Act Three
In a Salem meetinghouse, which has been turned in
to the anteroom of the General Court.
As the curtain rises, the room is empty, but for
sunlight pouring through two high windows in the
back wall. The room is solemn, even forbidding.
Heavy beams jut out; boards of random widths make
up the walls.
Giles’ Voice: You are all hearing lies, lies! This
world is full of lies! Lies, Lies, Lies!!!
Crowd begins to roar
Hathorne’s voice: Arrest Him, man in charge!
Through the partitioning door at the right we hear a
prosecutor’s voice, Judge Hathorne’s, asking a
questions; then a woman’s voice, Martha Corey’s
replying.
Giles’ Voice: Wait before you do that I have
evidence! Will you not hear my evidence?
Evidence! Evidence!
Hathorne’s Voice: Now, Martha Corey,
Someone has told me that you read people’
fortunes. Is that true?
Giles is half-carried into the room by Herrick.
Francis Nurse somehow comes in and trails
behind Giles.
Martha Corey’s voice: I am not a witch. I don’t
even know what a witch is!
Giles: Hands off me, damn you, let me go!
Seriously, I’m old you shouldn’t be touching old
people like that!
Hathorne’s voice: Well if you do not even know
what a witch is, then how do you know that you
are not one?
Herrick: Giles, Giles!
Martha Corey’s voice: Well, I think that if I was
a witch that I would know it.
Hathorne’s voice: Why do you hurt these
children?
Martha Corey’s voice: I do not hurt them!!!
Why would you even think that!
Giles’ Voice: Yelling. I have evidence for the
court!!
Crowd voices start to rise with excitement
Danforth’s voice: You will stay seated you
crotchety old man!
Giles: Outta my way Herrick! I am bringin’ some
evidence! Didn’t you hear me before!
Herrick: You cannot go in that other room over
there that Mrs. Watson forgot to mention in the
narration- It is a court after all!
Enter Mr. Hale from that other room that Mrs.
Watson forgot to mention.
Hale: Seriously, what’s happening, be calm for a
moment.
Giles: Hale! I am glad you are here. Go in there
and demannnnnnd that I get to speak!
Hale: Wait just a minute-
Giles’ Voice: Thomas Putnam is reaching out for
land! He is land hungry!
Giles: I don’t have a minute! They’ll are about
to hang my wife! Well not in that courtroom,
they will do that outside, but they are about to
charge her for witchcraft!
Danforth’s Voice: Remove that crazy old man,
Marshall!
Judge Hathorne enters. He is in his 60’s. He is a
bitter, heartless, and cruel judge.
Hathorne: How dare you old man, comin’ in my
court, causin’ a ruckus!
Giles: You are not a hoity-toity judge yet Mr.
Hathorne. You can’t call me crazy! Only my wife
can do that!
Deputy Governor Danforth, Cheever, and Parris
enter and everyone gets quiet.
Danforth is a serious man in his 60’s. He takes
his job seriously. He walks up to Giles, who
awaits his wrath!
Crowd: Ohhhhhhhh
Danforth: Who is this man? The old one right
there?
Parris: Giles Corey sir, and a more impassionedGiles: Shut up Parris, I can answer my own
questions!!! Now Danforth, my name is Corey,
Giles Corey. I have six hundred acres of land.
My wife is in that courtroom right now, on trial!
Danforth: Do you think that your carryin’ on out
here will in some way help her? The only reason
we are not arresting you is because you are
soooooooooooooooooo old.
Danforth: Books? Books? Books? What books?
Giles: still crying She is my third wife. I have
outlived all the others. None of my other wives
liked to read, so I thought it was weird that
Martha liked it soooooooooooooooo much. I
never said she was a witch!!! I betrayed her
trust, I should have never told anyone about her
books. (still crying, seriously though)
Hale: I think Giles has a good argument, we
should probably let Martha go….?
Danforth: Well, in order to submit this
“evidence” he must fill out the proper
paperwork. Surely Mr. Hale you know about the
proper paperwork. Herrick, clear this room!!
Herrick: Let’s go Giles! pushes Corey out
Francis: Judge Danforth, we have come for
three days now, and nobody will listen to us!
