Maid of Salem Page #2

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Gallant?

Three hundred of them

against 2,000 soldiers,

and Roger with his

back against the wall,

holding off half a dozen.

Now, now, now,

Uncle, no matter

how magnificent

we were in defeat,

they beat us well,

put us to flight and

confiscated our lands.

But how came you here?

A friendly skipper

brought me

as far as Boston,

the rest of the way

on foot,

through your forests.

Hiding by day,

traveling by night.

With a price on his head

of 1,000.

Do you think it

worth it?

Oh, Roger,

be serious.

There"s scarce a man,

even in this colony,

who wouldn"t give

you up for that sum.

I cannot speak

for others.

As for myself,

I have not seen you.

Good day, sir.

She has not seen me?

What does she mean

by that?

A rebuke, no doubt.

Puritans of this colony

would hardly approve

your speech and manners.

If manners they be.

Oh! She"s forgotten

her basket.

Mistress!

Mistress Barbara,

you forgot your basket.

Oh, thank you, sir.

And I forgot the candles,

and this piece of cake

for Jeremiah.

When will you

come here again?

I bring candles

once each week.

Only once?

But l"m a great reader.

I read far into the night.

We shall have none

by sunrise tomorrow.

I must gather bayberries

before I can make more.

Bayberries?

Then let me help you.

I have an amazing

nose for bayberries.

I track them down

like a hound

upon the trail.

You might be seen.

I could not risk

so valuable a head.

Ah, "tis not my head

that"s in danger now.

Truly, when will l

see you again?

When I bring

more candles.

Uncle, you old miser

of speech.

Why did you not

tell me of her?

To think that

she should find me

like this.

I"m sorry she

found you at all.

What?

Would you ruin my life?

Ruin your life?

I"m trying to

save it, lad.

See that you do.

From now on,

it will be worth

the living.

A razor, a needle

and a bit of mending,

and l"ll soon be myself.

(SlNGlNG) Bid me to live,

and I will live

Thy protectant to be

Or bid me love...

Roger!

Anyone within half a mile

could hear you.

Well, they might ask me

to lead the psalm singing

next Sabbath.

Egad, that"s an idea.

She"d be there of course.

And I sorely need

the comforts of religion.

(SlNGlNG) Bid me to live,

and I will live

And the scripture saith

that Satan shall go

to and fro in the land,

and up and down in it,

as a roaring lion

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour.

My brethren,

here in this new land,

that ancient prophecy

is being fulfilled.

Satan and his legions

are here.

The power of God

has driven him

from the old world

into this wilderness,

where the ignorant savages

were waiting to receive him.

Say you,

""What signs are there

of his presence?""

Where there is

sickness or hurt

or other grievous misery,

there he is.

I bid ye watch!

I bid ye fast!

And pray God to protect us

from the power of Satan.

(SlGHS)

Speaking of Satan,

I also bid ye beware

of the frivolity and

foolishness of women

that bedeck

themselves with ribbons,

curls and lace bonnets.

Thus causing the minds

of men to wander.

I tell you that a female

that will fritter away

her time,

trimming and tricking herself

out in such a fashion,

should be looked upon

as the mere gizzard

of a trifle.

The epitome of nothing

and a very apt prey

for the devil.

We will now sing Psalm 8.

Elder Cheeves

will set the tune.

(SlNGlNG) Oh, Lord,

our God in all the earth

How thy name wondrous great

Who hath thy glorious majesty

Above the heavens set

Out of the mouth

of suckling babes

Thy strength

thou didst ordain

That thou might

still the enemy

And them that thee disdain

(MOUTHlNG)

You, come with me...

(MOUTHlNG) No.

You, come with me...

A little lower placed

And hath with glory

crowned him

And comely majesty

Amen

Brethren,

before we disperse,

I have an announcement

to make.

One that gives me,

personally,

a feeling of great happiness

and satisfaction.

Elder Goode has

set next Wednesday

for the raising

of my new home,

which you, dear people,

have so kindly given me.

Remember, it is more blessed

to give than to receive.

So let no one forget to

bring his or her gift.

Good day,

Goodwife Nurse.

How are you, child?

Very well, thank you.

It"s good to see so

glowing a countenance,

even under a bonnet so...

So sinful.

I"ve asked Miles Corbin

to supper.

Wait and bring

him home with you.

(SHUSHlNG)

Oh, Miles!

(CLEARlNG THROAT)

Good day, Barbara.

Good day.

I"m ready, Miles.

Are you coming?

I cannot go

with you, Susy.

I"ve consented to sup

with the widow Clarke

and Barbara.

I should think

you"d wait for the man

Tituba promised you.

What did she

mean by that?

Oh, she"s just jealous.

Aye, and rightly so.

Mr. Parris.

I was much interested

in your sermon today,

for in Boston last week,

Mr. Cotton Mather told me

two women had

been arrested at

Cape Ann for witchcraft.

Satan"s instruments.

He promised to

keep me informed

of any further outbreak.

There are several here

who could bear questioning.

One, anyway.

Goody Hodgers?

Aye. A witch if

ever there was one.

The judges were

too lenient when she

was accused last year.

She deceived them

with lies.

BlLGE:
Mr. Goode!

Mr. Parris!

Mr. Goode!

I saw him!

I saw him plain.

PARRlS:
Saw whom?

The devil"s own person

in yonder forest.

Drunk again.

No, sir.

And on the Sabbath, too.

No, sir.

I been drinking,

but l"m not drunk now.

But l"m going to be.

I"d sooner see

snakes than devils.

Well, Deborah will

be waiting supper.

I"d best be going, too.

Good day, Mr. Parris.

I"ll go with you, Elder.

"Tis like jelly

I am with fright.

He came right at me!

(SCOFFS)

I tell you, I saw him.

I saw his horns

and his tail.

Have a care, Bilge,

or they"ll arrest you

like they did me.

Did you see him?

They said I did.

You better get

yourself a charm, Bilge.

A charm to keep him away.

Do you know a good one?

Indian beans are good,

worn round the neck.

Or a badger"s claw.

But the surest charm of all

is a necklace, 21 links,

each woven of seven hairs

freshly plucked from

the end of a dog"s tail.

(LAUGHlNG)

Seven hairs freshly plucked

from the end of a dog"s tail.

I"ve been thinking,

Barbara.

Yes?

It was you

Reverend Parris meant

when he rebuked your sex.

I fancy it was.

You"re a bold piece,

Barbara,

(CLEARlNG THROAT)

with your frippery.

What you have need of

is a man of character

to restrain ye.

It"s very kind of you

to concern yourself

about me, Miles.

I consider it my duty,

for when I marry,

l"m entitled by the colony

to take for myself

a fine piece

of bottom land

with a brook on it,

and I shall have

three horses,

six cows, 10 pigs.

Ten... That seems

an over abundance

of pigs.

Moreover, the Elders

think well of me.

The people in the village

listen when I talk.

One day

I shall be an Elder.

(LAUGHlNG) Oh, Miles.

You laugh too freely,

Barbara.

After marriage,

l"ll not brook

such frivolity.

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