American Playhouse (1981–…): Season 4, Episode 18 - Three Sovereigns for Sarah: Part I - full transcript

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Aunt Sarah...
Are you well?

( Knock )

Samuel
nurse...

It says here that
in recent years

you have acquired
a position of rank

through property

being that of "mister" nurse

losing the common address
of "Goodman" nurse.

Yes.



I hope
I am worthy.

You are a man of property now,
mister nurse...

However modest.

We trust you
to be worthy.

This woman is your aunt,
is she not?

Yes.

Sarah cloyce.

Pray be seated.

Be she
"Mrs." cloyce,
or "goodwife"?

Goody cloyce.

Goodwife cloyce.

We agreed to see you

only after you claimed
she was of ill health--

which is
quite evident.



But seeing you is a departure
from regular procedure.

We are not
a general court
of the colony

but rather
a private court
of inquiry.

We are
instructed

to give
recommendations

as to the feasibility
of offering restitution

to the surviving families
of those hanged as witches

ten years
past.

But only to the families
of those who were not witches.

The government
wishes to make amends

where it applies.

Two members of your family
were hanged as witches?

They were my sisters.

And you were
likewise accused?

Yes.

Goodwife
cloyce--

we have been
examining these cases

for more
than five years.

Another five
could well pass

before any
restitution be made.

Restitution be hanged!

Then why are you here?

I do not have five years.

I only came to clear the names
of my two sisters

who were wrongfully taken
from this world.

I ask to be heard
to prove their innocence.

Proof is an elusive ally.

Proof
is mine.

Perhaps.

Tell US your story then,
Sarah cloyce.

Your documents
begin, no doubt,
in 1692--

the year of
the trials.

But the madness
that swept through
our village

began
earlier...

Much
earlier.

It came from
the people
themselves.

Long-standing feuds
between prominent
families

brought death
and suffering

to many
innocent
people--

my own sisters
included.

It was not
Providence
that cursed US

but our own precious kind.

Is this pre-text necessary?

In order to understand
what happened ten years ago

you must understand

the conditions
that preceded it.

It was
not sudden.

Life in Salem village
was always hard and unsure.

There was no village
to speak of--

only scattered farms
facing the great wilderness.

In 1689

uncertainty seeped
into every household.

The king was overthrown;

Massachusetts
had no local magistrates;

no written laws.

We were adrift...

Fearful of any course taken

or of none at all.

More grievous: In 1689,
Salem village had no minister.

Salem town by the sea
was a half-day's journey

from the village of Salem.

Landowners in the village
paid taxes to the town

and sold produce and livestock
in the marketplace.

In return, Salem town
gave the village protection

a seat in its government

and the right to build

a meetinghouse
it could call its own.

The meetinghouse, like every
other house in the village

was isolated and alone.

Yet it was both a place of god
and village politics.

But how it was governed
and who governed it

produced
the most bitter seed of all.

It was here that members
of the village committee

sealed our fate

while debating
the choice of a new minister.

Samuel parris
is our best choice.

So far,
he is the only choice.

He may not be
to your liking

or your supporter,
Peter cloyce

but he
will accept

in spite
of it.

May I speak?

Who among US
could stop you, brother?

Brother...

This...
"Samuel
parris"

has kept US waiting a year.

His tardy reply
was that his work was weighty

and that he
would decide

in due time.

His wage
comes from

every landowner
in the village.

The more you own,
the larger your contribution.

£66 yearly is no more
than offered

the other
ministers.

I have inherited
part of this village

and my share will
be considerable.

I am against him.

He comes
with other demands.

Young Joseph
Putnam is right.

Parris wants 30 c0rds
of firewood annually.

Will that allotment
come from your property

Thomas Putnam?

Mine, and my half-brother
Joseph's, here

and everyone
else's.

He also demands

the deed and ownership
of the parsonage house

as a condition for himself
and his rightful heirs.

"Rightful heirs"?

It seems that
Mr. Parris has
little faith

that we will
have need of his
services long.

At least he
is well schooled

in village politics.

His calling
comes before
any grievance

that this
committee
may have.

Your minister,
Mr. Samuel parris

has never preached before
in his life!

He is a failed merchant

who returns
to lick his wounds!

His sole
property is
two slaves

he expects
to feed

from our
pockets.

This village is
his only salvation

yet he demands a small fortune
from our hides

and an inheritance!

Bah, I say,
Thomas Putnam!

He is a
man of god!

Not by
first choice,
his or god's!

We will vote on it,
Israel Porter--

those of US
who mean to.

I mean to have my supper.

Sarah:
Months of spiteful
debate followed.

