ELIZABETH: You did speak of goin‘, earlier this week. By PROCTOR: I thought better of it, since. ACT 2 ELIZABETH: Mary Warren‘s there today. The common room of Proctor‘s house, eight days later. PROCTOR: Why‘d you let her? You heard me forbid her go to At the right is a door opening on the fields outside. A fireplace is Salem anymore! at the left, and behind it a stairway leading upstairs. It is the low, dark, and rather long living room of the time. As the curtain ELIZABETH: I couldn’t stop her. rises, the room is empty. From above, Elizabeth is heard softly singing to the children. Presently the door opens and John PROCTOR: It is a fault, it is a fault, Elizabeth – you’re the mistress Proctor enters, carrying his gun. He glances about the room as of the house here, not Mary Warren. he comes toward the fireplace, then halts for an instant as he ELIZABETH: She frightened all my strength away. hears her singing. He continues on to the fireplace, leans the gun against the wall as he swings a pot out of the fire and smells it. PROCTOR: How may that mouse frighten you, Elizabeth? You – Then he lifts out the ladle and tastes. He is not quite pleased. He reaches to a cupboard, takes a pinch of salt, and drops it into the ELIZABETH: It is a mouse no more. I forbid her go, and she raises pot. As he is tasting again, her footsteps are heard on the stair. up her chin like the daughter of a prince, and says to me, ―I He swings the pot into the fireplace and goes to a basin and must go to Salem, Goody Proctor, I am an official of the court!‖ washes his hands and face. Elizabeth enters. PROCTOR: Court! What court? ELIZABETH: What keeps you so late, John? It‘s almost dark. ELIZABETH: Aye, it is a proper court they have now. They‘ve sent PROCTOR: I were planting far out to the forest edge. four judges out of , she says, weighty magistrates of the General Court, and at the head sits the Deputy Governor of the ELIZABETH: Oh, you‘re done then. Province.

PROCTOR: Aye, the farm is seeded. The boys asleep? PROCTOR: (Astonished.) Why, she‘s mad.

ELIZABETH: They will be soon. (Serves him stew .) ELIZABETH: I would to God she were. There be fourteen people in the jail now, she says. And they‘ll be tried, and the court have PROCTOR: I think we’ll see green fields soon. It’s warm as blood power to hang them too, she says. beneath the clods. PROCTOR: Ah, they‘d never hang them …. ELIZABETH: Oh, That’s well. ELIZABETH: The Deputy Governor promise hangin‘ if they‘ll not PROCTOR: If the crop is good I’ll buy George Jacob’s heifer. How confess, John. The town‘s gone wild, I think—she speak of would that please you? Abigail and I thought she were a saint, to hear her. Abigail brings ELIZABETH: Aye, it would. the other girls into the court. Folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the floor—the person‘s PROCTOR: I mean to please you, Elizabeth. clapped in the jail for bewitchin‘ them. I think you must go to Salem, John. You must tell them it is a fraud. ELIZABETH: … I know it, John. PROCTOR: Aye, it is, it is surely. PROCTOR: On Sunday, let you come with me, and we’ll walk the farm together. I never see such a load of flowers on the earth. ELIZABETH: Let you go to Ezekiel Cheever—he knows you well. is a beauty in the spring. And tell him what Abigail Williams said to you last week in her uncle‘s house. She said it had naught to do with witchcraft, did ELIZABETH: Aye, it is. she not?

PROCTOR: I think you’re sad again. Are you? PROCTOR: Aye, she did, she did.

ELIZABETH: You come so late I thought you‘d gone to Salem this ELIZABETH: God forbid you keep that from the court, John; I afternoon. think they must be told.

PROCTOR: Why? I have no business in Salem.

