA FLY I N TH ESE PARTS?
ABOUT AS FAR AS A PIG, SI R.
PROFESSOR, CAN YOU R TH EORY OF EVOLUTION BE USED...
TO DEVELOP A MORE FRAGRANT ROSE, A COW THAT GIVES MORE M I LK?
CERTAI N LY.
HOW ABOUT BETTER H U MAN BEI NGS?
THAT ON E J U RIST WHO IS I LLITERATE --
DO YOU TH I N K H E SHOU LD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO HAVE CH I LDREN?
I WOU LD SAY THAT DEPEN DS.
DEPEN DS U PON WHOM?
WHO GETS TO DECI DE I F A MAN SHOU LD HAVE CH I LDREN ...
AN D ON WHAT AUTHORITY?
IT'S POPPYCOCK!
I F WE'RE BEI NG FRAN K WITH EACH OTH ER, M R. DARROW...
I TH I N K THAT DEFEN DI NG COLD-BLOODED M U RDERERS...
ON TH E TH EORY THAT TH EY ARE PROGRAM M ED BY EVOLUTION --
THAT IS POPPYCOCK!
GENTLEM EN , WE'RE I N A TEN N ESSEE COU RTROOM .
ON OU R SI DE OF TH E CASE...
IS A SELF-PROCLAI M ED H ERETIC, YOU RS TRU LY.
I N ADDITION , I HAVE RECRU ITED SCI ENTISTS...
WHO CALL TH EMSELVES CH RISTIANS...
BUT WHO, TRUTH BE TOLD...
SEEM MORE TO M E LI KE A BU NCH OF H I N DUS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CASE...
WE HAVE SAI NT WI LLIAM J EN N I NGS BRYAN ...
TH E GREAT COM MON ER...
DEFEN DI NG BOTH TH E MAN I FEST WI LL OF TH E PEOPLE...
AN D TH E BI BLE, WH ICH TH EY HOLD MOST DEAR.
THE POINT IS...
WE SI M PLY CAN'T RISK PUTTI NG YOU GENTLEM EN ON TH E STAN D...
EVEN I F TH E J U DGE ALLOWS IT.
TO BEI NG MON KEYS!
[ ALL CH EERI NG ]
[ U P-TEM PO M USIC PLAYI NG ]
[ CRICKETS CH I RPI NG ]
MARCO!
Man: BE QUIET OUT THERE!
OH , YOU BE QU I ET!
I'M NOT TALKI NG TO YOU .
POLO!
Woman: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?!
I DON'T KNOW TH E TI M E!
MARCO! OW.
[ COUGHS ]
ROSI E.
SH H !
H EY.
CHARLES, HAVE YOU BEEN DRI N KI NG?
SH H ! DON'T TELL NO ON E.
I TALKED TO M ENCKEN TON IGHT ABOUT YOU R ARTICLES...
AN D H E WANTS TO READ TH EM !
WHY DI D YOU TALK TO M ENCKEN ABOUT MY AR--
WELL, H E ASKED, SI LLY! LOOK --
H E CAN H ELP YOU , ROSI E.
H E CAN GIVE YOU SOM E OF THAT...
[ Deep voice ] ...FEM I N IST FLAI R.
RAH-HA-HA.
[ NormaI voice ] YOU KNOW, LI FE IS NOT ALL MADE U P
WITH A N ICE LITTLE BOW AROU N D IT.
LOOK, TAKE TH E BI BLE, FOR I NSTANCE, RIGHT?
YOU TAKE A LITTLE M I LK, AN D YOU PUT IT I N VOM IT.
OH .
[ COUGHS ]
[ VOM ITI NG ]
OH , CHARLES.
I TH I N K I TH REW U P I N MY HAT.
YOU DI D TH ROW U P I N YOU R HAT.
I DI D. I LI KED THAT HAT.
- CHARLES. - H U H?
GO HOM E.
OKAY.
YOU CAN HAVE IT.
I'M GON NA GO TO BED.
OH .
I'M J UST GON NA LI E DOWN H ERE FOR A M I N UTE.
