02x03 - The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge

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What spurs you to send for us

so urgent, Justice Pike?

There is here in the village
a young couple

who claim their mother,
Elizabeth Gadge, is a sorceress

and much talk of her devilry
they do recount.

We will be the judges of what is
or is not devilry, sir.

Indeed. We've just ridden
from Southampton,

where an iron founder had reported
a black imp hopping side to side

in a chimney stack and taunting him

that his hair was fair
like a maiden. How monstrous.

In truth, the imp was nothing
but a carrion crow

caught by the leg in a griddle.

Indeed. Things are not
always as they seem.

It is true. The crow
may not have been an imp,

but was in fact a familiar,
and it did tell us when questioned

the iron founder was
himself bedevilled.

The crow did not tell me that,
Mr Warren.

I heard it say nothing.

What action was served?

We were paid by the mayor quite
handsomely, and the iron founder

was sent to trial in accordance
with our methods.

And was he found guilty?

After several hours,
his tongue was made loose.

By what persuasion?

It was cut from his head with
tailor scissors, to which he d*ed.

The devil did throttle him that he
would not reveal his accomplices.

Your reputations
precede you, gentlemen.

News of our witch has spread.

Our inns are thriving
with new trade.

Not since the escaped cow has
there been such excitement here.

Well, then, let there
be investigation

and arraignment of this old woman,
and in the morning we will consider

how far Satan prevails amongst
you in respect of witchcraft.

Heaven save us.
THUNDER RUMBLES

BELL TOLLS

Have you enough light, Mr Clarke?
It will suffice.

I have a list of fees and expenses
thus far, Justice Pike.

Yes, of course.
It will be paid forthwith.

Linen and sundries,
pomade and foot powder,

various inns and dwelling houses
in and of our three-day ride,

and to maintain the company
of our horse. 20 shillings.

20 shillings. Yes, well, I suppose
there are yet two of you.

Oh, this was for my services alone.

Mr Clarke has his own bill
for presentment. Oh, I see.

Which can be visited after a verdict
is settled, Justice Pike,

lest she is innocent
and her accusers prove wrong.

Tis unlikely,
from the little I have heard.

Which is nothing.

Let us at least hear the testimony
of the poor old crone

before we reward ourselves with gold
for burning her to death.

Before we begin, gentlemen,
would you permit me

to set down your likeness in my book,

that I may remember this,
our meeting?

Of course. Thank you.

I will have it framed
and hang it in your honour.

Sir Andrew, would you like me to do
a likeness of all of you together?

If it is no imposition? Very well.

This is our cobbler,
Richard Two-Shoes.

He will serve to guard
the old woman during our trial.

God bless you, gentlemen.

'Tis a great honour for me to aid
you in the trial of this witch.

Indeed, Richard,
but use not the word witch

until she hath made her confession.

We must give the hag a fair hearing.

COMMOTION OUTSIDE
Witch, witch!

She must be here. Shall I let them
in, your honour? Very well.

Oh, God.
HE SIGHS

EXCITED CHATTER
Want to see her burn!

Order! Order!

Welcome to
the Little Happens witch trial.

I know many of you are
strangers to our parish,

but we wish to welcome you
here today.

Whilst visiting Little Happens,
may I recommend you explore

our village green,
which has a pond with a duck.

And a bench!
Yes, we must not forget the bench.

Should that not be exciting enough,
we welcome

two of our country's
leading witch finders -

Mr Warren and Mr Clarke.

APPLAUSE

We are but here to serve the Lord
in his quest

to rid England of these
damnable practices.

Now, bring forth the witch!

Er, the accused woman.

CROWD SHOUTS AND JEERS:
Witch! Witch!

What is happening here?

Sarah! What is this?

I was in bed, I had hot milk.

Or was it cold milk from
a devil's tit, Elizabeth Gadge?

Eh? Who are you that ask
with such authority?

