American Playhouse (1981–…): Season 4, Episode 20 - Three Sovereigns for Sarah: Part III - full transcript
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Sarah:
At her own examination
Mary's piety and reverence
was most evident.
They would have done better
to accuse an angel of mercy.
What say you
to these
accusations?
I grieve for the tormented.
I pray god each day to relieve
their suffering.
It's all I know how to do.
Mary easty...
We find
there is not
enough evidence
to hold you
in suspicion
of witchcraft.
You are
free to go.
( Door opening )
Sarah:
And yet another prisoner
was brought in that day.
Mary...?
Mary!
Oh, Sarah.
Rebecca.
But you were freed.
They told US so.
Yes, I was.
But an afflicted child
named me again
as her tormentor.
She said
because I
was free
my specter was loose
to drink her blood.
Two others
also said
it was true.
Who were they--
which afflicted?
Mercy Lewis first.
Then Anne Putnam--
the daughter--
and young Abigail.
Oh Sarah, I am
frightened so!
Sarah good
was right.
We are doomed.
No.
The trials-- we must
prepare for the trials.
Dear
Sarah
god has forsaken US
in our time of need.
How long, o lord,
wilt thou forget me?
Forever?
How long wilt thou hide
thy face
from me?
Sarah:
Sister
this is not our psalm.
It is my psalm and others.
Mary...
Did they
tell you?
This child's mother
has lost her
newborn baby
a boy, born in the hay
and wrapped in
swaddling clothes.
Rebecca!
Sarah:
Of US three sisters,
Rebecca's trial came first.
They took her away.
That was the last time
I saw my sister.
Dear Rebecca.
Dear, dear Rebecca.
Fetch me the
depositions
of the nurse trial.
There were many
depositions
against the accused
at the trial
as you can see.
"Mercy Lewis versus
Rebecca nurse.
"Ann Putnam, sr.
Versus Rebecca nurse.
The reverend Samuel parris
versus Rebecca nurse."
And many
on her behalf.
Here is the petition
of good character.
There are many
names here
as goodwife cloyce
has indicated.
This document says
that the jury found your
sister, Rebecca nurse
"not guilty"?
Yes.
When the jury
found her not guilty
there were fits
from the afflicted.
The judges sent the jury
back to think again.
When they came back,
Rebecca was guilty.
After sentencing her to hang
they sent her off
to Boston jail.
Samuel:
I carried
petitions
to governor phips on her behalf.
They had signatures
of influential people.
Nurse was granted a stay
of execution on July 2.
Many of the afflicted
broke out again
when word came
of the reprieve.
And so the governor
revoked his decision.
Yes.
She was sentenced to die
after suffering false hopes
and accusations.
Rebecca was brought
before the minister
of her own covenant church:
The reverend
Mr. Nicholas noyes.
She was brought for
one purpose only--
excommunication.
"He that committeth sin
is of the devil
"for the devil
sinneth from
the beginning.
"For this purpose, the
son of god was manifested
that he might destroy
the works of the devil."
Rebecca nurse
may your soul be
forever condemned
to the eternal
damnation in hell
for practicing witchcraft.
Pray god deny you a place
in the kingdom of heaven.
You have forsaken him.
Forsaken your covenant.
Forsaken your soul.
This was the cruelest
sentence of all.
So be ye:
Excommunicated.
It separated
a dying woman
from her loving god.
In her own mind,
Rebecca was dead
when the Bible
closed on her soul.
Sarah good's trial
also came quickly
as did the verdict.
( Drum beating )
Confess now to god almighty
of your sins.
You are a witch,
and you know it!
You are a liar!
If you take my life
god will give you
blood to drink!
( Crowd yelling )
My god.
( Drum beating )
Have you last words?
Speak!
Hang her!
Hang her!
Why is she silent?
She is empty, just a body.
She has no soul.
"And they blessed Rebecca
"and said unto her
"thou art our sister.
"Be thou the mother
of thousands of millions
and let thy seed possess the
gate of those which hate them"
Hold.
Samuel...
Let US try down there.
My god...
They deny them even
a Christian burial.
Let US find her.
( Key turns in lock )
Mary easty.
Where are you
taking her?
To her
trial.
My purse and
my shoes...
No, no,
stop!
Sarah,
you must
let me go!
My aunt Mary was found guilty.
