Act One Scene Nine Flashcards
COREY Mister Hale… I have always wanted to ask a learned man—What signifies the readin‘ of strange books?
What books?
COREY I cannot tell; she hides them.
HALE Who does this?
COREY Martha, my wife. I have woken at night many times and found her reading in a corner. Now what do you make of that?
HALE Why, that‘s not necessarily…
COREY It discomforts me! Last night—mark this—I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she closed her book, and suddenly— mark this—I could pray again!
That is strange. (Sits on bed, beside Betty.) I‘d like to speak further on that with you.
COREY I‘m not sayin‘ she‘s touched the Devil, now, but I‘d like to know what books she reads and why she hides them—she‘ll not answer me, y‘see.
Aye, we‘ll discuss it. Now mark me, if the Devil is in her you will witness some frightful wonders in this room, so please, keep your wits about you. Mister Putnam, stand close in case she flies. (Turns to Betty, helps her sit up.) Now, Betty dear, will you sit up? (Sits her up.) H‘mmmm. Can you hear me? I am John Hale, minister of Beverly. I have come to help you, dear.
PARRIS How can it be the Devil? Why would he choose my house to strike?
What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already bad? It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?
GILES That’s deep, Mr, Parris, deep, deep!
Does someone afflict you, child? Is there some figure bids you fly? (Pauses. Passes his hand over her face.) In nomine Domini Sabaoth, sui filiique ite d Infernos. (Betty is laid back on pillow. Looks to Abigail.) Abigail, (Looks back to Betty.) what sort of dancing were you doing with her in the forest?
ABIGAIL That were only soup.
Soup? What sort of soup, Abigail?
ABIGAIL Why, it were beans—and lentils, I think, and—
Mister Parris, you did not notice, did you—any living thing in the kettle? A mouse, perhaps, a spider, a frog—?
ABIGAIL That frog jumped in, we never put it in!
Abigail, it may be your cousin is dying—Did you call the Devil last night?
PARRIS She called the Devil!
I should like to speak with Tituba.
PARRIS Goody Ann, will you bring her up?
How did she call him?
ABIGAIL I know not—she spoke Barbados.
Did you feel any strangeness when she called him? A sudden cold wind, perhaps? A trembling below the ground?
ABIGAIL I didn‘t see no Devil!—(To Betty, frantically.) Betty, wake up, Betty! Betty!
Did your cousin drink any of the brew in that kettle?
ABIGAIL She never drank it!
Did you drink it?