Elizabeth Anne Gadge,

you have been accused of the practice
of witchcraft and sorcery.

What? There are those here
who think you are an enchantress.

You are to be tested.

Who? Who here calls me witch?

I do.

And I. What?

This is for their
attic room returned.

They have wanted rid of me
since my husband took sick and d*ed.

He and four cows in one morning.

A week did it take
to dig a hole big enough!

If, after trial by council,
being duly and lawfully convicted,

ye shall suffer the pains of death

and shall lose the privilege
of clergy and sanctuary.

What means he by that? Shush!
Quiet, Sarah. All will be well.

Oh, my daughter, you need only
have asked for the space.

I was moving out within one month.

I'd found a little cottage
in the next village.

Much Happens -
an exceedingly dull place.

Let us hear what has brought you
to this point.

Come forward, Thomas
and Goodwife Nutter.

Warren, Clarke, you may proceed.

So tell us now of all ye spied,
Thomas Nutter,

and Mr Clarke will take heed of it

and writ as evidence
your cursed testimony.

That we may better remember
the facts of this matter.

My name is Thomas Nutter, and this
here be my wife, Sarah Nutter.

We did, yesternight and for many
nights afore, spy Elizabeth Gadge,

mother of my wife, creep abroad
and meet with a fiend...
CROWD WHISPERS

..covered, as we saw, in brown fur,

and suck upon a black teat
until sunrise. What?!

GASPS AND CHATTER
Swear you to these sights,
Goody Nutter?

Indeed it is true, sir.

I have followed her myself whilst
Thomas has been sleeping or at sh*t

and I sometimes seen a white dog
appear and dance a jig.

Yes, it lives next door.
Tis a spaniel called Rory.

Silence!

How oft has Old Gadge, creeping,
met and suckled at the black teat?

Never! I've suckled on a few things
in my three score and ten,

but never a black teat.
LAUGHTER

By the authority of this court,
I demand silence!

You shut your hole, Elizabeth Gadge.
May I strike the witch, sir?

Not just yet, Richard Two-Shoes.

Perhaps we should introduce
Mistress Gadge

to the witch's stitch, your honour.

Is this one of your fabled
witch-finding devices?

No, your honour.
It is but a needle and thread.

Mr Warren will sew up
the crone's mouth

that she be more encouraged
to listen than talk.

Sarah, relate also
the sighting of the imp

that met in your mother's company.

Now we get to it.

I did see my mother
converse with an imp

in the shape of a small mouse,

which she did keep hidden
in a wicker bottle.

I see. And could this imp in fact be
a small mouse in a wicker bottle?

Er... I had thought so too,
but Sarah did hear it speak

in a strange language,
and Elizabeth Gadge did reply.

Had the creature a name?
She did call it Snowflake.

And she did whisper to it and laugh.

And was this language
like that of a mouse squeaking?

You know it? These are
learned men, Goody Nutter,

and have witnessed
much that is strange.

So you concede, Elizabeth Gadge,
that you gave this creature a title?

Yes, he was as white as the snow,
so I named him Snowflake.

You named him? Aye.
What manner of crime is that?

What is "named" backwards?

CROWD WHISPER TO EACH OTHER

Get me ink and paper.

Demon! It's demon!
CROWD GASPS

Demon! Demon! Demon!

Ssh, ssh!

D...Demon!

Demon!

Precisely!

Well, no. It's "deman", isn't it?

'Tis close enough.

Make a note, Mr Clarke,
that Elizabeth Gadge confesses

having had discourse with
the demon known as Snowflake.

Such an imputation is somewhat
lacking in evidence.

Would you not agree, Mr Warren?

Then add this creature
to our witness list, Mr Clarke.

And we will hear before god
what this Snowflake has to say.

Squeak, squeak, squeak.

What is your name?

George Waterhouse.

And you have witnessed events

which may be of some interest
to this hearing?

