Inherit the Wind (1988 TV Movie)

Kirk Douglas: Matthew Harrison Brady

Quotes 

• Matthew Harrison Brady : People ask whether this trial is to be held in this little town of Hillsboro. I say that the greatest man that ever walked the face of the earth was born in a little town. That town was called Bethlehem. We don't measure greatness by the size of where we live. We measure greatness by those principles we live by. My dear friends. You know, yesterday at that marvelous picnic they gave Lucy and me they were serving watermelon. Hmmm. Delicious. I couldn't help thinking about that watermelon last night. I know. You're all looking at yourself and saying: "Watermelon? What on earth is Brady talking about?" My dear friends, I am talking about the sheer glory of God's creation. Beautiful luscious green on the outside and inside the green a layer of white, and within the white, a core of red. And scattered within that red are little black seeds. Now, each of these seeds gathers from somewhere ten thousand times its own weight to construct another glorious watermelon. Who drew the plan by which these little seeds work their wonder, huh? WHO? Until the scientists of this world can explain to me a watermelon, NEVER let them question the power of the Almighty!

• Matthew Harrison Brady : Your Honor, I wish Mr. Drummond to have all the latitude he wants. We know what he's after. He's here to condemn revealed religion. I am here to defend it. Well, let him ask any question he may wish. I am perfectly willing to sit here and protect the world of God against the greatest atheist in the United States! Let him sneer. Let him show his disrespect.

  [Turns to Drummond] 

  Matthew Harrison Brady : You're only pleading the case of the prosecution with your contempt for all that is holy.

• Matthew Harrison Brady : They laughed at me, Lucy. They laughed at me. God forbid I should fail here and now.

  Lucy Brady : I know, darling. But, after all, it is just one teacher in Hillsboro.

  Matthew Harrison Brady : One? One teacher is enough to bring this country back to where we were before. I tell you, Lucy, we've got to stop them now. Thank God there is still time. I'm drafting a closing argument that will bring the Henry Drummonds of this world to their knees. Listen, Lucy: "Religion isn't hostile to learning. But can we ever permit learning that encourages godlessness in our schools?"

  Lucy Brady : Absolutely right, darling. Absolutely right.

  Matthew Harrison Brady : God is holding my hand. I can feel the strength of the lion.

• Matthew Harrison Brady : Objection! This court can surely see through this subterfuge. Mr. Drummond, by his action, hopes to eliminate BOTH closing arguments. Surely this court will not even consider such a deception.

  Judge : Mr. Drummond?

  Henry Drummond : We claim the defendant not guilty. But since the court has excluded all testimony of scientific experts, we wish for a verdict from this jury now so that we can carry the matter to a higher court.

  Matthew Harrison Brady : I thought I knew every scheming lawyer's trick in the book. But this. From you.

  [Brady stops Drummond from filing papers into his briefcase] 

  Matthew Harrison Brady : Look at me! Henry, the magnitude of this offense demands that we move and muster every ounce of eloquence and conviction in our closing and then let the jury decide.

  Henry Drummond : [quietly]  The jury's already decided everything, Matt.

• Matthew Harrison Brady : Tonight, in this godly Christian town, there is a young man who has turned his back upon God. Shall we call Hellfire down upon this man?

  Crowd : Yes!

  Matthew Harrison Brady : For all eternity to let his soul writhe in anguish and damnation?

  Crowd : Yes!

  Matthew Harrison Brady : Cursed, even though he be thine own brother?

  Crowd : Yes!

  Matthew Harrison Brady : [Raises his hands to silence the crowd]  No.

  [Lowers his hands] 

  Matthew Harrison Brady : No, my friends. We must never destroy that which we hope to save. Remember the wisdom of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." Forgive. Forgive this young man. Let the sweet love of our Savior enter his heart tonight and turn away those demons that would destroy him. We love you, Betram Cates, we love you! We love you! Glory be to God, we love you!

• Lucy Brady : [Reading from the Bible]  "For whoever shall save his life, shall lose it. But whosoever will lose his life for my sake will shall save it. For what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world and lose himself or be cast away."

  Matthew Harrison Brady : Amen. Oh, yes, yes. I could feel it, Lucy. I could just feel the Holy Spirit in that courtroom today. It was all around me. Guiding me. And judgment will be brought against that young man.

  Lucy Brady : Don't be too severe in your judgment, Matt.

  Matthew Harrison Brady : Not mine, not the court's, not the jury's.

  [Points heavenward] 

  Matthew Harrison Brady : God's own judgment will be brought against him.

• Lucy Brady : Were you surprised that Henry's coming here?

  Matthew Harrison Brady : [Thinks a moment]  No. Drummond likes a fight. Remember the way he fought for me in that first election?

  Lucy Brady : Yes. This time he's not on your side.

  Matthew Harrison Brady : Well, he'll do his job, and I'll try to do mine.