by Henrik Ibsen
KARSTEN BERNICK: Rumours are circulating about substantial property purchases further inland. I have bought these properties, all of them. I alone.
HUSHED VOICES: What did he say? The consul? Consul Bernick?
KARSTEN BERNICK: They are, for the moment, in my hands. Naturally I have confided in my companions, Messrs Rummel, Vigeland and Sandstad, and we have agreed that –
RUMMEL: This isn’t true! Proof – proof –!
VIGELAND: We’ve not agreed anything!
SANDSTAD: Well, I must say –
KARSTEN BERNICK: No, that is absolutely right; we’ve not yet agreed on what I wanted to say now. But then I hope that these three gentlemen will concur with me when I announce that I have, this evening, agreed, with myself at least, that these properties shall be offered up for general subscription; anyone who wants may have a share in them.
MANY VOICES: Hurrah! Long live Consul Bernick!
RUMMEL [quietly to BERNICK]: What base treachery –!
SANDSTAD [likewise]: Fooling us like that –!
VIGELAND: May the devil take –! Oh, God forgive me, what am I saying?
THE CROWD [outside]: Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
KARSTEN BERNICK: Silence, gentlemen. I have no right to this applause, since what I have now decided upon was not my intention at the outset. My intention was to hold on to it all for myself, and I am still of the opinion that these properties can be put to best use if they remain together in the hands of one man. But the choice is there. If it’s your wish, then I am willing to administer them to the best of my ability.
VOICES: Yes! Yes! Yes!
KARSTEN BERNICK: But first my fellow citizens must know me as I really am. Let each of you examine himself, and let it then stand firm that from tonight we begin a new age. The old, with its hypocrisy, its painted exterior and its hollowness, with its sham respectability and miserable deference, will stand in our minds as a museum, open for our edification; and to this museum we will donate – you agree, gentlemen? – the coffee service, the goblet, the album and the family devotions on vellum and with luxury binding.
RUMMEL: Well, naturally.
VIGELAND [mumbles]: You’ve taken everything else so –
SANDSTAD: Here you are.
KARSTEN BERNICK: And now, to the main issue that must be settled with my community. It has been said here that unsavoury elements took their leave of us this evening. I might add something people don’t know: the man in question has not travelled alone; accompanying him to be his wife was –
MISS HESSEL [loudly]: Dina Dorf!
MR RØRLUND: What!
MRS BERNICK: What are you saying!
Great commotion.
MR RØRLUND: Fled? Run away – with him! Impossible!
KARSTEN BERNICK: To be his wife, Mr Rørlund. And I have more to add. [Lowering his voice] Betty, brace yourself and be strong for what’s coming. [Loudly] I say, hats off to that man, for he has, most nobly, taken another man’s sin upon him. My fellow citizens, I seek release from this untruth; it has come close to poisoning each and every fibre in me. You shall know everything. Fifteen years ago, I was the guilty one.
MRS BERNICK [in a quiet and trembling voice]: Karsten!
MISS BERNICK [likewise]: Ah, Johan –!
MISS HESSEL: There, finally you’ve won yourself back!
Speechless surprise among those present.
KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, my fellow citizens, I was the guilty one, and he left. The malicious and false rumours that were spread afterwards are now beyond human power to disprove. But that isn’t for me to lament. Fifteen years ago I lifted myself aloft on these rumours; whether I am now to fall by them is for each of you to consider for yourself.
MR RØRLUND: What a thunderbolt! The town’s first man –! [Quietly to MRS BERNICK] Oh, I feel so sorry for you, Mrs Bernick!
HILMAR TØNNESEN: What a confession! Well, I must say –!
KARSTEN BERNICK: But no decisions this evening. I ask each of you to return home – to collect yourselves – to look within yourselves. When calm is descended upon you, it will emerge whether I have lost or won by speaking. Goodbye! I still have much, much to repent of; but that concerns my conscience alone. Good night! Away with all these festive trappings. We all feel it – such things have no place here.
MR RØRLUND: They most certainly don’t. [Aside to MRS BERNICK] Ran away! So she was completely unworthy of me after all. [Quietly to the EVENTS COMMITTEE] Yes, well, gentlemen, after all this I think it best we withdraw discreetly.
