In the Scopes trial, Bryan agreed to take the witness stand because he thought he would have the opportunity to interrogate the defense afterward. In the play, Brady takes the witness stand to defend his fundamentalist position.
Darrow requested that Scopes be found guilty so that he could then appeal to a higher court to test the constitutionality of the Butler Law. By requesting the guilty verdict, he also avoided being cross-examined by Bryan and closing arguments. In the play, Drummond does not request a guilty verdict.
Bryan died in his sleep five days after the trial. Upon hearing of his death, Darrow commented that he "died of a busted belly." In Inherit the Wind, Brady collapses and dies as he tries to give his closing argument, and Darrow's famous words go to Hornbeck, who says that Brady "died of a busted belly."
The ACLU paid for all Scopes' expenses relating to the trial, and his teaching position was still open to him (he opted to attend graduate school instead, however). Cates, on the other hand, loses his job.
