1
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
ACT 4:
A cell in Salem jail, that fall.
At the back is a high barred window; near it, a great, heavy door.
Along the walls are two benches.
The place is in darkness but for the moonlight seeping through
the bars. It appears empty. Presently footsteps are heard coming
down a corridor beyond the wall, keys rattle, and the door
swings open. Marshal Herrick enters with a lantern.
He is nearly drunk, and heavy-footed. He goes to a bench and
nudges a bundle of rags lying on it.
In the corridor outside Tituba calls on – “Devil take me home!
Devil, take me home!” and Hopkins’ voice orders her to move
on. Herrick returns and begins to push old rags and straw into a
corner. He sits and naps. Hearing footsteps and a man clearing
his throat, Herrick wakes, and sees Danforth and Judge
Hathorne. They are in greatcoats and wear hats against the
bitter cold. They are followed in by Cheever, who carries a
dispatch case and a flat wooden box containing his writing
materials.
HERRICK: Good morning, Excellency, Judge Hathorne, Mister
Cheever.
DANFORTH: Mister Parris asked to see us. Where is he?
HERRICK: I‘ll fetch him.
DANFORTH: Marshal Herrick. When did Reverend Hale arrive?
HERRICK: It were toward midnight, I think.
DANFORTH: (Suspiciously.) What is he about here?
HERRICK: He goes among them that will hang, sir. And he prays
with them. He sits with Goody Nurse now. And Mister Parris
with him.
DANFORTH: Indeed. That man have no authority to enter here,
Marshal. Why have you let him in?
HERRICK: Why, Mister Parris command me, sir. I cannot deny
him.
DANFORTH: Are you drunk, Marshal?
HERRICK: No sir; it is a bitter night, and I have no fire here.
DANFORTH: Fetch Mister Parris.
HERRICK: Aye, sir.
DANFORTH: There is a prodigious stench in this cell.
HERRICK: I have only now cleared the prisoners out for you.
DANFORTH: What prisoners?
HERRICK: Tituba and Sara Good.
DANFORTH: Beware hard drink, Marshal.
HERRICK: Aye, sir. (He exits.)
HATHORNE: Let you question Hale, Excellency; I should not be
surprised he have been preachin‘ in Andover lately.
DANFORTH: We‘ll come to that, Hathorne; speak nothin‘ of
Andover. Parris prays with him. That‘s strange.
HATHORNE: Excellency, I wonder if it be wise to let Mister Parris
so continuously with the prisoners. I think, sometimes, the man
has a mad look these days.
DANFORTH: Mad?
HATHORNE: I met him yesterday coming out of his house, and I
bid him good morning – and he wept and went his way. I think it
is not well the village sees him so unsteady.
DANFORTH: Perhaps he has some sorrow.
CHEEVER: I think it be the cows, sir.
DANFORTH: Cows, Mister Cheever?
CHEEVER: There be so many cows wanderin’ the highroads, now
their masters are in the jails, and much disagreement as to who
they will belong to now. I know Mister Parris be arguin’ with
farmers all yesterday – there is great contention, sir, about the
cows, and contention make him weep, sir; it were always a man
that weep for contention.
(Parris enters.)
PARRIS: Oh, good morning, sir, thank you for comin‘. I beg your
pardon wakin‘ you so early. Good morning, Judge Hathorne….
DANFORTH: Reverend Hale have no right to enter this…
HATHORNE: Do you leave him alone with the prisoners?
DANFORTH: What‘s his business here?
PARRIS: Excellency, hear me. It’s a providence. Reverend Hale
has returned to bring Rebecca Nurse to God.
DANFORTH: He bids her confess?
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PARRIS: Hear me. Rebecca have not given me a word this three
months 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 not think on whether it be not wise to – I had thought
to put a question, sir, and I hope you will not –
DANFORTH: Mister 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. She and Mercy Lewis are both
gone.
DANFORTH: I will send a party for them. Where may they be?
PARRIS: Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter
tells me how she hears them speakin‘ of ships last week, and
tonight I discover my… my strongbox is broken into.
HATHORNE: She have robbed you?
PARRIS: Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless.
DANFORTH: Mister Parris, you are a brainless man!