We are old, so we yell a lot, so people should be
able to hear us.
Danforth: Who is this guy?
Crowd: Seriously though?
Francis: I am Francis Nurse.
Giles: They are telling lies about my wife!!!!!!!! I
am yelling this!
Hale: His wife is Rebecca. She was found guilty
this morning!
Danforth: How do you know they are lies? Who
died and made you King of the court!
Danforth: Oh really? It’s weird that you are
here then. Why are you causing such a ruckus? I
have only heard nice things about you Mr.
Nurse.
Giles: I didn’t mean it like that.
Danforth: You are a disrespectful ugly old man.
Do you not know that my court is the highest
court in the province? That means I am in
charge and there ain’t nothing you can do about
that.
Giles: Cries like a baby, which is really sad
because he is old. I just told Reverend Hale that
she was readin’ books. Is that a crime? They
took her away because she was readin’- no one
should read!
Hathorne: I think that both Giles and Francis
should be arrested for the disruption that hey
have caused.
Danforth: (to Francis): Let you write your plea,
and in due time I will—
Francis: Seriously Danforth, do you not know
that we have evidence? The girls, those dancin’
girls are frauds!
Danforth: What did you say?
Francis: Why can’t anyone hear me! I SAID
THAT I HAVE PROOF THAT THE GIRLS ARE
FRAUDS! They are all deceiving you.
Danforth is shocked. He cannot believe what he
is hearing because that is what shocked means.
He looks seriously at Francis.
Hathorne: Seriously Judge, this is contempt of
court! We should arrest him right now for sayin’
this stuff!
Danforth: Quiet Judge Hathorne. Mr. Nurse I
have a question for you- do you know who I
am?
Francis: Well duh, of course I do. You clearly
must be a smart man in order to have gotten to
the position that you are in.
Danforth: Do you know that so far I have put
around 400 people in jail?
Francis- Wow that’s a lot….IDanforth: Out of those 400, 72 of them I
condemned to hang. Just by my signature.
Francis: Sir, I never thought I would have to say
this to a man like you, but you are being
deceived by a bunch of yippity young girls!
Reenter Giles Corey. All turn to see as Mary
Warren and John Proctor come in. Mary keeps
her eyes down; Proctor has her elbow in case
she faints.
Parris: Mary Warren (he says shocked)! What
are you doing here?
Proctor: Get away Parris! She needs to speak to
the Deputy Governor!
Danforth: What? Herrick, didn’t you say that
Mary Warren was home, sick?
Herrick: Well, she was. When I went to go and
get her for court she told me that she was sick.
Giles: She was sick. Sick in her soul. That’s really
bad. She has come now to finally tell the truth.
Danforth: Who is that with her?
Proctor: I am John Proctor. Elizabeth Proctor is
my wife.
Parris: Don’t listen to what this man has to say,
Danforth. Proctor is a wily beast. He is a man of
mischief.
Hale: Well now. I think that you should listen to
Mary Warren, sheDanforth: Shush. What do you have to say Mary
Warren?
Mary does not speak.
Proctor: She wants to say that she did not see
any spirits, sir. She wants to say that no one
chocked her out in this courtroom. That did not
happen.
Danforth: Surprised- She never saw spirits?
Giles: Nope, never!
Proctor: Let me reach into my jacket here sir,
She has signed a deposition.
Danforth: I will not take that from you sir. Mr.
Proctor have you said anything about this in the
village?
Proctor: No, not yet.
Parris: He is here to overthrow the court, sir!
This man isDanforth: Quiet Parris! Do you know Mr.
Proctor that a large disagreement of these trails
is whether or not the voice from Heaven (you
know- God) is speaking through these children
or not?
Proctor: I know that.
Danforth: Mary Warren, how come you came in
here, in my court, and said that there were
spirits rising up against you? Why did you say
that?
Mary Warren: It was an act, sir.
Danforth: I cannot hear you.
Proctor: Oh, let me spell it out for you. She said
she was acting.
Danforth: Ok, what about the other girls? What
about Susanna Walcott, and – the others? Were
they all pretending?
