Papa Johnson and the lawyer Philpotts have just returned to their cell in the county jail after being questioned by a board of the committee at the bank. Johnson is hopping mad, as Philpotts called him a 'nincompoop' in front of the whole committee. He knows it wasn't a compliment, but Philpotts is trying to convince him that a 'nincompoop' is someone with high integrity, high intelligence and who stands head and shoulders above the crowd.