1

PROCTOR: Aye, they must, they must….It is a wonder they do PROCTOR: No more! I should have roared you down when first believe her. you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken ELIZABETH: I would go to Salem now, John… let you go tonight. you for God that day. But you're not, you're not, and let you remember it! Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, PROCTOR: I‘ll think on it. and judge me not. ELIZABETH: You cannot keep it, John. ELIZABETH: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John, only PROCTOR: I know I cannot keep it. I say I will think on it! somewhat bewildered. ELIZABETH: Good then, let you think on it. PROCTOR: Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer. (enter PROCTOR: I am only wondering how I may prove what she told Mary) Mary Warren, how dare you go to Salem when I forbid it? me, Elizabeth. If the girl‘s a saint now, I think it is not easy to Do you mock me? I‘ll whip you if you dare leave this house prove she‘s fraud, and the town gone so silly. She told it to me in again! a room alone—I have no proof for it. MARY: I am sick, I am sick, Mister Proctor. Pray, pray hurt me ELIZABETH: You were alone with her? not. My insides are all shuddery; I am in the proceedings all day, sir. PROCTOR: For a moment alone, aye. PROCTOR: And what of these proceedings here?-when will you ELIZABETH: Why, then, it is not as you told me. proceed to keep this house as you are paid nine pound a year to do?-and my wife not wholly well? PROCTOR: For a moment, I say. The others come in soon after. MARY: I made a gift for you today, Goody Proctor. I had to sit ELIZABETH: Do as you wish, then. long hours in a chair, and passed the time with sewing. Here, this doll. (Gives her a small doll.) PROCTOR: Woman. I‘ll not have your suspicion any more. ELIZABETH: Why, thank you, Mary. It‘s a fair poppet. ELIZABETH: Then let you not earn it. MARY: We must all love each other now, Goody Proctor. PROCTOR: You doubt me yet?! ELIZABETH: Aye, indeed we must. ELIZABETH: John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not. PROCTOR: Mary. Is it true there be fourteen women arrested?

PROCTOR: Now look you, Elizabeth … MARY: No, sir. There be thirty-nine now….

ELIZABETH: I see what I see, John. PROCTOR: What? (Mary sobs.)

PROCTOR: You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. Let you look to ELIZABETH: Why, she‘s weepin‘! your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more. I have forgot Abigail. MARY: Goody Osburn…will hang!

ELIZABETH: And I. PROCTOR: Hang! Hang, y‘say?

PROCTOR: Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'. MARY: Aye…. Learn charity, woman. Still an everlasting funeral marches around your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every PROCTOR: The deputy Governor will permit it? movement judged for lies … MARY: He sentenced her. He must-But not Sarah Good. For ELIZABETH: You are not open with me. You saw her with me, you Sarah Good confessed, y‘see. saw her with a crowd, you said. Now you – PROCTOR: Confessed! To what? PROCTOR: I'll plead my honesty no more, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: John, I am only –

2

MARY: That she – she sometimes makes a compact with Lucifer, MARY: Aye, but then Judge Hathorne say, ― “Recite for us your and wrote her name in his black book—with her blood—and commandments!”‖— and of all the ten she could not say a single bound herself to torment Christians till God‘s thrown down… one. She never knew no commandments, and they had her in a and we all must worship Hell forevermore. flat lie!

PROCTOR: But…surely you know what a jabberer she is. Did you PROCTOR: And so condemned her? tell them that? MARY: Why, they must when she condemned herself. MARY: Mister Proctor, in open court she near choked us all to death. PROCTOR: But the proof, the proof?

PROCTOR: How choked you? MARY: I told you the proof—it‘s hard proof, hard as rock the judges said. MARY: She sent her spirit out. PROCTOR: You will not go to court again, Mary Warren. ELIZABETH: Oh, Mary, Mary, … MARY: I must tell you, sir, I will be gone every day now. I am MARY: She tried to kill me many times, Goody Proctor! amazed you do not see what weighty work we do.

