Elizabeth says many have confessed, a hundred or more, but Rebecca refuses to confess. At first, Elizabeth and Proctor discuss the child that is yet to be born, and who is taking care of the other children.Hale asks Danforth to give them some privacy, and so the men file out, though it takes Parris a little longer-he needs to receive an “icy stare” from Proctor before he gets the point.He and Elizabeth look at each other with deep sorrow and emotion. John Proctor now enters, a changed man-bearded, dirty.Elizabeth says she would like to see him, but she doesn’t promise to convince him of anything.Her husband is going to hang in the morning-doesn’t she want him to live? Then Danforth joins in the urging, though with a different purpose-he thinks Proctor is guilty.He says he made mistakes in the past and he will count himself a murderer if Proctor hangs. Hale urges her to speak with her husband, to compel him to confess so he can live. Hale responds that he’s here to do the Devil’s work-to urge Christians to lie. Why are you here, Danforth wants to know.He suggests that if he doesn’t, he will urge people to rebel. Parris thinks it’s possible, while Hale urges Danforth again to postpone. They turn their conversation to Proctor, and Danforth wonders if he might change his mind and confess if he sees his wife, who is now very pregnant.He asks Danforth to pardon those who have yet to be punished, but Danforth says he can’t do that since others have already been hanged for the same crime.Reverend Hale enters, looking sorrowful and tired and confrontational.If Danforth continues by hanging these folks…. Then Parris says that his life is in danger, as he has received threats.Danforth denies the request but does say that he will work until dawn with those who might still be brought to God. Hathorne responds that she is condemned as a witch, and Parris suggests that they postpone the hangings for some time.
He says some of those who hanged earlier were bad sorts-they drank their family to ruin, or they lived in sin for some years before marrying-but Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are good people.
Then Parris starts standing up for those who are left to hang.Parris thinks the rebellion in Andover, where they threw out the witchcraft court (a rebellion Danforth says is over) is what has caused Abigail to flee.Abigail even broke into his strongbox and took all his money. He thinks they’ve boarded a ship and escaped the area. Then Parris admits that his niece Abigail has disappeared with Mercy Lewis.Danforth immediately tells him that he shouldn’t let Hale in to see the prisoners, but Parris says that Hale has been urging Rebecca Nurse to confess and save her life. Parris walks in and greets Danforth and Hathorne.
Parris has been trying to resolve the disputes. So many owners are in jail that their cows are wandering around all over the place, and everybody is arguing about who they belong to now. Cheever speaks up and says it’s the cows.They find it strange that Parris is also praying with Hale, and Hathorne wonders if Parris has started to go crazy. When Herrick leaves, Hathorne and Danforth talk about the Hale and Parris situation.Angry, knowing Herrick is lying, Danforth commands that he fetch Parris, then comments on how it stinks like liquor.Danforth wants to know if he’s drunk, and Herrick lies, saying no, it’s just cold in there. Herrick says that Parris has commanded it.Danforth says that man has no right to be here, so why does Herrick let him in?.Herrick says that he sits and prays with those who are going to hang.They want to know when Hale arrived and what he was doing here. Danforth and Hathorne enter, followed by Cheever. When they hear a cow bellowing, Tituba says it is “the majesty” and calls out for it to take her home.He asks where they’re going and Tituba says they’re going to Barbados. Herrick tells the two of them to get out of there. Herrick comes in, drunk, and nudges Sarah Good to wake her up.
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