She is to hang.
I cannot
bear it.
I must see her.
Hang?
Are you certain?
Then I will go with you.
( Key turns in lock )
Samuel!
Samuel?
How were
you let in?
A certain amount
given to the
right official.
It was
Joseph's doing.
Oh, dear aunts...
Oh, god...
We thought you
were arrested.
It was the
most grievous
time, Samuel.
My life means
but little now.
It is the
will of god.
It is not
his will.
Your life means everything
especially
now.
You are more like Sarah
than anyone in
the family, Samuel.
Aunt Mary
Joseph and I will do
anything to save you.
You can start
with this.
What is it?
It's a petition
on Mary's behalf.
The words are mine.
Sarah put them
down herself.
As I
cannot.
Sarah:
Deliver it
by hand
to governor phips.
He nearly pardoned
Rebecca once.
Maybe his backbone has
strengthened since.
It's written to
the magistrates.
If they and the council
of ministers read it
it may save others
from my fate.
Read it,
Samuel.
"I, Mary easty,
am condemned to die.
"The lord above
knows my innocence
"and at
the great day
"it will be
known to all.
"I petition your honors
not for my own life
"for I know I must die
"and my appointed
time is set
"but that no more
innocent blood
may be shed.
"By my own
innocency
"I know you
were in the
wrong way.
"May the lord in
his infinite mercy
"direct you
"in this
great work
"if it be his
blessed will
"that no
more innocent
blood be shed.
"I would
beg of you
"that your
honors examine
"some of those
confessing witches--
"I being confident
there are several of them
"who have belied
themselves and others
"as will appear,
if not in this world
"then surely in
the world to come...
Whither I am going."
Are the words adequate?
You support
no anger
for those
who accuse you.
Why?
I believe they are
truly possessed.
We argued.
She will not be
convinced otherwise.
Dear aunt,
they accused you falsely.
At my trial
they said I rubbed my
hands together often--
thus--
and doing so
was proof of my guilt.
How can they claim
to be afflicted
yet speak such
falsehoods?
They are either possessed
or they are not.
They cannot
be both.
But that is the
truth, Samuel.
Observe,
dear nephew
would you say
they are exactly alike?
Exactly... yes.
Now see...
They are also
exactly the opposite.
And so is the truth
about the afflicted.
They are possessed--
and yet they are not.
( Key turns in lock )
Take this to
governor phips.
It has been
written by the
purest of souls.
Woman:
No! No!
Sarah:
The days that followed
did not bode well for the
people of essex county...
He's done
nothing
wrong!
Different towns
borrowed the afflicted girls
if they had none of their own
to discover witches among them.
Accused were taken
in the neighboring towns
of andover,
marblehead, topsfield
and as far off as amesbury.
The children were busy indeed.
There was one day
when religious service
was sparse.
The minister's salary
was cut off
by those unable or
unwilling to pay.
The man who wanted to be
the undoubted purveyor
of the word
was himself doubted.
I name my text...
Romans, chapter 13.
"Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers.
"For there is no power
but of god:
"The powers that be
are ordained of god.
"Whosoever therefore
resisteth the power
"resisteth the ordinance of god
"and they that resist
"shall receive to themselves
damnation.
"For he is the minister
of god to thee for good.
"But if thou doeth evil
"be afraid
"for he beareth not
the sword in vain:
"For he is the minister of god
"a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doth evil.
"Render therefore to all
their dues:
"Tribute to whom tribute is due;
"custom to whom custom;
"fear to whom fear;
honor to whom honor."
The devil's
prevalency
in this age
is most clear in the
sheer numbers of witches
that abound in all places.
Now, hundreds are
discovered among US--
in our village
and here in our very church.
Heretofore, only the
barbarous deserts had them
but now the civilized
and religious parts
are frequently
pestered with them.
Sarah:
Alice Parker, Salem town
Ann pudeator, Salem town.
Margaret Scott, rowley.
Wilmot "mammy" redd,
marblehead.
Samuel wardwell, andover.
Mary Parker, andover.
Martha Cory
wife of giles Cory,
Salem farms.
Mary easty, topsfield.
Mary's petition
had fallen on deaf ears.
She would be among
those of innocent blood.
Parris:
There are but two parties
in this world--
Christ and his followers
and Satan and his followers.
There are no neutrals.