( Door
slams )

Only a part of parris's demands
were agreed to.

The minister and his family
came anyway.

I do not know if god
has sent me on a holy mission...

Or banished me
to this place.

You will
please him.

It is not just the almighty
we have to please.

There must
be a reason

why god has kept this village
without a minister

for so long.

They are
common folk.

Yes-- vengeful farmers
and unwashed children.

And they quarrel
over how little they will share

with a minister of god!

Sarah:
They brought children--
two girls:

Their seven-year-old
daughter, Bette--

a sickly child since birth--

and an older girl, Abigail

who was parris's niece.

It was Abigail

who would start
the witch madness.

Tituba, what keeps
that man of yours?

The minister had two slaves,
as well.

They were the last holdings

of his ill-gained ventures
in the west indies.

Where
is he?

I don't know,
master... sir.

The woman, tituba--
a carib Indian--

did most of the
household chores.

Her slava husband,
John Indian

did little
of what was left.

You have not finished yet?

Stack it
neatly--

what little
there is of it.

How much?

Three cord wood,
reverend sir...

Maybe 3®.

( Sighs )

Barely a tenth!

Man:
Reverend?

At long last!

Welcome,
reverend parris.

It is good
to have you as
our neighbor.

My wife--
Ann Putnam.

We've been
waiting a
long time

for this day.

It's cold.

It was to be Mr. Parris's
first complete sermon.

As custom,
the meetinghouse was divided--

men to one side,
women to the other.

The most prominent men
and women sat forward.

Detractors and supporters
of the new minister

were forced to sit together
by gender.

People of lesser importance

knew well to sit
or stand in back.

Furthest back of all were
the girls of Salem village.

What must he have thought as
he looked out among his flock

for the first time...

This worldly man
of fallen promise?

I have been newly ordained
as minister of this church.

I am the reverend
Mr. Samuel parris.

Together

we shall begin
a new and holy covenant

of god-fearing
men and women.

A new church

in this place

where for so many months

no church
has existed.

Let it be known
that on this day

November 19, 1689

a new covenant--

a new church--

is born to Salem village.

Sarah:
There they were before him:

Vengeful farmers
and common folk

who were to be
his only support;

there, to feed
his empty pockets

and his hunger for success.

As I look out
upon this gathering

I see a village divided.

I see
a congregation
divided.

Clearly there are supporters
of this, our covenant...

And detractors.

The zealousness of my supporters

merely reflects
the longing for a holy covenant

to be brought home
to their own doors

and this covenant

which confirms
our interest in Christ

is, as holy Calvin tells US,
worth a hundred lives.

I therefore name my text.

The book of Joshua

chapter 3

verses 9
through 11.

God's message
to the israelites--

to his
chosen people--

as they crossed
the mighty Jordan river.

"And Joshua said:
Come hither

"and hear the words
of the lord your god.

"And Joshua said:

"Hereby ye shall know
that the living god

"is among you

"and that he will,
without fail

"drive out from before you
the Egyptian clans.

"Behold the ark
of the covenant

"of the lord
of all the earth

passeth over before you
into Jordan."

Like the israelites
in the ancient wilderness

we will begin anew, together

With the will of god
hence let it be known

that god hath graciously
brought you to a good day...

This day.

Sarah:
Parris's supporters were,
for now, in favor.

The rest of the village
would rise

as with the incoming tide.

It was in the deathly quiet
of one other winter

that the innocent
games of children

changed the course
of Salem village forever.

Here, child,
drink this.

Take it,
go on.

Just herb tea
I made up.

It'll put
your strength back.

Tituba?

Do we have to
keep reading scripture?

I'm tired.

You know it's not
for me to say, child.

The reverend sir

holds by
two hours of scriptures

for your lessons

both morning and noon.

You shouldn't
make no fuss, neither.

If he come in here

we all be
in trouble.

Tituba...

Read my hand again--

the lines.

Hush!

No!

Not now.

Please?

Not mine.

Please,
tituba.

What do you see?

Oh, my child,
you do have promise.

But beware.

See there,
these "x" marks...

They's devil scratches.

They don't
rub off, child

but you can keep them
from getting bigger.

How?

( Breaking glass )

Devil marks is bad,
like voodoo is bad.

Can make people wild inside,
so you mind your tituba.

I see the future.

I know.

On my island
I heard of these things.

One woman
could tell you today

what the stars

will tell you
tomorrow.

( Child screaming )

Not another.

Just bad dreams.

There, child.

There.

Pray,
child.

One more night of this

and she will
cleanse herself

by fasting.

Sarah:
There were other nights.

The poor, impressionable
child did fast.

But the diversions continued.

