The+Crucible+Act+Three

ACT III

The vestry room of the Meeting House where an examination is going on as curtain rises. HATHORNE: Now, Martha Corey, there is abundant evidence in our hands to show that you have given yourself to the reading of fortunes. Do you deny it?

MARTHA: I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is.

HATHORNE: How do you know then that you are not a witch?

MARTHA: If I were I would know it.

HATHORNE: Why do you hurt these children?

MARTHA: I do not hurt them. I scorn it!

COREY: I have evidence for the court!

DANFORTH: You will keep your seat!

COREY: Thomas Putnam is reachin’ out for land!

DANFORTH: Remove that man, Marshal!

COREY: You’re hearing lies, lies!

HATHORNE: Arrest him, Excellency!

COREY: I have evidence, why will you not hear my evidence! They’ll be hangin’ my wife-

HATHORNE: How do you dare come roarin’ into this court! Are you gone daft, Corey?

COREY: You’re not a Boston judge yet, Hathorne. You’ll not call me daft!

DANFORTH: Who is this man?

PARRIS: Giles Corey, sir, and a more contentious…

COREY: I am asked the question and I am old enough to answer it! My name is Corey, sir, Giles Corey. I have six hundred acres, and timber in addition. It is my wife you be condemning now.

DANFORTH: And how do you imagine to help her cause with such contemptuous riot? Now begone, your old age alone keeps you out of jail for this.

COREY: They’re tellin’ lies about my wife, sir, I …

DANFORTH: Then you take it upon yourself to decide what this court shall believe and what it shall set aside?

COREY: Your Excellency, we mean no disrespect for…

DANFORTH: Disrespect, indeed!-It is disruption, Mister. This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province, do you know it?

COREY: Your Excellency, I only said she were readin’ books, sir, and they come and take her out of my house for…

DANFORTH: What books, what…?

COREY: It is my third wife, sir, and I never had no wife that be so taken with books, d’y’understand, sir, and I thought to find the cause of it, d’y’see, but it were no witch I blamed her for…I have broke charity with her.

HALE: Excellency, he claims hard evidence for his wife’s defense. I think that in all justice you must …

DANFORTH: Then let him submit his evidence in proper affidavit. You are certainly aware of our procedure here, Mr. Hale. Clear this room.

WILLARD: Come now, Giles.

NURSE: We are desperate, sir; we come here three days now and cannot be heard.

DANFORTH: Who is this man?

NURSE: Francis Nurse, your Excellency.

HALE: His wife’s Rebecca that were condemned this morning.

NURSE: Excellency, we have proof of it, sir. They are all deceiving you.

HATHORNE: This is contempt, sir, contempt!

DANFORTH: Peace, Judge Hathorne. Do you know who I am, Mister Nurse?

NURSE: I surely do, sir, and I think you must be a wise judge to be what you are.

DANFORTH: (Deliberately.) And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?

NURSE: I…

DANFORTH: And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?

NURSE: (With deference but emphasis.) Excellency, I never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are deceived. (All turn to see Mary Warren ENTER. with Proctor and Corey. Mary is keeping her eyes to the ground, Proctor has her elbow as though she were breakable.)

PARRIS: (In shock.) Mary Warren! What, what are you about here?

PROCTOR: She would speak with the Deputy-Governor.

COREY: She has been strivin’ with her soul all week, Your Honor; she comes now to tell the truth to you.

DANFORTH: Who is this?

PROCTOR: (Unafraid.) John Proctor, sir. Elizabeth Proctor is my wife.

PARRIS: Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.

HALE: (With great urgency.) I think you must hear the girl, sir, she…

DANFORTH: (He has become very interested in Mary Warren and only raises a hand toward Hale.) Peace. What would you tell us, Mary Warren?

PROCTOR: (He and Mary Warren step forward.) She never saw no spirits, sir.

DANFORTH: (With great alarm and surprise, to Mary.) Never saw no spirits?!

COREY: (Eagerly.) Never.

PROCTOR: (Has three papers in his hand.) She has signed a deposition, sir….

DANFORTH: No, no, I accept no deposition. Tell me, Mister Proctor, have you given out this story in the village?