PARRIS: Excellency, it profit nothing you should blame me. I
cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in
Salem anymore. 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 spoken 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 feel she‘ll wake a vengeance on
you.
HATHORNE: Excellency, she is a condemned witch.
DANFORTH: Pray you –
HATHORNE: The court have –
DANFORTH: How do you propose that, Mister Parris?
PARRIS: Excellency… I would postpone these hangin‘s for a time.
DANFORTH: There will be no postponement.
PARRIS: Now Mister 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 any more that
they are all linked to Hell. This way, unconfessed and claiming
innocence, doubts are multiplied, and honest people will weep
for them, and our good purpose is lost in their tears. 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: There will be no postponement. Now, sir, which of
the condemned, in your opinion, may be brought to God? I will,
myself, strive with him ‘till dawn.
PARRIS: There is not sufficient time till dawn.
DANFORTH: I shall to my utmost. Which of them do you have
hope for?
PARRIS: Excellency… a dagger…
DANFORTH: What do you say?
PARRIS: Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a
dagger clattered to the ground. You cannot hang this sort. There
is danger for me. I dare not step out at night!
(Hale enters, exhausted.)
HERRICK: Reverend Hale, sir.
DANFORTH: Accept my congratulations, Reverend Hale; we are
gladdened to see you returned to your good work.
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HALE: You must pardon them. They will not budge.
DANFORTH: You misunderstand me, sir; I cannot pardon these
when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not
just.
PARRIS: 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, Mister Hale?
HALE: All … all but Proctor. He is in the dungeon.
DANFORTH: (To Herrick.) What‘s Proctor‘s way now, Marshal?
HERRICK: He sits like some great bird; you‘d not know he lived
except he will take food from time to time.
DANFORTH: His wife… his wife must be well on with child now.
HERRICK: She is, sir.
DANFORTH: What think you, Mister 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: Is she yet adamant? Has he struck at you again,
Marshal?
HERRICK: He cannot, sir, he is chained to the wall.
DANFORTH: Fetch Goody Proctor to me. Then let you bring him
up.
HERRICK: Aye, sir. (Herrick exits.)
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: Mister 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: If you think God wills you to raise rebellion, Mister
Danforth, you are mistaken.
DANFORTH: 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 yet you should marvel how they do not burn your
province!
DANFORTH: Mister 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. There is
blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head?
DANFORTH: Mister Hale.
PARRIS: Hush!
(Elizabeth enters.)
DANFORTH: Remove her chains, Marshal.
HERRICK: Aye, sir.
DANFORTH: Goody Proctor. I hope you are hearty?
ELIZABETH: I am … I am yet six month before my time.
DANFORTH: Pray, be at your ease, we come not for your life.
We… Mister Hale, will you speak with the woman?
HALE: Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this
morning.
ELIZABETH: I have heard it.
HALE: You know, do you not, that I have no connection with the
court? I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your
husband‘s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer. Do
you understand me?
ELIZABETH: What do you want of me?
HALE: Goody Proctor, I have gone this three month like our Lord
into the wilderness. I have sought a Christian way, for
damnation‘s doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie.
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HATHORNE: It is no lie.
HALE: It is a lie! They are innocent!
HATHORNE: You cannot speak of lies.
HALE: (To Elizabeth.) Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook
my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved,
bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I
brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died;
and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up.
Beware, Goody Proctor – cleave to no faith when faith brings
blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman,
life is God‘s most precious gift; no principle however glorious
may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman—prevail upon your
husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God‘s
judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he
that throws his life away for pride. Will you plead with him? I
cannot think he will listen to another.
ELIZABETH: I think this be the Devil‘s argument.
HALE: Woman, before the laws of God we are as swine! We
cannot read His will!
ELIZABETH: I cannot dispute with you, sir; I lack learning for it.
DANFORTH: Goody Proctor, you are not summoned here for
disputation—be there no wifely tenderness within you? He will
die with the sunrise. Your husband. Do you understand it? What
say you? Will you contend with him? Are you stone? I tell you
true, woman, had I no other proof of your unnatural life, your
dry eyes now would be sufficient evidence that you delivered up
your soul to Hell! A very ape would weep at such calamity! Have
the devil dried up any tear of pity in you? Take her out. It profit
nothing she should speak to him!
