A Doll's House and Other Plays (Penguin)

by Henrik Ibsen

  MRS LINDE: So I suppose your own necessities took the brunt of it, my poor Nora?

  NORA: Yes, of course. But I was also best placed. Whenever Torvald gave me money for new dresses and the like, I never used more than half of it; always bought the plainest and cheapest thing. It was a blessing from heaven that everything suits me so well, so Torvald didn’t notice. But many a time it weighed heavily on me, Kristine; after all it is lovely to be elegantly dressed. Isn’t that so?

  MRS LINDE: It certainly is.

  NORA: And then I’ve had other sources of income too, of course. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a fair bit of copying work. So I locked myself in and sat there writing every evening, long into the night. Oh, I was often so tired, so tired. But it was terribly fun, nonetheless, to sit like that, working and earning money. It was almost as though I was a man.

  MRS LINDE: But how much have you been able to pay off in this way?

  NORA: Well, I can’t say exactly. These kinds of transactions, you see, are so extremely difficult to keep track of. All I know is that I’ve paid everything I could scrape together. I’ve often been at my wits’ end. [Smiles.] Then I’d sit here and imagine that an elderly rich gentleman had fallen in love with me –

  MRS LINDE: What? Which gentleman?

  NORA: Oh, pff! – that he’d died, and when they opened his will, it said in capital letters: ‘All my money is to be immediately paid to the charming Mrs Nora Helmer in cash.’

  MRS LINDE: But my dear Nora – who was this gentleman?

  NORA: Good heavens, don’t you understand? The elderly gentleman didn’t exist at all; that was just something I sat here imagining again and again when I couldn’t see a way out to get hold of any money. But it makes no odds now; as far as I’m concerned that boring old personage can stay right where he is; I’m not bothered about him or his will, because now I haven’t a care. [Jumps up.] Oh God, but it’s so lovely to think, Kristine! Not a care! To be able to be carefree, absolutely carefree; to be able to play and romp about with the children; to be able to make the house nice and pretty, everything just as Torvald likes it! And just think, the spring will come soon with big blue skies. Then we might get to travel a little. I might get to see the sea again. Oh yes, yes, it certainly is miraculous to be alive and to be happy!

  The doorbell is heard in the hall.

  MRS LINDE [gets up]: The doorbell; perhaps it’s best I go.

  NORA: No, you stay; nobody’s coming here, I’m sure; it must be for Torvald –

  MAID [in the doorway to the hall]: Excuse me, madam – there’s a gentleman wants to speak with the lawyer –

  NORA: With the bank director, you mean.

  MAID: Yes, with the bank director; but I didn’t know – since the doctor’s in there –

  NORA: Who is this gentleman?

  KROGSTAD [in the doorway to the hall]: It’s me, madam.

  MRS LINDE starts, then shrinks back and turns towards the window.

  NORA [takes a step towards him, tense, her voice lowered]: You? What is it? What do you want to speak to my husband about?

  KROGSTAD: Bank matters – in a way. I’ve a modest position at the Commercial Bank, and I hear your husband’s going to be our new boss –

  NORA: So it’s –

  KROGSTAD: Just some boring business, madam; nothing more at all.

  NORA: Right, be so good then as to go through to the office. [Nods offhandedly, as she closes the door to the hall; then walks over to attend to the stove.]

  MRS LINDE: Nora – who was that man?

  NORA: It was a certain Mr Krogstad.

  MRS LINDE: So it really was him.

  NORA: You know the man?

  MRS LINDE: I knew him once – many years ago. He worked as a solicitor’s clerk22 for a while in our parts.

  NORA: Ah yes, so he did.

  MRS LINDE: How changed he was.

  NORA: He was very unhappily married, I believe.

  MRS LINDE: And now he’s a widower?

  NORA: With a lot of children. There now; it’s burning. [Closes the stove door and moves the rocking-chair a little to one side.]

  MRS LINDE: He’s involved in a variety of business activities, they say?

  NORA: Oh? Well, that’s possible; I wouldn’t know –. But let’s not think about business; it’s so boring.

  DR RANK comes from HELMER’s room.

  RANK [still in the doorway]: No, no, Helmer; I don’t want to intrude; I’d rather go in to your wife for a bit. [Closes the door and notices MRS LINDE] Oh, apologies; it seems I’m intruding here too.

  NORA: No, not at all. [Introduces] Dr Rank. Mrs Linde.

  RANK: Aha. A name that’s frequently heard in this house. I believe I passed you on the stairs as I arrived.

  MRS LINDE: Yes, I climb rather slowly; a bit too much for me to take.

  RANK: Ah, a slight touch of the internal rots, eh?

  MRS LINDE: More a case of exhaustion actually.

  RANK: Nothing else? So, I take it you’ve come to town to unwind at our various festive gatherings.

  MRS LINDE: I’ve come here to look for work.

  RANK: That’s supposed to be a proven remedy for exhaustion, is it?

  MRS LINDE: We have to live, doctor.

