John Proctor and Abigail Williams meet in the woods (Act 2, Scene 1).

Act 1, Scene 2

In a private moment, John Proctor meets Abigail Williams, who tries to rekindle their past affair. Abigail believes that John still loves her and tells him that the girls' accusations are just "sport" or lies. She hopes that with Elizabeth out of the way, she and John can be together. However, John firmly rejects her and tells her to stop spreading lies. He warns her that he'll expose the truth about their false claims.

Act 2, Scene 1

This scene takes place in the Proctor home, a week or more after the events in Act 1. John and Elizabeth Proctor struggle with emotional distance and tension due to John's past affair with Abigail. Elizabeth urges John to go to Salem and expose Abigail’s lies. John resists, angry that no one else believes him since he has no witnesses. Elizabeth suspects he still has feelings for Abigail, further straining their relationship.

As the scene continues, Reverend Hale arrives to question their Christian character. He’s visiting households of those named in court. He is suspicious that John rarely attends church and that their youngest son hasn’t been baptized. Soon after, Giles Corey and Francis Nurse arrive, both panicked—their wives have been arrested for witchcraft.

The scene ends when Ezekiel Cheever comes with a warrant to arrest Elizabeth Proctor, accusing her of using a poppet (a doll) to harm Abigail. A poppet with a needle in it was found in their house—echoing Abigail's claim of being stabbed. Although Mary Warren, their servant, admits she made the doll and gave it to Elizabeth, the court interprets it as witchcraft.

John is furious and vows to fight the court and expose Abigail, saying, “We are what we always were, but naked now.” 

Deputy Governor Danforth questioning Elizabeth Proctor at the end of Act 2, Scene 2.