PROCTOR: We have not.

PARRIS: They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir! This man is…

DANFORTH: I pray you, Mister Parris. Do you know, Mister Proctor, that the entire contention of the State in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?

PROCTOR: I know that, sir.

DANFORTH: And you, Mary Warren… how came you to cry out people for sending their spirits against you?

MARY: (Between Corey and Proctor.) It were pretense, sir.

DANFORTH: (With great unbelief.) Ah? And the other girls? Susanna Wallcott, and… the others? They are also pretending?

MARY: Aye, sir.

DANFORTH: Indeed. Now, Mister Proctor, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment. Are you certain in your conscience, Mister, that your evidence is the truth?

PROCTOR: It is. And you will surely know it.

DANFORTH: I take it you came here to declare this revelation in the open court before the public?

PROCTOR: I thought I would, aye… with your permission.

DANFORTH: Now, sir—what is your purpose in so doing?

PROCTOR: Why, I… I would free my wife, sir…

DANFORTH: There lurks nowhere in your heart, nor hidden in your spirit, any desire to undermine this court?

PROCTOR: Why, no, sir.

DANFORTH: (With an implied threat.) I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits, I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?

PROCTOR: It is the children only, and this one will swear she lied to you.

DANFORTH: Judge Hathorne! (Danforth leans across table, to Hathorne, whispers to him. Hathorne nods.)

HATHORNE: Aye, she’s the one.

DANFORTH: Mister Proctor… this morning, your wife sent me a claim in which she states that she is pregnant now.

PROCTOR: My wife pregnant!

DANFORTH: There be no sign of it—we have examined her body.

PROCTOR: But if she says she is pregnant, then she must be! That woman will never lie, Mister Danforth.

DANFORTH: She will not?

PROCTOR: Never, sir, never.

DANFORTH: Mister Proctor, if I should tell you now that I will let her be kept another month; and if she begin to show her natural signs, you shall have her living yet another year until she is delivered—(Looks at Proctor.) what say you to that? (Proctor is struck silent.) Come now. You say your only purpose is to save your wife. Good then, she is saved at least this year, and a year is long. What say you, sir? (Claps hands.) It is done now. Will you drop this charge? (Proctor thinks, looks at Corey.)

PROCTOR: I… I think I cannot.

DANFORTH: Then your purpose is somewhat larger?

PARRIS: (Triumphantly.) He’s come to overthrow this court, Your Honor!

PROCTOR: (Sincerely.) These are my friends. Their wives are also…

DANFORTH: (A sudden change of manner.) I judge you not, sir. Sit down. I am ready to hear your evidence. (Nurse crosses to Corey, talks to him.)

PROCTOR: (Crossing, puts Mary on stool.) I come not to hurt the court, I only… (Proctor crosses, talks with Corey and Nurse.)

DANFORTH: Marshal, go into the Court and bid Judge Stroughton and Judge Sewall declare recess for one hour. And let them go to the tavern, if they will. All witnesses and prisoners are to be kept in the building. (Danforth crosses up above table to chair. Parris pulls chair out. Danforth sits, puts on glasses.) Now what deposition do you have for us, Mister Proctor? And I beg you be clear, open as the sky, and honest.

PROCTOR: (Handing Danforth paper.) Will you read this first, sir? It’s a sort of testament. The people signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca and my wife, and Martha Corey. (Danforth looks at paper.) These are all covenant people, landholding farmers, members of the church. (Delicately, trying to point out a paragraph.) If you’ll notice, sir—they’ve known the women many years and never saw no signs they had dealings with the Devil.

DANFORTH: (Glancing at long list.) How many names are here?

NURSE: Ninety-one, Your Excellency.

PARRIS: These people should be summoned for questioning.

NURSE: (Alarmed.) Mister Danforth, I gave them all my word no harm would come to them for signing this.

PARRIS: This is a clear attack upon the court!

HALE: (To Parris. Trying to contain himself.) Is every defense an attack upon the court?

DANFORTH: (Hands Cheever the paper.) Mister Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these—arrest for examination. (Cheever exits. To Proctor.) Now, Mister, what other information do you have for us? (Nurse is still standing, horrified.) You may sit, Mister Nurse.