Mary Warren: Yes, All of them.
Danforth: This is crazy! I cannot believe this.
Parris: Whoa, whoa. Judge Danforth, you
cannot possibly believe these people. They are
telling lies. I cannot believe that you would let
them talk like this in the open court.
Danforth: I will not allow lies, but it is strange
that she comes here to tell this story. Now
Proctor, before I decide whether or not I will
listen to you or not I need to tell you this. I will
not tolerate any lies. We will burn you if you tell
lies – seriously though, that is what we do with
liars, or witches, or whomever else we feel like.
Proctor: Yeah, that’s obvious, sir.
Danforth: I wasn’t finished. I know that
sometimes husbands will say whatever they can
to save their wives, so I am going to ask you
this…are you sure that the information you are
stating right now is the truth mister? Are you
sure you are not just telling lies right now in
order to save your wife?
Proctor: I assure you Mr. Danforth that what I
am telling you right now is the truth.
Danforth: So, you thought the best way to
reveal this information is to come into my court
today and declare this before everyone?
Proctor: Well…yea…I thought I would. As long
as I have your permission to do so.
Danforth. So, what is your purpose for doing
this today?
Proctor: Well, I kinda thought that was obviousto save my wife.
Danforth. Are you sure that is your only reason?
You don’t just want to undermine this court do
you?
Proctor: No- that was never my intention…
Cheever: Excuse me Judge Danforth….
Danforth: What Mr. Cheever.
Cheever: I think it is my duty sir to say
something. John, you cannot deny that when
we came to arrest Elizabeth that you damned
the court and ripped up the warrant right out of
my hand. It was very aggressive and rude, if I do
say.
Parris: Ha, yeah, now you know what kind of
person he is! Proctor lies!
Danforth: Did Proctor really do that Hale?
Hale: Um…yes…yes he did, but…
Proctor: I was just mad! I didn’t know what I
was doing.
Danforth: Mr. Proctor.
Proctor: Yes.
Danforth: Have you ever seen the Devil,
Proctor?
Proctor: No.
Danforth: So, then you are saying you live your
life like a good Christian man? Always following
the rules.
Proctor: Yes sir.
Parris: Ha, does a good Christian man only go to
church once a month?
Danforth: Oh, really- he doesn’t come to
church?
Proctor: I don’t go because I do not like Mr.
Parris, everyone knows that. I love God though.
Cheever: He works on his farm on Sunday, sir.
Danforth: Works on Sunday! That is crazy!
Cheever: Sorry, John. I had to tell him. I think
that might be evidence, and since I work for the
court I cannot keep this evidence from them.
Proctor: Thanks Cheeves. Yes, I have once or
twice works on Sunday. I have three kids, and
until last year my land was not producing much
food.
Giles: Seriously, lots of Christians work on their
farms on Sunday.
Hale: Judge, I don’t think that you can use this
evidence to condemn this man.
Danforth: I am not judging him. I will say this. I
have seen a lot of crazy stuff in this court. I have
seen people chocked by spirits; stuck by pins
and slashed by knives, and until this very
moment I did not even think that the children
would be lying about all of this. Do you
understand what I am sayin’?
Proctor: Judge, didn’t you think it was weird
that so many of these women have lived so long
with nothing bad being said about them, and
nowParris: Do you read the Bible, Proctor?
Proctor: You are so annoying Parris. Yes, I read
the Bible.
Parris: You’re full of it Proctor! If you had read
the Bible you would know that even people we
think are great are able to do monstrous things.
Proctor: Yes, I know. But who says the Rebecca
nurse can do such a monstrous thing as
murdering babies? It was only the children that
have claimed this, and Mary Warren will claim
that they all lied to you Judge.
Danforth considers, and then beckons Hathorne
to him. Hathorne leans in, and he speaks in his
ear. Hathorne nods.
Hathorne: Yes, she’s the one.
Danforth: Mr. Proctor, today your wife told the
court the she is pregnant.
Proctor: Pregnant! That’s news to me!
Danforth: It’s news to you because there is no
sign of it. We had the doctor examine her, and
he said that she actually was not pregnant.
