Script

// First Scene, Parris's daughter Betty is in a coma [Abigail, Parris, Betty] // Abigail:Uncle, the rumor of witchcraft is all about; I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself.

Parris: And what shall I say to them?That my daughter and niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?!

Abigail: Uncle, we did dance; But they’re speakin’ of witchcraft; Betty’s not witched.

// Next Scene, Proctor and Abigail are alone with Betty [Proctor, Abigail, Betty] // Proctor: The road past my house is a pilgrimage to Salem all morning.The town’s mumbling witchcraft.

Abigail: Oh posh! – We were dancing in the woods last night, and Uncle leaped in on us.She took fright, is all.

Proctor: Dancin’ by moonlight! You’ll be clapped in the stocks before you’re twenty.

Abigail: Give me a word John, a soft word.

Proctor: No – no, Abby, I’ve not come for that

// Next scene, Reverend Hale arrives and questions Abigail [Abigail, Betty, Parris, Hale] // Abigail: I want to open myself! I want light of God. I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!

Betty: I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!

Hale: Glory to God! – It is broken they are free!

// Next Scene, Proctor arrives home [John, Elizabeth] // Proctor: I am wondering how I may prove what she has told me, Elizabeth.If the girl’s a saint now I think it is not easy to prove she’s fraud and the town gone so silly.She told it to me in a room alone – I have no proof of it.

//Mary, the Proctor's servant enters//

Mary: I made a gift for you today Goody Proctor. (Mary gives Elizabeth a doll)

Proctor: Mary.Is it true there be fourteen women arrested?

Mary: No, sir. There be thirty nine now…

// Later // Mary: I saved her life today!

Elizabeth: I am accused?

Mary: You are somewhat mentioned.

Elizabeth: Who accused me?

Mary: I am bound by law; I cannot tell it.

Elizabeth: John would you favor me with this? – Go to Abigail

// Next Scene, enter Cheever // Cheever: Mister Proctor, I have little time … The court bid me search your house. So will you hand me any poppets that your wife may keep here.

Elizabeth: Oh – why this is Mary’s

Proctor: What signifies a poppet?

Cheever: Abigail Williams sat to dinner in Reverand Parris’ house [and] she [fell] to the floor. He goes to save her, and stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly he draw out a needle. She …testify it were your wifes familiar spirit pushed it in.

Proctor: It is your poppet, is it not?

Mary: It …is, sir.

Proctor: You’re coming to the court Mary. You will tell it to the court.

Mary: She’ll kill me for saying that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mister Proctor!

// Next Scene, Proctor is in the woods with Abby [Proctor, Abigail] // Proctor: She will not be condemned, Abby

Abigail: You brought me from my bed to speak of her

Proctor: If you do not free my wife tomorrow, I am set and bound to ruin you Abby

Abigail: What will you tell them? You will confess to fornication? In the court?

Proctor: If you will have it so, so I will tell it.

// Later in court [Danforth,, Hale/Proctor/Mary are sitting together, Abigail] // Hale: I think you must hear the girl sir, she…

Proctor: She never saw no spirits

Mary: It were pretense

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

Danforth: You…you are a lecher?

Proctor: She will deny it, but you will believe me, sir; a man…a man will not cast away his good name,

Danforth: Come here woman. (to Elizabeth) For what cause did you dismiss her? You will look in my eyes only and not at your husband.

Elizabeth: I came to think he fancied her.

Danforth: To our knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery?

Elizabeth: No, sir

Proctor: Elizabeth, tell the truth Elizabeth! She only thought to save my name!

Abigail: You will not! Begone! Begone, I say!

Danforth: What is it child?

Abigail: Why do you come yellow bird?

Proctor: I see no bird!

Abigail: Oh Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No I cannot stop my mouth; it is god’s work I do…

Mary: Abby, I’m here!

Abigail: Oh please, Mary! – Don’t come down…

Danforth: Have you ever compacted with the Devil? Have you?

Mary: never, never!

Proctor: Mary, tell the Governor what they…

Mary: You are the Devil’s man!

Danforth: He bid you do the Devil’s work?

Mary: I’ll murder you, he says, if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court, he says…!

Danforth: Marshal, take him to the jail!

// Next Scene, Proctor has been in prison for six months and Abigail has run away [Hale, Elizabeth, Danforth] // Hale: Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this morning.

Elizabeth: I have heard it

Hale: I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer. Do you understand me?

Elizabeth: What do you want of me?

Hale: Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own.Life, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle no matter how glorious may justify the taking of it.

Elizabeth: Let me speak with him

// Next Scene, Elizabeth asks John to confess so that he won't be hanged [Elizabeth, John, Danforth, Hale, Parris] //

Elizabeth: Let none be your judge, there be no higher judge under heaven than Proctor is!

Proctor: I want my life

Danforth: To your knowledge was Rebecca Nurse ever…?

Proctor: I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it

Hale: Excellency, it is enough he confess himself. Let him sign it, let him sign it…

Proctor: You have all witnessed it – it is enough

Hale: Man, you will hang!

Proctor: Pray god it speak some goodness for me.

Hale: Woman plead with him! It is pride, it is vanity.Be his helper! – what profit him to bleed? Go to him, take his shame away.

Elizabeth: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.