A.N Okay, this was written (by me of course, XD) for an English project, I got a really good level (mark) for it so I've decided to put it up and see what you think of it-just an experiment really (so thats why I'd really appreciate reviews) Oneshot.

This is basically explaining Goodwife Sarah Osborne's interrogation in Salem Jail before her execution.

I do not own any of the characters/scenes/original plot line of this story-it belongs to Mr Miller.

The Crucible Creative Writing Assignment

By Jess

ACT TWO AND A HALF

A dank cell in Salem jail.

As the curtain rises the room seems empty, there is a high barred window at the back and a large, heavy door off to the side. It is in darkness but for the moonlight streaming in through the bars. Presently a rattle is heard and the cell door swings open as MARSHAL HERRICK enters with a lantern held aloft.

HERRICK (straining to see in the dark): Sarah Osborne, wake up! (He shakes a bundle of rags on the floor) Goody Osborne!

Enter REVEREND HALE, hands clasped together against the night chill.

HALE: DANFORTH and JUDGE HATHORNE are on their way, has she woken yet?

HERRICK (shaking his head): Nay, she sleeps as if she be dead.

HALE (alarmed): Do not speak of such things man, do not condemn her to her fate until the final judgment has been passed. (He walks in thought, deeply worried)

SARAH: Help! (She tosses and turns in her sleep as if trying to keep some terrible demon at bay) I will not follow the Devil, I be a loyal Christian woman-I will do no Devil's work. (HALE goes to GOODY OSBORNE and attempts to wake her but GOODY OSBORNE throws HALES hand from her and continues to shriek) I want to open myself. I want the light of God; I want the sweet love of Jesus! I go to Jesus, I kiss his hand, and I turn form the Devil and embrace the soft pearly light. I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil! I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Booth with the Devil! I saw Alice Barrow with the Devil! (GOODY OSBORNE called out hysterically and with great relief)

HALE (his face drawn and tight): Where are Mr Danforth and Hathorne? She must confess now before it is too late!

HERRICK (runs to the door and back): They are here! They are here!

Enter DEPUTY-GOVERNOR DANFORTH and JUDGE HATHORNE. They are in greatcoats and wear hats against the cold. They are followed by EZEKIEL CHEEVER who carries a flat wooden box containing his writing materials and SARAH OSBORNE'S arrest warrant.

DANFORTH: Be she not awake yet Marshal? This is a matter of utmost urgency.

HERRICK: I be trying Mr Danforth but she be along way gone now, she be speaking not a word of sense. (HERRICK moves over to SARAH OSBORNE and shakes her again)

SARAH OSBORNE (throws her arms over her head as if to defend herself): Stay back Devil for I know not the ways of the damned and the supernatural. I spit on you and your black book.

HERRICK (keeping his distance from the seemingly possessed GOODY OSBORNE): Sarah? There be no Devil here, only men of the Lord's word and work.

SARAH OSBORNE: Marshal? Why you be in my cell at this time of night?

HERRICK (softly): Calm yourself Goody Osborne for we-

HATHORNE (Cuts across the MARSHAL): You must confess Sarah! It be the only way to free your soul and clear your conscience so that God may open the gates of Heaven to you. Confess now my dear.

GOODY OSBORNE inspects JUDGE HATHORNE and the others with a wry twinkle in her eye. She turns from one to the other the starts scrutinizing them again)

HATHORNE (rather agitated): Stop this behavior Goody Osborne and be still, sit you down.

SARAH OSBORNE stays standing defiantly as HATHORNE gestures to the bench on the opposite side of the room to CHEEVER uselessly.

DANFORTH (after thinking a moment): Do what he say Osborne or God shall show no mercy upon your soul.

After a long, awkward moment OSBORNE settles herself on the wooden bench, staring accusingly at CHEEVER. CHEEVER shuffles his papers anxiously and places his pen beside them.

HATHORNE (delicately): Shall you confess you sins now Goody Osborne? Shall you free your soul of evil and mind of the cluttering's of the Devil?

GOODY OSBORNE (after much consideration): I shall.

DANFORTH (with great relief and gratitude): Praise to God, praise to God; you shall be blessed in Heaven for this. (CHEEVER is sitting to attention now but still avoids GOODY OSBORNE'S glare. He has his pen in hand with ink and paper resting on the bench beside him.) Now then, let us have it. Are you ready Mr Cheever?

CHEEVER (shifting awkwardly infront of OSBRONE'S cold eyes) Ready sir.

