The First Witch of Boston

Margaret sits on the floor of her cell. Across from her, James, one of the constables, sits in a chair. The two begin talking, and James tells her his story: He is Scottish and fought with troops allied with the Puritans before immigrating. She asks if he believes in witchcraft, and he says that he does, but he adds that in the colony people are innocent until proven guilty. She can tell that he is kind and even-tempered. He asks about her family, and she tells him about Bess. He and his wife have also lost children, and he understands how difficult it is. Margaret begins to feel feverish and becomes animated, telling stories about Bess. She speaks of her daughter in the present tense, and James seems to find this strange, but he looks at her without judgement. Margaret then sees Bess and excitedly shows her to James. When she sees Bess run from the room, Margaret tells James to follow her. He does, and the kitchen maid seems to see her too and has a fit. James is sure that it is a demonic possession, but Margaret tells him that it is only apoplexy. Amid the commotion, Molly the cat saunters into the jail, and Margaret is forced to admit that Molly is hers and that she has no idea how the cat made the long journey from her home in Charlestown to her jail cell in Boston.