Tituba would not know better.

With her cousin, Bette

becoming more inward

with each passing day

the high-spirited Abigail

was busy soliciting other girls
to join in the games.

Young girls, full of
the promise of womanhood...

And what better place
to test this promise

than from the parsonage?

Meetings were held in secret
while the minister was out.

Tituba would oblige.

Anne.

What goes on
up there, daughter?

Scripture meetings.

Anne Putnam!

And games, sort of.

What manner of games?

Fortunes and...
Crystal readings.

We heard of those things
and tituba showed US.

Crystal?
What crystal?

The whites of eggs

held in water.

Girls see
fortunes--

future husbands
and such.

Am I to be
punished?

Go up there,
then.

What?

You heard me.

Go.

Find out more
about our fortunes.

Ask of your brother
and my sister's children.

Ask why they all
came into this world dead.

Ask of me
and your father's lot.

What's to become

of US?

If the minister's slave
can do as you say

I want to know.

Mention to no one

that I sent you
for this.

Understand?

Yes.

Go, then.

I must meet with the minister
on church matters.

Go.

Sarah:
The girls were bright

impressionable

dangerously eager.

Only time kept them
from surpassing their teacher.

See there.

Can you see
the lights?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Tituba:
Red cats...

Yellow birds...

And snakes.

Yes.

Yes.

I see them.

Where, cousin?

Where?

( Gasps )

Talk to them.

Ask them of your fate.

They will speak

with barks
and hisses.

You will understand.

Oh, I think
I shall faint.

Let me
talk to them.

What do you hear, child?

Hsssssssss...

( Screaming )

Devil marks, see?

Devil marks.

( Both screaming )

Tituba:
Abigail, stop!

Can't you see
the child is fearful?

Get up!

Come with me.

Hush, child!

Hush.

( Door shuts )

The snake...

It moves.

Hsssssss...

Look!

Do you see?

What is it? What?

Look!

I won't!

What of
my cousins?

Do you mean me?

Anne?

What of my dead brother?Ins?

What is my fortune?

Hssssss...

Parris:
The village grows
ever more divided.

These hypocrites

move to take back
the deed to the parsonage.

My husband,
Thomas

will press them
further--

be certain.

Nothing in this world
is certain, good woman.

Come up

to the parsonage.

Mrs. Parris
should be back.

I must be home.

Come.

( Children chanting
and moaning )

( Barking like dog )

What in god's name
is going on?

Anne?

Anne, come out from there.

What vile
sacrilege goes on

in a Christian house?

Speak, child!

Who gave you permission
to do this?

What is
this business?

Answer me!

Tituba!

What do you know
of this folly?

Nothing,
master, sir.

These children
are ill.

Elizabeth Hubbard

does your uncle
know of your whereabouts?

No.

You begone, then.

Mark me,
I will speak to him.

Anne Putnam!

How ashamed.

Who has
done this
to you?

What spell
are you under?

Tend to
your child.

And take your
maid-servant
with you.

This is
foul business.

Mention this violation
to no one.

You can be sure.

You...

I ask you again:

What do you know
of this foolishness?

I swear, sir.

( Child screams )

Quickly, Dr. Griggs...
Inside.

( Child screams )

Doctor,
what ails them?

This one--

my daughter--

cannot speak.

And when she does

the words
have no meaning.

Give me a candle.

She has fasted
for three days.

Still
no improvement.

( Child screams )

Where is
the other child?

On her bed,
with some manner of fits.

Let me
see her.

Easy, dear child.

Easy!

( Gasps )

We have prayed over them
for two days with no result.

It comes
and goes.

Why was I not called sooner?

We entrusted god first.

Never in my life have I seen
such conditions in children.

Let me confer
with my text.

Keep her door latched.

There is nothing
in my books

which can explain
these strange
afflictions.

Even I am
at a loss.

You must
do something,
Dr. Griggs.

My child.

May I speak with you
at the door, sir?

( Child screams )

I fear the
only explanation

for these
afflictions

is that
the evil hand
is upon them.

It is not
medical--

that would be
in my book.

It appears
these children are...

Bewitched.

Voodoo.

What?

( Child screams )

Nothing.

Just a word
of the west indies.

I advise you

to stay the course

and wait upon
the Providence of god.

We have no time.

There are other
afflicted children.

I have seen them.

What will you do?

Call a meeting of every minister
within a day's ride.

Perhaps together
we can summon

the will of god

to rid US of these afflictions.

You had best be there yourself,
Dr. Griggs.

Your niece, Elizabeth Hubbard,
is afflicted.

( Child screams )

Sarah:
The sickness was not isolated

to the minister's house alone.

