As Inherit the Wind opens, Bert Cates, having been arrested for teaching evolution to his sophomore science class, is in jail. Rachel Brown, his girlfriend and the daughter of Reverend Brown (the spiritual leader of Hillsboro) visits him. Rachel is confused and torn between the opposing beliefs held by Cates (academic freedom) and her father (fundamentalism) and her love for both of them. Desperately wanting to avoid the mounting controversy over his case, she pleads with Cates to admit he was wrong to teach evolution, and she is disappointed that Cates refuses.
Cates is nervous and frightened because he has learned that Matthew Harrison Brady, three-time presidential candidate, fundamentalist, and leader of the crusade against evolution, has volunteered to be the prosecuting attorney. He reveals to the bailiff, Mr. Meeker, that he has sent a letter to the Baltimore Herald asking for an attorney to defend him.
To celebrate Brady's arrival, the townspeople of Hillsboro carry posters, hang banners, provide a picnic lunch "fitt'n fer a king," and parade through the town singing "Gimme that old-time religion." Brady basks in the adoration of his followers and vows to defend the people of Hillsboro against "Evil-ution." E.K. Hornbeck, cynical columnist for the Baltimore Herald, also arrives in Hillsboro. He openly mocks Brady and is contemptuous of the bigotry and ignorance he observes in Hillsboro. He informs Brady's followers that Henry Drummond, an attorney famous for successfully defending underdogs, has been sent by the Baltimore Herald to defend Cates. Drummond arrives in Hillsboro later that evening. Upon his arrival, the only attention he receives is from Melinda, a young girl who screams that he's the devil.