NURSE: I have brought trouble on these people, I have….

DANFORTH: No, old man, you have not hurt these people if they are of good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it; there be no road between. (Mary suddenly sobs.) She’s not hearty, I see.

PROCTOR: No, she’s not, sir. (To Mary, bending to her, holding her shoulders, quiet and kindly.) Now remember what the angel Raphael said to the boy Tobias. Remember it.

MARY: (Hardly audible.) Aye.

PROCTOR: “Do that which is good and no harm shall come to thee.”

DANFORTH: Come, man, we wait you.

COREY: John, my deposition, give him mine.

PROCTOR: Aye. (Cheever enters. Proctor hands Danforth another paper.) This is Mister Corey’s disposition. (Crosses back to above Mary, pats her shoulders, then drops hands.)

DANFORTH: Oh? (He looks down at it.)

HATHORNE: (Suspiciously.) What lawyer drew this, Corey?

COREY: You know I never hired no lawyer in my life, Hathorne.

DANFORTH: (Finishing the reading of it.) It is very well-phrased. My compliments. Mister Parris, if Mr. Putnam is in the court, bring him in. (Parris exits D.R.) You have no legal training, Mister Corey?

COREY: I have the best, sir—I am thirty-three time in court in my life. And always plaintiff, too

DANFORTH: (Lightly.) Oh, then you’re much put-upon.

COREY: I am never put-upon; I know my rights, sir, and I will have them. (Putnam enters.) Aye, there he is!

DANFORTH: Mr. Putnam, I have here an accusation by Mr. Corey against you. He states that you coldly prompted your daughter to cry witchery upon George Jacobs that is now in jail.

PUTNAM: It is a lie!

DANFORTH: What proof do you submit for your charge, sir?

COREY: My proof is there! (The paper.) If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property—that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!

DANFORTH: But proof, sir, proof….

COREY: (Emphatically.) The proof is there!—I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.

HATHORNE: And the name of this man?

COREY: (Quietly.) I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.

DANFORTH: (Rather regretfully.) In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that?

COREY: This is a hearing; you cannot clap me for contempt of a hearing.

DANFORTH: Oh, it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here?—or will you give me good reply?

COREY: I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot….

DANFORTH: You are a foolish old man. Mr. Cheever, (Cheever crosses to stool above table. Sits, opens writing box, prepares to write. Puts on glasses.) begin the record. The court is now is session. I ask you, Mister Corey…

PROCTOR: Your Honor… he has the story in confidence, sir, and he…

PARRIS: The Devil lives on such confidences! (To Danforth.) Without confidences there could be no conspiracy, Your Honor!

HATHORNE: I think it must be broken, sir.

DANFORTH: (To Corey, in friendly tone, but a little impatient.) Old man, if your informant tells the truth let him come here openly like a decent man. But if he hides in anonymity I must know why. Now, sir, the government and central church demand of you the name of him who reported Mister Thomas Putnam a common murderer.

HALE: Excellency…

DANFORTH: Mister Hale.

HALE: (Regretfully.) We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country…. (Corey nods slightly in agreement.)

DANFORTH: (He is angered now.) Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!

HALE: But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it.

DANFORTH: No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mister Hale! (Directly at Proctor.) None! Mr. Corey, you are under arrest in contempt of this court. Now sit you down and take counsel with yourself, or you will be set in the jail until you decide to answer all questions.

(Corey goes for Putnam.)

PROCTOR: No, Giles!

COREY: I’ll cut your throat, Putnam! I’ll kill you yet.

PROCTOR: (Put Giles on bench L.) Peace, Giles, peace! We’ll prove ourselves, now we will.

COREY: Say nothin’ more, John. He’s only playing you. He means to hang us all.

DANFORTH: This is a court of law, Mister. I’ll have no effrontery here.