[ CH UCKLES ]
[ GROANS ]
MY, THE HEAVENS DO DECLARE, ROSE.
[ SNORI NG ]
CHARLES?
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
CHARLES.
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
IT IS MY RULING TODAY THAT EXPERT TESTIMONY...
ON THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION WILL SHED NO LIGHT...
ON TH E FACTUAL ISSU ES I N TH IS CASE.
TH E SCI ENTISTS WI LL NOT BE PERM ITTED TO TESTI FY.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
YOUR HONOR, WHAT ABOUT EXPERT TESTIMONY...
OFFERED FOR TH E TRIAL RECORD FOR TH E BASIS OF APPEAL...
WITHOUT TH E J U RY BEI NG PRESENT?
SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME.
COLON EL BRYAN?
WELL, IT WOU LD SU IT M E J UST FI N E...
TO RELAX TH E RU LES A LITTLE, YOU R HONOR.
I ASSU M E THAT WE'LL BE ENTITLED...
TO CROSS-EXAM I N E H IS WITN ESSES.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
WHY NOT, CLARENCE?
CROSS-EXAM I N E TESTI MONY...
THAT'S BEI NG OFFERED M ERELY FOR TH E RECORD?
WELL, NOW, COLON EL, WOU LDN'T THAT H ELP ASCERTAI N TH E TRUTH?
TH E TRUTH?!
HAS TH ERE BEEN ANY EFFORT TH US FAR TO ASCERTAI N TH E TRUTH?
I F TH E SCI ENTISTS TAKE TH E STAN D TO TESTI FY ABOUT EVOLUTION ...
TH EY CAN BE CROSS-EXAM I N ED AS TO TH EI R VI EWS.
THAT'S FAI R.
TH EN FORGET ABOUT TESTI MONY ON TH E STAN D!
WE'LL OFFER TH EI R WRITTEN AFFI DAVITS TOMORROW...
OFF TH E STAN D...
FOR TH E FUTU RE BEN EFIT OF TH E APPELLATE COU RT...
AN D ANYON E ELSE AROU N D H ERE WHO DARES TO TH I N K!
I HOPE, COLON EL, YOU DO NOT M EAN TO REFLECT U PON TH E COU RT.
WELL, YOU R HONOR CERTAI N LY HAS TH E RIGHT TO HOPE.
THE SCIENTISTS WILL NEED THE REST OF THE DAY...
TO PREPARE TH EI R STATEM ENTS.
THAN K YOU !
THIS COURT HAS NOT BEEN RECESSED!
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
COLON EL DARROW! Man: HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT, YOUR HONOR!
[ GAVEL BANGS ] COLON EL DARROW!
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
Man: ATTENTION, PLEASE.
DUE TO OVERCROWDING IN THE COURTHOUSE...
THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIAL...
SHALL TAKE PLACE ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN.
TH E PU BLISH ER LOVED YOU R LAST ARTICLE ON BRYAN .
DENYI NG H E IS A MAM MAL!
[ LAUGHS ]
H E'S A PERFECT SPECI M EN .
HOMO N I NCOM POOPUS. [ LAUGHS ]
AbigaiI: MR. CHARLES!
ABBY!
STAY H ERE.
U H , PARDON M E A MOM ENT, CHARLES.
DOCTOR?
SORRY. U H , MAY I HAVE A WORD?
OH , ABSOLUTELY, SI R.
I'M QU ITE I NTERESTED I N THAT TREATM ENT CENTER OF YOU RS.
TH E U N FORTU NATE...
H .L. M ENCKEN FORTH E BALTI MORE SU N .
CHARLES AN DERSON WI LL BE ARRIVI NG...
AT TH E PRESTIGIOUS BALTI MORE SU N SOON ...
ALON E...
[ TYPEWRITER DI NGS ]
...DESTI N ED TO SU RPASS H IS FATH ER...
STEWART AN DERSON , WHO WAS...
I N EXPLICABLY, MORE ENAMORED WITH LONG-HORN ED CATTLE...
AN D HALF-WITS.
U M , "ENAMORED OF."