ELIZABETH: Why, I never heard you mention that before. PROCTOR: What work you do! It‘s strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women! MARY: I never knew it before. I never knew anything before. When she come into the court I say to myself, I must not accuse MARY: I am an official of the court, they say, and… this woman, for she sleep in ditches, and so very old and poor… But then… then she sit there, denying and denying, and I feel a PROCTOR: Official! misty coldness climbin‘ up my back, and the skin on my skull MARY: The Devil‘s loose in Salem, Mister Proctor, we must begin to creep, and I feel a clamp around my neck and I cannot discover … (PROCTOR: Where’s my whip?) … where he‘s hiding! breathe air; and then… then … I hear a voice, a screamin‘ voice, and it were my voice… and all at once I remembered everything ELIZABETH: John! John! she done to me! MARY: I saved your wife’s life today! (Silence. Proctor’s whip PROCTOR: Why?—What did she do to you? comes down.) MARY: So many time, Mister Proctor, she come to this very door ELIZABETH: (Softly.) I am accused? beggin‘ bread and a cup of cider—and mark this—whenever I turned her away empty—she mumbled. MARY: Somewhat mentioned.

ELIZABETH: Mumbled! She may mumble if she’s hungry. ELIZABETH: Who accused me?

MARY: But what does she mumble? You must remember, Goody MARY: I am bound by law; I cannot tell it. I only hope Mister Proctor—last month—a Monday, I think—she walked away and I Proctor will not be so sarcastical no more. Four judges and the thought my guts would burst for two days after. Do you King's deputy sat to dinner with us but an hour ago. I -- I would remember it? have you speak civilly to me from this out.

ELIZABETH: Why… I do, think, but… PROCTOR: Go to bed.

MARY: And so I told that to Judge Hathorne, and he asks her — MARY: I‘ll not be ordered to bed no more, Mister Proctor! I am “Goody Osburn,”‖ says he, ― “what curse do you mumble that eighteen and a woman, however single! this girl must fall sick after turning you away?”‖ And she replies: “Why, your excellence, no curse at all; I only say my PROCTOR: Do you wish to sit up?—then sit up. commandments; I hope I may say my commandments,” says she! MARY: I wish to go to bed!

ELIZABETH: And that‘s an upright answer. PROCTOR: Good night, then!

MARY: Good night. (She goes upstairs. He throws whip down.)

3

ELIZABETH: Oh, the noose, the noose is up! ELIZABETH: Then go to her and tell her she‘s a whore. Whatever promise she may sense-break it, John, break it. PROCTOR: There‘ll be no noose… PROCTOR: Good, then. I‘ll go. ELIZABETH: Abigail wants me dead; I knew all week it would come to this! ELIZABETH: Oh, how unwillingly.

PROCTOR: They dismissed it. You heard her say… PROCTOR: I will curse her hotter than the oldest cinder in hell. But pray, begrudge me not my anger. ELIZABETH: And what of tomorrow?-she will cry me out until they take me! ELIZABETH: Your anger! I only ask you –

PROCTOR: Sit you down… PROCTOR: Woman, am I so base? Do you truly think me base?

ELIZABETH: She wants me dead, John, you know it! ELIZABETH: I never called you base.

PROCTOR: I say sit down! Now, we must be wise, Elizabeth. PROCTOR: Then how do you charge me with such a promise? That promise a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl! ELIZABETH: Oh, indeed, indeed! ELIZABETH: Then why do you anger with me when I bid you PROCTOR: Fear nothing. I‘ll find Ezekiel Cheever. I‘ll tell him break it? Abigail said it were all sport. PROCTOR: Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest! But I’ll ELIZABETH: Oh, John, with so many in the jail, more than plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single Cheever’s help is needed now, I think. Would you favor me with error of my life, and I will never tear it free! this?-Go to Abigail. ELIZABETH: You’ll tear it free – when you come to know that I PROCTOR: What have I to say to Abigail? will be your only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor. You know it well! ELIZABETH: John… grant me this. You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any (Knocking at door.) bed… PROCTOR: Yes? PROCTOR: What promise? HALE: Good evening. ELIZABETH: Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she may dote on it now-I am sure she does-and thinks to kill me, PROCTOR: Why, Mister Hale! Good evening to you, sir. Come in, then to take my place. It is her dearest hope, John, I know it. come in. There be a thousand names, why does she call mine? She thinks to take my place, John. HALE: I hope I do not startle you, Goodwife Proctor.

