Crucible line (hale)

WOOOOOOO

Putnam: I’ll have my men on you, Corey! I’ll clap a writ on you!

Pray you, someone take these

Parris: mister Hale! Oh, it’s good to see you again! My, they’re heavy

They must be, they are weighted with authority

Parris: well, you do come prepared!

We shall need hard study, if it comes to tracking down the Old Boy. You cannot be Rebecca Nurse?

Rebecca: I am, sir. Do you know me?

It’s strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should. We have all heard of your great charities in Beverly.

Parris: do you know this gentlemen? Mister Thomas Putnam. And His good wide Ann

Putnam! I had not expected such distinguished company, sir.

Putnam: It does not seem to help us today, Mister Hale. We look to you to come to our house and save our child.

Your Child ails, too?!

Putnam: she cannot eat

Cannot eat! (To proctor and Corey) do you men also have afflicted children

Parris: she has tried to leap out the window… waving her arms as though she’d fly

Tries to fly?

Putnam: she cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name, Mister Hale; that a sure sign of witchcraft aloft

No—no… Now let me instruct you. we cannot look to superstition in this. The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone and we must look only for his proper signs and judge nothing beforehand, and I must tell you all, that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no trace of hell in this

Parris: It is agreed, sir — it is agreed— we will abide by your judgement.

Good then, Now, sir, what were your first warning of this strangeness?

Parris: why sir, I discovered her and my niece Abigail and ten or twelve of the other girls, dancing in the forest last night

You permit dancing?!!

Parris:shhhh

(leafing through his book). Seven dead in childbirth?

Ann: what’s there sir?

(With a tasty love of intellectual pursuit. Looking at open book) Here is all the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated. (Now looking at them. They are enthralled) In these books the Devil stand stripped of all his brute disguises. Here are all your familiar spirits— your incubi, and succubi, your witches that go by land, by air, and the sea; your wizards of the night and of the day. Have no fear now— we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face!

Rebecca: will it hurt the child, sir?

I cannot tell. If she is truly in the Devil’s grip we may have to rip and tear. To get her free.

Corey: Mister Hale… I have always wanted to ask a learned man— what signifies the reading’ of strange books?

What books?

Corey: I cannot tell; she hides them.

Who does this?

Corey: Martha, my wife/. I have waked at night many times and found her in a corner, readin’ of a ok. Now what do you make of that

Why, that’s not necessarily…

Corey: it discomforts me! Last night— mark this— I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly— mark this— I could pray again!

Ah!— the stoppage of prayer— that is strange. (Sits on the bed next to Betty) I’d like to speak further on that with you.

Corey: I’m not saying she’s touched the devil, now, but I’d admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them—she’ll not answer me, y’see

Aye, we’ll discuss it. Now mark me, if the Devil is in her you will witness some frightful wonders in this room, so please to keep your wits about you. Mister Putnam, stand close in case she flies. (Turns to Betty and helps her up) now, Betty dear, will you sit up? (Sits her up) hmmmm. Can you hear me? I am John Hale, minister of Beverly. I have come to help you, dear. Do you remember my two little girls in Beverly?

Parris: How can it be the devil? Why would he choose my house to strike?

What victory would the devil have, to win a soul already had? It is the best the devil wants, and who is better than the minister?

Corey: That’s deep, Mister Paris, deep.

Does someone afflict you, child? It need not be a woman mind you, or a man. Perhaps some bird, invisible to others, comes to you, perhaps a pig, or any beast at all. Is there some figure bids you fly? (Passes hand over her) In nomine Domini Sabaoth, Sui filiique ite ad infernos. (Looks to Abigail) Abigail, (looks back to Betty) what sort of dancing were you doing with her in the forest?

Abigail: that were only soup

Soup? What sort of soup were in this kettle, Abigail?

Abigail: why, it were beans— and lintels, I think and—

Mister Parris, you did not notice, did you— any living thing in the kettle? A mouse, perhaps, a spider, a frog— ?

Abigail: we never put it in!

Abigail, it may be your cousin is dying— Did you call the Devil last night?

Parris: she called the Devil

I should like to speak with Tituba

Parris: Goody Ann, will you bring her up?

Did you feel any strangeness when she called him? A sudden cold wind, perhaps? A trembling below the ground?

Abigail: I didn’t see no devil!— Betty wake up, Betty! Betty!

You cannot evade me, Abigail— Did you cousin drink any of the brew in that kettle?

Abigail: she never drank it!

Did you drink it?

Abigail: no, sir!

