Cheever: There be so many cows wanderin’ the highroads, now their masters are in the jails, and much disagreement who they will belong to now. I know Mr. Parris be arguin’ with farmers all yesterday – there is great contention, sir, about the cows. Contention make him weep, sir; it were always a man that weep for contention. He turns, as do Hathorne and Danforth, hearing someone coming up the corridor. Danforth raises his head as Parris enters. He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat.
Parris, to Danforth, instantly: Oh, good morning, sir, thank you for coming, I beg your pardon wakin’ you so early. Good morning, Judge Hathorne.
Danforth: Reverend Hale have no right to enter this –
Parris: Excellency, a moment. He hurries back and shuts the door.
Hathorne: Do you leave him alone with the prisoners?
Danforth: What’s his business here?
Parris, prayerfully holding up his hands: Excellency, hear me. It is a providence. Reverend Hale has returned to bring Rebecca Nurse to God.
Danforth, surprised: He bids her confess?
Parris, sitting: Hear me. Rebecca have not given me a word this three month since she came. Now she sits with him, and her sister and Martha Corey and two or three others, and he pleads with them, confess their crimes and save their lives.
Danforth: Why – this is indeed a providence. And they soften, they soften?
Parris: Not yet, not yet. But I thought to summon you, sir, that we might think on whether it be not wise, to – He dares not say it. I had thought to put a question, sir, and I hope you will not –
Danforth: Mr. Parris, be plain, what troubles you?
Parris: There is news, sir, that the court – the court must reckon with. My niece, sir, my niece – I believe she has vanished.
Danforth: Vanished!
Parris: I had thought to advise you of it earlier in the week, but –
Danforth: Why? How long is she gone?
Parris: This be the third night. You see, sir, she told me she would stay a night with Mercy Lewis. And next day, when she does not return, I send to Mr. Lewis to inquire. Mercy told him she would sleep in my house for a night.
Danforth: They are both gone?!
Parris, in fear of him: They are, sir.
Danforth, alarmed: I will send a party for them. Where may they be?
Parris: Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. Danforth stands agape. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my – my strongbox is broke into. He presses his fingers against his eyes to keep back tears.
Hathorne, astonished: She have robbed you?
Parris: Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless. He covers his face and sobs.
Danforth: Mr. Parris, you are a brainless man! He walks in thought, deeply worried.
Parris: Excellency, it profit nothing you should blame me. I cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in Salem any more. He is pleading. Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge of the town, and since the news of Andover has broken here –
Danforth: Andover is remedied. The court returns there on Friday, and will resume examinations.
Parris: I am sure of it, sir. But the rumor here speaks rebellion in Andover, and it –
Danforth: There is no rebellion in Andover!
Parris: I tell you what is said here, sir. Andover have thrown out the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft. There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here.
Hathorne: Riot! Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town.
Parris: Judge Hathorne – it were another sort that hanged till now. Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward that drank his family to ruin. To Danforth: I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town. Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she’ll wake a vengeance on you.
Hathorne: Excellency, she is condemned a witch. The court have –
Danforth, in deep concern, raising a hand to Hathorne: Pray you. To Parris: How do you propose, then?
Parris: Excellency, I would postpone these hangin’s for a time.
Danforth: There will be no postponement.
Parris: Now Mr. Hale’s returned, there is hope, I think – for if he bring even one of these to God, that confession surely damns the others in the public eye, and none may doubt more that they are all linked to Hell. This way, unconfessed and claiming innocence, doubts are multiplied, many honest people will weep for them, and our good purpose is lost in their tears.
Danforth, after thinking a moment, then going to Cheever: Give me the list.
Cheever opens the dispatch case, searches.
Parris: It cannot be forgot, sir, that when I summoned the congregation for John Proctor’s excommunication there were hardly thirty people come to hear it. That speak a discontent, I think, and –
Danforth, studying the list: There will be no postponement.
Parris: Excellency –
Danforth: Now, sir – which of these in your opinion may be brought to God? I will myself strive with him till dawn. He hands the list to Parris, who merely glances at it.
Parris: There is not sufficient time till dawn.
Danforth: I shall do my utmost. Which of them do you have hope for?
Parris, not even glancing at the list now, and in a quavering voice, quietly: Excellency – a dagger – He chokes up.
Danforth: What do you say?
Parris: Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house – a dagger clattered to the ground. Silence. Danforth absorbs this. Now Parris cries out: You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me. I dare not step outside at night!
Reverend Hale enters. They look at him for an instant in silence. He is steeped in sorrow, exhausted, and more direct than he ever was.
Danforth: Accept my congratulations, Reverend Hale; we are gladdened to see you returned to your good work.
Hale, coming to Danforth now: You must pardon them. They will not budge.
Herrick enters, waits.
Danforth, conciliatory: You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just.
Parris, with failing heart: Rebecca will not confess?
Hale: The sun will rise in a few minutes. Excellency, I must have more time.
Danforth: Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this – I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do. Have you spoken with them all, Mr. Hale?
- The following is not a part of the key scene but contains some key quotes from Hale -
Hale: All but Proctor. He is in the dungeon.
Danforth, to Herrick: What’s Proctor’s way now?
Herrick: He sits like some great bird; you’d not know he lived except he will take food from time to time.
Danforth, after thinking a moment: His wife – his wife must be well on with child now.
Herrick: She is, sir.
Danforth: What think you, Mr. Parris? You have closer knowledge of this man; might her presence soften him?
Parris: It is possible, sir. He have not laid eyes on her these three months. I should summon her.
Danforth, to Herrick: Is he yet adamant? Has he struck at you again?
Herrick: He cannot, sir, he is chained to the wall now.
Danforth, after thinking on it: Fetch Goody Proctor to me. Then let you bring him up.
Herrick: Aye, sir. Herrick goes. There is silence.
Hale: Excellency, if you postpone a week and publish to the town that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.
Danforth: Mr. Hale, as God have not empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from them the perfection of their punishment.
Hale, harder now: If you think God wills you to raise rebellion, Mr. Danforth, you are mistaken!
Danforth, instantly: You have heard rebellion spoken in the town?
Hale: Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots’ cry will end his life – and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!
Danforth: Mr. Hale, have you preached in Andover this month?
Hale: Thank God they have no need of me in Andover.
Danforth: You baffle me, sir. Why have you returned here?
Hale: Why, it is all simple. I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. His sarcasm collapses. There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!