PROCTOR: She cannot think it. ELIZABETH: No-no, it‘s only that I heard no horse…

ELIZABETH: John, have you ever shown her somewhat of HALE: I hope you‘re not off to bed yet. contempt? She cannot pass you in the church but you will PROCTOR: No-no…. We are not used to visitors after dark, but blush… you‘re welcome here. Will you drink cider, Mister Hale? PROCTOR: I may blush for my sin. HALE: No, it rebels my stomach—I have some further traveling ELIZABETH: I think she sees another meaning in that blush. yet tonight. I will not keep you long, but I have some business with you. PROCTOR: And what see you? What see you, Elizabeth. PROCTOR: Business of the court? ELIZABETH: I think you be somewhat ashamed, for I am there, and she so close. HALE: (Hesitantly.) No… no, I come of my own, without the court‘s authority. Hear me. I know not if you are aware, but your PROCTOR: When will you know me, woman? Were I stone I wife‘s name is… mentioned in the court. would have cracked for shame this seven month!

4

PROCTOR: We know it, sir. Our Mary Warren told us. We are HALE: Do you know your commandments, Elizabeth? entirely amazed. ELIZABETH: I surely do. There be no mark of blame upon my life, HALE: This is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer doubt I am a covenanted Christian woman, Mister Hale. the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it. You will HALE: And you, Mister? agree, sir? PROCTOR: I… am sure I do, sir. PROCTOR: (Evading.) I… I have no knowledge in that line. HALE: Let you repeat them, if you will. HALE: Aye. I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the PROCTOR: …The Commandments? Christian character of this house, if you‘ll permit me. HALE: Aye. PROCTOR: Why, we… have no fear of questions, sir. PROCTOR: Thou shalt not kill. HALE: Good, then. In the book of record that Mister Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day…. HALE: Aye. PROCTOR: My wife were sick this winter. I surely did come when PROCTOR: Thou shall not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy I could, and when I could not I prayed in this house. neighbor‘s goods, nor make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain; thou shalt have no HALE: Mister Proctor, your house is not a church; your theology any gods before me… thou shalt remember the Sabbath Day and must tell you that. keep it holy. Thou shalt honor thy father and mother. Thou shalt PROCTOR: It does, sir, it does; and it tells me that a minister may not bear false witness ….Thou shalt not make unto thee any pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar. graven image. I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clapboard HALE: You have said that twice, sir. meetin’ houses. PROCTOR: Aye. HALE: Hmmm. And yet, Mister, a Christian on Sabbath Day must be in church…. Tell me—you have three children. ELIZABETH: Adultery, John. PROCTOR: Aye. Boys. PROCTOR: Aye! … You see, sir, between the two of us we do know them all. I think it be a small fault. HALE: How come it that only two are baptized? HALE: Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be PROCTOR: I like it not that Mister Parris should lay his hand upon accounted small. my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I‘ll not conceal it. PROCTOR: There be no love for Satan in this house, Mister. HALE: I must say it, Mister Proctor; that is not for you to decide. The man‘s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him. HALE: I pray it, I pray it dearly. (Rising.) Well, then, I‘ll bid you good night. PROCTOR: What’s your suspicion, Mr. Hale? ELIZABETH: Mister Hale. I do think you are suspecting me HALE: No, no, I have no – somewhat? PROCTOR: I nailed the roof upon the church, I hung the door – HALE: Goody Proctor, I do not judge you. My duty is to add what HALE: Oh, did you! That’s a good sign, then. I may to the Godly wisdom of the court. I pray you both good health and good fortune. Good night, sir. (Starts to leave.) PROCTOR: It may be I have been too quick to bring the man to book, but you cannot think we ever desired the destruction of ELIZABETH: I think you must tell him, John. religion. HALE: What‘s that? HALE: There is a softness in your record, sir, a softness. ELIZABETH: Will you tell him? ELIZABETH: I think, maybe, we have been too hard with Mister Parris. I think so. But sure we never loved the Devil here.