HILMAR TØNNESEN: How one’s to hold the flag of ideas aloft after this, is –. Oof!
The information has meanwhile been whispered from person to person. All the participants in the parade leave through the garden. RUMMEL, SANDSTAD and VIGELAND leave in heated but muffled debate. HILMAR TØNNESEN sneaks off to the right. KARSTEN BERNICK, MRS BERNICK, MISS BERNICK, MISS HESSEL and MR KRAP remain standing in silence.
KARSTEN BERNICK: Betty, can you forgive me?
MRS BERNICK [looks at him with a smile]: Do you realize, Karsten, you’ve opened up the happiest prospect I’ve had for years?
KARSTEN BERNICK: What do you mean –?
MRS BERNICK: For years I believed that I had once owned you and then lost you. Now I know that I’ve never owned you; but I shall win you.
KARSTEN BERNICK [throws his arms around her]: Oh, Betty, you have won me! Through Lona I’ve finally learned to know you properly. But let Olaf come in now.
MRS BERNICK: Yes, now you shall have him. – Mr Krap –!
She speaks quietly with him in the background. He exits through the garden door. During the following all the transparencies and lights in the houses are gradually extinguished.
KARSTEN BERNICK [in a hushed voice]: Thank you, Lona, you’ve rescued the best in me – and for me.
MISS HESSEL: Was there anything else I wanted?
KARSTEN BERNICK: Well, was there – or wasn’t there? I can’t make you out.
MISS HESSEL: Hm –
KARSTEN BERNICK: So, it wasn’t hatred? Wasn’t revenge? Why did you come back over then?
MISS HESSEL: Old friendship doesn’t rust.55
KARSTEN BERNICK: Lona!
MISS HESSEL: When Johan told me about the lie, then I swore to myself: the hero of my younger days shall stand free and true.
KARSTEN BERNICK: Oh, how little this miserable creature has deserved that of you.
MISS HESSEL: Well, if we women asked what was deserved, Karsten –!
AUNE arrives with OLAF from the garden.
KARSTEN BERNICK [turning towards him]: Olaf!
OLAF: Father, I promise you, I won’t ever –
KARSTEN BERNICK: Run away?
OLAF: Yes, yes, I promise you, Father.
KARSTEN BERNICK: And I promise you that you’ll never have reason to. From now on you’ll be allowed to grow up, not as an heir to my life’s work,56 but as someone who has his own life’s work ahead.
OLAF: And am I allowed to become whatever I want?
KARSTEN BERNICK: Yes, you are.
OLAF: Thank you. Then I don’t want to be a pillar of the community.
KARSTEN BERNICK: No? Why not?
OLAF: No, because I think that must be really boring.
KARSTEN BERNICK: You shall be yourself, Olaf; and the rest must come as it may. – And you, Aune –
AUNE: I know, Mr Consul, sir. I am dismissed.
KARSTEN BERNICK: We stay together, Aune; and forgive me –
AUNE: But how? The ship’s not sailing tonight.
KARSTEN BERNICK: Nor will it sail tomorrow. I gave you too short a deadline. It must be seen to more thoroughly.
AUNE: It will be, Mr Consul, sir – and with the new machines!
KARSTEN BERNICK: That’s the way! But thoroughly and honestly. There are many things round here that need thorough and honest repair. Well, good night, Aune.
AUNE: Good night, sir – and thank you, thank you, thank you!
He exits to the right.
MRS BERNICK: Now they’ve all gone.
KARSTEN BERNICK: And we’re alone. My name’s no longer lit up in flaming letters; all the lights are out in the windows.
MISS HESSEL: Would you want them lit again?
KARSTEN BERNICK: Not for anything in the world. Wherever have I been? You’ll be appalled when you get to hear. It’s as though I’d returned to my faculties after being consumed by poison. But I feel it – I can be young and healthy again. Oh, come closer – tighter around me. Come here, Betty! Come here, Olaf, my boy! And you, Marta – I don’t think I’ve really seen you in all these years.
MISS HESSEL: No, I don’t think you have; this community of yours is a community of old bachelor-souls; you don’t see women.
KARSTEN BERNICK: True, true; which is precisely why – and this is definite, Lona – you’re not leaving Betty and me.
MRS BERNICK: No, Lona, you mustn’t!