Proctor: Your doctor must be wrong Judge. My
wife would never lie about being pregnant!
Danforth: She never lies?
Proctor: No, I never remember her lying.
Danforth: Honestly, I thought that she was lying
because it seems awfully convenient that you
find out your pregnant when you are put in jail
for witchcraft. It is like she knew that we would
never hang a pregnant woman- we are not
monsters here! So, I am going to allow her to be
kept in jail for another month to see if we can
find the signs of the baby, and if we do, then
she can come home for at least a year until she
delivers that baby. What do you think about
that?
Proctor: …….
Danforth: Nothing to say? Come on. You said
that your only purpose is to save your wife. So,
that is a perfect solution. She is saved for at
least a year. A year is a long time, is it not?
What do you have to say Proctor? It’s done
now. That’s what we are doing. So, will you
drop this charge?
Proctor: I- I can’t.
Danforth: So your purpose for being here is not
just t save your wife then, is it?
Parris: HE HAS COME TO OVERTHROW THE
COURT!
Proctor: Parris, seriously, enough! These are my
friends here. Their wives have also been
accused.
Danforth: Ok then- let’s hear your evidence.
Proctor: OK. Well, I have not come to hurt the
court, IDanforth: Marshal, go into the court and get
me Judge Stoughton and Judge Sewall. I know it
seems strange that we have so many judges,
but so be it. Tell those Judges to go get a drink
for a minute, but keep all the witnesses and
prisoners in the building.
Herrick: Yes, sir. If I could talk openly- I have
known this man all my life sir, and he is a good
man.
Danforth: Thanks for that lovely bit of info, now
get out! Proctor, what lovely bit of evidence do
you have for us? You better be honest with us!
Proctor: Well, Uh, let me get out all of my
papers here. Now remember that I am no
lawyer butDanforth: That’s fine. Go on.
Proctor: Well, first I have this. It is a petition
signed by people who swear that Rebecca and
Martha are the two best women in the village.
Parris: What do those people know?
Proctor: All people who have signed this are
hard working members of the church, and they
will swear that they never saw either of the
women dealing with the Devil!
Parris begins to read over Danforth’s shoulder.
Danforth: How many people signed this?
Francis: 91, sir.
Hale: Shut up Parris! Do you think everything is
an attack on the court that you were not a part
of?
Parris: You should all be happy about the court.
If you were a good Christian and innocent you
would love this court- duh! I think we just need
to talk with these men about what problems
they have with the decisions of this court.
Hathorne: I think Parris is right.
Danforth: I am not sure that this is an attack
yetFrancis: All of these men are Christians.
Danforth: Well, then they have nothing to be
afraid of. Cheever get arrest warrants for all
these men. Now, Proctor what other info do
you have? Francis- Sit down before you die old
man!
Francis: I can’t believe it- those people were
just trying to help….
Danforth: Old man, those people will be fine if
they have nothing to hide. You must
understand that people are either with me or
against me- there is no in between. We are
living in a time where good and evil can not
coexist. You must decide which side you are on.
I hope you are on the courts side. That would
be the good side, clearly. Why is Mary Warren
suddenly crying? Is she ok?
Proctor: No she is not. Remember Mary Warren
“Do that witch is good, and no harm shall come
to thee.”
Parris: That’s not a lot. We should call all of
these people down here to talk with them.
Mary Warren: Ok
Francis: You cannot do that. I promised all these
men that you would not harm them for signing
that document.
Marshall Herrick comes in a creepily stands at
the door.
Parris: how can you stand for this! These men
are clearly attacking the court!
Danforth: Come on, out with it, we are waiting
on you!
Giles: John, my testimony, give him mine.
Proctor: Yes. Here Danforth take this paper. It is
Mr. Corey’s testimony.
Danforth: Mr. Putnam thinks that you are lying
Mr. Corey, what do you say about that?
Danforth: Oh? Hathorne come and read this
over my shoulder will you.
Giles: A fart on Thomas Putnam, that is what I
say!
Hathorne: What lawyer drew this up Corey?
Danforth: What proof do you have Mr. Corey?
Giles: You know I don’t trust no lawyers,
Hathorne. I woulda never let one help me.