Well, only this -

I did spy Elizabeth Gadge fly out
the window on a shovel,

whereat she rode to the Sabbat

and did kiss the devil's arse
and eat a baby's face off.

CROWD GASPS AND CHATTERS

When... Just a moment.

"..and eat...

"a baby's...

"face off."

Continue.

When was this?

Last Tuesday night,
about five past, ten past 11.

Thank you, Mr Waterhouse.

Tell us more of this arse kissing.

How close did you spy it?

Was it right on the hole
or just on the cheek?

Er...

Mr Waterhouse, I take it
you are known to Elizabeth Gadge,

is that right? I suppose.

In what capacity? We did have
dealings in livestock.

She did sell a cow to me of late.

And after a short time I surmise
this cow did die, did it not?

Yes, it bloody well did.

And I paid good money
to her husband,

and he too did die,
owing me ten shillings!

You may sit down, Mr Waterhouse.
Your unbiased testimony is noted.

Please, your worship,
we move these proceedings

to the questioning
of Elizabeth Gadge.

Very well, but we must hear more
of the Sabbat and all its rites.

For example, is it just the devil
who has his arse kissed

or can anyone be forced to endure it?

Elizabeth Gadge.

What manner of fiend is it that
you creep to nightly and suckle on?

I know not of what you speak.

I'm but a frail old woman
who is in bed by evensong.

My tormentors know this to be true.

So you deny any knowledge
of a brown thing of fur?

A brown thing of fur?

Think carefully before you answer,
Old Mistress Gadge.

I...have a brown hat
of such a description.

It is for winter and the cold.

And does this hat walk upright
on two legs

and have hang from it a black teat?

'Tis plain, as I remember.

And, being a hat, has no legs
or titties to speak of.

LAUGHTER

Something amuse you, Mr Waterhouse?

A hat with titties!
RAUCOUS LAUGHTER

It would be unfortunate that
our discovery of this sorceress

should uncover diverse others
in this court.

Not since summer last have Mr Clarke
and I unearthed a coven of witches.

I read of it. 'Twas in Leeds.

And what was the cause?

Did they find a tree
with three teats and a cunny?

LAUGHTER
Or did they spy the devil's bush
upon your chin?

Silence! If you value
your lives, silence!

Laughter contorts the face
and makes monkeys of men.

Only the devil would
turn such sport.

The next person here to laugh
will immediate die as a witch.

Starting from...

..now.

Ha! Who was that?
Which of you was that?

Confess it! Which is the witch?
LAUGHTER

It was old Waterhouse, Mr Warren!
Shut up, you rat,

or she won't be the only one
kissing the devil's arse!

He'll fart in your mouth, you fat...
Fart in my mouth, I'll piss
in your breakfast.

LAUGHTER AND COMMOTION
Enough!

You undermine the solemn purpose
of this undertaking.

Let us stay focused
on Old Mistress Gadge.

Indeed. I move we continue
this trial in private. I agree.

Perhaps it is just as well,
for the testing of the accused

is not for the faint-hearted.

CROWD GASPS AND CHATTERS
What's that?

Court dismissed.
CROWD GROANS AND PROTESTS

Well, you brought it on yourselves.

So these could be used
on thumbs or toes?

That is correct, your honour.
Most versatile.

And this... The pear.

It can be inserted into any orifice
and expanded to the point of...

Ecstasy.

..agony. Agony, yes.

But my preferred method is pricking.

Lay bare her back.

Cut the cloth, if need be,
and hold her still.

Please, have mercy.
This top was a present.

Let me but take it off carefully.
There's no need to ruin it!

The devil may have laid
his mark upon you.

It is for us to discover it.

Just to be clear, if she bleeds,
she is a witch?

No, quite the opposite.
If she bleeds she is not a witch?

Not necessarily. The devil's mark
may be well hidden.

Then we must keep pricking her
till she do stop bleeding,

at which time we will know that
she is or is not a witch, possibly.

Correct. All is clear. Proceed.