Everyone is on one side
or the other.
And who will have the victory?
Let the word go forth
from Salem village
that we will succeed
in our struggle
against the devil himself
and banish him and his kind
from our midsts.
You must eat.
Take care
of dorcy!
( Dorcy cries )
Take care
of her!
Where are you
taking me?
Where do you
take me?
To my trial?
I knew not where
I was being taken.
It was a long journey
northward along
the Ipswich road.
I came to realize
what was happening.
I was in the custody
of a private jailer--
one who hired out his service
to the province
to accommodate
the overcrowded jails.
He was a farmer--
a landowner like
any of my neighbors
yet he was my jailkeeper.
It was a shed...
Nothing more.
Dirt floor,
damp and soiled straw--
a temporary stop before
appearing at my own trial
or so I thought.
A trial that would surely lead
to the hanging tree.
Never did I feel more alone.
It was at that moment
that I truly suffered the loss
of my dear sisters
and the child named "dorcy."
Each time the door opened
I thought they were coming
to take me to my trial.
But each time it was only
my jailkeeper with food.
His visits had
no schedule
which unnerved me more.
As I lost the days into weeks
so did I lose my well-being.
A trip to the hanging tree
seemed more welcomed.
To join my sisters
in the glory of the hereafter
became my obsessed salvation
that consumed my every though.
I was becoming more ill,
and I did not care.
Weeks to months...
Winter.
A world beyond the shed
had ceased all meaning.
Salem village was now
but a distant dream.
How many had been hanged
since dear Mary?
What of my husband?
What of Samuel?
Of little dorcy?
( Laughter )
My only touch with
that outside world
was the brief glimpses
of my jailkeeper's children.
Dear god...
Aunt Sarah...
Aunt Sarah,
it is I, Samuel.
She is
gravely ill.
Can we get
you food?
Water.
Peter...
We have come
for you, Sarah.
It is over.
The madness
is over.
Aunt Sarah,
you are free.
Free to come
home with US.
Free.
The governor issued
a general pardon
to all
the accused.
They are
emptying
the jails.
We have paid
your jailer.
What month
is it?
April...
April 15.
It is a year since
I was taken away.
It is all
over now...
Over.
How be
it so?
The afflicted children
went too far in naming names.
Hundreds were accused...
Even the
governor's wife.
He stopped
them then?
No, it was prominent
ministers above parris.
They rejected spectral evidence
as sole proof--
so it stopped.
All as it
was before.
All as before?
How many dead?
19 hanged
one pressed
to death--
20 in all.
20...
God spared me that I might
tell you this story.
20 innocent people
lost their lives.
The people who died were
the dearest of US all.
And they died because of
church politics, superstitions
and bad blood,
stirred by ancient quarrels.
I say this with
god as my witness.
You have mentioned
proof previously.
Can you present
this proof?
More proof than
spectral evidence,
good sir.
Sarah:
That is a map of Salem
village in 1692.
That will prove that the madness
was not due to witchcraft
but to disputes
between neighbors
in separate parts
of the village--
disputes over land,
inheritances
and the meetinghouse.
How so?
I have placed a Mark
over each house
where the accusers lived.
And I have marked
every house
where the
accused lived.
A centerline divides the
disputed meetinghouse in half.
I fail to see the reasoning.
Look more closely, your honor.
The accusers all lived west
of the dividing line
and those they accused
lived east of it.
This is but
a list of names.
20 names.
I offer them to you
as proof of a conspiracy.
How so?
Those are the names of committee
members in the village
who first opposed Samuel parris
taking over our church.
Of those 20, 17 were accused
or hanged as witches.
You will excuse US
for the moment.
Kind woman...
Let US
go home.
Let US go.
What folly to die
at the hands of children.
Oh, dearest Rebecca,
oh, dearest Mary.
"Blessed are the
pure in spirit
"for they shall
see god in heaven.
"And blessed are they
"that are persecuted
for righteousness sake
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
Goodwife cloyce--
we as representatives
of the crown
have listened
to your story
and considered the evidence
and circumstances
you have presented.
It is still our
concerted opinion
that years will indeed pass
before final judgment is made
on any accused person
who died in 1692.
However...
With regard to your own case
and those of your sisters
you came here,
not seeking final judgment
but merely to tell
your story and theirs
and to clear their names,
as you say.