PROCTOR: Forgive him, sir, for his old age. Peace, Giles, we’ll prove it all now. (Putnam exits D.R.) (Crossing U.L. of Mary, puts hands on her arms.) You cannot weep, Mary. Remember the angel what he say to the boy. Hold to it, now; there is your rock. (Mary quiets. He takes out a paper and turns to Danforth.) This is Mary Warren’s deposition. I… I would ask you remember, sir, while you read it, that until two week ago she were no different than the other children are today. (He is speaking reasonably, restraining all his fears, his anger, his anxiety, like a young lawyer.) You saw her scream, she howled, she swore familiar spirits choked her; she even testified that Satan, in the form of women now in jail, tried to win her soul away, and then when she refused…

DANFORTH: We know all this.

PROCTOR: Ay, sir. She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her. And she declares her friends are lying now.

DANFORTH: Her deposition, Mister Proctor. (Proctor hands it to him. Hathorne goes to L. of Danforth and starts reading. Parris comes to his side.)

PARRIS: (Timidly.) I should like to question…

DANFORTH: (His first real outburst, in which his contempt for Parris is clear.) Mister Parris, I bid you be silent! Sit you down, Mr. Proctor. You sit there. (To Mary, indicating bench D.S. of table. Proctor takes Mary to bench, returns and sits L. of table.) Mister Cheever, will you go into the court and bring the children here. (Cheever gets up, goes out D.R. Danforth now turns to Mary.) Mary Warren, how came you to this turnabout? Has Mister Proctor threatened you for this deposition?

MARY: No, sir.

DANFORTH: Has he ever threatened you?

MARY: No, sir.

DANFORTH: Then you tell me that you sat in my court, callously lying when you knew that people would hang by your evidence? Answer me!

MARY: (Almost inaudibly.) I did, sir.

DANFORTH: How were you instructed in your life?—Do you not know that God damns all liars? Or is it now that you lie?

MARY: No, sir—I am with God now.

DANFORTH: You are with God now.

MARY: Aye, sir.

DANFORTH: I will tell you this—you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it. You cannot lightly say you lied, Mary. Do you know that?

MARY: I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God…. (But she breaks into sobs at the thought of it. ENTER Cheever, Susanna Wallcott, Mercy Lewis, and finally Abigail D.R.)

DANFORTH: Sit you down, children. (Silently they sit.) Your friend Mary Warren has given us a deposition. In which she swears that she never saw familiar spirits, apparitions, nor any manifest of the Devil. She claims as well, that none of you have seen these things either. Now, children, this is a court of law. The law, based upon the Bible, and the Bible writ by Almighty God, forbid the practice of witchcraft, and describe death as the penalty thereof. But, likewise, children, the law and Bible damn all liars, and bearers of false witness. Now then… it does not escape me that this deposition may be devised to blind us; (To Hathorne.) it may well be that Mary Warren has been conquered by Satan who sends her here to distract our sacred purpose. If so, her neck will break for it. But if she speaks true, I bid you now drop your guile and confess your pretense, for a quick confession will go easier with you. Abigail Williams, rise. (Abigail rises slowly.) Is there any truth in this?

ABIGAIL: (A contemptuous look at Mary.) No, sir.

DANFORTH: Children, a very auger bit will now be turned into your souls until your honesty is proved. Will either of you change your positions now, or do you force me to hard questioning?

ABIGAIL: I have naught to change, sir. She lies.

DANFORTH: (To Mary.) You would still go on with this?

MARY: (Faintly.) Aye, sir.

DANFORTH: (To Abigail.) A poppet were discovered in Mister Proctor’s house, stabbed by a needle. Mary Warren claims that you sat beside her in the court when she made it, and that you saw her make it, and witnessed how she herself stuck her needle into it for safe-keeping. What say you to that?

ABIGAIL: (A slight note of indignation.) It is a lie, sir. (Mary looks at Abigail, then back.)

DANFORTH: While you worked for Mister Proctor, did you see poppets in that house?

ABIGAIL: Goody Proctor always kept poppets.

PROCTOR: (Quietly.) Your Honor, my wife never kept no poppets. Mary Warren confesses it was her poppet.

CHEEVER: Your Excellency.

DANFORTH: Mister Cheever.

CHEEVER: When I spoke with Goody Proctor in that house, she said she never kept no poppets. But she said she did keep poppets when she were a girl.