SHE SCREAMS

Sarah, am I not still your mother?

Have mercy on me.

Thomas, please? We know what we saw.

It was dark. It could have
been anyone. Or anything!

Besides, the attic room would
serve us well, Sarah.

Where else are we to dry
the sheets? They're big.

SHE SCREAMS
Oh, please stop!
What is it, Sarah Nutter?

Did you not expect horrors
such as these to unfold?

We may have been mistook.

Perhaps it was a shadow,
a trick of the twilight.

You lie, Goody Nutter. No!

The truth is we don't know
what we saw. Sarah!

Who is this night-time fiend
that you so visit? An incubus?

Beelzebub? What was his name?

Argh! It was him!

Richard Two-Shoes.

Richard Two-Shoes the cobbler.

She lies. She lies, your worship!

Prick her again.

Argh! I did meet sometimes
with him after dark.

He would pay me a shilling a suck,
and I would do it!

Is this true, Richard?
No, sir, I swear it.

I do not stir out after dark,
my wife will vouch for it.

Very well. We will get
to the bottom of this.

Call forth Goody Two-Shoes.

Richard Two-Shoes,

have you spent night after night
with this vile hag?

Yes, your worship.

But she's my wife
and 'tis the law, is it not?

We were referring
to Old Mistress Gadge.

Is it true you've had several
night-time meetings with her?

No, sir. On the eyes of
my children I swear it.

'Twas not for love, Goody Two-Shoes.

'Twas done only to pay
my son-in-law rent.

He would always cry your name
when he did climax

and throw out his curdle.

For the court records, is that
of any comfort, Goody Two-Shoes?

He spoke fondly of my mouth.
He liked not your teeth

and said they were like a box
of nails should he put in his rod.

I never said that!
My wife can suck like a leech.

Show them, Rachel. Show Sir Andrew
what miracles your mouth can work.

That will not be necessary.

Come, come, Mr Two-Shoes.

The old woman's life hangs in the
balance if you do not confess it.

Richard. Please?

They will burn me else.

Did I not bring you pleasure?

Never.

I had no such meetings.

Justice Pike, I move
to adjourn the court

and continue afresh in the morning.

We will apply hot oil
and other methods overnight

to freshen the old woman's
recollection of events.

Very well. Till 8am tomorrow.
I will to my chambers.

I'll just put that back.

Yet more imps and devils
in the fireplace, Mr Warren.

Evil can be found
peeping from anywhere,

Mr Clarke, as you well know.

But care you not for this old woman?

'Tis plain as day the Nutters want
rid of her from under their roof

and have cried witch as a solution.

Whatever the reason,
the trial will uncover it.

By the continuation of her t*rture.

Yes. What possible cause
have you to question

the fairness of our work, Clarke?

Witchcraft is punishable by death,

and perhaps the burden of pointing
the finger has made me weary.

Burden? You live handsomely and are
commended by God and the law alike.

But what of this dear old mistress,

presently dragged here
to convince us of her purity,

having done nothing more than
keep a mouse in a bottle

and suck to completion
a man in a brown coat?

If we consign her body
to the flames,

do we not do
the devil's work ourselves?

Tread cautiously, Mr Clarke,
lest you find yourself accused.

Whatever the cost,
the Lord's work will be done.

I agree, and I will pray to him
for guidance.

Good morning, gentlemen!

I trust you slept well? Not really.

Thank heaven we had no rain and the
pyre has remained dry for tonight.

Er, should we have a confession
of guilt, of course. Of course.

We have heard tell of visitors
from all three shires,

and a travelling fair has
alighted on the green.

The innkeepers are saying
we could be bigger than Pendle!

You will need change the name
of your village, Justice Pike.

Indeed. They will be most envious
in Much Happens.

Is that the same woman as yesterday?
Seems taller than before.

She has been stretched, your honour,

in pursuit of the truth.

Bring in her accusers.