This you
have done.
I feel we must apologize
in some way
for their suffering and yours.
You have
been wronged.
Although it is likely
any restitution
will take
many years
we wish to make
some measure
of symbolic
support.
A measure of respect
absolving you and your sisters
from any guilt in this matter.
We three
magistrates
before you
so desire to right the wrong
in the eyes of the law
for the unjustices done.
We humbly place before you
our symbolic judgment--
three sovereigns--
one for
each sister.
One gold sovereign for the
sovereignty of each life.
Anne Putnam, Jr.
Sought membership in
the village church in 1706.
She apologized to the accused
who survived
and to the families of those
who lost their lives.
She was admitted
into the church.
She died ten years later
in 1716 at age 36, unmarried.
Ann Putnam, sr., died
in June 1699 at age 38
mentally anguished over the
loss of her husband Thomas
who died the month before.
They rest in an unmarked grave.
Tituba remained in Salem jail
for the duration of the trials
where she was used as a witness
against the accused.
When the trials ended
she was sold by Samuel parris
to pay for her jail fees.
The reverend Mr. Samuel parris
failed to hold his deed
or his position in the church.
He was driven out of Salem
village in the year 1697
by the restored
anti-parris committee
led by Samuel nurse
and Joseph Putnam.
Parris was banished
to obscurity
never to be hired
as a minister again.
The reverend Mr. Nicholas noyes
was to follow the prophecy
of Sarah good.
After the hangings, he suffered
an internal hemorrhage
and did, indeed, die
drinking his own blood.
Little dorcy good confessed
to being a witch.
She was released from jail
at the age of five years.
She would suffer emotionally
for the remainder of her life.
In 1711, Mary easty's
name was cleared
and her surviving family
was awarded £20 sterling
by recommendation of
the court of inquiry.
Her attainder was reversed.
Rebecca nurse's family was
awarded £25 sterling in 1711
as recompense.
Her attainder was
also reversed.
In 1712, the church of Salem
overturned her excommunication
thus restoring
Rebecca's soul to god.
Sarah cloyce returned
to her husband Peter
and home in framingham,
Massachusetts
where she died
three weeks after
she was granted the hearing.
She was buried with
three gold sovereigns.
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Sarah:
At her own examination
Mary's piety and reverence
was most evident.
They would have done better
to accuse an angel of mercy.
What say you
to these
accusations?
I grieve for the tormented.
I pray god each day to relieve
their suffering.
It's all I know how to do.
Mary easty...
We find
there is not
enough evidence
to hold you
in suspicion
of witchcraft.
You are
free to go.
( Door opening )
Sarah:
And yet another prisoner
was brought in that day.
Mary...?
Mary!
Oh, Sarah.
Rebecca.
But you were freed.
They told US so.
Yes, I was.
But an afflicted child
named me again
as her tormentor.
She said
because I
was free
my specter was loose
to drink her blood.
Two others
also said
it was true.
Who were they--
which afflicted?
Mercy Lewis first.
Then Anne Putnam--
the daughter--
and young Abigail.
Oh Sarah, I am
frightened so!
Sarah good
was right.
We are doomed.
No.
The trials-- we must
prepare for the trials.
Dear
Sarah
god has forsaken US
in our time of need.
How long, o lord,
wilt thou forget me?
Forever?
How long wilt thou hide
thy face
from me?
Sarah:
Sister
this is not our psalm.
It is my psalm and others.
Mary...
Did they
tell you?
This child's mother
has lost her
newborn baby
a boy, born in the hay
and wrapped in
swaddling clothes.
Rebecca!
Sarah:
Of US three sisters,
Rebecca's trial came first.
They took her away.
That was the last time
I saw my sister.
Dear Rebecca.
Dear, dear Rebecca.
Fetch me the
depositions
of the nurse trial.
There were many
depositions
against the accused
at the trial
as you can see.
"Mercy Lewis versus
Rebecca nurse.
"Ann Putnam, sr.
Versus Rebecca nurse.
The reverend Samuel parris
versus Rebecca nurse."
And many
on her behalf.
Here is the petition
of good character.
There are many
names here
as goodwife cloyce
has indicated.
This document says
that the jury found your
sister, Rebecca nurse
"not guilty"?
Yes.
When the jury
found her not guilty
there were fits
from the afflicted.
