And for me... But I need you... [Bones crack] ... increase Mather. Cotton: ... Um, as an excuse. Cotton: [Sighs]
Mary: Sent you in his place to lead the war against the witches here in Salem. Find the toad! He is my familiar. Help! How useful. I could use one less enemy. In my experience, a little contest of manhood moves the blood and makes for a virile mind and body. Isaac: Or witches. John: That's true. Mary: And if Anne's spell inspires Cotton to finish him, then all of Hathorne's threats to Salem and to me vanish. Mary: Convince Cotton Mather to marry you. Mercy: [Gasps]
[Sobbing]
Von Marburg: Mirror, mirror, on the wall...
Mercy: [Sniffles]
Von Marburg: ... Who is the most betrayed by all? Sebastian: Perhaps. The ship I've chartered to the Carolinas arrives in two days. This way. To the conquest of new lands in the days to come, and tonight, to the tightest tidbit of twat in all of Salem... Anne Hale! [Blows] Oh. [Chuckling] Indeed, Countess.
Plan: A: Countess Marburg; Q: Who takes Mercy in? A: the citizenry; Q: Who does the Countess Marburg bring gifts for? A: her next move; Q: What does Mary plan to do with the advice she receives from the Countess Marburg? A: her son; Q: Who is Sebastian? A: less puritanical matters; Q: What is Sebastian preoccupied with? A: witchcraft; Q: What did Anne Hale use to sway Cotton's heart? A: Cotton; Q: Who makes a measured confession? A: alcohol; Q: What substance did Cotton Mather use to fuel his battle with Hathorne? A: Hathorne; Q: Who did Cotton Mather come to blows with? A: The ensuing battle; Q: What hindered Mary's plans? A: an outcome; Q: What did the battle between Cotton Mather and Hathorne lead to that hindered Mary's plans? A: John Alden; Q: Who pursues his deadly mission? A: unfamiliar magic-seeks respite; Q: What does John Alden do when he is weakened by his recent and repeated uses of what? A: a familiar place; Q: Where does John Alden seek respite? A: two; Q: How many of Salem's most damaged residents find solace in each other? A: Mercy; Q: Who is visited by Countess Marburg? A: help; Q: What does Mary seek from Increase Mather? Summary: The Countess Marburg arrives in Salem bearing gifts for the citizenry and advice for Mary. As she plans her next move, her son Sebastian remains preoccupied by less puritanical matters. While Anne Hale reflects both guiltily and gleefully on her recent activities in using witchcraft to sway Cotton's heart, Cotton Mather-fueled by magic, alcohol, or perhaps by true emotion-comes to blows with Hathorne in the way he spoke about Anne. The ensuing battle leads to an outcome that hindered Mary's plans. John Alden pursues his deadly mission and-finding himself seriously weakened by his recent and repeated uses of unfamiliar magic-seeks respite in a familiar place. Meanwhile, Cotton makes a measured confession, two of Salem's most damaged residents continue to find solace in each other, Mercy is visited by Countess Marburg who takes her in, and Mary seeks out help from an unexpected source: Increase Mather.