3
CHEEVER: 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 gave little.
HALE: Your Honor, I cannot think you may judge the man on
such evidence.
DANFORTH: I judge nothing. 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, Mister 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. But who tells us Rebecca Nurse
murdered seven babies by sending out her spirit on them? It is
the children only, and this one, Mary Warren, will swear she lied
to you.
DANFORTH: Hmm. Judge Hathorne.
(Danforth and Hathorne speak to each other quietly.)
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor… this morning, your wife sent me a
claim in which she states that she is pregnant.
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, Mister 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? (Proctor is silent.) Come man. You say
your only purpose is to save your wife. Good then, she is saved
at least a year, and a year is long. What say you, sir? It is done
now. Will you drop this charge?
PROCTOR: I… I think I cannot.
DANFORTH: Then your purpose is somewhat larger?
PARRIS: He‘s come to overthrow this court, Your Honor!
PROCTOR: Giles Corey and Francis Nurse are my friends. Their
wives are also accused.
DANFORTH: I judge you not, sir. Sit down. I am ready to hear
your evidence. Now, what depositions do you have for us,
Mister Proctor? And I beg you be clear, open as the sky, and
honest.
PROCOTR: I am no lawyer, sir, so I’ll –
DANFORTH: The pure in heart need no lawyers. Proceed as you
will.
PROCTOR: 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. They’re all landholding farmers,
members of the church. If you‘ll notice, sir—they‘ve known the
women many years and never saw no signs they had dealings
with the Devil.
DANFORTH: How many names are here?
NURSE: Ninety-one, Your Excellency.
PARRIS: These people should be summoned … for questioning.
NURSE: Mister 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: Is every defense an attack upon the court?
PARRIS: All innocent and Christian people are happy for the
courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it. And I think you
will want to know, from each and every one of them, what
discontents them with you!
DANFORTH: It is not necessarily an attack, I think. Yet – Then I
am sure, Mister Nurse, they may have nothing to fear. Mister
Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these—arrest for
examination. (Cheever exits.)
NURSE: I have brought trouble on these people, I have….