The judges sent the jury
back to think again.
When they came back,
Rebecca was guilty.
After sentencing her to hang
they sent her off
to Boston jail.
Samuel:
I carried
petitions
to governor phips on her behalf.
They had signatures
of influential people.
Nurse was granted a stay
of execution on July 2.
Many of the afflicted
broke out again
when word came
of the reprieve.
And so the governor
revoked his decision.
Yes.
She was sentenced to die
after suffering false hopes
and accusations.
Rebecca was brought
before the minister
of her own covenant church:
The reverend
Mr. Nicholas noyes.
She was brought for
one purpose only--
excommunication.
"He that committeth sin
is of the devil
"for the devil
sinneth from
the beginning.
"For this purpose, the
son of god was manifested
that he might destroy
the works of the devil."
Rebecca nurse
may your soul be
forever condemned
to the eternal
damnation in hell
for practicing witchcraft.
Pray god deny you a place
in the kingdom of heaven.
You have forsaken him.
Forsaken your covenant.
Forsaken your soul.
This was the cruelest
sentence of all.
So be ye:
Excommunicated.
It separated
a dying woman
from her loving god.
In her own mind,
Rebecca was dead
when the Bible
closed on her soul.
Sarah good's trial
also came quickly
as did the verdict.
( Drum beating )
Confess now to god almighty
of your sins.
You are a witch,
and you know it!
You are a liar!
If you take my life
god will give you
blood to drink!
( Crowd yelling )
My god.
( Drum beating )
Have you last words?
Speak!
Hang her!
Hang her!
Why is she silent?
She is empty, just a body.
She has no soul.
"And they blessed Rebecca
"and said unto her
"thou art our sister.
"Be thou the mother
of thousands of millions
and let thy seed possess the
gate of those which hate them"
Hold.
Samuel...
Let US try down there.
My god...
They deny them even
a Christian burial.
Let US find her.
( Key turns in lock )
Mary easty.
Where are you
taking her?
To her
trial.
My purse and
my shoes...
No, no,
stop!
Sarah,
you must
let me go!
My aunt Mary was found guilty.
She is to hang.
I cannot
bear it.
I must see her.
Hang?
Are you certain?
Then I will go with you.
( Key turns in lock )
Samuel!
Samuel?
How were
you let in?
A certain amount
given to the
right official.
It was
Joseph's doing.
Oh, dear aunts...
Oh, god...
We thought you
were arrested.
It was the
most grievous
time, Samuel.
My life means
but little now.
It is the
will of god.
It is not
his will.
Your life means everything
especially
now.
You are more like Sarah
than anyone in
the family, Samuel.
Aunt Mary
Joseph and I will do
anything to save you.
You can start
with this.
What is it?
It's a petition
on Mary's behalf.
The words are mine.
Sarah put them
down herself.
As I
cannot.
Sarah:
Deliver it
by hand
to governor phips.
He nearly pardoned
Rebecca once.
Maybe his backbone has
strengthened since.
It's written to
the magistrates.
If they and the council
of ministers read it
it may save others
from my fate.
Read it,
Samuel.
"I, Mary easty,
am condemned to die.
"The lord above
knows my innocence
"and at
the great day
"it will be
known to all.
"I petition your honors
not for my own life
"for I know I must die
"and my appointed
time is set
"but that no more
innocent blood
may be shed.
"By my own
innocency
"I know you
were in the
wrong way.
"May the lord in
his infinite mercy
"direct you
"in this
great work
"if it be his
blessed will
"that no
more innocent
blood be shed.
"I would
beg of you
"that your
honors examine
"some of those
confessing witches--
"I being confident
there are several of them
"who have belied
themselves and others
"as will appear,
if not in this world
"then surely in
the world to come...
Whither I am going."
Are the words adequate?
You support
no anger
for those
who accuse you.
Why?
I believe they are
truly possessed.
We argued.
She will not be
convinced otherwise.
Dear aunt,
they accused you falsely.
At my trial
they said I rubbed my
hands together often--
thus--
and doing so
was proof of my guilt.
How can they claim
to be afflicted
yet speak such
falsehoods?
They are either possessed
or they are not.
They cannot
be both.
But that is the
truth, Samuel.
Observe,
dear nephew
would you say
they are exactly alike?
Exactly... yes.
Now see...