Why are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer

Tituba: No— chicken blood, I give she chicken blood!

Man, have you enlisted these children for the Devil

Tituba: No- no, sir, I don’t truck with the devil!

(of Betty) why can she not wake? Are you silencing this child

Tituba: I love me Betty!

You have sent your spirit out upon this child, have you not? Are you gathering souls for the devil?

Tituba: Mister Reverend, I never(together)

Tituba, I want you to wake this child(together)

Tituba: I have no power on this child, sir

You most certainly do, and you will loose her from it now! When did you compact with the Devil?

Tituba: (kneeling) no- no, don’t hang Tituba. I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir

Who, the Devil? Now, Tituba, I know that when we bind ourselves to Hell it is very hard to break with it entirely. Now, we are going to help you tear yourself free.- you would be a good Christian woman, would you not, Tituba?

Tituba: Ay, sir, a good Christian woman.

And you love these little children?

Tituba: oh, yes, sir, I don’t desire to hurt little children?

And you love god, Tituba?

Tituba: I love God with all my bein’

Now in god’s holy name…

Tituba: Bless him… Bless him.. Bless god…

Open yourself, Tituba— open yourself and let god’s holy light shine on you.

Tituba: Oh, bless the lord.

When the Devil comes to you does he ever come… with another person? Perhaps another person in the village? Someone you know.

Tituba: I believe so, yes, sir.

(calmly, now he takes her hand) Tituba. You must have no fear to tell us who they are, do you understand? We will protect you. The devil can never overcome a minister. You know that, do you not?

Tituba: Aye, sir, oh, I do.

You have confessed yourself to witchcraft, an that speaks a wish to come to heaven’s side. And we will bless you, Tituba…

Tituba: oh, God bless you, mister Hale

You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the devil’s agents among us. You are selected, Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village. So speak utterly, Tituba, turn your back on him and face god, face god, Tituba, and God will protect you.

Tituba: oh, God, protect Tituba!

Who came to you with the devil? Two? three? Four?- how many?

Ann: … I begged you Thomas did I not? I begged him not to call Osborn because I feared her, my babies always shriveled in her hands…

Take courage, you must give us all their names. How can you bear to see these children suffering? Look at them, Tituba— (indicated Betty) look at their God given innocence; their souls are so tender; we must protect them, Tituba; the devil is out and preying on them like a beast upon the flesh of the pure lamb… God will bless you for your help

Parris: She speaks. She speaks!

Glory to god!— it’s broken, the are free!

Putnam: The marshal, I’ll call the marshal

Let the marshal bring irons.

elizabeth: …she has an arrow in you yet John Proctor, and you know it well!

Good evening

Proctor: why, Mister Hale! Good evening to you sir. Come in, come in

I hope i do not startle you.

Elizabeth: no- no, it’s only that I heard no horse…

You are Goodwife Proctor

Proctor: Aye: Elizabeth

I hope you’re not off to bed yet.

Proctor: …will you sit you down, sir?

I will. Let you sit Goodwife Proctor.

Proctor: will you drink cider, Mister Hale

No, it rebels my stomach— I have some further traveling yet tonight. Sit you don, sir. I will not keep you, long, but I have some business with you.

Proctor: Business of the court?

(Hesitantly) no…no, I come of my own, without the court’s authority. Hear me. I know not if you are aware, but your wife’s name is… mentioned in court.

Proctor: we know it, sir. Our Mary Warren told us. We are entirely amazed

I am a stranger here, as you know. And in my ignorance, I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court. And so this afternoon, and now tonight, I go from house to house… I come now from Rebecca Nurse’s house and…

Elizabeth: (shocked) Rebecca’s charged!

God forbid such a one be charged. She is, however mentioned somewhat.

Elizabeth: You will never believe, I hope, that Rebecca trafficked with the devil?

(regretfully) woman, it is possible!

Proctor: surely you cannot think so

this is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer oust the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it. You will agree, sir?

Proctor:(evading) I… have no knowledge in that line But it’s hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a devils hore after 70 year of such good prayer.

Aye. But the devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it. However, she is far from accused, and I know she will not be. I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, If you’ll remit me.

Proctor: Why, we… have no fear of questions, sir

Good, then in the th book of record that Mister Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day….

Proctor: No, sir, you are mistaken…

Only 26 time in 17 month sir. I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are so absent?

Proctor: MIster Hale… My wife were sick this winter.

(Kindly) So I am told! But you, Mister, why could you not come alone?