ROSE, CHARLES HAS TH E WHOLE PACKAGE --
TALENT, PEDIGREE, AM BITION .
NOW, EVEN I F YOU WANTED TO BE A HANGER-ON ...
BALTI MORE IS NO PLACE FOR A WRITER OF MODEST POTENTIAL.
AN D HOW WOU LD YOU KNOW WHAT MY POTENTIAL IS, M R. M ENCKEN?
DO YOU HAVE ANY WRITERS I N YOU R FAM I LY?
COLLEGE GRADUATES, EVEN?
NO.
A FEEBLE-M I N DED SISTER WHOSE FATH ER WAS A DARKY...
A M ENTALLY I LL MOTH ER WHO COM M ITTED SU ICI DE...
OH , AN D AN U NCLE I N ST. LOU IS WHO LI KES LITTLE BOYS.
SHALL I GO ON?
[ SIGHS ]
[ Voice breaking ] AN D THAT MAKES M E...
WELL, THAT MAKES YOU ...
YOU .
[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]
CharIes: ROSE?
AH , CHARLES!
WE WERE J UST TALKI NG ABOUT BALTI MORE.
WHAT'S WRONG?
Rose: CHARLES.
[ I N DISTI NCT CONVERSATIONS ]
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ CRICKETS CH I RPI NG ]
Phil: SIGN THE PAPERS AUTHORIZING THE SURGERY...
AND ABIGAIL GOES HOME WITH YOU IN A FEW DAYS.
RESIST, AND I MAY HAVE TO TAKE CUSTODY OF HER MYSELF.
[ SN I FFLES ]
Dr. MetcaIf: "FROM TH E ABOVE IT SEEMS CONCLUSIVE...
"THAT IT IS I M POSSI BLE TO TEACH ANTH ROPOLOGY...
OR TH E PREH ISTORY OF MAN WITHOUT TEACH I NG EVOLUTION ."
RauIston: DR. M ETCALF, HAVE YOU READ I NTO TH E RECORD...
TH E STATEM ENTS OF ALL TH E SCI ENTISTS?
YES, SI R. TH EY ARE ALL I N .
WELL, WHY DON'T WE ADJOURN EARLY, THEN?
TOMORROW WE CAN COM M ENCE...
WITH TH E CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS H ERE OUTSI DE.
J UST ON E MORE TH I NG, YOU R HONOR.
COLON EL?
TH E DEFENSE WOU LD LI KE TO CALL TO TH E STAN D...
M R. WI LLIAM J EN N I NGS BRYAN .
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
COLON EL BRYAN?
YOU WANT TO CALL OPPOSI NG COU NSEL?
AS AN EXPERT ON TH E BI BLE.
I F I MAY BE FRAN K, M R. BRYAN ...
TH IS IS WHAT CLARENCE DARROW DOES FOR A LIVI NG.
H E'S GON NA GET TO ASK ALL TH E QU ESTIONS, U N DERSTAN D?
IT'S NOT GON NA BE A FAI R FIGHT, NOW.
Woman: WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT, MR. BRYAN!
Man: GO AHEAD!
Woman: TAKE THE STUFFING OUT OF HIM, MR. BRYAN!
YOU R HONOR, PLEASE, I M UST I NSIST I N ADVANCE...
THAT I F I TAKE TH E STAN D...
TH EN M R. DARROW CAN BE PUT ON TH E STAN D...
TO GIVE US H IS VI EW.
AS AN EXPERT ON WHAT? SCOTCH WH ISKY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ GAVEL BANGS ]
WELL, I F IT'S DON E OUTSI DE TH E PRESENCE OF TH E J U RORS...
I SEE NO LEGAL REASON TO DENY TH E REQU EST.
YOU HAVE DON E CONSI DERABLE STU DY ON TH E BI BLE...
HAVEN'T YOU , M R. BRYAN?
YES, SI R. I HAVE TRI ED TO.
DO YOU BELI EVE THAT EVERYTH I NG I N TH E BI BLE...
SHOU LD BE ACCEPTED LITERALLY?
NO, SI R.
