Today in Salem: The harsh John Proctor and his pregnant wife Elizabeth are standing trial.
Most of the testimony against John is from the afflicted girls, especially his servant Mary Warren. She’s been accusing him for months, but today her testimony carries more weight. Until now she’s been flip-flopping, sometimes saying she’s being tormented by specters, and sometimes confessing to witchcraft herself. Now she’s saying both at the same time – that she’s afflicted and she’s a witch herself. It’s hard for the judges to argue with that.
John wills his heartbeat to slow down as he presents his last chance. A few days ago, the governor denied his request for more thought, and the ministers from Boston have declined to witness his trial. Now he hands two petitions to the judges; an affidavit signed by 32 friends and family who knew him growing up, and a letter signed by 20 other people, saying none of them has ever suspected the Proctors of witchcraft.
The opinion of 52 people doesn’t outweigh the complaints of the afflicted girls and sickly neighbors. John is declared guilty.
Elizabeth’s accusers are more numerous: the afflicted girls complain about torment and even murder, and one neighbor tells sensational stories of shrieking and fighting at the Proctor home. So it’s no surprise that Elizabeth is declared guilty.
Elizabeth puts a hand on her stomach and pleads for a delay. “I’m with child,” she says. “Please.” It doesn’t change the verdict, but the judges do postpone her execution until after she gives birth.