PROCTOR: She has not been a girl these fifteen years, your Honor.

HATHORNE: But a poppet will keep fifteen years, will it not?

PROCTOR: It will keep if it is kept, but Mary Warren swears she never saw no poppets in my house, nor anywhere else. Mister Danforth, what profit Mary Warren to turn herself about? What may she gain but hard questioning and worse?

DANFORTH: (With astonishment.) You are charging Abigail Williams with a marvelous cool plot to murder, do you understand that?

PROCTOR: I do, sir. I believe she means to murder.

DANFORTH: (Incredulously.) This child would murder your wife?

PROCTOR: It is not a child, sir. Now hear me, sir. In the sight of the congregation she were twice this year put out of this meetin’ house for laughter during prayer. (Abigail bows head.)

DANFORTH: (Shocked, he turns to Abigail.) What’s this? Laughter during…!

PARRIS: I… do believe it happened once—she is sometimes silly, but she is solemn now.

COREY: Ay, now she is solemn and goes to hang people!

DANFORTH: Quiet, man….

HATHORNE: Surely it have no bearing on the question, sir. He charges contemplation of murder.

DANFORTH: Aye…. (Studying Abigail.) But it strikes hard upon me that she will laugh at prayer. Continue, Mister Proctor.

PROCTOR: Mary.—Now tell the Governor how you danced in the woods.

DANFORTH: (To Mary. Shocked.) What is this dancing?

MARY: I… (She glances at Abigail who is staring down at her remorselessly.) Mister Proctor…

PROCTOR: Abigail lead the girls to the woods, your Honor, and they have danced there naked…. (Hale crosses slowly, looks at Abigail and the girls.)

PARRIS: Your Honor, this…

PROCTOR: Mister Parris discovered them there in the dead of night!—there’s the “child” she is!

DANFORTH: Mister Parris…

PARRIS: I can only say, sir, that I never found any of them—naked, and this man is…

DANFORTH: You discovered them dancing in the woods? (Eyes on Parris, he points at Abigail.) Abigail?

HALE: Excellency, when I first arrived from Beverly, Mister Parris told me that.

DANFORTH: Do you deny it, Mister Parris?

PARRIS: I do not, sir, but I never saw any of them naked.

DANFORTH: But she have danced?

PARRIS: (Unwillingly.) Aye, sir.

HATHORNE: Excellency, will you permit me? (Points at Mary.)

DANFORTH: Pray, proceed.

HATHORNE: You say you never saw no spirits, Mary, were never threatened or afflicted by any manifest of the Devil or the Devil’s agents?

MARY: (Very faintly.) No, sir.

HATHORNE: And yet, when people accused of witchery confronted you in court, you would faint, saying their spirits came out of their bodies and choked you….

MARY: That were pretense, sir.

HATHORNE: Then can you pretend to faint now?

MARY: Now?

PARRIS: Why not? Now there are no spirits attacking you, for none in this room is accused of witchcraft. So let you turn yourself cold now, let you pretend you are attacked now, let you faint. Faint!

MARY: Faint?

PARRIS: Aye, faint! Prove to us how you pretended in the court so many times.

MARY: (Looks to Proctor.) I… cannot faint now, sir.

PROCTOR: (Alarmed. Quietly.) Can you not pretend it?

MARY: I… I have no sense of it now, I…

DANFORTH: Might it be that here we have no afflicting spirit loose, but in the court there were some?

MARY: (Desperately.) I never saw no spirits.

PARRIS: Your Excellency, this is a trick to blind the court.

MARY: It’s not a trick! I… I used to faint because… I… I thought I saw spirits.

DANFORTH: Thought you saw them!

MARY: But I did not, your Honor.

HATHORNE: How could you think you saw them unless you saw them?

MARY: I… I cannot tell you how, but I did. I… I heard the other girls screaming, and you, your Honor, you seemed to believe them and I… It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I… I promise you, Mister Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not.

PARRIS: Surely your Excellency is not taken by this simple lie.