[ M U RM U RI NG ]
U H , SOM E OF TH E BI BLE IS CLEARLY I NTEN DED...
TO BE U N DERSTOOD FIGU RATIVELY.
WELL, DON'T YOU TH I N K THAT TH E WORLD WAS CREATED...
I N SIX DAYS, FOR I NSTANCE?
NO, I DO NOT.
[ M U RM U RI NG ]
WELL, TH E BI BLE SAYS IT WAS.
I DO NOT TH I N K THAT TH E BI BLE I NSISTS...
THAT THOSE WERE 24-HOU R DAYS.
SOM E M EN DI FFER...
BUT I BELI EVE THAT TH EY WERE LONG PERIODS OF TI M E.
YOU DO NOT!
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
Man: ...FOR TWO HOURS IN THE TENNESSEE SUN TODAY.
Man #2: ...BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH...
Man #3: ...DARROW CRUSHED FUNDAMENTALISM...
FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, THIS IS PHILMORE LEWIS...
Man #4: ...MIAMI HERALD...
[ I N DISTI NCT GERMAN ]
Mencken: CHARLES, TODAY WE PUT FUNDAMENTALISM DOWN...
LIKE A RABID DOG.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
CharIes: YES, SI R, BUT HON ESTLY --
WE DON'T HOLD BACK NOW.
TH E N EXT TRAI N OUT OF TH IS H ERE LEAVES...
I N TH REE HOU RS, AN D I WI LL BE ON IT.
ANYWAY, YOU KNOW WHAT TO WRITE.
ON TH E ON E SI DE WAS IGNORANCE, BIGOTRY, AN D SU PERSTITION .
ON TH E OTH ER WAS SENSE.
AN D TODAY SENSE PREVAI LED.
YOU WI RE YOU R STORY STRAIGHT I N .
GET A COPY TO M E I N TH E STATION AT 4:29.
DON'T BE LATE.
YOU'RE GON NA M ISS TH E CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS TOMORROW --
TH E CU LM I NATION OF EVERYTH I NG!
I WI LL WRITE ABOUT TH E CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS SIGHT U NSEEN .
IT'S NOT AS DI FFICU LT AS IT SEEMS.
YOU STICK TO WHAT WE SAW TODAY. I'M MOVI NG ON .
LET H ER HOLD IT.
Mencken: ANYWAY, YOU KNOW WHAT TO WRITE.
ON THE ONE SIDE WAS IGNORANCE, BIGOTRY, AND SUPERSTITION.
ON THE OTHER WAS SENSE.
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
CHARLES. TH ERE YOU ARE.
TELL COLON EL DARROW TH E PROPH ET HAS SPOKEN .
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
WHAT NOW, CHARLES? TI M E IS TICKI NG.
SAY THAT BRYAN'S A LU NATIC OR SOM ETH I NG.
PAI NT A PICTU RE!
OH , AN D, U H , DON'T FORGET MY SU ITCASE.
RIGHT. YOU R SU ITCASE.
Mencken: YOU'VE GOT TALENT, SON...
AS MUCH AS I'VE EVER SEEN IN SOMEONE YOUR AGE.
YOU CAN USE IT FOR GOOD, TOO.
M R. DARROW. [ BRAKES SQU EAK ]
M R. AN DERSON .
I N EED YOU R H ELP.
WELL, I'M A LAWYER.
J UST ON E?
YES, SI R, FOR MY N EPH EW. CHARLI E! CHARLI E!
I , U H , I H EARD YOU'RE LEAVI NG TOWN .
I GOT SOM ETH I NG FOR YOU .
[ CROWD GASPS ]
AT LEAST M ENCKEN WRITES TH E TH I NGS H E DOES...
ABOUT PEOPLE H E HATES.
WHAT'S YOU R EXCUSE, CHARLI E?
Man: THAT WAS A GOOD ONE, RAPP. GOT HIS COMEUPPANCE.
NAM E?
CHARLES B. AN DERSON .
WHO ARE YOU WRITI NG FOR?
YOU SOU N D LI KE MY FATH ER.
BALTI MORE SU N .
