“I must protest, deputies!” Thomas Putnam, Esquire, said, standing up from his seat. “These girls are obviously being made to manufacture some falsehoods against this unfortunate, young woman.”
“Whose side you on, Thomas?” Abigail Williams, Sarah Good, and Mary Warren all shouted, causing a gasp to go through the courtroom.
“That’s enough, you three!” Deputies Stoughton and Hathorne said.
Magistrate Danforth eyed the three girls. “I know you all have been hanging around these girls for far too long, and God knows what ought to be expected. But, I’ll say this, I won’t tolerate anymore shouting. If anyone else shouts, I’ll throw them in jail. Any questions? No? Then, we can continue.”
“Sorry, Magistrate,” Mary said, as she realized she had shouted. “What were you saying?”
“I said, I will accept any testimony you have against her,” Danforth repeated.
“Yes. If she demonstrates that she is a witch, she’ll be executed.”
“I will only accept testimony from three of you,” the magistrates said.
“I’ve already witnessed clear signs of witchcraft, Magistrate,” Will Putnam said. “My mother testified that you and your son visited her house, and she witnessed you both leaving her property, rapping your knuckles on the wood and meowing like cats.”
“My son is a fool. He is awful at the art of the persuasion, and simply cannot convince women of the reality of God. He can not even convince his own mother.”
“Only Miss Hale has shown signs of witchcraft. She is a sinner, willing to kill her brother just to have her way.”
“Miss Hale, arrest these three girls for practicing witchcraft against Miss Putnam.”
“SINNER!” Abigail screamed.
“Evil!” Mary screamed.
“SORCERER!” Sarah screamed.
“Allegheny, Lord, forgive me, I confess to the sin of witchcraft!” Sara screamed.
“I cannot believe these three girls are still following her around,” Mary Warren said to Abigail. “I think we should leave her be, don’t you?”
“Yes, we should leave the girl be,” Abigail said. “She is a child. She will be better off without us.”
“Don’t do it, Abigail,” Mary said in a whisper. “She’s obviously playing us.”
“Whatever, Mary. Leave the girl be. We have better things to do.”
“Yeah, Madam. I agree,” Mary said.
“By the way, Magistrate,” Abigail said. “My mother told me the way out of here is right there.” She pointed to the door that led out of the courtroom.
“No one will let you out, Miss Hale,” Sherburne said.
“Why, you idiot, that’s the door to the hall. I’ll let you out,” she said with a smile.
“Should I arrest her?” Stoughton said.
“No!” Hathorne answered. “Let us wither away for hundreds more years in this case.”
“I’ll let her leave,” Danforth said. “Maybe God will hear her prayers and rescue her.”
“Maybe God will hear her,” Mary said. “Good observation, Mary.”
“Please, Mary, please leave the poor child be,” Will said. “She’s obviously innocent, and she’s our only hope of getting out of this cell.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Mary said with a wink. “If it were me, I would be playing these people against each other,” she said with a sly smile.
“I’d very much like to warn you girls about Miss Warren,” Danforth said. “She’s under a spell.”
“Insanity is a form of witchcraft in this country, isn’t it” Will said. “Many witches take insanity as a means of escaping from their pursuers.”
“All will be clear to you all very soon,” Danforth said.
“Your honor,” Hathorne suddenly exclaimed. “I believe the wonderful Miss Hale has found the way out of here.”
All eyes turned towards the door.
“I admit, this does seem a bit odd,” Will said with a sigh. “But, we’ll all know very soon.”
“Excuse me, Magistrate,” Deputy Marshall Hathorne said. “I think now is the time to open the court.”
“Yes, very well,” Danforth said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with you all.”
Everyone started to leave except Thomas.
“Thomas,” Sarah shouted. “What are you doing here? Get away from here before you’re murdered.”
“I’m not leaving without you, dear.”
“Well, I’m staying. I’m not going to be a pawn in your plots. Abigail is right, you’re just a fraud. Now, leave!”
“No, I’m staying here with you. I don’t have any other choice.”
“Oh, Thomas, if you only knew how much I loved you.”
“Sarah, how could you love me?”
“I love you, because you’re the only one who thinks I’m innocent. If you leave now, you won’t have to die by the hangman’s noose with everyone else.”
“Why, Sarah, that’s very considerate of you,” he said with a smile. “That’s very generous of you. I appreciate your kind concern.”
“Not at all, Thomas.”
“Oh, go ahead and do it uncle Thomas,” Sarah yelled at him. “You’re free to leave now. Whatever you do will serve God.”
“My dear Sarah,” he said. “You are completely right. I am a man of faith. My faith in God is what’s gotten me into this fix in the first place. And, thank God, after hearing you, God has opened the doors for me. I’m off. With God’s help, we’ll all be free soon.”
“Thank you, Thomas,” Sarah said, as she walked out of the courtroom with Thomas.
“What was all of that about?” Abigail asked as she walked out of the courtroom with Mary.
“She convinced him.”
“No, Jenny didn’t,” Abigail said. “The spirits did.”
“Mary, you’re guilt is showing to me once again,” Sarah said. “You’re right, the spirits told me.”
“Well, I’m glad it worked,” she said with a smile.
“Does anyone know a way out of here,” Stoughton asked.
“We should be arrested and executed,” Abigail said.
“Yeah, let’s go home,” Mary said. “It’s time for the trial to be closed.”
“Don’t you think we should be punished?” Abigail asked.
“No, Abigail,” Mary said. “We won the war.”
“We weren’t aware we won the war,” Danforth said.
“Oh, we did,” Abigail said. “We absolutely won the war. The spirits told us so.”
“All right, I’ll open the trial again,” Stoughton said. “Then, we can discuss it in the morning.”
“We’ll have to have another trial,” Hathorne said. “I don’t think any of us are capable of finishing this trial tonight.”
“As you wish, Magistrate,” Stoughton said.
“You win,” Danforth said.
“Good,” Mary said. “I’m glad we’re all on the same side now.”
“When did you become friends with him?” Abigail asked.
“I’m not sure. It just happened,” Mary said.
“It was when we declared war on her,” Danforth said.
“Oh, yes, that’s when you became enemies,” Abigail said.
“She fooled everyone,” Danforth said.
“No, Abigail, you did,” Mary said. “You fooled everyone.
“Don’t speak to me in that tone, woman,” Abigail said.
“It’s missus Mary to you, darling,” Mary said.
“I don’t care what you call me,” Abigail said.
