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Salem Redeemed: The Final Act
(Written for the "Fuck Plagiarists" competition)
(The meeting room is filled, trial, underway)
Judge Sewall: Tituba, step forth
(Tituba rises)
Governor Phips: Tituba, what have ye to say?
Tituba: It were no pretense, suh—it were dem, dah Plagiarists dot stole mah woods frum mah moutd. Dey stole dem woods frum da Bible an pud da dev-uhl woods on me so ah bewitch dem gulls.
(Tituba points at the girls gathered off to the right)
Ah did nut do ut, suh—dem took Gud’s woods an twist dem aroun’.
(Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott, Mary Warren and Abigail Williams begin to scream, thrash and tear at their clothes)
Abigail Williams: They’re doing it! The Plagiarists! They’re sending out their spirits in the form of birds! There—on the rafters!!
(The girls continue their fit, Tituba ducks and the Plagiarists seated in the room, blanch)
Judge Sewall: Silence!
Reverend Parris: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name…
John Indian: See! Dey doin it ahgin! Dot band of theeves be bewitchin’ dem all!
Governor Phips: Order! Order at once! Bring in the accused!
(The guards lead in John Putnam, Rebecca Nurse, Dorcas Good, Martha Corey and the others)
Judge Sewall: What have ye all to say?
John Proctor: It were the work of the Plagiarists, sir; they have as Tituba said, stolen our words from us and made us to look as if we were the devils.
Rebecca Nurse: ‘Tis true.
Martha Corey: Aye, it is as John Proctor and Goodwife Nurse say.
Reverend Parris: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven…..
Judge Sewall: Release the accused and arrest the Plagiarists!
(The guards remove the shackles and ropes from the accused and place them on the Plagiarists. The girls begin their fit again)
Ann Putnam Jr: Their spirits are coming!
Reverend Parris: And give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Governor Phips: Order!
The Salem Townspeople: Hang them! Hang them!
Reverend Parris: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom of power and glory, amen.
Judge Sewall: The people have spoken and ye fate be sealed. Lead them away!
(The guards lead the Plagiarists to the gallows, as the girls’ fit stops)
Reverend Parris: May God have mercy upon your souls.
(The meeting room is filled, trial, underway)
Judge Sewall: Tituba, step forth
(Tituba rises)
Governor Phips: Tituba, what have ye to say?
Tituba: It were no pretense, suh—it were dem, dah Plagiarists dot stole mah woods frum mah moutd. Dey stole dem woods frum da Bible an pud da dev-uhl woods on me so ah bewitch dem gulls.
(Tituba points at the girls gathered off to the right)
Ah did nut do ut, suh—dem took Gud’s woods an twist dem aroun’.
(Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Mary Walcott, Mary Warren and Abigail Williams begin to scream, thrash and tear at their clothes)
Abigail Williams: They’re doing it! The Plagiarists! They’re sending out their spirits in the form of birds! There—on the rafters!!
(The girls continue their fit, Tituba ducks and the Plagiarists seated in the room, blanch)
Judge Sewall: Silence!
Reverend Parris: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name…
John Indian: See! Dey doin it ahgin! Dot band of theeves be bewitchin’ dem all!
Governor Phips: Order! Order at once! Bring in the accused!
(The guards lead in John Putnam, Rebecca Nurse, Dorcas Good, Martha Corey and the others)
Judge Sewall: What have ye all to say?
John Proctor: It were the work of the Plagiarists, sir; they have as Tituba said, stolen our words from us and made us to look as if we were the devils.
Rebecca Nurse: ‘Tis true.
Martha Corey: Aye, it is as John Proctor and Goodwife Nurse say.
Reverend Parris: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven…..
Judge Sewall: Release the accused and arrest the Plagiarists!
(The guards remove the shackles and ropes from the accused and place them on the Plagiarists. The girls begin their fit again)
Ann Putnam Jr: Their spirits are coming!
Reverend Parris: And give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Governor Phips: Order!
The Salem Townspeople: Hang them! Hang them!
Reverend Parris: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom of power and glory, amen.
Judge Sewall: The people have spoken and ye fate be sealed. Lead them away!
(The guards lead the Plagiarists to the gallows, as the girls’ fit stops)
Reverend Parris: May God have mercy upon your souls.
Published 8th Aug 2014
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8th Aug 2014 2:55pm
8th Aug 2014 4:27pm
LOL Thanks Grace! I thought I'd give the Salem Witch Trials, a different twist and ending....
10th Aug 2014 1:50pm
Anonymous
- Edited 15th May 2018 00:13am
8th Aug 2014 11:30pm
<< post removed >>
9th Aug 2014 1:58am
Jack--are you familiar with the Salem Witch trials of 1692? Also Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is a play about that time on history as it parallels to McCarthyism witch hunts of the 1950's when The Crucible was written.
Tituba and her husband John Indian, were slaves/household help from Barbados, Tituba being a key figure in the Witch Hysteria. Most all of it was trumped up charges by bored schoolgirls listening to Tituba's tales from Barbados, that ended with a lot of innocent people hanged as witches.
A very dark moment in my home state's history and for Believers in God, a testament to how the devil can use Scripture for his own sordid work .
Tituba and her husband John Indian, were slaves/household help from Barbados, Tituba being a key figure in the Witch Hysteria. Most all of it was trumped up charges by bored schoolgirls listening to Tituba's tales from Barbados, that ended with a lot of innocent people hanged as witches.
A very dark moment in my home state's history and for Believers in God, a testament to how the devil can use Scripture for his own sordid work .
Anonymous
- Edited 15th May 2018 00:13am
11th Aug 2014 1:27am
<< post removed >>
12th Aug 2014 4:10pm
WOW Miss L...I am not familiar with Witches of Salem meaning I didn't see the movie...but I am intrigued by your incredible talent to write linguistic dialogue that is an awesome ability...great job and I loved the interaction and the reverend's continued prayer in the background...well done...please be safe and well...thanks and take care...Jimbo
12th Aug 2014 5:48pm
Thanks Jimbo--the Salem Witch trials were a real thing that happened in Massachusetts in 1692, where innocent people, many of them Christians, were hanged as witches amidst the hysteria. Bible Scripture got all twisted and was used against those who truly believed in it.