Giles: My proof is right there on that paper! If
Jacobs is hanged for being a witch that means
he will forfeit his property- that’s the law. And
no one in this town has enough money to buy
that land except Mr. Putnam. Don’t you
see!!?!?! This man is killing his neighbors for
their land!
Danforth: Well finished reading it is very well
put. My compliments. Mr. Parris, can you bring
Mr. Putnam to court. Hathorne takes the
testimony and goes over to the window. You
don’t have any legal training do you Mr. Corey?
Giles: I have the best training sir- real life
training. I have been in court 33 times in my life,
and I always was the plaintiff. That’s the person
who issues the complaint.
Danforth: Wow, then you must be taken
advantage of a lot.
Giles: I have never been taken advantage of. I
know my rights, sir, and I will have them! You
know that your father tired a case of mine
probably about 35 years ago now.
Danforth: Yes.
Giles: He never said anything to you about it?
Danforth: No, I don’t recall him saying anything.
Giles: That’s weird. He awarded me 9 pounds in
that case. I liked your father, he was a fair
judge. You see, I had a white horse that time,
and this guy wanted to come and borrow it…Oh
look Mr. Putnam is here and I forgot what I was
going to say.
Danforth: Mr. Putnam, I have here an
accusation by Mr. Corey against you. He states
that you told your daughter to lie and call
George Jacobs a witch. The same George Jacobs
that we have since put in jail.
Putnam: Well, clearly that is a lie. You cannot
believe what the old man says.
Danforth: But really sir- is that proof.
Giles: Seriously! Do I have to say it again! The
proof is there! I was told by an honest friend
that he heard Mr. Putnam say it. The day Ruth
Putnam said Jacobs was a witch, Putnam said,
“Thanks for that gift of land doll.”
Hathorne: Ok, whom did you hear this from?
Giles: I cannot give you his name.
Hathorne: Why not?
Giles: You idiot! You know that if I give you his
name he will wind up in jail!
Hathorne: Well Mr. Corey you are interfering
with the court- that is contempt of court Mr.
Danforth.
Danforth: Come on Corey- give us that name.
Giles: I will not give you the name. The last time
I mentioned someone’s name, and I will burn in
hell for betraying her like that. I will remain
silent.
Danforth: ok- in that case you will have to be
arrested for contempt of court, would you like
that?
Giles: You cannot do that. This is a hearing. You
cannot arrest me at a hearing.
Danforth: Oh- he is a proper lawyer. Laughing.
Do you want to take over my job old man? Do
you want to declare court in session? Just give
me that name.
Giles: I will not. I cannot.
Danforth: You are a stupid old man. Mr.
Cheever, begin the record- court is now in
session. I ask you Mr. CoreyProctor: Your honor- he was told the story in
confidence sir, and he –
Parris: The Devil is a part of those secrets!!!
Without secrets there would be no conspiracy!
Hathorne: I think you should tell Giles.
Danforth: Old Man, if your informant is telling
the truth that let him come and tell us, but if he
wants to hide then I think that there must be
something to that. Now, the government and
central church demand you to tell us that name
and called Mr. Putnam a murderer.
Hale: Judge, let’s be honest here. The country is
scared of this court.
Danforth: That is because the country is full of
guilt. Are you afraid to be here Mr. Hale?
Hale: I am only scared of the Lord, but that
doesn’t mean there is not fear in the country.
Danforth: The only reason they are afraid is
because they want to get rid of the church.
They want to get rid of Christ in the country.
Hale: Don’t you think it is strange though that
those men who are afraid become accused.
Danforth: No uncorrupted man may be afraid
of this court Mr. Hale! None! Giles Corey you
are under arrest for contempt of court. Now
you will either tell us the name of that man
now, or you will go out and sit in jail until you
are ready to do so.
Giles rushes at Putnam, but Proctor holds him
back.
Proctor: No, Giles!
Giles: I’ll cut your throat Putnam! I’ll kill you1
Proctor: Sit Giles, we will prove ourselves here.
Giles: Don’t say anything else John. Danforth is
paying you. He wants to hang us all!!
