Giles' Indictment
Giles Corey sitting on the floor of his cell. Danforth enters. Giles is in irons. Several others enter with him (Cheever, Hawthorne, Parris, Herrick).
Danforth: looking stern and serious: You have been arrested for contempt of the court. Do you realize what that means?- Giles is silent, looking defiantly at Danforth.
Herrick: Will you not speak?
Parris: If you have sins, confess now!
Danforth: What say you? -silence- Do you realize what will happen if you do not confess? -silence- Come! Say something Giles!
Hawthorne: There is harsh penalty for silence!
Giles: I feel no penalty. How can I when I know that penalties will befall me no matter what course I take. So silence it will be.
-silence-
The next day, Reverend Hale enters alone.
Hale: Giles. He pauses, as Giles looks up It is against God's will that an innocent soul should give up his own life. This is no time for heroism. This is no time for sacrifice. I know that you are innocent. You must confess, even though the act may be a lie. Danforth does not understand God's will. He believes in evidence that no sane person can believe. His judgment has strayed too far from God's judgment. So, you must give him the name [of the man who gave evidence against Putnam]. Give it to him and he will release you.
Giles: And then? Giles' voice echoes loudly Yes, I see. He chuckles sarcastically. And then, everything will be fine, yes? Danforth will convict this man. Will you then plead to him as you plead to me now?! Will you urge him to confess? And if he does, will another become a victim of this court? I think so, Hale. When will it end? When?!
Giles falls silent for a moment and then whispers
No Hale, I will not give names.
Hale: If you must think of it some way, consider that if this man who heard Putnam is truly innocent as you say, God will look after him.
Giles: Just as He’s looked after me Hale?
Hale: Confessing will not make you a coward. You must understand, I truly have your best interest at heart. Choosing to live is more noble than choosing to die.
Giles: Yes, but I have my children's interest at heart. If I confess, my land will be taken away. I have hurt my family enough. My wife is no witch, but she will hang for it. And what of my sons? What will their lives become - their father a coward and their mother
dead?
Hale(grasping at straws): But you managed by yourself. Surely your sons will get by.
Giles: You don’t understand Hale. And you won’t I expect, not until you have children yourself someday. To just have them get by is not enough. (Hand on heart) Every parent wants a better life for their child.
Hale pauses, thinking--taken aback
Hale: What can I do?
Giles looks at him
Giles: There is nothing you can do.
Hale: Your bravery is admirable. God bless you. Farewell in heaven.
Footsteps approach:
Hale: I must fly Giles.
Hale flies away
Times passes: Danforth approaches along with Hawthorne
Hawthorne: We have come to a decision
Giles: What may that be?
Danforth: The court believes you will feel more inclined give us the name in your own home. Therefore, we will free you, on the circumstances that you must not leave your own property.
Giles: For once, I agree. I will gladly see my wife.
Giles in his home
Giles: Martha, they want the name.
Martha: You cannot give it. You cannot give them anything, not a word.
Giles: I have not. I stand firm.
Martha: It has been written that people must stand for what they believe in. We must never leave truth unguarded. God will aid us in our moment of need if we just stay on His side.
Giles: Yes. We must stay strong under heaven. But I will truly miss living the rest of my life out with you by my side.
Martha: Never fear Giles. Never fear and stay strong. We will meet soon in heaven, and be in paradise.
Later, on the property, the anonymous character appears
Anonymous character: Giles. What has become of you?
Giles: They released me this morning. They want me for questioning in the afternoon.
Ac: I will come. I’ll face them myself and tell them what I heard Putnam say!
Giles: No, you cannot do that. I am already in your defense. I know their ways. They will question you, and they will not believe you. They will only take Putnam’s words to be the truth.
Ac: But I must let the real truth be known, my conscience will not permit otherwise.
Giles: Let it be, young man, forget your conscience. I will not let you get involved, and risk your own life.
Ac: Will you confess?
Giles: No. I will say nothing. I will stay as silent as a stone. If I die, I will die a Christian. My land will pass down to sons and then to the generations after them.
Ac: Giles, I cannot accept such a sacrifi—just then, Danforth, Hawthorne, Herrick, and others approach. Herrick is hauling a cart of stones.
Giles: Go away! They approach.
The Anonymous character reluctantly scampers away
Danforth: Mr. Corey, this is your last chance to give us the name with no harm to come upon you. If you feel more comfortable, you may write it on this sheet. Danforth hands him a small piece of paper and a quill.
Giles is silent
Danforth: Very well. He goes away, Hawthorne, Herrick, and other guards remain.
Hawthorne: Guards. The guards grab Giles and force him to the ground. Giles does not resist.
Guard: Will you say it?
Giles looks up straight into his eyes. The guards lower a stone slab over his chest. Giles lets out a small groan.
Herrick: Come, Giles, be reasonable. You can go free without pain if you confess.
The guards pause for a moment to give Giles time to answer. He does not, and they continue lowering stones onto his chest.
Hathorne holds up his hand one last time. The guards pause, and he addresses Giles.
Hathorne: You have one last chance, Corey. What say you?
With considerable effort, Giles raises his head and looks up at Hathorne.
Giles (painfully, but defiant): More weight.
End of scene: Curtains close