U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is a meaty part.

The Farmville Republican is listed fifth among the cast of characters in the draft of a play about the impeachment of President Bush. The playwrights describe him as a "softspoken, passive-aggressive Southerner."

He and Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler serve as assistant prosecutors in the fictional trial, while Rep. Barney Frank is the lead prosecutor.

In the play, the Jones character questions CIA director Michael Hayden, former counterterrorist agent Michael Scheuer and former U.S. Justice Department legal counsel John Yoo.

In the fictional dialogue, Jones asks whether Al Qaeda is a greater threat than Nazi Germany, quotes James Madison as saying "perpetual warfare" is not reconcilable with freedom and says "extraordinary rendition" sets a bad precedent internationally.

Screenwriter Richard Lasser said he based a lot of the dialogue on an hourlong meeting with Jones, but he does not quote him verbatim. He said he also wanted the play to be interesting.

"We're trying to entertain people first and foremost," he said.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is a real character.

The Farmville Republican is one of five major characters in a play about the impeachment of President Bush written by Washington lawyer Bruce Fein and Hollywood screenwriter Richard Lasser.

The two said they met with Jones and Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler in September to talk about what role he might play in an actual impeachment trial. They also wanted to make the play, called "I," as realistic as possible.

"I wanted to get an idea of his cadence," Lasser said. "I wanted to get an idea of his comportment, of his belief system, and what kinds of questions he would pose to witnesses. A lot of the questions that we put in his mouth are ones he said he would like to ask if he had the opportunity."

Lasser said Jones told him he would not introduce an impeachment resolution, but he would support one if it was introduced. He also wrote about the meeting on his blog about the play.