A Doll's House and Other Plays (Penguin)

by Henrik Ibsen

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, and so –?

  KRAP: Mulled it over a bit; the men had just broken off for breakfast,38 so I took the opportunity to look around unobserved, both outside and on board; had trouble getting below in the loaded vessel; but had my suspicions confirmed. There are dodgy goings-on, Mr Consul, sir.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I can’t believe it, Mr Krap. I can’t, I won’t believe such a thing of Aune.

  KRAP: Pains me – but it’s the plain truth. Dodgy goings-on I tell you. No new timber put in, as far as I could make out; just shifted and plugged and riveted with boards and tarpaulin and the like. Total sham! The Indian Girl will never reach New York; she’ll go to the bottom like a cracked pan.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Well, this is dreadful! But what do you think he can hope to achieve?

  KRAP: Wants to bring the machines into disrepute no doubt; wants his revenge; wants the old workforce restored to favour.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: And for that he’d sacrifice all those human lives.

  KRAP: He said recently: there are no human beings on board the Indian Girl – just beasts.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Well, leave that now; but has he no regard for the big capital investment that’ll be lost?

  KRAP: Aune doesn’t look kindly on big capital, Mr Consul, sir.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: True; he’s an agitator and troublemaker; but such an unscrupulous act –. Listen, Mr Krap; this matter must be double-checked. Not a word to anyone about it. It reflects badly on our shipyard if people get to know of something like this.

  KRAP: Of course, but –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: During lunch-break you must go down there again; I need absolute certainty.39

  KRAP: You shall have it, Mr Consul, sir; but with permission, what will you do then?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Report the matter, of course. After all, we can’t make ourselves accessories to an outright crime. I can’t have my conscience burdened.40 Besides, it will make a good impression in the press and the community at large when it’s seen that I’m sweeping all personal interest aside and allowing justice to run its course.

  KRAP: Very true, Mr Consul, sir.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: But first and foremost, absolute certainty. And silence for now –

  KRAP: Not a word, Mr Consul, sir; and you will have certainty.

  He leaves through the garden and walks down the street.

  KARSTEN BERNICK [half aloud]: Most disturbing! But no, it’s impossible – unthinkable!

  Just as he is going to his room, HILMAR TØNNESEN comes from the right.

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Good afternoon, Bernick! Well, congratulations on your victory at the Business Association yesterday.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Oh, thank you.

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: It was a splendid victory, so I hear; the victory of intelligent public spirit over self-interest and prejudice – much like a French raid on the Kabyles.41 Extraordinary, how after those unpleasant scenes here, you –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, well, leave that now.

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: But the major battle’s yet to be fought.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: About the railway, you mean?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Yes, I take it you know what Hammer’s brewing up?

  KARSTEN BERNICK [anxiously]: No! What’s that?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: He’s latched on to that rumour that’s going about and wants to write a newspaper article about it.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: What rumour?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: That thing about those big property acquisitions along the branch line, of course.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: What do you mean? Is such a rumour going round?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Yes, it’s all over town. I heard it at the club when I drifted in. It seems one of our lawyers has been commissioned to quietly buy up all the forests, all the mineral deposits, all the waterfalls –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: And they don’t say who for?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Up at the club they reckoned it must be for some out-of-town company that had got wind of your plans and rushed in before property prices rose –. Despicable, isn’t it? Oof!

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Despicable?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Yes, for outsiders to encroach on our territory like that. And that one of the town’s own lawyers could lend himself to such a thing! Now it’ll be out-of-town people who go off with the profits.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, but it’s only a rumour.

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: But people believe it, and tomorrow or the day after, our editor Hammer will nail it down as a fact. There was already general resentment up there. I heard several of them say that if the rumour’s confirmed they’ll cross themselves off the lists.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Impossible!

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Really? Why do you think these mercenary souls were so eager to go along with your enterprise? You don’t think perhaps they’d sniffed out the possibility of –?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Impossible, I say; there’s surely that much public spirit here in our little community –

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Here? Well, you are, of course, an optimist, and you judge others by yourself. But I, as a well-seasoned observer –. No, there’s not one man here – with the exception of ourselves naturally – not one, I say, who holds the flag of ideas aloft. [Up towards the background] Oof, I can see them!

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Who?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: The two Americans. [Looks out to the right] And who are they with? Yes, by God, if it isn’t the captain of the Indian Girl. Oof!

  KARSTEN BERNICK: What can they want with him?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Oh, it’s very fitting company, I’d say. He was a slave trader or a pirate apparently; and who knows what those two have been up to all these years.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Hilmar, now, it would be a terrible wrong to think such things of them.

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: Well, you’re an optimist, as I said. And we’re about to get them round our necks again, of course; so I’ll make a timely – [Walks up towards the door on the left.]

  MISS HESSEL enters from the right.

  MISS HESSEL: Ah, Hilmar! Not chasing you from the sitting room, am I?