DANFORTH (nodding, pleased) lets get to this now, speak truthfully Goody Osborne and God shall have mercy. Tell lies and he shall turn a deaf ear to you for eternity.

HATHORNE (stepping before SARAH OSBORNE to block her view of CHEEVER): Goodwife Sarah Osborne, what evil spirit have you familiarity with?

SARAH OSBORNE (eyes blank and staring): None.

HATHORNE: Why do you hurt these children?

SARAH OSBORNE (confused) what children? I be hurting no children, never!

HATHORNE (suspicious) Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Betty Parris? They all claim to have seen you walking with the Devil.

SARAH OSBORNE (oddly calm): I have done nothing of the sort.

HATHORNE (stepping closer): They say you come at night and torture them, whisper the Devil's will in their ears.

SARAH OSBORNE (raising her voice): I do not hurt the children. I scorn it.

HATHORNE: Who do you employ to do it then?

SARAH OSBORNE: I employ no one.

HATHORNE (standing to his full height): What creature do you employ then? An agent of the Devil?

SARAH OSBORNE (coldly): No creature but I am falsely accused.

HATHORNE (talking quickly): Then what do you mumble when you are turned away from the Proctor's doorstep? Many a time you have gone round begging for bread and a cup of cider and whenever you were turned away you cursed Mary Warren with a sickness. (HATHORNE claps his hands triumphantly): Explain that to me Goody Osborne!

GOODY OSBORNE (slightly shocked): I do no such thing, Mary Warren is a silly little girl who tries to blame everything that goes wrong on someone else (GOODY OSBORNE jumps as if slapped) you cannot possibly be believing her!

HALE (scratching his brow): Do you know your Commandments Sarah?

GOODY OSBORNE (thinks, then): I surely do. There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr Hale. I am a covenanted Christian woman.

HATHORNE (glances at her open face): Good, let you repeat them then.

GOODY OSBORNE (with a slight frown on her face): The Commandments.

HATHORNE: Aye.

GOODY OSBORNE (staring into the distance, beginning to sweat) Thou shalt-Thou shalt (OSBORNE broke off and stopped)

HATHORNE (alarmed): Surely you can remember atleast one Goody Osborne?

GOODY OSBORNE (lost): Aye (she is flailing for it)

HATHORNE: Anything Goody Osborne? (DANFORTH, CHEEVER, HALE and HERRICK are staring in horror)

GOODY OSBORNE (her mood changing suddenly): It be no fault of mine, my memory grows weak and my mind grows old. But I can assure you Judge Hathorne-there is no love for the Devil in this old crone.

HATHORNE (skeptical now): Maybe that is true Goody Osborne but I highly doubt it. You are a witch and as a witch you shall be known. (HERRICK has stepped to HATHORNE'S side, DANFORTH to the other) Goodwife Sarah Osborne, you are hearby charged with witchcraft and being allied with the Devil. There is no doubt that you have made a compact with Lucifer, and wrote your name in his black book-with your own blood no doubt-and bound yourself to torment Christians till God is thrown down.

GOODY OSBORNE (shaking her head in disbelief): How dare you (shrieking now, eyes wide like one awoken to a marvelous insight) we all must worship Hell forevermore! (Her eyes widening still she drops to her knees and crawls to a bewildered CHEEVER who is still attempting to write) My Lord! My Lord! I knew that you would be coming for me. (OSBORNE stares feverishly at EZEKIEL CHEEVER, knocking his ink and papers flying as she tugs him to his feet) Take me now, down to your kingdom. I wish to be with you for all eternity.

HERRICK (with hardly contained fury): Get off him you cursed messenger of the Devil (HERRICK and DANFORTH manage to wrestle OSBORNE form a stunned CHEEVER)

HATHORNE (amazed with OSBORNE's strangeness): Get away Ezekiel! Before the she-Devil goes after you again!

CHEEVER (gathers up his papers quickly): I wasn't planning to stay! (He starts to the door)

DANFORTH (calling to OSBORNE in fury): Shut up you black hearted spawn of the Devil. You shall hang for this!

GOODY OSBORNE (ignoring DANFORTH as she shrieks) My Lord! My Lord!

HATHORNE, DANFORTH, HALE and HERRICK run from the cell and slam the door as

THE CURTAIN FALLS

E.N So I would really like to know what you thought of it (so please review even if it is anon)

Many thanks,

-Jess-