The Crucible

Auther Miller

In this scene of the play, John Proctor, whose wife, Elizabeth has been arrested as a witch, has brought to the court Marry Warren, who has evidence that Abigail and the other afflicted girls have been pretending. As the scene opens, Abigail interrupts the interrogation of John Proctor by the prosecutor, Danforth.

Cast of Characters in this Scene:

Abigail Williams: 18-year-old niece of Reverend Paris. In love with John Proctor, she pretends to be possessed in an attempt to have Proctor\'s wife condemned as a witch.

John Proctor: Farmer in his mid-thirties seeking to free his wife from false charges.

Marry Warren: 17-year-old servant of John Proctor.

Mercy Lewis and Susanna Walcott: Mercy is an 18-year-old servant girl; Susanna is a little younger. Along with Abigail, they claim to be possessed by witches.

Reverend Samuel Parris: Zealous minister who begins the witch hunt in Salem.

Deputy Governor Danforth: Deputy Governor of Salem, prosecutor in this case.

Reverend John Hale: A minister who is called to Salem by Reverend Parris to help determine whether witchcraft is afoot.

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Abigail, with a wired, wild, chilling cry, screams up to the ceiling.

Abigail: You will not! Begone! Begone, I say!

Danforth: What is it, child? (But Abigail, pointing with fear, is now raising up her frightened eyes, her awed face, toward the ceiling--the girls are doing the same--and now Hawthrone, Haler, Putnam, Cheever, Herrick, and Danforth do the same.) What\'s there? (He lowers his eyes from the ceiling, and now he is frightened; there is real tension in his voice.) Child! (She is transfixed--with all the girls, she is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.) Girls! Why do you--?

Mercy Lewis (pointing): It\'s on the beam! Behind the rafter!

Danforth (looking up): Where!

Abigail: Why--? (She gulps.) Why do you come, yellow bird?

Proctor: Where\'s a bird? I see no bird!

Abigail (to the ceiling): My face? My face?

Proctor: Mr. Hale--

Danforth: Be quiet!

Proctor (to Hale): Do you see a bird?

Danforth: Be quiet!

Abigail (to the ceiling, in a genuine conversation with the \"bird,\" as though trying to talk it out of attacking her): But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Marry.

Marry Warren (on her feet with a spring, and horrified, pleading): Abby!

Abigail (unperturbed, continuing to the \"bird\"): Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it\'s God\'s work I do.

Mary Warren: Abby, I\'m here!

Proctor (frantically): They\'re pretending, Mr. Danforth!

Abigail (Now she takes a backward step, as though in fear the bird will swoop down momentarily.): Oh, please, Mary! Don\'t come down.

Susanna Walcott: Her claws, she\'s stretching her claws!

Proctor: Lies, Lies.

Abigail (backing further, eyes still fixed above): Mary, please don\'t hurt me!

Mary Warren (to Danforth): I\'m not hurting her!

Danforth (to Mary Warren): Why does she see this vision?

Mary Warren: She sees nothin\'!

Abigail (now staring full front as though hypnotized, and mimicking the exact tone of Mary Warren\'s cry): She sees nothin\'!

Mary Warren (pleading): Abby, you mustn\'t!

Abigail and all the girls (all transfixed): Abby, you mustn\'t!

Mary Warren (to all the girls): I\'m here, I\'m here!

Girls: I\'m here, I\'m here!

Danforth (horrified): Marry Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!

Mary Warren: Mr. Danforth!

Girls (cutting her off): Mr. Danforth!

Danforth: Have you compacted the devil? Have you?

Mary Warren: Never, never!

Danforth (growing hysterical): Why can they only repeat you?

Proctor: Give me a whip--I\'ll stop it!

Mary Warren: They\'re sporting, they--!

Girls: They\'re sporting!

Mary Warren (turning on them all hysterically and stamping her feet): Abby, stop it!

Girls (stamping their feet): Abby, stop it!