  HILMAR TØNNESEN: No, absolutely not; I was just standing here in a most urgent hurry; got to have a word with Betty. [Walks into the room on the left towards the back.]

  KARSTEN BERNICK [after a short silence]: Well, Lona?

  MISS HESSEL: Yes.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Where do I stand in your opinion today?

  MISS HESSEL: As yesterday. One lie more or less –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I need to put this in its proper light. Where’s Johan gone?

  MISS HESSEL: He’s coming; he had to talk to a man about something.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: After what you heard yesterday, you’ll understand that my entire existence is destroyed if the truth comes to light.

  MISS HESSEL: I understand that.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: It goes without saying of course that I am not guilty of the crime that was rumoured round here.

  MISS HESSEL: Self-evidently. But who was the thief?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: There was no thief. There was no money stolen; not a shilling went missing.

  MISS HESSEL: What?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Not a shilling I say.

  MISS HESSEL: But the rumour? How did this shameful rumour get out that Johan –?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Lona, with you I think I can speak as with nobody else; I’ll conceal nothing from you. I played my part in the spreading of this rumour.

  MISS HESSEL: You? And you could do that to the man who for your sake –!

  KARSTEN BERNICK: You shouldn’t pass judgement without remembering how things were at the time. I did explain it to you yesterday. I came home to find my mother tangled up in a whole series of unwise enterprises; disasters of all sorts kept piling up; it was as if everything evil was storming in on us; our house was on the edge of ruin. I was half reckless and half desperate, Lona, I think it was mainly to drown out my thoughts that I got involved in the affair that led to Johan leaving.<
br />
  MISS HESSEL: Hm –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I’m sure you can imagine how all kinds of rumours were set in motion after he, and you, had gone. This wasn’t his first reckless act, it was said. Some claimed Dorf was given a large sum of money from him to keep quiet and go; others reckoned she’d been given it. At the same time it was no secret that our house had difficulties meeting its obligations. What could be more natural than for the scandalmongers to put these two rumours together? When she went on living here in abject poverty, then people said he’d gone of with the money to America, and as the rumour went on the amount grew continually larger and larger.

  MISS HESSEL: And you, Karsten –?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I grabbed this rumour like a raft.

  MISS HESSEL: You spread it wider?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I didn’t contradict it. The creditors had started hounding us; it was essential I calm them, and that was reliant on people not doubting the solidity of the house; we’d taken an unfortunate little knock, they oughtn’t to put pressure on; just give it time; everybody would get their dues.

  MISS HESSEL: And did everybody get their dues?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, Lona, that rumour saved our house and made me the man I am now.

  MISS HESSEL: So a lie has made you the man you are now.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Who was harmed back then? It was Johan’s intention never to come back.

  MISS HESSEL: You ask who it harmed. Look within yourself and tell me whether you’ve not been harmed by it.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Look within any man you choose, and in every single one you’ll find one dark point at least that he has to conceal.

  MISS HESSEL: And you call yourselves the pillars of the community.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: No community has better.

  MISS HESSEL: And what does it matter whether such a community is upheld or not? What is it that counts round here? A sham and lies – and nothing else. You live here, the first man in the town, in luxury and happiness, with power and glory – you – who branded an innocent man a criminal.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Don’t you think I feel the wrong I’ve done him deeply enough? And don’t you think I’m prepared to make amends?

  MISS HESSEL: How? By speaking out?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: You could demand that?

  MISS HESSEL: What else could right such a wrong?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I’m wealthy, Lona; Johan can demand whatever he wants –

  MISS HESSEL: Yes, offer him money, and you’ll hear what he says.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Do you know what his intentions are?

  MISS HESSEL: No. Since yesterday he’s been silent. It’s as though all this had suddenly made him into a full-grown man.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I must talk to him.

  MISS HESSEL: Well, there you have him.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN enters from the right.

  KARSTEN BERNICK [towards him]: Johan –!

  JOHAN TØNNESEN [warding him off]: Me first. Yesterday morning I gave you my word to keep quiet.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes you did.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: But I didn’t yet know –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Johan, just let me explain the situation in two words –

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: No need; I understand the situation very well. The house was in a difficult position at the time; and then, when I was gone and you had my defenceless name and reputation to use at will –. Well, I don’t blame you too harshly for that; we were young and reckless in those days. But now I need the truth, now you must speak out.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: And right now I need all my moral prestige, which is why I can’t speak now.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: I’m not too bothered by these fabrications that you set in motion about me; it’s the other thing you’ll take the blame for yourself. Dina is going to be my wife, and I want to stay here, here in this town, and build a life with her.

  MISS HESSEL: You do?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: With Dina? As your wife? Here in town?