5

PROCTOR: I… I have no witness and cannot prove it, except my HALE: And you, woman? word be taken. But I know the children‘s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft. ELIZABETH: I… I cannot believe it.

HALE: Naught to do…? HALE: You cannot!

PROCTOR: Mr. Parris discovered them sporting in the woods. PROCTOR: Elizabeth, you bewilder him! They were startled, and took sick. ELIZABETH: I cannot believe the Devil may own a woman‘s soul, HALE: Who told you this? Mister Hale, when she keeps an upright way, as I have. I am a good woman, I know it; and if you believe I may do only good PROCTOR: Abigail Williams. work in the world, and yet be secretly bound to Satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it. HALE: Abigail! HALE: But, woman, you do believe there are witches in – PROCTOR: Aye. ELIZABETH: If you think I am one, then I say there are none. HALE: Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft? HALE: You surely do not fly against the Gospel, the Gospel…

PROCTOR: Aye. She told me the day you came, sir? PROCTOR: She believe in the Gospel, every word!

HALE: Why did you keep this? ELIZABETH: Question Abigail Williams about the Gospel, not myself! PROCTOR: I never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense. PROCTOR: She do not mean to doubt the Gospel, sir, you cannot think it. This is a Christian house, sir, a Christian house. HALE: Nonsense! Mister, I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous others that have confessed to dealing with HALE: God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized the Devil. They have confessed it. and go you without fail each Sunday into Sabbath prayer; and keep a solemn, quiet way among you. (Enter Giles Corey & PROCTOR: And why not, if they must hang for denyin‘ it? There Francis Nurse.) are them that will swear to anything before they‘ll hang; have you never thought of that? COREY: John!

HALE: I… I have. I… I have indeed. And you… would you testify to PROCTOR: Giles! Francis Nurse! What‘s the matter? this in court? COREY: They take my wife. PROCTOR: I…. had not reckoned with going into court…. But if I must I will. NURSE: And my Rebecca.

HALE: Do you falter here? PROCTOR: Rebecca‘s in the jail!

PROCTOR: I falter nothing, but I wondered if my story will be NURSE: John, Cheever come and take her in his wagon. We‘ve credited in such a court. I am no fool, Mister. only now come from the jail and they‘ll not even let us in to see them. HALE: Proctor, let you be open with me now, for I have a rumor that troubles me. It‘s said you hold no belief that there may even ELIZABETH: They‘ve surely gone wild now, Mister Hale! be witches in the world. Is that true, sir? NURSE: My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, PROCTOR: I know not what I have said, I may have said it. I have Mister Hale—and Giles’ wife, there cannot be a woman closer wondered if there be witches in the world – although I cannot yet to God then Martha Corey. believe they come among us now. HALE: How is Rebecca charged, Mr. Nurse? HALE: Then you do not believe – NURSE: For murder, she‘s charged! ―”For the marvelous and PROCTOR: I have no knowledge of it; the Bible speaks of witches, supernatural murder of Goody Putnam‘s babies.” What am I to and I will not deny them. do, Mr. Hale?

6

HALE: Believe me, Mister Nurse, if your Rebecca be tainted, then ELIZABETH: I never kept no poppets, not since I were a girl. nothing‘s left to stop the whole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her CHEEVER: I spy a poppet on the mantle, Goody Proctor. home, I know it… ELIZABETH: (Gets doll.) Oh that.—Why, this is Mary‘s. NURSE: You cannot mean she will be tried in the court! CHEEVER: Would you please to give it to me? HALE: Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch; these ELIZABETH: Has the court discovered a text in poppets now? are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient CHEEVER: Do you keep any others like this in this house? friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court –the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever PROCTOR: No, nor this one either till tonight. What signifies a the accusing finger points! poppet?