Are you ready to confess, Elizabeth?

SHE WHIMPERS

You are weak. Perhaps some food
might revive you?

Bring the court to order.

Mr Warren, Mr Clarke,
you may proceed.

Elizabeth Gadge has yet
to confess to her crimes.

I propose one final test
that will seal her fate

in your eyes and in the eyes of God.

Mr Clarke.

The court calls the demon
known as Snowflake.

Please, please, remain calm.
You have nothing to fear.

Christ in heaven! It's transformed
itself into a bottle!

The bottle is indeed a bottle

and the familiar hides inside.

Richard, release the imp.
But look you, be careful,

lest it may bite.

SHE SHRIEKS
Oh!

Now let us observe the demon as it
seeks out its mistress the witch.

Oh! Be calm, Justice Pike.

The truth will out.

Snowflake.

Hello, my lovely. She is a witch.

See, 'tis proved! It's only a mouse.

Elizabeth Gadge, do you now
acknowledge your crimes?

Did you meet and have relations with
a fiend, dance with a white dog

and keep council with this
monstrous familiar? No, sir.

And did you by transvection
fly to the Sabbat on a shovel

and lick and caress the devil's arse
with your long probing tongue?

Never. But your familiar
has proven otherwise.

Prepare the witch for execution.

Elizabeth Anne Gadge,

you have been found
guilty of witchcraft

and are to be taken
to a place of execution,

where you will be b*rned
at the stake until you are dead.

Tickets are now on sale
at the Green Man Inn.

Family tokens include a free potato
to bake on the fire,

and may the Lord have
mercy on your soul.

Art thou content?

Mother? 'Tis I, Sarah.

Thomas is here too.

We've come to say goodbye.

I don't know why. Witch! Thomas!

Justice Pike has let us have
two seats on the front row,

so that's nice. 'Tis only fair.

We put all your belongings
on the fire.

Two birds, one stone, and all that.

Yeah, we've moved the babes up
to your...the attic room.

Aye, and we've yet so much space.

Goody Garden next door
is green with envy.

She says she's going
to accuse her mother.

Well, she'd better not,
else they'll all be doing it.

I am afraid you must leave now.

It is my duty to administer
the last rites

to your mother before she burns.

Righto. We'd best
take to our seats.

Kiss the devil's arse for me!

Goodbye, Mother.

I'm sorry.

I too am sorry.

I can scarce believe
it has come to this.

We were partners, you and I,
Matthew. Against evil.

But you have become infected.

Evil has grown within you.

Your zealotry's turned
to bigotry and worse.

You said we must do God's work,
whatever the cost.

May he have mercy
on your wretched soul.

FROM OUTSIDE:
Good, good.
They are within, you say?

Ah. They're selling
these hats at the fair.

Rather amusing, I thought.

Would you care for a toffee apple?
No, I thank ye.

The witch is prepared.

Excellent. Well, guards, take her
outside and bind her to the stake.

I have yet to see Mr Warren.
I have money here to present him.

I shall see that he gets it.

I just hope there are no more
witch trials in Little Happens.

No, for myself I'm glad.
A most rewarding endeavour.

I shall rather miss
all the excitement.

You don't think the daughter
might have been involved?

I think not. No, no. Just a thought.

Well, I must attend outside.

They're insistent that I be
the one to light the fire.

You are ridding us of
a great evil, Mr Clarke.

Yes, I do believe I am.

All is clear. You may show yourself.

Thanking you kindly, sir.
How can I ever repay you?

Your continued life
is my reward, Elizabeth.

Here, take this.

You must away from this village
lest our stratagem be discovered.

Let me first but suck you
a little, sir,

to show my gratitude.
There is no need.

But you m*rder*d your friend,
Mr Clarke.

What I did, I did for the Lord.

And the devil thanks you kindly.

Come, Snowflake.
Our work here is done.

Let us to the Sabbat and tell
our master these happy tidings.