Enter Giles Corey from left. All turn to see as he beckons in Mary Warren with Proctor. Mary is keeping her eyes to the ground; Proctor has her elbow as though she were near collapse.
Parris, on seeing her, in shock: Mary Warren! He goes directly to bend close to her face. What are you about here?
Proctor, pressing Parris away from her with a gentle but firm motion of protectiveness: She would speak with the Deputy Governor.
Danforth, shocked by this, turns to Herrick: Did you not tell me Mary Warren were sick in bed?
Herrick: She were, Your Honor. When I go to fetch her to the court last week, she said she were sick.
Giles: She has been strivin’ with her soul all week, Your Honor; she comes now to tell the truth of this to you.
Danforth: Who is this?
Proctor: John Proctor, sir. Elizabeth Proctor is my wife.
Parris: Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.
Hale, excitedly: I think you must hear the girl, sir, she –
Danforth, who has become very interested in Mary Warren and only raises a hand toward Hale: Peace. What would you tell us, Mary Warren?
Proctor looks at her, but she cannot speak.
Proctor: She never saw no spirits, sir.
Danforth, with great alarm and surprise, to Mary: Never saw no spirits!
Giles, eagerly: Never.
Proctor, reaching into his jacket: She has signed a deposition, sir –
Danforth, instantly: No, no, I accept no depositions. He is rapidly calculating this; he turns from her to Proctor. Tell me, Mr. 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, Mr, Parris. Do you know, Mr. 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, thinks, staring at Proctor, then turns to Mary Warren: And you, Mary Warren, how came you to cry out people for sending their spirits against you?
Mary Warren: It were pretense, sir.
Danforth: I cannot hear you.
Proctor: It were pretense, she says.
Danforth: Ah? And the other girls? Susanna Walcott, and – the others? They are also pretending?
Mary Warren: Aye, sir.
Danforth, wide-eyed: Indeed. Pause. He is baffled by this. He turns to study Proctor’s face.
Parris, in a sweat: Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court!
Danforth: Indeed not, but it strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale. Now, Mr. 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.
Proctor: I know that, sir.
Danforth: Let me continue. I understand well, a husband’s tenderness may drive him to extravagance in defense of a wife. Are you certain in your conscience, Mister, that your evidence is the truth?
Proctor: It is. And you will surely know it.
Danforth: And you thought to declare this revelation in the open court before the public?
Proctor: I thought I would, aye - with your permission.
Danforth, his eyes narrowing: 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, with the faintest faltering: Why, no, sir.
Cheever, clears his throat, awakening: I – Your Excellency.
Danforth: Mr. Cheever.
Cheever: I think it be my duty, sir – Kindly, to Proctor: You’ll not deny it, John. To Danforth: When we come to take his wife, he damned the court and ripped your warrant.
Parris: Now you have it!
Danforth: He did that, Mr. Hale?
Hale, takes a breath: Aye, he did.
Proctor: It were a temper, sir. I knew not what I did.
Danforth, studying him: Mr. Proctor.
Proctor: Aye, sir.
Danforth, straight into his eyes: Have you ever seen the Devil?
Proctor: No, sir.
Danforth: You are in all respects a Gospel Christian?
Proctor: I am, sir.
Parris: Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month!
Danforth, restrained – he is curious: Not come to church?
Proctor: I – I have no love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. But God I surely love.
Cheever: He plow on Sunday, sir.
Danforth: Plow on Sunday!
Cheever, apologetically: I think it be evidence, John. I am an official of the court, I cannot keep it.
Proctor: I – I have once or twice plowed on Sunday. I have three children, sir, and until last year my land give little.
Giles: You’ll find other Christians that do plow on Sunday if the truth be known.
Hale: Your Honor, I cannot think you may judge the man on such evidence.
Danforth: I judge nothing. Pause. He keeps watching Proctor, who tries to meet his gaze. 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: Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and –
Parris: Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor?