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: Yes, right here; I want to stay here to defy all these liars and backbiters. But if I’m to win her, it’s necessary that you set me free.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Have you considered that, by admitting to the one thing, I’ll have admitted to the other? You’ll suggest I could prove from the books that nothing dishonest took place? But I can’t; our books weren’t kept as accurately then. And even if I could – what would be gained? Wouldn’t I still be seen as the man who once saved himself by a falsehood and who, for fifteen years, allowed this falsehood and everything else to gain hold, without taking one step to prevent it? You no longer know our community, or you’d know that this would break me, utterly and completely.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: All I can tell you is that I’m going to take Madam Dorf’s daughter as my wife and live with her here in this town.

  KARSTEN BERNICK [wipes the sweat from his forehead]: Hear me out, Johan – and you too, Lona. It is no ordinary situation I am faced with at this moment. My position means that if this blow is directed at me, the two of you will have destroyed me, and not me alone, but also a great and promising future for this community, which after all is your childhood home.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: And if I don’t direct this blow against you, then I will ruin my own future happiness.

  MISS HESSEL: Speak on, Karsten.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: All right, listen. It’s linked to this railway business, and that’s not quite as straightforward as you think. You’ve probably heard talk that there were proposals for a coastal line last year? It had the support of numerous and influential voices both here in town and the region, and notably in the press; but I prevented it because it would have harmed our steamship activity along the coast.

  MISS HESSEL: And you have an interest in this steamship activity?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes. But nobody dared suspect me on that count; I had my well-respected name to shield and shelter me. Besides I could have borne the loss anyway; but the town couldn’t have borne it. Then the decision was passed about the inland route. When that happened, I established, on the quiet, that a local branch line could be laid down to the town here.

  MISS HESSEL: Why on the quiet, Karsten?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Have you heard about the large purchases of forests, of mines and waterfalls –?

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: Yes, there’s some out-of-town company –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: As these properties lie now, they’re as good as worthless to their widely dispersed owners; as a result they’ve been sold relatively cheaply. If the buyer had waited until the branch line was in the offing, the owners would have demanded the most outrageous prices.

  MISS HESSEL: I see; so what then?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Well, this brings us to something that can be interpreted variously – something a man in our community can only confess to if he has a well-respected and untarnished name to uphold him.

  MISS HESSEL: Well?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I’m the one who’s bought everything.

  MISS HESSEL: You?

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: On your own?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: On my own. If the branch line goes ahead, I’m a millionaire; if it doesn’t, I’m ruined.

  MISS HESSEL: This is risky, Karsten.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: I’ve risked all my assets on it.

  MISS HESSEL: I’m not thinking of assets; but when it comes to light that you –

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, there’s the nub. With the untarnished name that I’ve borne thus far, I can take this on my shoulders, carry it forward and say to my fellow citizens: look, I’ve risked all this for the benefit of the community.

  MISS HESSEL: Of the community?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes; and not one person would doubt my intentions.

  MISS HESSEL: But there are men here who have acted more openly than you, without hidden agendas, or ulterior motives.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Who?

  MISS HESSEL: Rummel and Sandstad and Vigeland, of course.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: To win them over I was obl
iged to let them in on it.

  MISS HESSEL: And?

  KARSTEN BERNICK: They made it a condition that they share a fifth of the profits between them.

  MISS HESSEL: Oh, these pillars of the community!

  KARSTEN BERNICK: And isn’t it the community itself that forces us to take the crooked byway? What would have happened if I hadn’t acted on the quiet? Everybody would have thrown themselves into the enterprise, divided, dispersed, bungled and botched the whole thing. There’s not a single man in this town besides me who has the knowhow to lead as large a project as this will be; in this country the only people with any aptitude at all for bigger business operations are the immigrant families.42 This is why my conscience acquits me in this. Only in my hands can these properties become a lasting blessing for the many, a means for them to earn their bread.

  MISS HESSEL: You’re probably right, Karsten.

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: But I don’t know ‘the many’, and my life’s happiness is at stake.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: The welfare of your birthplace is also at stake. If things emerge to cast a shadow on my earlier conduct, then all my opponents will combine forces to come down on me. A youthful indiscretion is never erased in our community. People will sift through all the intervening years of my life, drag a thousand little episodes out, interpret and construe them in the light of what’s been revealed; I’ll be broken under the weight of rumours and backbiting. I’ll have to withdraw from the railway project; and once I take my hand from that, it’ll collapse, and at a stroke I’ll be both financially ruined and dead as a citizen.43

  MISS HESSEL: After what you’ve heard here, Johan, you must leave and keep quiet.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, yes, Johan, you must!

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: Yes, I will leave and keep quiet too; but I’ll be back and then I’ll speak out.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: Stay over there, Johan; keep quiet and I’m willing to give you a share –

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: Keep your money, but give me my name and reputation back.

  KARSTEN BERNICK: And sacrifice my own!

  JOHAN TØNNESEN: That’s for you and your community to deal with. I have to, want to and am going to win Dina for myself. Which is why I’m leaving with the Indian Girl tomorrow –