PROCTOR: How may such a woman murder children? CHEEVER: Why, a poppet … a poppet may signify …. Now, woman, will you please to come with me? HALE: Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven. PROCTOR: She will not. Fetch Mary, Elizabeth.

(A knock at the door.) ELIZABETH: Yes, John.

PROCTOR: Come in. HALE: What signifies a poppet, Mister Cheever?

CHEEVER: Good evening to you, Proctor. CHEEVER: Why, they say it may signify that she… (He lifts doll’s skirt.) Why, this, this… PROCTOR: Why… Mister Cheever. Good evening. PROCTOR: What‘s there? CHEEVER: Good evening, all. Good evening, Mister Hale. CHEEVER: Why… it is a needle! It is a needle, stuck into the doll! HALE: Good evening. PROCTOR: And what signifies a needle? PROCTOR: I hope you come not on business of the court? CHEEVER: Why, this go hard with her, Proctor, this –I had my CHEEVER: I do, Proctor, aye. I am clerk of the court now, y‘know. doubts, Proctor. I had my doubts, but here’s calamity. You see, Now believe me, Proctor, how heavy be the law, all its tonnage I Mr. Hale, it is a needle! do carry on my back tonight. I have a warrant for your wife. HALE: Why? What meanin’ has it? PROCTOR: My wife …. Mister Hale, you said she were not charged! CHEEVER: The girl, the Williams girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat down to dinner in Reverend Parris‘ house tonight, and without HALE: I know nothin’ of it. When were she charged, Mister word nor warnin‘, she falls to the floor. “Like a struck beast,” he Cheever? says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and stuck two inches in the flesh of her CHEEVER: I am given sixteen warrant tonight, sir, and she is one. belly he draw a needle out. And demandin‘ of her how she come PROCTOR: Who charged her? to be so stabbed, she testify it were your Goody Proctor’s familiar spirit pushed it in. CHEEVER: Why, Abigail Williams charge her. PROCTOR: Why, she done it herself! I hope you‘re not takin‘ this PROCTOR: On what proof, what proof! for proof, Mister Hale.

CHEEVER: Mister Proctor, I have little time…. The court bid me CHEEVER: ‘Tis hard proof.—I find here a poppet Goody Proctor search your house, but I like not to search a house. So will you keeps. I have found it, sir. And in the belly of the poppet a hand me any poppets that your wife may keep here. needle is stuck. I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not, for I… (Elizabeth and Mary enter.) PROCTOR: Poppets?

7

PROCTOR: Here now! Mary Warren, how did this poppet come PROCTOR: Daren’t I? (He tears the warrant in half.) Out with into my house? you!

MARY: What poppet‘s that, sir? CHEEVER: You‘ve ripped the Deputy Governor‘s warrant, man!

PROCTOR: This poppet, this poppet here. PROCTOR: Damn the Deputy Governor! Out of my house!

MARY: Why, I… I think … HALE: Now, Proctor, Proctor…

PROCTOR: It is your poppet, is it not? PROCTOR: Get y‘ gone with them! You are a broken minister.

MARY: I think it is mine. It is, sir. HALE: Proctor, if she is innocent the court…