Proctor: I read the Gospel.
Parris: I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.
Proctor: Aye, God tells us that. To Danforth: But who tells us Rebecca Nurse murdered seven babies by sending out her spirit on them? It is the children only, and this one will swear she lied to you.
Danforth considers, then beckons Hathorne to him. Hathorne leans in, and he speaks in his ear. Hathorne nods.
Hathorne: Aye, she’s the one.
Danforth: Mr. Proctor, this morning, your wife send 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 say she is pregnant, then she must be! That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth.
Danforth: She will not?
Proctor: Never, sir, never.
Danforth: We have thought it too convenient to be credited. However, 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 – what say you to that? John 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? It is done now. In convict, Proctor glances at Francis and Giles. Will you drop this charge?
Proctor: I – I think I cannot.
Danforth, now an almost imperceptible hardness in his voice: Then your purpose is somewhat larger.
Parris: He’s come to overthrow this court, Your Honor!
Proctor: These are my friends. Their wives are also accused –
Danforth, with a sudden briskness of manner: I judge you not, sir. I am ready to hear your evidence.
Proctor: I come not to hurt the court; I only –
Danforth, cutting him off: Marshal, go into the court and bid
Judge Stoughton 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.
Herrick: Aye, sir'. Very deferentially: If I may say it, sir, I know this man all my life. It is a good man, sir.
Danforth –i t is the reflection on himself he resents: I am sure of it, Marshal. Herrick nods, then goes out. Now, what deposition do you have for us, Mr. Proctor? And I beg you be clear, open as the sky, and honest.
Proctor, as he takes out several papers: I am no lawyer, so I'll –
Danforth: The pure in heart need no lawyers. Proceed as you will.
Proctor, handing Danforth a 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 down at the paper.
Parris, to enlist Danforth’s sarcasm: Their good opinion! But Danforth goes on reading, and Proctor is heartened.
Proctor: These are all 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 sign they had dealings with the Devil.
Parris nervously moves over and reads over Danforth’s shoulder.
Danforth, glancing down a long list: How many names are here?
Francis: Ninety-one, Your Excellency.
Parris, sweating: These people should be summoned. Danforth looks up at him questioningly. For questioning.
Francis, trembling with anger: Mr. 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? Can no one – ?
Parris: All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it. To Danforth directly: And I think you will want to know, from each and every one of them, what discontents them with you!
Hathorne: I think they ought to be examined, sir.
Danforth: It is not necessarily an attack, I think. Yet -
Francis: These are all covenanted Christians, sir.
Danforth: Then I am sure they may have nothing to fear. Hands Cheever the paper. Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these - arrest for examination. To Proctor: Now, Mister, what other information do you have for us? Francis is still standing, horrified. You may sit, Mr. Nurse.
Francis: 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. This is a sharp time, now, a precise time – we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. Now, by God’s grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it. I hope you will be one of those. Mary Warren suddenly sobs. She’s not hearty, I see.
Proctor: No, she’s not, sir. To Mary, bending to her, holding her hand, quietly: Now remember what the angel Raphael saint to the boy Tobias. Remember it.
Mary Warren, hardly audible: Aye.
Proctor: “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee.”
Mary Warren: Aye.
Danforth: Come, man, we wait you.
Marshal Herrick returns, and takes his post at the door.
Giles: John, my deposition, give him mine.
Proctor: Aye. He hands Danforth another paper. This is Mr. Corey’s deposition.
Danforth: Oh? He looks down at it. Now Hathorne comes behind him and reads with him.
Hathorne, suspiciously: What lawyer drew this, Corey?
Giles: You know I never hired a lawyer in my life, Hathorne.
Danforth, finishing the reading: It is very well phrased. My compliments. Mr. Parris, if Mr. Putnam is in the court, will you bring him in? Hathorne takes the deposition, and walks to the window with it. Parris goes into the court. You have no legal training, Mr. Corey?