ELIZABETH: Let me speak with him, Excellency.
PARRIS: You’ll strive with him?
DANFORTH: Will you plead with him? Will you plead for his
confession, or will you not?
ELIZABETH: I promise nothing. Let me speak with him.
(Herrick enters with Proctor, chained. He is bearded, filthy.
Proctor goes slowly to Elizabeth.)
HERRICK: John Proctor, Your Excellency.
HALE: Pray, leave them, Excellency.
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor, you have been notified, have you
not? I see light in the sky, Mister; let you counsel with your wife
and may God help you turn your back on Hell. Come, gentlemen.
PARRIS: If you would like a cup of cider, Mister Proctor, I am
sure – (Proctor stares.)
(The men exit.)
ELIZABETH: John.
PROCTOR: The child?
ELIZABETH: It grows.
PROCTOR: There is no word of the boys?
ELIZABETH: They’re well. Rebecca’s Samuel keeps them.
PROCTOR: You have not seen them?
ELIZABETH: I have not.
PROCTOR: You are …. You are a marvel, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: You – have been tortured?
PROCTOR: Aye, they come for my life now.
ELIZABETH: I know it.
PROCTOR: None… have yet confessed?
ELIZABETH: There be many confessed.
PROCTOR: Who are they?
ELIZABETH: There be a hundred or more, they say. Goody Ballard
is one; Isaiah Goodkind is one. There be many.
PROCTOR: Rebecca?
ELIZABETH: Not Rebecca. She is one foot in heaven now. Naught
can hurt her more.
PROCTOR: And Giles?
ELIZABETH: You have not heard of it?
PROCTOR: I hear nothin’, where I am kept.
ELIZABETH: Giles is dead.
PROCTOR: Dead? … When were he hanged?
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ELIZABETH: He were not hanged. He would not answer aye or
nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they‘d hang
him surely, and auction out his property. So he stand mute, and
died Christian under the law. And so his sons will have his farm.
It is the law, for he could not be condemned a wizard without he
answer the indictment, aye or nay.
PROCTOR: Then how does he die?
ELIZABETH: They press him, John.
PROCTOR: Press?
ELIZABETH: Great stones they lay upon his chest until he plead
aye or nay. They say he give them but two words. “More
weight,” he says. And died.
PROCTOR: “More weight! “
ELIZABETH: Aye. It were a fearsome man, Giles Corey.
PROCTOR: I have been thinkin‘ I would confess to them,
Elizabeth. What say you? What say you If I give them that?
ELIZABETH: I cannot judge you, John.
PROCTOR: What would you have me do?
ELIZABETH: As you will, I would have it. I want you living, John.
That‘s sure.
PROCTOR: Giles’ wife? Have she confessed?
ELIZABETH: She will not.
PROCTOR: It is a pretense, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: What is?
PROCTOR: I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I
am not that man. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth, I am no good
man.
ELIZABETH: Oh, John.
PROCTOR: Nothing‘s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not
rotten long before.
ELIZABETH: And yet you‘ve not confessed till now. That speak
goodness in you.
PROCTOR: Spite only keeps me silent. It is hard to give a lie to
dogs! (He holds her hand.) I would have your forgiveness,
Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: It is not for me to give, John. I am –
PROCTOR: I’d have you see some honesty in it. Let them that
never lied die now to keep their souls. It is pretense for me, a
vanity that will not blind God nor keep my children out of the
wind. What say you?
ELIZABETH: John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if
you’ll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, John, it is yours. Only
be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a
good man does it. I have read my heart this three month, John. I
have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt
lechery.
PROCTOR: Enough, enough –
ELIZABETH: Better you should know me!
PROCTOR: I will not hear it! I know you!
ELIZABETH: You take my sins upon you, John –
PROCTOR: No, I take my own, my own.
ELIZABETH: John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no
honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I
never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I
kept!
(Hathorne enters.)
HATHORNE: What say you, Proctor? The sun is soon up.
ELIZABETH: Do what you will, John. But let none be your judge,
there be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is! Forgive
me, forgive me, John—I never knew such goodness in the world!