Proctor: I surely did come when I could, and when I could not, I prayed in this house

Mister Proctor, your house is not a church; your theology must tell you that.

Proctor: It does sir, it does; and it tells me a minister pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar

What golden candlesticks…?

… I think sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not clap board meeting houses

And yet, Mister, a Christian on Sabbath Day must be in church.. tell me— you have three children

Proctor: aye. Boys.

How come it that only 2 are baptized?

Proctor: I like it not that Mister Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I’ll no conceal it.

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.

Proctor: what’s your suspicion, Mister Hale.

No—no, I have no…

Proctor: I nailed the roof upon the church, I hung the door…

(Eagerly) oh, did you! That’s a good sign, then

Proctor: …I think that’s in your mind, is it not?

I… have… there is a softness in your record, sir, a softness.

Elizabeth:I think, maybe, we have been too hard with Mister Parris. I think so. But sure we never loved the devil here

Do you know the commandments, Elizabeth

Elizabeth:there be no mark of blame upon my life, Mister Hale, I am a covenanted Christian woman

And you, Mister?

Proctor:I… am sure I do, sir.

Let you repeat them, if you will.

Proctor… The commandments?

Aye

Proctor:Thou shalt not kill

Aye

Proctor:saying commandments… Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image

You have said that twice, sir

Proctor: you see sir between the 2 of us we do know them all., I think it be a small fault

(thoughtfully and regretfully) Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.

Proctor: There be no love for Satan in this house

I pray it, I pray it dearly. (Rising) Well, then, I’ll bid you goodnight

Elizabeth: Mister Hale. I do think you’re suspecting me somewhat? Are you not?

Goody Proctor, I do not judge you. My duty is to add what i may to the Godly Wisdom of the court. I pray you both good health and good fortune. Goodnight, sir.

Elizabeth: I think you must tell him, John

What’s That?

Proctor: I have no witness and cannot prove it, except my word be taken. But I know the children’s sickness had naught to do wth witchcraft.

(stopped, struck) Naught to do…?

Proctor: They were discovered by Mr. Parris sporting in the woods. they were startled, and took sick.

Who told you this?

Proctor: Abigail Williams

Abigail!

Proctor:Aye

Nonsense! Mister, I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good and number outs others that have confessed to dealing with the devil. They have confessed it.

Proctor: …there are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that

(In his suspicion but resists it) I have I… I have indeed. And you… would you really testify to this in court?

Proctor:I… had not reckoned with going into court… but if I must I will.

Ah, you falter there? I think you…

Proctor:… she cannot lie; and the world knows she cannot. I may falter somewhat, Mister, I am no fool.

(Quietly, impressed) Proctor, let you open with me now, for I have heard a thing that troubles me. It’s said you old no belief that there may even be witched in the world. Is that true, sir?

Proctor: I know not what I have said, I may have said it. I have wondered if there be witches in the world

Then you do not believe…?

Proctor: I have no knowledge of it; the Bible speaks of witches, and I will not deny them.

And you, woman?

Elizabeth: I… I cannot believe it.

(shocked) you cannot!

Elizabeth: …I may do only good work in the world, and yet be secretly bound to satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it.

but, woman, you do believe there are witches in…?

Elizabeth: If you think I am one, then I say there are none.

You surely do not fly against the gospel, the gospel…

Proctor: She do not mean to doubt the gospel, sir, you cannot think it. This be a good Christian house, sir, a Christian house.

(sighing) God keep you both; let the 3rd child be quickly baptized an go you without fail each Sunday into Sabbath Prayer; and keep a solemn, quiet way among you. I think…

Nurse: Reverend Hale. Can you not speak to the Deputy Governor?- I’m sure he mistakes these people

Pray calm yourself, Mister Nurse…

Nurse: my wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, Mister Hale— and Martha Corey, there cannot be a woman closer yet to god then Martha

(incredulously) How is Rebecca charged, Mr. Nurse

Nurse: for murder, she’s charged! “For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.” What am I to do, Mr. Hale

Believe me sir, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the hole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it…

Proctor: how may such a woman murder children?

Man, remember, until an hour before the devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven

Corey: I never said my wife were a witch, Mister Hale, I only sad she was reading books!

Mister Corey, exactly what complaint were made on your wife?

Proctor: what say you? A warrant for my wife? (To hale) you said she were not charged

(confounded) I know nothin’ of it. (To Cheever) when were she charged

Proctor: you’ll leave her out of sight and out of mind, Mister. Fetch Mary, Elizabeth

(bewildered) what signifies a poppet, Mister Cheever