The Crucible - Act III

Danforth: He did that, Mr. Hale?

Aye, he did.

Danforth: Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!

But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it.

Danforth: Mr. Hale, believe me; for a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered - Let you consider, now - And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one offend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is on its face and by nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims - and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out?

But this child claims the girls are not trurhful, and if they are not -

Danforth: What are you? You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power; you will not deny it! What say you, Mister?

Excellency -

Danforth: Now look you, Mister Hale...

Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.

Proctor: Aye, sir. She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her. And nevertheless her friends are lying now.

Excellency, a moment. I think this goes to the heart of the matter.

Giles: Your Excellency, I only said she were reading books, sir, and they come and take her out of my house. It is my third wife, sir; I never had no wife that be so taken with books, and I thought to find the cause of it, d'y'see, but it were no witch I blamed her for. I broke charity with the woman, I have broke charity with her.

Excellency, he claims hard evidence for his wife's defense. I think that in all justice you must -

Proctor: She only thought to save my name!

Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell, I beg you, stop now; before another is condemned!I may shut my conscience to it no more - private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. I believe him now! By my oath to heaven, I believe him, and I pray you call back his wife before we -

Danforth: She spoke nothing of lechery, and this man lied!

I believe him! I cannot turn my face from it no more. This girl has always struck me false! She has -

Danforth: It surely does.

I cannot say he is an honest man, I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer.In God's holy name, sir, stop here; send him home and let him come again with a lawyer -

Danforth: Marshall, take him and Corey with him to the jail!

I denounce these proceedings!

Proctor: You are pulling heaven down and raising up a *****.

I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!

Danforth: Mr. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice.

I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, your Honor. I'll not conceal it, my hands shakes as if with a wound! I pray you, sir, this argument let lawyers present to you.

Danforth: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here?

I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country nevertheless.

Abigail: The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don't, don't - !

I see nothing, Your Honor!

Danforth: That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity?

I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then.

Parris: Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.

I think you must hear the girl sir, she -

Parris: This is a clear attack upon the court!

Is every defense an attack upon the court? Can no one -

Cheever: You cannot go in there, Giles; it's a court!

Pray be calm a moment.

Danforth:...... Now, sir, the government and central church demand of you the name of him who reported Mister Thomas Putnam a common murderer.

We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country -

Danforth: Why did you turn about this past two weeks? You have seen the Devil, have you not?

You cannot believe them!

GILES: You'll find other Christians that do plow on Sunday if the truth be known.

Your Honor, I cannot think you may judge the man on such evidence.

Mary: He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign...

Excellency, this child's gone wild!

Danforth: But you discovered them dancing in the woods? Abigail?

Excellency, when I first arrived from Beverly, Mr. Paris told me that.

Giles: You, Mr. Hale, go in there and demand I speak.

A moment, sir, a moment.

FRANCIS: Francis Nurse, your Excellency

His wife's Rebecca that were condemned this morning.