DANFORTH: (A threat.) Abigail Williams! (She holds her chin up.) I bid you now search your heart, and tell me this—and beware of it, child, to God every soul is precious and His vengeance is terrible on them that take life without cause. Is it possible, child, that the spirits you have seen are illusion only, some deception that may cross your mind when…

ABIGAIL: (A step to him. Unafraid.) I have been hurt, Mister Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people—and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a…

DANFORTH: (He weakens.) Child, I do not mistrust you….

ABIGAIL: (NOW it pours. She does not wait for his speech.) Let you beware, Mister Danforth—think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?!—beware of it! (She shivers and looks at Mary, then folds her arms around her.)—there is…

DANFORTH: (Apprehensively.) What is it, child?

ABIGAIL: (Backing away to bench and sits. Clasping her arms about her as though cold.) I… I know not. A wind, a cold wind has come. (Her eyes fall on Mary.)

MARY: (Terrified, pleading.) Abby!

MERCY: Your Honor, I freeze!

PROCTOR: They’re pretending!

HATHORNE: (Touching Abigail’s hand.) She is cold, your Honor, touch her!

MERCY: (Rises. A threat.) Mary, do you send this shadow on me? (Sits slowly.)

MARY: Lord save me! (Susanna rises looking at Mary, then slowly sits.)

ABIGAIL: (She is shivering visibly.) I freeze—I freeze. (Mercy hugs her as they shiver.)

MARY: (With great fear.) Abby, don’t do that! (Proctor crosses to her, grabs her.)

DANFORTH: Mary Warren, do you witch her? I say to you, do you send your spirit out!

MARY: (Almost collapsing. Putting her in seat.) Let me go, Mister Proctor, I cannot, I cannot…

ABIGAIL: (Shouting.) “Oh, Heavenly Father, take away this shadow.”

PROCTOR: Whore! How do you dare call Heaven!

DANFORTH: Man! What do you---?

PROCTOR: It is a whore.

ABIGAIL: Mister Danforth, he’s lying!

PROCTOR: Mark her, now she’ll suck a scream to stab me with, but—

DANFORTH: You will prove this, this will not pass.

PROCTOR: I have known her, sir. I have… known her.

DANFORTH: (A pause. His eyes stare incredulously at Proctor.) You… you are a lecher?

NURSE: (Horrified.) John, you cannot…

PROCTOR: No, Francis, it is true, it is true. (Back to Danforth.) She will deny it, but you will believe me, sir; a man… a man will not cast away his good name, sir, you surely know that—

DANFORTH: In what time…? In was place?

PROCTOR: (Hanging head, turning front.) In the proper place—where my beasts are bedded. Eight months now, sir, it is eight months. She used to serve me in my house, sir. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything. I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her for what she is. My wife, my dear good wife took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the high road. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir…. (Starts to weep.) Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might!—for I thought of her softly, God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat! But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands, I know you must see it now. My wife is innocent, except she know a whore when she see one.

DANFORTH: (Turns to Abigail.) You deny every scrap and title of this?

ABIGAIL: (Rising.) If I must answer that, sir, I will leave and I will not come back again. (Starts for exit.)

HALE: She does not deny it, Mr. Danforth. She does not deny it!

DANFORTH: (To Abigail.) You will remain where you are. Sit you down! (Looking at Abigail. She stops and slowly turns to him.) Mister Parris, go into the court and bring Goodwife Proctor out. (Proctor crosses. Danforth is peeved at Parris.) Mister Parris. (Parris stops.) And tell her not one word of what’s been spoken here. And let you knock before you enter. (Parris goes out U.R.) Now we shall touch the bottom of this swamp. (To Proctor.) Your wife, you say, is an honest woman?

PROCTOR: In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep—my wife cannot lie.

DANFORTH: Good, then. (There is a knock at door. He calls off.) Hold! (To Abigail.) Turn your back. Turn your back. (She does. To Proctor.) You do likewise. (Proctor turns away.) Now let neither of you turn to face Goody Proctor. No one in this room is to speak one word, or raise a gesture ay or nay. (He turns toward door and calls.) Enter! (Elizabeth enters U.R., followed by Parris. She stands alone, her eyes looking for Proctor.) Mr. Cheever, report this testimony in all exactness. Are you ready?