Giles, very pleased: I have the best, sir - I am thirty-three time in court in my life. And always plaintiff, too.
Danforth: Oh, then you’re much put-upon.
Giles: I am never put-upon; I know my rights, sir, and I will have them. You know, your father tried a case of mine – might be thirty-five year ago, I think.
Danforth: Indeed.
Giles: He never spoke to you of it?
Danforth: No, I cannot recall it.
Giles: That’s strange, he give me nine pound damages. He were a fair judge, your father. Y’see, I had a white mare that tinge, and this fellow come to borrow the mare – Enter Parris with Thomas Putnam. When he sees Putnam, Giles’ ease goes; he is hard. 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, turning to Giles: Mr. Putnam states your charge is a lie. What say you to that?
Giles, furious, his fists clenched: A fart on Thomas Putnam, that is what I say to that!
Danforth: What proof do you submit for your charge, sir?
Giles: My proof is there! Pointing to 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.
Giles, pointing at his deposition: 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?
Giles, taken aback: What name?
Hathorne: The man that give you this information.
Giles, hesitates, then: Why, I – I cannot give you his name.
Hathorne: And why not?
Giles, hesitates, then bursts out: You know well why not! He’ll lay in jail if I give his name!
Hathorne: This is contempt of the court, Mr. Danforth!
Danforth, to avoid that: You will surely tell us the name.
Giles: 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: In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that?
Giles: 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?
Giles, faltering: I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot.
Danforth: You are a foolish old man. Mr. Cheever, begin the record. The court is now in session. I ask you, Mr. Corey –
Proctor, breaking in: Your Honor - he has the story in confi-dence, 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 Giles: Old man, if your informant tells the truth let him come here openly like a decent man. But if he hide in anonymity I must know why. Now sir, the government and central church demand of you the name of him who reported Mr. Thomas Putnam a common murderer.
Hale: Excellency –
Danforth: Mr. Hale.
Hale: We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country –
Danforth: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here?
Hale: I may only fear the Lord, sir, bat there is fear in the country nevertheless.
Danforth, 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, Mr. Hale! None! To Giles: 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.
Giles Corey makes a rush for Putnam. Proctor lunges and holds him.
Proctor: No, Giles!
Giles, over Proctor’s shoulder at Putnam: I’ll cut your throat, Putnam, I’ll kill you yet!
Proctor, forcing him into a chair: Peace, Giles, peace. Re-leasing him. We’ll prove ourselves. Now we will. He starts to turn to Danforth.
Giles: Say nothin’ more, John. Pointing at Danforth: He’s only playin’ you! He means to hang us all!
Note: What happens after the end of this key scene is important to understand due to Hale's admission of uncertainty and guilt, as well as Danforth's explanation of how the court holds the witch trials.
Mary Warren bursts into sobs.
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. He lifts up Mary’s chin. 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. 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 hex soul away, and then when she refused –
Danforth: We know all this.
Proctor: Aye, 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.
Proctor starts to hand Danforth the deposition, and Hale comes up to Danforth in a trembling state.
Hale: Excellency, a moment. I think this goes to the heart of the matter.
Danforth, with deep misgivings: It surely does.
Hale: I cannot say he is an honest man; I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer. In God’s name, sir, stop here; send him home and let him come again with a lawyer –
Danforth, patiently: Now look you, Mr. Hale –
Hale: Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.
Danforth: Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice.
Hale: I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your Honor. I’ll not conceal it, my hand shakes yet as with a wound! I pray you, sir, this argument let lawyers present to you.
Danforth: Mr. Hale, believe me; for a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered – I hope you will forgive me. I have been thirty-two year at the bar, sir, and I should be confounded were I called upon to defend these people. Let you consider, now – Proctor and the others: And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims – and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?
Hale: But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not –
Danforth: That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity?
Hale, defeated: I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then.
Danforth: And let you put your heart to rest. Her deposition, Mr. Proctor.