It spread.

See the devil marks?

They tell the future.

Have you both
learned your lessons well?

Can you
recite them
for me?

Do you mean scripture?

You know what I mean.

No, missus.

Bear witness on me.

I have lost

a son and every
niece and nephew.

My husband's influence
diminishes

because of an
unjust inheritance.

I must know who or what
is to blame

and I will have answers.

You will show me
what you do.

( Distant screams )

( Breaking glass )

Ann.

I saw them...

Dead...

Dead children.

Little bodies...

Little bodies
in winding sheets.

They were murdered.

There,
outside the window.

Specters!

Sarah:
Most peculiar

was the sudden vapors
of Ann, senior.

Most peculiar indeed.

Soon after,
at the parsonage

Mr. Parris had his
meeting of ministers.

Abigail responded
on schedule.

There were doubts
about her affliction.

There was no doubt
about Bette, however.

The child was nearly lost.

Oh, do you not see her?

She stands
there!

Oh, I won't!

Take your
book away!

It's
the devil's book!

No.

Abigail!

Hush.

Abigail.

Can you hear me?

What is it?

What is it, child?

Who did
you see?

Who was it
that you struggled with?

I...

I know not
her name.

She comes often.

Is she
here now,
child?

Is she
alone?

There are others.

Who?

Who?

Who are they?

Let US
pray.

Sarah:
Tituba was to bake

a witchcake.

It was a mixture told to her
by a simple village woman--

Mary sibley.

"White magic" it was.

A cake made of rye meal

mixed with the urine
of the afflicted girls.

Well?

It's nearly baked.

Did you do
like the woman say?

Hush!

Yes...

If we are found out...

How else do we know
if these children

be with witches?

Pray that they is not,
for our sake.

Dr.
I have something
important to tell you.

Sarah:
The water of
Elizabeth Hubbard--

Dr. Grigg's niece--

was part of the cake.

Lord have mercy!

Lord have mercy!
( Screaming )

Lord have mercy!
( Screaming )

Lord have mercy!
( Screaming )

Sarah:
Several days later

the afflicted children

were brought together
in the home of Thomas Putnam.

The minister was determined
to have answers...

Answers he and others
already knew.

"...we may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden..."

( Screaming )

I'm being bitten
and pinched!

Who is it
afflicts you, Anne?

It's not clear to me.

But she's pinching!

You will not be punished.

God is my witness

but we will
have answers, child.

We must!

They are here again.

Can you see them?

Oh, Thomas!

( Screams )

Who possesses
you, daughter?

Speak.

Is it tituba?

Does she do
the devil's work?

Speak!

Tituba.

There are others.

Who are they...
By name?

Old women in the village--

known by sight.

Mean old women.

They mutter as I pass.

Go away!

No!

I can think of
two such women...

It must be.

You know of them too,
do you not, Anne?

Sarah:
Children.

Nothing but children.

Innocent games

misused and twisted

by spiteful guardians.

For want of proper discipline

20 lives would be lost
by these girls' innocent games.

It was a leap year...

1692.

On February the 29th
tituba was arrested

examined

and sent to Salem jail.

The charge
was witchcraft.

( Murmering )

You imply

that these
afflicted girls

were not
speaking the truth.

Goody cloyce--

children in
Christian households

would not lie so brazenly.

One perhaps,
but not as a group

so unified in conviction.

There were two households
of singular purpose.

Five were afflicted
if you count Mrs. Putnam.

And what lie is there
in young girls having spells.

How amazed
they must have been

not to be punished.

Instead,
they were
prayed to.

Feared.

Children...

With no previous voice
or station in life.

Then none was truly possessed?

Some were.

Young Bette
was truly stricken

whether by witchcraft,
fear, or imagination.

The other girls were ill
as it served them...

And their guardians.

They gloried in it.

These are serious implications.

It's a most serious business,
your honor.

Proceed.

The names came
from the adults--

not the children.

Do you expect US
to believe this?

Proceed.

Sarah:
Bette did not

willfully accuse tituba.

Tituba was dear to her.

She was frightened
of her father.

The reverend Mr. Parris
implicated tituba.

But you admit
tituba practiced
sorcery.

The sorcery, as you call it,
was Abigail's torments

and her own sensitivities

not tituba's mischief.

As for the other children,
they possessed themselves.

"Possessed
themselves?"

Naming names came easier.

Without fear of reprisal

the girls showed
no apprehension

in agreeing to point
the accusatory finger

at will.

Indeed, they
were encouraged.

Encouraged by whom?

You know they named
their tormentors.

Not
at first.

They merely agreed to the names
that were put upon them

until they felt their own power.