CHEEVER: Ready, sir.

DANFORTH: Come here, woman. (Elizabeth crosses to Danforth, looking toward Proctor.) Look at me only, not at your husband. In my eyes only. (She looks at him.)

ELIZABETH: Good, sir.

DANFORTH: We are given to understand that at one time you dismissed your servant, Abigail Williams.

ELIZABETH: That is true, sir.

DANFORTH: For what cause did you dismiss her? (Elizabeth tries to glance at Proctor.) You will look in my eyes only and not at your husband. The answer is in your memory and you need no help to give it to me. Why did you dismiss Abigail Williams?

ELIZABETH: (Not knowing what to say, sensing a situation, she wets her lips to stall for time.) She… dissatisfied me… (Adding.) and my husband.

DANFORTH: In what way dissatisfied you?

ELIZABETH: She were… (She glances at Proctor for a cue.)

DANFORTH: Woman, look at me! Were she slovenly? Lazy? What disturbance did she cause?

ELIZABETH: Your Honor, I… in that time I were sick. And I… My husband is a good and righteous man. He is never drunk, as some are, nor wastin’ his time at the shovelboard, but always at his work… But in my sickness—you see, sir, I were a long time sick after my last baby, and I thought I saw my husband somewhat turning from me. And this girl… (She turns to Abigail.)

DANFORTH: (Shouting.) Look at me!

ELIZABETH: (Weeping.) Aye, sir. Abigail Williams… I came to think he fancied her. And so one night I lost my wits, I think, and put her out on the high road.

DANFORTH: Your husband… did he indeed turn from you?

ELIZABETH: (A plea.) My husband… is a goodly man, sir… (She starts to glance at Proctor.)

DANFORTH: Look at me! To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery? (In a crisis of indecision she cannot speak.) Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!

ELIZABETH: (Faintly.) No, sir.

DANFORTH: Remove her. (Proctor and Abigail turn around into scene.)

PROCTOR: Elizabeth, tell the truth, Elizabeth!

DANFORTH: She has spoken. Remove her. (Hale crosses R. following Elizabeth.)

PROCTOR: (Cries out.) Elizabeth, I have confessed it!

ELIZABETH: Oh, John! (Goes out.)

PROCTOR: She only thought to save my name!

HALE: Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now; before another is condemned!

DANFORTH: She spoke nothing of lechery, and this man lies!

HALE: (He cries out in anguish.) I believe him! I cannot turn my face from it no more. (Pointing at Abigail.) This girl has always struck me false! She… (Abigail with a weird cry screams up to ceiling.)

ABIGAIL: You will not! Begone! Begone, I say! (Mercy and Susanna rise, looking up.)

DANFORTH: What is it, child? (She is transfixed—with all the girls, in complete silence, she is open-mouthed, agape at ceiling, and in great fear.) Girls! Why do you…?

MERCY: It’s on the beam!—behind the rafter!

DANFORTH: (Looking up.) Where!

ABIGAIL: Why…? Why do you come, yellow bird?

PROCTOR: Where’s a bird? I see no bird!

ABIGAIL: (To ceiling, in a genuine conversation with the “bird” as though trying to talk it out of attacking her.) My face? My face?! But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.

MARY: Abby!

ABIGAIL: (Unperturbed, continues to “bird.”) Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do….

MARY: Abby, I’m here!

PROCTOR: They’re pretending, Mister Danforth!

ABIGAIL: (Now she takes a backward step, as though the bird would swoop down momentarily.) Oh, please, Mary!—Don’t come down….

ANN: Her claws, she’s stretching her claws!

PROCTOR: Lies—lies—

ABIGAIL: (Backing further, still fixed above.) Mary, please don’t hurt me!

MARY: (To Danforth.) I’m not hurting her!

DANFORTH: Why does she see this vision?!

MARY: (Rises.) She sees nothin’!

ABIGAIL: (As though hypnotized, mimicking the exact tone of Mary’s cry.) She sees nothin’!

MARY: Abby, you mustn’t!

ABIGAIL: (Now all girls join, transfixed.) Abby, you mustn’t!

