Act 2, Scene 2 Summary

The scene opens in the courtroom two days later. The weather is still hot, and Howard is on the witness stand looking "wretched in a starched collar and Sunday suit." Brady questions Howard about what Cates taught, and Howard relates some of the basics of evolution. He starts with the idea that life evolved from cells over several million years. He goes on to say how humans evolved from monkeys. Brady ridicules the idea of "Evil-ution," and then asks if Cates ever taught the story of creation from the book of Genesis.

When Howard says that Cates did not, Brady looks as though he is preparing for a speech. Drummond objects, but without waiting for an answer from the judge, Brady goes into his speech. He begins by summarizing Howard's testimony, and argues that Howard has been confused by Cates's teachings...