The day-to-day hysteria as a New England community descends into madness, from reports of possession by the devil to mass arrests, sensational trials and public hangings.
Former minister George Burroughs is convicted of being the devil's ringleader; the witch hunt continues throughout the summer but comes to a halt after the afflicted individuals begin to accuse members of the Massachusetts elite.
The Salem witch trials finally begin with the case against Bridget Bishop, who is quickly found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging; her death is not enough to quell the hysteria, and five more women are tried and executed within a month.
The number of accused individuals keeps growing, hinting at a greater conspiracy of witches; the examinations take place in a packed meetinghouse, where suspects face harsh questioning, and a mob of young women shout accusations of witchcraft.
An inexplicable evil torments the young girls of Reverend Samuel Parris' household; like a plague, it swiftly spreads through Salem Village; fearing the influence of the devil, the afflicted make accusations of witchcraft.