MISS HESSEL: No, how could I think of leaving you two youngsters when you’re about to set up home? I’m a foster mother, aren’t I? Me and you, Marta, us two old aunties –. What are you looking at out there?
MISS BERNICK: The skies are clearing. Look how light it is over the sea. The Palm Tree has good fortune with her.
MISS HESSEL: And happiness on board.
KARSTEN BERNICK: And we – well, we have a long serious working day awaiting us; I most of all. But let that come; just gather closely around me, you loyal and truthful women. That’s something I’ve learned too over the last few days: it is you women who are the pillars of the community.
MISS HESSEL: Then you have learned a frail wisdom, brother-in-law. [Places her hand solemnly on his shoulder] No, my friend; the spirit of truth, the spirit of freedom57 – they are the pillars of the community.
A DOLL’S HOUSE1
* * *
Characters
HELMER, a lawyer2
NORA, his wife
DR RANK
MRS3 LINDE
NILS KROGSTAD, a lawyer
HELMER’S THREE SMALL CHILDREN
ANNE-MARIE, the Helmers’ nanny
THE MAID4
A PORTER
Act One
A comfortably5 and tastefully, though not expensively, furnished room. A door on the right in the background leads out into the hallway.6 Another door to the left in the background leads towards Helmer’s office. Against the wall between these two doors, a piano. In the middle of the wall to the left, a door, and further forwards, a window. Near the window, a round table with an armchair and a small sofa. On the side-wall to the right some way back, a door, and on the same wall closer to the foreground a ceramic stove with a pair of armchairs and a rocking-chair in front of it. Between the stove and the side door a small table. Copperplate engravings on the walls. A display cabinet filled with china objects and other little ornaments; a small bookcase with finely bound books. A carpet on the floor; a fire in the stove. A winter’s day.
The doorbell rings outside in the hallway; a moment later we hear the front door being opened. NORA comes into the room, contentedly humming a tune; she is dressed in outdoor clothes and carries a number of parcels, which she puts down on the table to the right. She leaves the door to the hall open after her, and we see a PORTER outside carrying a Christmas tree and a basket, which he gives to the MAID, who has opened the door to them.
NORA: Hide the Christmas tree7 well, Helene. The children mustn’t see it until this evening when it’s decorated. [To the PORTER; taking her purse out] How much –?
PORTER: Half a krone.8
NORA: There’s a krone. No, keep it all.
The PORTER thanks her and leaves. NORA closes the door. She continues to laugh in quiet contentment as she takes off her outdoor clothes.
NORA [takes a bag of macaroons from her pocket and eats a couple; then she goes cautiously over to listen at her husband’s door]: Ah yes, he’s home. [Hums again as she goes over to the table on the right.]
HELMER [from in his room]: Is that my song-lark chirruping out there?
NORA [busy opening some of the parcels]: Yes, it is.
HELMER: Is that my squirrel rummaging in there?
NORA: Yes!
HELMER: When did my squirrel get home?
NORA: Just now. [Puts the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come out here, Torvald, and you’ll see what I’ve bought.
HELMER Do not disturb! [A moment later; opens the door and looks in, with pen in hand] Bought, you say? All that? Has my little spending-bird9 been out frittering money again?
NORA: Yes but, Torvald, surely we must be able to let ourselves go a little this year. After all, this is the first Christmas we don’t need to save.
HELMER: Yes, but really, we can’t be extravagant.
NORA: Oh but, Torvald, we can be a little extravagant now, surely. Can’t we? Just a teeny-weeny bit. After all, you’ll have a big salary now and be earning lots and lots of money.
HELMER: Yes, from the New Year; but it’ll be a whole quarter before my salary is due.
NORA: Pff; surely we can borrow in the meantime.
HELMER: Nora! [Goes over to her and jokingly tweaks her ear.] Is frivolity out for a stroll again? Suppose I borrowed a thousand kroner today, and you frittered it away in the Christmas week, and then on New Year’s Eve I got a roof tile on my head and I lay –
NORA [puts her hand over his mouth]: Oh shush; don’t say anything so ugly.
HELMER: Well, suppose such a thing happened – what then?
NORA: If something that ghastly happened, it would make no odds to me whether I was in debt or not.
HELMER: Perhaps so, but to the people I’d borrowed from?