MARY: (To all girls, frantically.) I’m here, I’m here!

GIRLS: I’m here, I’m here!

DANFORTH: Mary Warren!—Draw back your spirit out of them!

MARY: Mister Danforth…!

GIRLS: Mister Danforth!

DANFORTH: Have you compacted with the Devil? Have you?

MARY: Never, never!

GIRLS: Never, never!

DANFORTH: (Growing hysterical.) Why can they only repeat you?!

PROCTOR: Give me a whip—I’ll stop it!

MARY: They’re sporting…!

GIRLS: (Cutting her off.) They’re sporting!

MARY: (Turning on them all, hysterically and stamping her feet.) Abby, stop it!

GIRLS: (Stamping their feet.) Abby, stop it!

MARY: (Screaming it out at top of her lungs, and raising her fists.) Stop it!!

GIRLS: (All raising their fists.) Stop it!!

(Mary, utterly confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail—and the girls’—utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless—and all girls begin whimpering exactly as she does.)

DANFORTH: A little while ago you were afflicted. Now it seems you afflict others; where did you find this power?

MARY: (Staring at Abigail.) I… have no power.

GIRLS: I have no power.

PROCTOR: They’re gulling you, Mister!

DANFORTH: Why did you turn about this past two weeks? You have seen the Devil, have you not?

PROCTOR: (Seeing her weakening.) Mary, Mary, God damns all liars! (Mary utters something unintelligible, staring at Abigail who keeps watching the “bird” above.)

DANFORTH: I cannot hear you. What do you say? (Mary utters again unintelligibly.) You will confess yourself or you will hang!

PROCTOR: Mary, remember the angel Raphael… do that which is good and…

ABIGAIL: (Pointing upward.) The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don’t, don’t…! She’s going to come down! She’s walking the beam! Look out! She’s coming down! (All scream. Abigail dashes across the stage as though pursued, the other girls streak hysterically in and out between the men, all converging.—and as their screaming subsides only Mary Warren’s is left. All watch her, struck, even horrified by this evident fit.)

PROCTOR: (Leaning across the table, turning her gently by the arm.) Mary, tell the Governor what they…

MARY: (Backing away.) Don’t touch me… don’t touch me!

PROCTOR: Mary!

MARY: (Pointing at Proctor.) You are the Devil’s man!

PARRIS: Praise God!

PROCTOR: Mary, how…?

MARY: I’ll not hang with you! I love God, I love God—

DANFORTH: (To Mary.) He bid you do the Devil’s work?

MARY: (Hysterically, indicating Proctor.) He come at me by night and every day to sign, to sign, to…

DANFORTH: Sign what?

PARRIS: The Devil’s book? He come with a book?

MARY: (Hysterically, pointing at Proctor.) My name, he want my name; I’ll murder you, he says, if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court, he says…!

PROCTOR: (Eyes follow Mary.) Mister Hale…!

MARY: (Her sobs beginning.) He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign….

HALE: Excellency, the child’s gone wild.

PROCTOR: Mary, Mary…!

MARY: (Screaming at him.) No, I love God; I go your way no more, (Looking at Abigail.) I love God, I bless God…. (Sobbing, she rushes to Abigail.) Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more! (All watch, as Abigail reaches out and draws sobbing Mary to her, then looks up to Danforth.)

DANFORTH: What are you! You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power, Mister, you will not deny it!

HALE: This is not witchcraft! Those girls are frauds! You condemn an honest man!

DANFORTH: I will have nothing from you, Mister Hale! (To Proctor.) Will you confess yourself befouled with hell, or do you keep that black allegiance yet? What say you?

PROCTOR: I say… God is dead!

PARRIS: (Crossing L. toward door.) Hear it, hear it!

PROCTOR: A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face. And it is my face and yours, Danforth. For them that quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud. God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!

DANFORTH: Marshal, take him and Corey with him to the jail!

HALE: (Crossing D.L.) I denounce these proceedings! I quit this court! (Hale EXITS.)

PROCTOR: You are pulling heaven down and raising up a whore.

DANFORTH: (Shocked.) Mister Hale, Mister Hale! CURTAIN