They are also
exactly the opposite.
And so is the truth
about the afflicted.
They are possessed--
and yet they are not.
( Key turns in lock )
Take this to
governor phips.
It has been
written by the
purest of souls.
Woman:
No! No!
Sarah:
The days that followed
did not bode well for the
people of essex county...
He's done
nothing
wrong!
Different towns
borrowed the afflicted girls
if they had none of their own
to discover witches among them.
Accused were taken
in the neighboring towns
of andover,
marblehead, topsfield
and as far off as amesbury.
The children were busy indeed.
There was one day
when religious service
was sparse.
The minister's salary
was cut off
by those unable or
unwilling to pay.
The man who wanted to be
the undoubted purveyor
of the word
was himself doubted.
I name my text...
Romans, chapter 13.
"Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers.
"For there is no power
but of god:
"The powers that be
are ordained of god.
"Whosoever therefore
resisteth the power
"resisteth the ordinance of god
"and they that resist
"shall receive to themselves
damnation.
"For he is the minister
of god to thee for good.
"But if thou doeth evil
"be afraid
"for he beareth not
the sword in vain:
"For he is the minister of god
"a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doth evil.
"Render therefore to all
their dues:
"Tribute to whom tribute is due;
"custom to whom custom;
"fear to whom fear;
honor to whom honor."
The devil's
prevalency
in this age
is most clear in the
sheer numbers of witches
that abound in all places.
Now, hundreds are
discovered among US--
in our village
and here in our very church.
Heretofore, only the
barbarous deserts had them
but now the civilized
and religious parts
are frequently
pestered with them.
Sarah:
Alice Parker, Salem town
Ann pudeator, Salem town.
Margaret Scott, rowley.
Wilmot "mammy" redd,
marblehead.
Samuel wardwell, andover.
Mary Parker, andover.
Martha Cory
wife of giles Cory,
Salem farms.
Mary easty, topsfield.
Mary's petition
had fallen on deaf ears.
She would be among
those of innocent blood.
Parris:
There are but two parties
in this world--
Christ and his followers
and Satan and his followers.
There are no neutrals.
Everyone is on one side
or the other.
And who will have the victory?
Let the word go forth
from Salem village
that we will succeed
in our struggle
against the devil himself
and banish him and his kind
from our midsts.
You must eat.
Take care
of dorcy!
( Dorcy cries )
Take care
of her!
Where are you
taking me?
Where do you
take me?
To my trial?
I knew not where
I was being taken.
It was a long journey
northward along
the Ipswich road.
I came to realize
what was happening.
I was in the custody
of a private jailer--
one who hired out his service
to the province
to accommodate
the overcrowded jails.
He was a farmer--
a landowner like
any of my neighbors
yet he was my jailkeeper.
It was a shed...
Nothing more.
Dirt floor,
damp and soiled straw--
a temporary stop before
appearing at my own trial
or so I thought.
A trial that would surely lead
to the hanging tree.
Never did I feel more alone.
It was at that moment
that I truly suffered the loss
of my dear sisters
and the child named "dorcy."
Each time the door opened
I thought they were coming
to take me to my trial.
But each time it was only
my jailkeeper with food.
His visits had
no schedule
which unnerved me more.
As I lost the days into weeks
so did I lose my well-being.
A trip to the hanging tree
seemed more welcomed.
To join my sisters
in the glory of the hereafter
became my obsessed salvation
that consumed my every though.
I was becoming more ill,
and I did not care.
Weeks to months...
Winter.
A world beyond the shed
had ceased all meaning.
Salem village was now
but a distant dream.
How many had been hanged
since dear Mary?
What of my husband?
What of Samuel?
Of little dorcy?
( Laughter )
My only touch with
that outside world
was the brief glimpses
of my jailkeeper's children.
Dear god...
Aunt Sarah...
Aunt Sarah,
it is I, Samuel.
She is
gravely ill.
Can we get
you food?
Water.
Peter...
We have come
for you, Sarah.
It is over.
The madness
is over.
Aunt Sarah,
you are free.
Free to come
home with US.
Free.
The governor issued
a general pardon
to all
the accused.
They are
emptying
the jails.
We have paid
your jailer.
What month
is it?
April...
April 15.
It is a year since
I was taken away.
It is all
over now...
Over.
How be
it so?