PROCTOR: And how did it come into this house? PROCTOR: If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were MARY: Why… I made it in the court, sir. I give it to Goody Proctor they born this morning as clean as God‘s fingers? I‘ll tell you tonight. what‘s walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children HALE: Mary Warren, a needle have been found inside this are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance poppet. writes the law! This warrant is vengeance; I will not give my wife to vengeance! MARY: Why, I meant no harm by it, sir. ELIZABETH: I‘ll go, John… PROCTOR: You stuck that needle in yourself? PROCTOR: You will not go! MARY: I… I believe I did, sir, I… CHEEVER: I have nine men outside. You cannot keep her. The PROCTOR: What say you now, Mister Hale? law binds me, John, I cannot budge. HALE: Child… you are certain this be your natural memory?— PROCTOR: Will you see her taken, Mister Hale? may it be, perhaps, that someone conjures you even now to say this? HALE: Proctor, the court is just – MARY: Conjures me?—Why, no, sir, I am entirely myself, I think. PROCTOR: Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands Let you ask Susanna Wallcott—she saw me sewin‘ it in court. Ask of this! Abby, Abby sat beside me when I made it. ELIZABETH: John… I think I must go with them. Mary… there is HALE: Mary… you charge a cold and cruel murder on Abigail. bread enough for the morning; you will bake in the afternoon. Help Mister Proctor as you were his daughter… you owe me MARY: Murder! I charge no… that, and much more. (Takes Proctor‘s hand) John, when the HALE: Abigail were stabbed tonight; a needle were found stuck children wake, speak nothing of witchcraft, it will frighten them. into her belly…. PROCTOR: I will bring you home. I will bring you soon. ELIZABETH: And she charges me?! ELIZABETH: Oh, John, bring me soon! HALE: Aye. PROCTOR: I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear nothing, ELIZABETH: Why…!—The girl is murder! She must be ripped out Elizabeth. of the world! ELIZABETH: I will fear nothing. (He puts a shawl on her.) Tell the CHEEVER: You‘ve heard that, sir!—“Ripped out of the world!” children I have gone to visit someone sick…. (She goes out.) You heard it! PROCTOR: Aye …. (Cheever chains Elizabeth.) Don’t chain her. PROCTOR: Give me the warrant! Damn you, man. You will not chain her! Off with them! I’ll not have it. I will not have her chained! CHEEVER: Proctor, dare not touch that warrant.

8

COREY: And yet silent, minister? It is a fraud, you know it is a COREY: Good night, then. Come, Francis. fraud! What keeps you man? MARY: Mister Proctor, very likely they‘ll let her come home once HALE: Mister Proctor… they‘re given proper evidence.

PROCTOR: Out of my sight! PROCTOR: You‘re coming to that court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court. HALE: Charity, Proctor, Charity—what I have heard in her favor I will not fear to testify in court. God help me, I cannot judge her MARY: I cannot charge murder on Abigail…. guilty nor innocent…. I know not. Only this consider—the world goes mad, and it profits nothing you should lay the cause to the PROCTOR: You will tell the court how the poppet come here and vengeance of a little girl. who stuck the needle in.

PROCTOR: You are a coward! Though you be ordained in God‘s MARY: She‘ll kill me for sayin‘ that! Abby‘ll charge lechery on own tears, you are a coward now! you, Mister Proctor!

HALE: Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by PROCTOR: (Stunned.) She‘s told you! such a petty cause. The jails are packed – our greatest judges sit MARY: I have known it, sir. She‘ll ruin you with it, I know she will. in Salem now — and hangin’s promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Was there murder done, perhaps, and PROCTOR: Good. Then her saintliness is done with. We will slide never brought to light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy together into our pit. You will tell the court what you know. that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause, man, and let you believe that there is your only way when such confusion strikes upon MARY: I cannot. They‘ll turn on me. the world. I shall pray God open up our eyes. (Hale exits.) PROCTOR: (Grabs her.) You will. My wife will never die for us. I FRANCIS: I never heard no murder done in Salem. will bring your guts into your mouth, but that goodness will not die for me. Make your peace with it! Now Hell and Heaven PROCTOR: Leave me, Francis, leave me. grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away – make your peace! (Throws her to floor.) Peace. It is a COREY: John… tell me, are we lost? providence, and no great change; we are only what we always PROCTOR: Go home now, Giles. We‘ll speak on it tomorrow. were, but naked now. Aye, naked! And the wind, God’s icy wind, will blow! COREY: Let you think on it; we‘ll come early, eh? MARY: (Sobbing, over and over saying – “I cannot, I cannot.” PROCTOR: Aye. Aye. Go now, Giles, go. CURTAIN FALLS.)

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