Mary Warren begins to cry.
Danforth: This is a court of law; I will not stand
for such disrespect here.
Proctor: Forgive him, he is old and does not
understand what he is saying. We will prove it
all right now. Mary, you must stop crying, you
must be strong. Mary hands Danforth a piece of
paper. This is MARY Warren’s testimony sir. I
will ask you to keep in mind while you read it
that she is still but a child, and acts no
differently then the rest of the children in this
village. You have seen her scream, howl, swear
spirits choke her; she has even testified that
Satan, in the form of a Goody Good, tired to win
her soul away, and then when she refusedDanforth: Yeah, I know all that. How’s about
you tell me something I don’t know.
Proctor: Yes, well now she swears that that
Satan comment was a lie, and that she never
saw him, and that no ones spirit was sent to
hurt her. She also declares that her friends are
liars as well.
Proctor hands Danforth her testimony.
Hale: Sir, I think this goes to the heart of the
matter.
Danforth: Yes, It surely does.
Hale: I cannot say John Proctor is an honest
man because I only just met him a few weeks
ago, but here is what I do know. Let him go
home and call a lawyer. He surely cannot claim
any of this without some legal council.
Danforth: Now look Hale-
Hale: Sir, I have signed 72 death warrants. I am
a minister of the Lord, so I do not like to take
anyone’s life without some proof. I would not
be able to sleep at night if I did that.
Danforth: Mr. Hale, surely you are not
questioning me and my justice?
Hale: Just this morning I signed away the soul of
Rebecca nurse, and I cannot say that I felt easy
about it. It felt wrong. Seriously, just let him go
home and get a lawyer.
Danforth: Oh poor Mr. Hale. You have had a
terrible education, which has caused you to
become confused- I hope you will forgive me. I
have been in the business of the law for 32
years, and I should be angry if I had been called
up to defend these people. Let you all consider
this- an any ordinary crime one calls up
witnesses to prove the innocence of the
accused, but witchcraft is by nature an invisible
crime is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be
called as a witness to it? The witch and the
victim. No one else. Now the witch clearly will
not accuse herself of a crime- unless she is
really stupid, so we must rely on the testimony
of her victims. And the victims always testify,
and I will say most of the witches were eager to
offer a confession. Therefore, what is left for a
lawyer to do here? I think I have made my
point. Have I not?
Hale: But this victim claims that the girls are not
truthful, and if they have been lyingDanforth: That is what I am going to think about
right now, Hale! What more do you want from
me? I will think on it. Do you doubt my
integrity?
Hale: No, sir, I do not. Think about it then.
Danforth: Hand me her testimony Proctor.
Proctor gives it to him. Hathorne rises, goes
beside Danforth, and reads. Parris reads from
the other side. Danforth looks at Proctor, then
reads again. Hale gets up and reads it too.
Parris: I am so ticked about this. I should like to
questionDanforth: Shut up Parris! Mr. Cheever, will you
bring the children here? Mary Warren why are
you saying all of this now? Did Mr. Proctor
threaten you?
Mary: No, sir.
Danforth: Has he ever threatened you?
Mary: um, No, sir.
Danforth: Has he ever threatened you?
Mary: No, sir.
Danforth: So, what you telling me is that you
sat in my courtroom and lied to my face! You
caused innocent people to hang because you
wanted to play a little trick!!!!
Mary: ….
Danforth: Answer me girl!
Mary: I did, sir.
Danforth: Why would you think that was a good
idea? Don’t you know liars go to Hell? How do I
know that you are not lying right now?
Mary: Because I am with God now, sir.
Danforth: You are with God now.
Mary: Yes, sir.
Danforth: I will say this- you are either lying
right now and you are an idiot, or you were
lying before and you are an idiot. Either way
you are a liar and an idiot and you have
committed perjury, and you will go to jail for it.
You cannot lightly say that you lied Mary. Do
you know that?
Mary: Yes. I cannot lie anymore. I am with God
now.
She breaks into sobs at the thought of it, and
the right door opens as Susanna Walcott, Mercy
Lewis, Betty Parris, and finally Abigail enter.
Cheever comes to Danforth.