The VVitch: A New-England Folktale

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[indistinct chatter]

[William] What went we out

into this wilderness to find?

Leaving our country, kindred...

...our father's houses?

We travailed a vast ocean...

For what? For what?

[Governor]

We must ask thee to be silent.

[William] Was it not for the pure

and faithful dispensation of the Gospels

- and the Kingdom of God?

- [Deputy governor] No more!

We are your judges,

and not you ours.

[William] I cannot be judged

by false Christians,

for I have done nothing

save preach Christ through gospel.

[Governor]

Must you continue to dishonor

the laws of the commonwealth and the

church with your prideful conceit?

[William]

If my conscience sees it fit.

[Governor] Then shall you be banished

from this plantation's liberties!

[William]

I would be glad on it.

[Governor] Then take your leave

and trouble us no further.

[William] How sadly hath the Lord

testified against you.

Katherine.

Thomasin.

Come.

[Katherine]

I will confess Jehovah with all heart

In secret and in assembly of the just...

[singing continues, distant]

[dogs barking]

I here confess

I've lived in sin.

I've been idle of my work,

disobedient to my parents,

neglectful of my prayer.

I have, in secret,

played upon my Sabbath.

And broken every one of thy

commandments in thought.

Followed the desires of mine own

will, and not the Holy Spirit.

I know I deserve more shame

and misery in this life...

...and everlasting hellfire.

But I beg Thee...

for the sake of Thy Son...

forgive me, show me mercy,

show me Thy light.

[baby crying]

Thomasin.

[Thomasin]

Boo!

[laughing]

There you are, there you are.

Boo!

[giggling]

Where is Sam?

Where is Sam?

Where is that little man?

Boo!

[giggling]

There you are, there you are.

[giggling]

Boo!

Sam.

Samuel!

[baby fussing]

[sobbing]

[sobbing continues]

[moans]

[moans]

Thomasin.

[crying]

Sleep.

All will be well, sleep.

[crying]

[rooster crows]

[praying indistinct]

[rooster crows]

Caleb.

God give you good morrow.

All are still a-bed.

Save Mother.

Tis no ease to rise on a gray day.

The Devil holds

fast your eyelids.

- I'll wake em.

- No, let em be.

Thy Mother's not slept

a night since...

We can search no more, Caleb.

We cannot.

If not a wolf, then hunger

would have taken him yet.

Let's to the wood.

Been a'layin traps

for some while now,

even before this new misery.

Within the wood?

Will thou not help thy father?

You and Mother have always

forbade us to set foot there.

Caleb, our harvest

cannot last the winter.

We must catch our food

if we cannot grow it.

We will conquer this wilderness.

It will not consume us.

[children playing]

[whispering prayers]

[crying]

[William]

Aren't thou then born a sinner?

[Caleb] Aye, I was conceived in sin

and born in iniquity.

[William]

Then what is thy birth sin?

Adam's sin imputed to me and a corrupt

nature dwelling within me.

[William]

Well remembered, Caleb, very well.

And canst thou tell me

what thy corrupt nature is?

My corrupt nature is empty of grace,

bent unto sin, only unto sin

and that continually.

[William]

Soft now.

We must lay it again.

Was, was Samuel born a sinner?

Aye.

Am I then...

We pray he hath entered

God's Kingdom.

What wickedness hath he done?

Place faith in God, Caleb.

We'll speak no more on thy brother.

Why?

He hath disappeared,

not one week passed.

Yet you and Mother

utter not his name.

He's gone, Caleb.

- Tell me!

- Tell thee what?

- Is he in hell?

- Caleb!

Mother will not stop her prayer.

And if I died, if I died this day...

- What is this?

- I ought evil in me heart.

- Me sins are not pardoned!

- Thou art youngly yet...

And if God will not

hear my prayers?!

- Caleb!

- Tell me!

Look you,

I love thee marvelous well,

but 'tis God alone, not man,

what knows who is the son

of Abraham and who is not,

who is good and who is evil.

Fain would I tell thee

Sam sleeps in Jesus,

that thou wilt, that I will.

But I cannot tell thee that.

None can.

Caleb?

Where are these from?

From lndian Tom and old Slater,

when last they past through.

What did you trade?

Thy Mother's silver cup.

[egg cracks]

Speak none of this to Mother. None.

She's overwrought already.

I'll tell her of the cup

when her grief has passed.

Let's not speak on this again.

Aye.

[whistling]

Fowler!

Fool of an animal.

Fowler!

[dog barks]

Fowler, what's this?

[dog barking]

Praise be to God.

Make haste, Caleb.

[dog barking]

Fie upon't!

- Father, it died.

- The other end.

[dog barking]

- [gun shot]

- [yells]

Father?

Father!

[groans]

Fowler.

Black Phillip, Black Phillip,

a crown grows on his head

Black Phillip, Black Phillip

to nanny queen is wed

Jump to the fence post...

- Jonas! Mercy! Come hither!

- Black Phillip, Black Phillip

King of all...

Jonas! Mercy!

Black Phillip, Black Phillip,

king of sky and land

Black Phillip, Black Phillip,

king of sea and sand

We are ye servants,

we are ye men

Black Phillip eats the lions

from the lions' den.

Black Phillip, Black Phillip,

a crown grows on his head...

[dog barking]

Get back!

You two, stop that!

Phillip, back!

[kids screaming]

[Katherine]

Heavens bless us!

[dog barking]

Caleb, hold the gate.

Caleb!

[growling]

Get in!

Oh.

[laughing]

I'll have thee quiet.

Wither were you

and Caleb this morn?

How could you disappear?

And thee, I told thee to keep

watch of Jonas and Mercy.

I was, and I bade them help me

and they paid me no mind.

- I was a-getting...

- What's the matter with thee, Thomasin?

What is the matter with thee?

Take thy father's rags to

the brook and wash them.

- They would pay me no mind.

- And brush out his woolens.

Help him!

Wee one, it gave me such

a fright to find thee gone.

I will not be left here alone.

Dost hear?

A morning's work

is well behindhand.

Jonas, leave thy sister be.

- She likes it.

- William.

What, can't a father spend

Godly time with his son?

Jonas!

- Father said stop it.

- Thomasin!

- Stop.

- Stop it!

Each of ya, stop it.

Thomasin, take the twins inside.

[both]

No!

Get inside, get inside, get inside.

As you like.

We went to find apples!

In the valley.

I thought I seen an apple tree

in the valley.

Father brought the gun,

for if we glanced that wolf...

Why did you not tell me?

Father wanted it a surprise,

to cheer you, and...

but there were none.

I thought I seen em.

[sigh]

I like you not outside

the farm, even to the valley.

Dost hear me?

Caleb, be a good lad

and get some water for thy Mother.

Stray not from the brook.

Why are you dallying?

What then?

What?

Caleb? Caleb!

Stop it.

I meant no harm in it.

What's the matter with thee?

Come hither.

What's the matter with thee, eh?

Shh.

I've seen no apples

since we went from England.

I would thou hadst found them.

I so wish for one.

[makes biting sound]

[laughing]

[rustling]

Hear that?

Aye.

Who's there?

[Mercy]

I be the Witch of the Wood!

Mercy, come out.

I be not Mercy,

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