The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge

Magistrate Sir Andrew Pike summons the witch-finders Mr Warren and Mr Clarke to the village of Little Happens, eager for outsiders and the attention it brings. Warren revels in the prospect of labeling Elizabeth Gadge a witch, while Clarke remains uneasy about the zeal and power at stake.

Seventy-year-old Elizabeth Gadge is accused of witchcraft as rumors swirl through the village. Pike looks forward to the spectacle and the potential economic benefit, while Warren insists on a swift, punitive process; Clarke remains skeptical about the entire venture.

Elizabeth's daughter Sarah and son-in-law Thomas testify that they witnessed strange acts, including her sucking from a furry creature's teat and speaking to a mouse. Elizabeth denies the accusations, blaming the family for wanting to get rid of her to claim their house. The atmosphere grows tense as others react with doubt and scorn.

As Elizabeth responds, others in the courtroom laugh at her answers. Warren declares that the next person to laugh will be executed as a witch, heightening fear and volatility. The argument leads Pike, Warren, and Clarke to decide that the remainder of the trial will take place in private.

In private proceedings, Elizabeth is pricked with a needle to test for the devil's mark. Sarah tries to profess her mother's innocence, but Warren remains unconvinced. Elizabeth claims she has faced exploitation by Two-Shoes, who wears a fur coat, a claim that Two-Shoes denies as the trial is adjourned.

Clarke privately confides in Warren that he believes Elizabeth may be innocent and that he questions whether they are truly doing God's work. Warren responds with threats, warning that dissent could be punished, deepening the rift between the two men.

The trial resumes after Elizabeth has been tortured overnight. Warren releases Snowflake, Elizabeth's mouse, in hopes it will lead them to the witch. Pike sprinkles crumbs in front of Elizabeth, and Snowflake approaches, prompting Pike to declare Elizabeth a witch and condemn her to be burned.

Thomas and Sarah bid farewell to a hooded and bound Elizabeth as she awaits execution. Clarke dismisses them, maintaining the public face of proceedings while the private game continues. The scene hints at a deeper intrigue beneath the courtroom's veneer.

Clarke reveals that Warren has been tainted by evil and is no longer acting in service of God, dramatically removing Elizabeth's hood to show Warren bound in her place. He argues that the supposed witch-hunters have corrupted the process, turning the trial into a sham.

Pike returns to the scene with a sense of triumph as the crowd anticipates a revival of trade. Warren is led away to be burned, while Clarke releases the real Elizabeth. The balance of power tilts toward a more dangerous deception, as Elizabeth senses something worse than execution is at hand.

The released Elizabeth reveals she is truly a witch and turns the tables by breaking Clarke's neck, killing him. Flames flicker in the background as the crowd reacts to the sudden and brutal reversal of the trial's authority.

Elizabeth tells Snowflake she will go to her master, then transforms into a raven and flies away, leaving the village to contend with the chilling truth of her power. Snowflake looks on as the myth of the witch lives on outside the courtroom.