PROCTOR: I want my life.
HATHORNE: You‘ll confess yourself?!
PROCTOR: I will have my lie.
HATHORNE: God be praised!—It is a providence! He will confess!
Proctor will confess!
PROCTOR: Why do you cry it! It is evil, is it not, Elizabeth? It is
evil.
ELIZABETH: I cannot judge you, John, I cannot!
PROCTOR: Then who will judge me? God in Heaven, what is John
Proctor? What is John Proctor? I think it is honest, I think so. I
am no saint. Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is fraud!
ELIZABETH: I am not your judge, I cannot be. Do as you will. Do
as you will.
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PROCTOR: Elizabeth, would you give them such a lie? Say it.
Would you ever give them this?
ELIZABETH: John.
PROCTOR: You would not; if tongs of fire were singeing you, you
would not! – It is evil. Good then, it is evil, and I do it.
(The men enter. It is a business-like, rapid entrance.)
DANFORTH: Praise to God, man, praise to God; you shall be
blessed in Heaven for this. Now then, let us have it. Are you
ready, Mister Cheever?
CHEEVER: I have ink, paper, and pen.
PROCTOR: Why must it be written?
DANFORTH: Why, for the good instruction of the village, Mister;
this we shall post upon the church door! Now, then, Mister, will
you speak slowly, and directly to the point for Mister Cheever‘s
sake? Mister Proctor, have you seen the Devil in your life? Come,
man, there is light in the sky; the town waits at the scaffold, I
would give out this news. Did you see the Devil?
PROCTOR: (Looks at him, then away.) I did.
PARRIS: Praise God!
DANFORTH: And when he come to you, what were his demand?
Did he bid you to do his work upon the earth?
PROCTOR: He did.
DANFORTH: And you bound yourself to his service?
HERRICK: Rebecca Nurse, Your Excellency. (Rebecca enters.)
DANFORTH: Come in, come in, woman.
REBECCA: Ah, John! You are well, then ?
DANFORTH: Let you witness this man’s good example that you
may come to God yourself. Now hear it, Goody Nurse! Say on,
Mister Proctor—did you bind yourself to the Devil‘s service?
REBECCA: Why, John!
PROCTOR: (Face turned away.) I did.
DANFORTH: Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin‘ to
keep this conspiracy any further. Will you confess yourself with
him?
REBECCA: John—God send His mercy on you!
DANFORTH: I say, will you confess yourself, Goody Nurse?
REBECCA: Why, it’s lie, it’s a lie; how may I damn myself? I
cannot. I cannot.
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor. When the Devil came to you did you
see Rebecca Nurse in his company? Come, man, take courage—
did you ever see her with the Devil?
PROCTOR: No.
DANFORTH: Did you ever see her sister, Mary Easty, with the
Devil?
PROCTOR: No, I did not.
DANFORTH: Did you ever see Martha Corey with the Devil?
PROCTOR: No, I did not.
DANFORTH: Did you ever see anyone with the devil?
PROCTOR: I did not.
DANFORTH: Proctor, you mistake me. I am not empowered to
trade your life for a lie. You have most certainly seen some
person with the Devil. Mister Proctor, a score of people have
already testified they saw Goody Nurse with the devil.
PROCTOR: Then it is proved. Why must I say it?
PARRIS: Why must you say it? Why, you should rejoice to say it if
your soul is truly purged of any love for Hell!
PROCTOR: They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their
names.
PARRIS: Mister Proctor, do you think they go like saints?
PROCTOR: This woman never thought she done the Devil’s work.
DANFORTH: Look you, sir. I think you mistake your duty here. It
matters nothing what she thought – she is convicted of the
unnatural murder of children, and you for sending your spirit out
upon Mary Warren. Your soul alone is the issue here, Mister,
and you will prove its whiteness or you cannot live in a Christian
country. Will you tell me what persons conspired with you in the
Devil’s company? To your knowledge, was Rebecca Nurse ever –
PROCTOR: I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another. I have
no tongue for it!
HALE: Excellency, it is enough he confess himself. Let him sign it,
let him sign it.
PARRIS: It is a great service, sir—it is a weighty name, it will
strike the village that Proctor confess. I beg you, let him sign it.