NORA: Them? Who’s bothered about them? They’re just strangers.
HELMER: Nora, Nora, a woman thou art!10 No, but seriously, Nora; you know my thoughts on this issue. No debts! Never borrow! There’s something unfree, and so something unlovely, that comes over the home that’s founded on loans and debts. Now, we’ve both held out very bravely until today; and we’ll go on doing so for the short time it’s still necessary.
NORA [moves over to the stove]: Yes, yes, as you wish, Torvald.
HELMER [follows her]: There, there; my little songbird shan’t go trailing her wings now. Hmm? Is my squirrel standing there sulking? [Takes out his wallet.] Nora; what do you think I have here?
NORA [turns around quickly]: Money!
HELMER: There you are. [Hands her some banknotes.] Good Lord, I know, of course, that a great deal goes on housekeeping at Christmas.
NORA [counting]: Ten – twenty – thirty – forty. Oh thank you, thank you, Torvald; I’ll make it go a long way.
HELMER: Yes, you certainly must.
NORA: Yes, yes, I will, really. But come here, and I’ll show you everything I’ve bought. And so cheaply! Look, here are new clothes for Ivar – and a sword too. Here’s a horse and a trumpet for Bob. And here’s a doll with a doll’s bed for Emmy; it’s rather plain; but she’ll soon rip it to pieces anyway, of course. And here I’ve got dress material11 and headscarves for the maids; old Anne-Marie really should have had a lot more.
HELMER: And what’s in that parcel there?
NORA [shrieks]: No, Torvald, you shan’t see that till this evening!
HELMER: All right. But now tell me, you little spendthrift: what have you got in mind for yourself?
NORA: Oh, pff; for me? I’m not bothered with anything for myself.
HELMER: Oh, yes you are. Name me something reasonable now that you’d most like.
NORA: Oh, I don’t know, really. Although perhaps, Torvald –
HELMER: Well?
NORA [fiddling with his buttons; without looking at him]: If you want to give me something, you could of course – you could –
HELMER: Well; out with it.
NORA [quickly]: You could give me money, Torvald. Only as much as you feel you can afford; and then I’ll buy something with it over the next few days.
HELMER: But N
ora –
NORA: Oh yes, please, darling Torvald; I’m begging you. Then I’d hang the money12 in a lovely gold paper wrapper on the Christmas tree. Wouldn’t that be fun?
HELMER: What are those birds called that are always frittering money away?
NORA: Yes, yes; spending-birds, I know. But Torvald, let’s do as I say; and then I’ll have time to give careful consideration to what I need most. Isn’t that very sensible? Hmm?
HELMER [smiling]: Yes, of course it is; that’s to say, if you really could hold on to the money I give you and really bought something for yourself with it. But it’ll go towards the house and on one useless thing after another, and then I’ll have to fork out again.
NORA: Oh but, Torvald –
HELMER: Can’t be denied, my dear little Nora. [He puts his arm around her waist.] My spending-bird is sweet; but it uses up an awful lot of money. It’s incredible how expensive it is for a man to keep a spending-bird.
NORA: Oh shush, how can you possibly say that? I really do save everything I can.
HELMER [laughs]: Yes, never a truer word. Everything you can. But you can’t at all.
NORA [humming and smiling in quiet contentment]: Mmm, if you only knew what a lot of expenses we larks and squirrels have, Torvald.
HELMER: You’re a strange little one. Just as your father was. You’re forever on the lookout for ways to get money; but as soon as you get it, it’s as though it slips through your fingers; you never know what you’ve done with it. Well, we must take you as you are. It’s in the blood. Oh yes it is, these things are hereditary, Nora.
NORA: Well, I wish I’d inherited a great many of Daddy’s qualities.
HELMER: And I wouldn’t wish you any other way than exactly as you are, my sweet little songbird. But listen; something occurs to me. You look so – so – what shall I call it? – so sneaky today –
NORA: Do I?
HELMER: You certainly do. Look me straight in the eyes.
NORA [looks at him]: Well?
HELMER [wags a stern finger]: My sweet-tooth wouldn’t perhaps have been on the rampage in town today?
NORA: No, how can you think such a thing.
HELMER: Did my sweet-tooth really not make a detour into the confectioner’s?
