The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It starts off with a group of girls dancing around in the forest with a black slave named Tituba. They are caught by a Reverend Parris. His daughter Betty gets sick and almost dies. People come to see Betty and start rumors about witchcraft. Rev. Parris asks to see Rev. Hale and questions Abby Williams, the so-called leader of the girls, about what happened in the forest. Abby says they were just dancing. After Rev. Parris leaves, Abby tells the other girls not to say anything. Next, John Proctor talks to Abby alone. He tells her to stop messing around with the girls and that it's not funny. Abby had an affair with Proctor the year before and is hated by Proctor's wife Elizabeth.
             Betty eventually gets better and starts to scream. Proctor, Parris, and two other men start to argue. As they are arguing, Rev. Hale comes in and starts to look at Betty as Proctor is just leaving. Rev. Hale asks Abby about what she did in the forest and demands to talk to Tituba. Tituba tells Rev. Hale that she has seen the devil and accuses other townspeople of seeing or talking to the devil. Abby joins in by naming other names. Even Betty starts to accuse people. Everyone starts a commotion and the "trials" begin.
             John and Elizabeth start discussing the trials in their house away from the town. Elizabeth tells John to say that Abby is a fraud, but he refuses, and she feels jealous that he might still have feelings for her. Their servant, Mary Warren, comes to them with bad news. Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft. Rev. Hale shows up and chats with the Proctors. As they are talking, two men show up and tell John that their wives have been arrested. In the midst of all this, officers show up and arrest Elizabeth. John forces Mary to go back to Salem and call out Abby and her friends as frauds.
             The next day, John brings Mary to court and tells Judge Danforth that Mary will t...