The afflicted children
went too far in naming names.
Hundreds were accused...
Even the
governor's wife.
He stopped
them then?
No, it was prominent
ministers above parris.
They rejected spectral evidence
as sole proof--
so it stopped.
All as it
was before.
All as before?
How many dead?
19 hanged
one pressed
to death--
20 in all.
20...
God spared me that I might
tell you this story.
20 innocent people
lost their lives.
The people who died were
the dearest of US all.
And they died because of
church politics, superstitions
and bad blood,
stirred by ancient quarrels.
I say this with
god as my witness.
You have mentioned
proof previously.
Can you present
this proof?
More proof than
spectral evidence,
good sir.
Sarah:
That is a map of Salem
village in 1692.
That will prove that the madness
was not due to witchcraft
but to disputes
between neighbors
in separate parts
of the village--
disputes over land,
inheritances
and the meetinghouse.
How so?
I have placed a Mark
over each house
where the accusers lived.
And I have marked
every house
where the
accused lived.
A centerline divides the
disputed meetinghouse in half.
I fail to see the reasoning.
Look more closely, your honor.
The accusers all lived west
of the dividing line
and those they accused
lived east of it.
This is but
a list of names.
20 names.
I offer them to you
as proof of a conspiracy.
How so?
Those are the names of committee
members in the village
who first opposed Samuel parris
taking over our church.
Of those 20, 17 were accused
or hanged as witches.
You will excuse US
for the moment.
Kind woman...
Let US
go home.
Let US go.
What folly to die
at the hands of children.
Oh, dearest Rebecca,
oh, dearest Mary.
"Blessed are the
pure in spirit
"for they shall
see god in heaven.
"And blessed are they
"that are persecuted
for righteousness sake
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
Goodwife cloyce--
we as representatives
of the crown
have listened
to your story
and considered the evidence
and circumstances
you have presented.
It is still our
concerted opinion
that years will indeed pass
before final judgment is made
on any accused person
who died in 1692.
However...
With regard to your own case
and those of your sisters
you came here,
not seeking final judgment
but merely to tell
your story and theirs
and to clear their names,
as you say.
This you
have done.
I feel we must apologize
in some way
for their suffering and yours.
You have
been wronged.
Although it is likely
any restitution
will take
many years
we wish to make
some measure
of symbolic
support.
A measure of respect
absolving you and your sisters
from any guilt in this matter.
We three
magistrates
before you
so desire to right the wrong
in the eyes of the law
for the unjustices done.
We humbly place before you
our symbolic judgment--
three sovereigns--
one for
each sister.
One gold sovereign for the
sovereignty of each life.
Anne Putnam, Jr.
Sought membership in
the village church in 1706.
She apologized to the accused
who survived
and to the families of those
who lost their lives.
She was admitted
into the church.
She died ten years later
in 1716 at age 36, unmarried.
Ann Putnam, sr., died
in June 1699 at age 38
mentally anguished over the
loss of her husband Thomas
who died the month before.
They rest in an unmarked grave.
Tituba remained in Salem jail
for the duration of the trials
where she was used as a witness
against the accused.
When the trials ended
she was sold by Samuel parris
to pay for her jail fees.
The reverend Mr. Samuel parris
failed to hold his deed
or his position in the church.
He was driven out of Salem
village in the year 1697
by the restored
anti-parris committee
led by Samuel nurse
and Joseph Putnam.
Parris was banished
to obscurity
never to be hired
as a minister again.
The reverend Mr. Nicholas noyes
was to follow the prophecy
of Sarah good.
After the hangings, he suffered
an internal hemorrhage
and did, indeed, die
drinking his own blood.
Little dorcy good confessed
to being a witch.
She was released from jail
at the age of five years.
She would suffer emotionally
for the remainder of her life.
In 1711, Mary easty's
name was cleared
and her surviving family
was awarded £20 sterling
by recommendation of
the court of inquiry.
Her attainder was reversed.
Rebecca nurse's family was
awarded £25 sterling in 1711
as recompense.
Her attainder was
also reversed.
In 1712, the church of Salem
overturned her excommunication
thus restoring
Rebecca's soul to god.
Sarah cloyce returned
to her husband Peter
and home in framingham,
Massachusetts
where she died
three weeks after
she was granted the hearing.
She was buried with
three gold sovereigns.