[ TYPEWRITER CLACKI NG ]
[ TRAI N WH ISTLE BLOWS ]
ALL ABOARD!
H M M .
OH . YOU SU RE CAN WRITE, KI D.
H M M .
[ BELL CLANGI NG ]
YOU REALLY THOUGHT BRYAN WON THAT CROSS-EXAM I NATION?
WE DON'T N EED A FU N DAM ENTALIST AT THE SUN, CHARLES.
[ CH UCKLES ]
OF COU RSE, AT TH E N EXT STATION ...
I'LL KI LL THAT PISSANT STORY WITH ON E LITTLE PHON E CALL.
GO AH EAD.
YOU REALLY ARE LI KE YOU R FATH ER, KI D.
H EY!
GOOD LUCK AT TH E BOTTOM OF TH E FOOD CHAI N !
[ CH UCKLES ]
I J UST WANTED TO GET YOU HOM E.
[ SN I FFLES ]
YOU TOLD M E THAT TH E OPERATION WOU LDN'T BE U NTI L TOMORROW.
Abby: [ GROANS ]
PhiI: DON'T YOU KNOW?
ABOUT WHAT?
THE INJUNCTION.
M R. CHARLES?
ABIGAIL WAS ALREADY UNDER ANESTHETIC...
BUT WITH TH IS ORDER, WE HAD TO STOP TH E OPERATION .
SO SH E'S...
WE N EVER TOUCH ED H ER.
WHO AUTHORIZED TH E ORDER?
TH E J U DGE, OF COU RSE.
AN D ABIGAI L'S ATTORN EY... M R. CLARENCE DARROW.
[ CRICKETS CH I RPI NG ]
Bryan: JUDGE. WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT TONIGHT?
COLON EL.
YOU HAVE BEEN A GENTLEMAN TH ROUGHOUT TH IS TRIAL.
THAN K YOU .
SO IT PAI NS M E TO TELL YOU I HAVE DECI DED NOT TO PERM IT...
A CROSS-EXAM I NATION OF M R. DARROW TOMORROW.
AFTER WHAT HAPPEN ED TODAY?
AFTER TWO HOU RS OF QU ESTIONS DESIGN ED TO TRAP AN D M ISLEAD?
TELL M E, DO YOU TH I N K CLARENCE DARROW KNOWS...
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ON TH IS EARTH 3,000 YEARS AGO?
DO YOU TH I N K H E EVER STU DI ED LI NGU ISTICS...
BIOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY?
I SUSPECT NOT.
TH E GOVERNOR OF TEN N ESSEE HAS ASKED M E TO PUT A QU ICK EN D...
TO TH IS TRIAL, COLON EL.
THE STATE BAR HAS ASKED FOR THE SAME.
WE CH RISTIANS ARE LOSI NG VERY BADLY I N TH E BIG N EWSPAPERS --
TH E N EWS, TH E EDITORIALS, TH E CARTOONS...
EVERY DAY IT SEEMS TO GET WORSE.
I'M SORRY, COLONEL.
I'M TRU LY SORRY.
[ I N DISTI NCT CONVERSATIONS ]
YOU READY?
ARE YOU?
M R. DARROW, I J UST WANTED TO SAY THAN K YOU AGAI N ...
FOR YESTERDAY.
U M , I FORGOT TO GIVE TH IS TO YOU .
IT'S M ENCKEN'S ARTICLE ABOUT TODAY'S CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS.
[ CH UCKLES ]
I WAS TOLD TO TELL YOU THAT "TH E PROPH ET HAS SPOKEN"
BUT I TH I N K AS WE ALL KNOW...
THAT, U H , WELL, IT'S J UST A PACK OF LI ES, ISN'T IT?
GOT TO GO FI N D SOM EON E.
RauIston: OWING TO A MISSTEP ON MY PART YESTERDAY...
I HAVE ALLOWED TH E TRIAL TO GET A BIT OFF-COU RSE.