After tituba

Ann Putnam, senior,
and her kind

had other names
to put on the children...

Names they knew well.

My sisters and I
became the unsuspecting victims

of children allowed to go mad.

"...and Abraham's servant
and men blessed Rebecca."

They what?

Louder.

You know my hearing fails me.

"...and they blessed Rebecca

"and they
said unto her

"be thou the mother of
thousands of millions

"and let thy seed possess

the gate of those
which hate them."

My favorite passage
from Genesis.

You request it
often enough.

What?

Nothing.

Sarah, I take great comfort
in this bed.

It's older than I am.

You were born in it.

And so were you, and Mary.

It's ancient!

All of US,
born in this bed

and likewise
my eight children.

Eight?

Yes, eight.

That's right.

"Mother of thousands
of millions."

My!

Here, as I promised.

My special brew.

Mind not to spill it.

Mary,
you are
too kind.

What did I do
to deserve such attention?

Being the oldest sister,
I imagine...

And invalid.

She's merely recovering.

I am too invalid.

I have a mind

to stay in this bed
the rest of my life.

What else could bring my
sisters here as often?

If I have my way,
you will be up soon.

You always were the
brimstone of US sisters--

our leader.

So full
of fire...

Pride.

Bullheaded
is the word.

Well, you
be full of
Mary's brew

before it gets
too cold.

I brought my
own ingredients.

What is it?

It needs no explaining.

She doesn't know herself.

I do...

They're herbs from my farm.

There's uh...
Chamomile flowers

slippery elm

sassafras
roots and uh...

Other things.

'Tis bountiful.

What?

No maple syrup!

Oh, sister.

Rebecca:
What are you
doing, Sarah?

Who do you
look for?

Something's in the air.

You can feel it.

Fear is on the wing.

Rebecca:
What?

What did she say?

Something
about the air.

The window
is closed.

There was a terrible
business at the
meetinghouse

sacrament
Sunday last.

During the sermon,
four children...

Girls, went into
a strange discourse

and carried on with
the most grievous fits.

Dear, yes.

Most grievous.

Fits... yes.

Samuel told me.

Claim they were
bitten by witches.

Right in the
meetinghouse

for all
to see.

Witches, in Salem village.

How unlikely a place
for witches.

The church members
were beside themselves.

I know these children.

They appear to be good children
from orderly households.

Perhaps they are
tormented by witches.

Oh, sister!

You have a simple
view of the matter.

I am a simple woman.

Is itnot strange

no one tried to stop these
fits during sacrament Sunday?

No one!

Not their guardians

nor their parents

not reverend Mr. Parris himself.

My husband,
Sarah's Peter,
and your son, Samuel

went with others of
the village committee

to protest to
the minister.

Israel Porter
included.

What came
of it?

Nothing.

He stared at
them blankly.

He decided to do nothing.

Strange...

Isn't it?

There are three women
in Salem jail

accused of witchcraft
by these "good" children.

One is the minister's
slave herself, tituba.

She confessed
and was arrested.

Who were the others accused?

Sarah good, the deserted woman

and the hermit,
the old Sarah Osborne.

Sarah Osborne?

She could not be a witch.

Listen to me,
Rebecca.

I fear there
will be others

and perhaps
cser to US.

Oh, Sarah.

No, sister
is right.

There is word
that the children
have named others.

Mary:
Warrants are
being considered.

Impish games, that's all.

We played them as
children ourselves.

There's an adult
suffers fits as well--

Ann Putnam.

Ann carr Putnam?

Yes!

The carr family tried to get
mother accused of witchcraft.

That was long ago.

It was a land dispute...
You know that.

But it was Ann Putnam's family.

Her venom will not
be easily forgotten.

You both read too
much into this.

It's merely idle talk
and foolish notions.

It will pass, I tell you.

Read to me again,
another chapter from Genesis.

Rebecca:
Samuel?!

Mother,
please...
Get up.

We must leave
before they
arrive.

What happened?

We're just steps
ahead of the sheriff.

They have a warrant
for mother's arrest.

On what charge?

The practice
of witchcraft.

What!?

It cannot be!

Please, we
must hurry.

Who accuses in
this warrant?

Ann Putnam and
the minister's niece,
Abigail Williams.

I'm a Putnam
in name only.

They shall not
have her!

Where shall I go?

Please,
everyone stop!

God is
with me.

Mother!

No.

If it be so, the will
of the lord be done.

As to this thing

I am innocent as
the child unborn.

Surely, what
sin hath god

found out in me that he should
lay such affliction on me

in my old age?

No, son.

I am in his hands now.

Let them come.