The sun is up, Excellency!
7
DANFORTH: Come then, sign your testimony. Give it to him,
Mister Cheever. (Proctor looks at the confession and pen.)
Come, man, sign it.
PROCTOR: You have all witnessed it—it is enough.
DANFORTH: You will not sign it?
PROCTOR: You have all witnessed it; what more is needed?
DANFORTH: Do you sport with me? You will sign your name or it
is no confession, Mister! (Proctor indecisively signs.)
PARRIS: Oh, Praise be to the Lord. He has signed.
DANFORTH: (Extends his hand.) The paper, if you please, sir.
PROCTOR: No.
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor, I must have…
PROCTOR: No—no I have signed it. You have seen me. It is done!
You have no need for this.
PARRIS: Proctor, the village must have proof that…
PROCTOR: Damn the village! I confess to God and God has seen
my name on this! It is enough!
DANFORTH: No, sir, it is…
PROCTOR: You came to save my soul, did you not? Here—I have
confessed myself, it is enough!
DANFORTH: You have not con…
PROCTOR: I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence
but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the
church! God sees my name, and God knows how black my sins
are!
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor…
PROCTOR: It is enough. You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good
or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of
salvation that you should use me!
DANFORTH: I do not wish to use you, Mister Proctor …
PROCTOR: I have three children—how may I teach them to walk
like men in the world and I sold my friends?
DANFORTH: You have not sold your friends…
PROCTOR: Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is
nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence!
DANFORTH: Mister Proctor, I must have good and legal proof
that you…
PROCTOR: You are the high court, your word is good enough!
Tell them I confessed myself, say Proctor broke his knees and
wept like a woman, say what you will, but my name cannot…
DANFORTH: It is the same, is it not? If I report it or you sign to
it?
PROCTOR: No, it is not the same! What others say and what I
sign to is not the same!
DANFORTH: Why? Do you mean to deny this confession when
you are free?
PROCTOR: I mean to deny nothing!
DANFORTH: Then explain to me, Mr. Proctor, why you will not
let…
PROCTOR: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have
another in my life. Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I
am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I
live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my
name!
DANFORTH: Is that document in your hand a lie? If it is a lie I will
not accept it! What say you? I will not deal in lies, Mister. You
will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep
you from the rope. Which way do you go, Mister?
(Breast heaving, eyes staring, Proctor tears the paper.)
DANFORTH: Marshal!
PARRIS: Proctor, Proctor!
HALE: Man, you will hang—you cannot!
PROCTOR: I can. And there is your first marvel, that I can. You
have made your magic now, for I do think I see some shred of
goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with,
but white enough to keep it from such dogs.
8
ELIZABETH: John – (Weeping.)
PROCTOR: Elizabeth –
ELIZABETH: (Weeping) – Oh, John.
PROCTOR: Give them no tears, Elizabeth! Tears pleasure them!
Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!
(He kisses her.)
REBECCA: Let you fear nothing, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: Aye.
REBECCA: Another judgment waits us all.
DANFORTH: Take Goody Nurse and Proctor, Marshal. Hang them
high over the town. Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption.
(Danforth exits.)
(Rebecca almost falls.)
REBECCA: I’ve had no breakfast, John.
PROCTOR: Give me your hand, Rebecca. Lean on me.
HERRICK: Come, man. Rebecca, come.
(Elizabeth stares at the empty doorway.)
PARRIS: Go to him, Goody Proctor. There is yet time! … Go to
him! Proctor! (Parris runs after the condemned.) Proctor!
(Elizabeth crosses to window and looks out.)
HALE: Plead with him, woman! (Elizabeth avoids Hale’s eyes.) It
is pride, it is vanity. Be his helper! What profit him to bleed?
Shall the dust praise him? Shall the worms declare his truth? Go
to him, take his shame away.
ELIZABETH: (Firmly.) He have his goodness now. God forbid I
take it from him.
(The drum roll crashes, then heightens violently. Hale weeps in
frantic prayer, and the new sun is pouring in upon her face, and
the drums rattle like bones in the morning air as Proctor and
Rebecca are hanged. )
THE CURTAIN FALLS