TH ERE WI LL BE NO MORE CROSS-EXAM I NATIONS
OF TH E ATTORN EYS.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
FOR TH IS I APOLOGIZE, ESPECIALLY TO COLON EL BRYAN
WHO WAS NOT, OF COURSE, PERMITTED TO PUT QUESTIONS...
TO COLON EL DARROW.
BUT THAT BRI NGS US TH IS MORN I NG TO TH E POI NT I N TH E TRIAL...
THAT I'M SU RE HAS BEEN EAGERLY AWAITED BY YOU ALL.
COLON EL BRYAN , ARE YOU READY?
[ CLEARS TH ROAT ]
YES, WE ARE, YOU R HONOR.
COLON EL DARROW?
Darrow: ALTHOUGH I RESPECT THE COURT'S DECISION...
NOT TO PERM IT ANY FU RTH ER DEBATE...
BETWEEN TH E ATTORN EYS...
I ...I M UST ADM IT...
THAT I WAS LOOKI NG FORWARD TO MORE OF TH E SAM E TODAY.
[ CH UCKLES ]
Mencken: CLOSING ARGUMENTS AT THE SCOPES TRIAL TODAY...
ENDED FUNDAMENTALISM'S THROTTLEHOLD...
OVER AMERICA'S BETTER JUDGMENT.
FROM THE HILLS OF MONKEYVILLE, WE CAN SEE A FUTURE...
WHERE INDEED IT IS THE FITTEST WHO SURVIVE...
WHERE WE CAN CALL A SPADE A SPADE...
A MORON A MORON...
AND THE TYPICAL MAN OF GOD A MENACE TO THE BODY POLITIC.
WE CAN NOW ALL SAFELY FORGET...
THE OVERRATED ORATORY OF WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
FROM NOW ON, WHAT WILL BE QUOTED BY REPORTERS...
AND ECHOED IN OUR CLASSROOMS FOR DECADES TO COME...
WILL BE TODAY'S CLOSING ARGUMENT...
BY THE GREAT AND COURAGEOUS CLARENCE DARROW.
RauIston: COLONEL DARROW?
COLON EL DARROW?
WELL, FRAN KLY, YOU R HONOR...
I TH I N K IT BEST TO I NSTRUCT TH E J U RY...
TO FI N D PROFESSOR SCOPES GU I LTY AS CHARGED.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
M R. DARROW!
YOU WANT TO SKI P TH E CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS?
YES, SI R.
IT'S A WASTE OF TI M E.
WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON OUR EFFORTS ON THE APPEAL.
GETTI NG A GU I LTY VERDICT IS TH E ON LY WAY TO GO.
SO WHY MAKE SPEECH ES?
ANY OBJ ECTIONS, GEN ERAL STEWART?
YOU R HONOR, MAY WE HAVE A MOM ENT?
NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT H E'S DOI NG, RIGHT?
YOU CAN'T MAKE YOU R CLOSI NG ARGU M ENT I F H E DOESN'T MAKE H IS.
IT'S AN OUTRAGE. IT'S COWARDICE.
AN D TH E PRESS WI LL IGNORE IT.
Man: SWORD OF THE LORD AND GIDEON, MR. BRYAN!
[ CLEARS TH ROAT ]
YOU R HONOR, I F, U H , COLON EL DARROW...
WISH ES TO DISPENSE WITH CLOSI NG ARGU M ENTS...
TH EN , U M ... THAT'S H IS PREROGATIVE.
WELL, LET'S GO TO TH E J U RY, TH EN .
I N TH E MATTER OF TH E STATE OF TEN N ESSEE vs. JOH N SCOPES...
TH E DEFEN DANT, JOH N T. SCOPES, IS GU I LTY AS CHARGED.
[ SPECTATORS M U RM U RI NG ]
M I N I M U M FI N E, GEN ERAL?
YES, SI R.
$1 00, TH EN .
AN D, U H , I HAVE H ERE A TELEGRAM ...
I N DICATI NG THAT M R. M ENCKEN OF TH E BALTI MORE SU N ...
IS PLEASED TO HAVE ALREADY PAI D TH E FI N E.
COU RT IS ADJOU RN ED.
SI N E DI E.
M R. BRYAN .
H U H . CONGRATU LATIONS.
YOU'RE GU I LTY.
[ I N DISTI NCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Abby: ROSI E!
H EY.
MY ROSI E.
H EY, SALLY. [ CH UCKLES ]
CharIes: MARCO.
POLO.
MARCO.
POLO.
MARCO.
TH E STENOGRAPH ER SHOWED M E YOU R ARTICLE.
IT WAS GOOD.
TH IS WAS, U H , I N M ENCKEN'S SU ITCASE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW H E GOT IT OR WHY...
BUT I F YOU ASK M E, TH IS GUY CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
I LOVE YOU , ROSE ELIZABETH WI LLIAMS.
YOU CAN QUOTE M E ON THAT.
SaIIy: FROM M R. M ENCKEN?
THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
Rose: IT WAS YOU .
YES.
CHARLI E!
H EY.
PSST!
[ CH UCKLES ]
I-IT'S BEAUTI FU L, ROSE.
THAN K YOU .
TH E FERGUSONS DISCOVERED THAT TH EY WERE RELATED...
TO TH E FAM I LY THAT BOARDED AT TH EI R HOM E.
I M EAN , THAT'S WORTH A STORY.
WI LLIAM J EN N I NGS BRYAN DI ES I N H IS SLEEP...
J UST SEVEN DAYS AGO, RIGHT H ERE I N DAYTON .
M ENCKEN BRAGS TO TH E PRESS THAT H E SHOU LD GET TH E CREDIT...
AN D YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT TH E FERGUSONS.
[ CH UCKLES ]
[ TRAI N WH ISTLE BLOWS ]
TH E 1 0:00 IS ARRIVI NG.
YOU WANT TO GO?
WE COU LD WALK TH E TRAI N .
YOU'VE DON E IT A THOUSAN D TI M ES, BUT N EVER WITH M E.
[ CH UCKLES ]
WELL, OKAY.
[ I N DISTI NCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THAN KS.
EXCUSE M E.
- MAY I? - NO!
[ CH UCKLES ]
WELL...THAT'S IT, ROSE.
SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN M ISSI NG?
WELL, WHAT ABOUT TH E LAST CAR?
I LOVE YOU , CHARLES B. AN DERSON .
COM E ON .
WHAT ARE YOU DOI NG?
COM E H ERE.
I GOT A SU RPRISE.
DON'T YOU PLAY WITH M E, NOW.
COM E ON .
Woman: OH, THERE THEY ARE!
PRIZE MON EY.
I HAVE TO ADM IT, TH E WASH I NGTON POST...
IS A BETTER PAPER THAN TH E H ERALD...
ESPECIALLY FOR TWO PRIZE-WI N N I NG JOU RNALISTS.
YOUR NEW JOBS ARE WAITING, THANKS TO ROSE.
Man: ALL ABOARD!
M M-H M M .
U H , YEAH . WE'VE ON LY GOT A M I N UTE.
DO YOU , CHARLES B. AN DERSON ,
TAKE TH IS WOMAN TO BE YOU R LAWFU LLY WEDDED WI FE?
I DO.
A-AND DO YOU, ROSE ELIZABETH WILLIAMS,
TAKE THIS MAN TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND?!
I DO.
BY TH E POWER VESTED I N M E BY TH E GREAT STATE OF TEN N ESSEE...
I NOW PRONOU NCE YOU MAN AN D WI FE!
YOU MAY KISS TH E BRI DE!
H EY, CHARLI E.
B-BYE! BYE! CHARLI E...
CHARLI E BOY, I DON'T WANT TO I NTERRU PT...
BUT I'M SORRY I SMACKED YOU , BOY.
I AM , AN D I'M PROU D OF YOU . RAPP.
I'M GON NA COM E VISIT YOU I N D.C.
R-RAPP! Abby: BYE, GEORGE!
CAN I HAVE TH E CAR, AT LEAST?!
RAPP, I'M ON MY HON EYMOON !
I'M GON NA M ISS YOU GUYS!
[ TRAI N WH ISTLE BLOWS ]