  RANK: Yes, it is indeed a commonly held belief that such a thing is necessary.

  NORA: Come, come, Dr Rank – you want very much to live too.

  RANK: Yes, of course I do. However miserable I may be, I still prefer to be tormented for as long as is possible. And the same goes for all of my patients. As it does for the morally afflicted too. Right now, in fact, there’s just such a moral invalid in there with Helmer –

  MRS LINDE [quietly]: Ah!

  NORA: Who do you mean?

  RANK: Oh, it’s one Krogstad, an individual of whom you know nothing. Rotten right down to the roots of his character, Mrs Helmer. But even he started to talk as though it was of some magnificent import, about his having to live.

  NORA: Oh? What did he want to talk to Torvald about?

  RANK: I have absolutely no idea; all I heard was that it was something about the Commercial Bank.

  NORA: I didn’t know that Krog – that this man Krogstad had anything to do with the Commercial Bank.

  RANK: Yes, he’s got some sort of a job down there. [To MRS LINDE] I don’t know if you also, over in your parts, have the kind of people who scamper breathlessly about sniffing for moral decay, only to get the individual admitted for observation in some favourable position or other. The healthy people just have to put up with being left outside.

  MRS LINDE: But surely it’s the sick who most need to be brought into the fold.

  RANK [shrugs his shoulders]: Yes, there we have it. It’s that attitude that turns society into an infirmary.

  NORA, in her own thoughts, bursts into quiet laughter and claps her hands.

  RANK: Why are you laughing at that? Do you actually know what society is?

  NORA: What do I care about boring society? I was laughing at something quite different – something terribly amusing. – Tell me, Dr Rank – everybody who’s employed at the Commercial Bank will now be dependent on Torvald, yes?

  RANK: Is that what you find so terribly amusing?

  NORA [smiling and humming]: Never you mind! Never you mind! [Walks to and fro.] Well, it certainly is tremendously pleasing to think that we – that Torvald has such influence over so many people now. [Takes the paper bag out of her pocket.] Dr Rank, a little macaroon perhaps?

  RANK: I say, macaroons. I thought they were forbidden goods here.

  NORA: Yes, but Kristine gave me these.

  MRS LINDE: What? I –?

  NORA: Now, now; don’t be frightened. You couldn’t know, of course, that Torvald had forbidden them. He’s worried, you see, that they’ll give me bad teeth. But pff – just for once –! Don’t you agree, Dr Rank? There you go! [Puts a macaroon in his mouth.] And you too, Kristine. And I’ll have one too, just a little one – or two at most. [Wanders abo
ut again.] Yes, now I really am terribly happy. Now there’s only one thing in the world that I have a most tremendous desire to do.

  RANK: Oh? And what’s that?

  NORA: There’s something I have a tremendous desire to say, so Torvald hears it.

  RANK: And why can’t you say it?

  NORA: No, I daren’t, it’s so hideous.

  MRS LINDE: Hideous?

  RANK: Then it’s not advisable. But you can to us, of course –. What is it you have such a desire to say, so Helmer hears it?

  NORA: I have a most tremendous desire to say: bloody hell!

  RANK: Are you mad!

  MRS LINDE: For heaven’s sake, Nora –!

  RANK: Say it then. There he is.

  NORA [hides the bag of macaroons]: Ssh, ssh, ssh!

  HELMER, with his overcoat on his arm and his hat in his hand, comes from his room.

  NORA [facing him]: So, Torvald dear, did you get rid of him?

  HELMER: Yes, he’s just gone.

  NORA: I must introduce you – this is Kristine, who’s arrived in town.

  HELMER: Kristine –? Apologies, but I don’t know –

  NORA: Mrs Linde, Torvald dear; Mrs Kristine Linde.

  HELMER: Oh right. A childhood friend of my wife’s, I take it?

  MRS LINDE: Yes, we knew each other in earlier days.

  NORA: And imagine, she’s made the long journey to town in order to speak to you.

  HELMER: How’s that?

  MRS LINDE: Well, not exactly –

  NORA: Yes, because Kristine is terribly clever at office work, and she has a tremendous desire to come under a capable man’s leadership and learn more than she already knows –

  HELMER: Most sensible, Mrs Linde.

  NORA: And when she heard that you’d been made bank director – a telegram23 came about it – well, then she travelled here as fast as she could and –. I’m right, aren’t I, Torvald – for my sake, you can do something for Kristine? Yes?

  HELMER: Well, it’s certainly not impossible. You are a widow I take it, Mrs Linde?

  MRS LINDE: Yes.

  HELMER: And have experience of office work?

  MRS LINDE: Yes, a fair bit.

  HELMER: Well, then it’s highly likely that I can get you some employment –

  NORA [claps her hands]: You see; you see!

  HELMER: You’ve come at a propitious moment, Mrs Linde –

  MRS LINDE: Oh, how can I thank you –?

  HELMER: There’s really no need. [Puts on his overcoat.] But today you’ll have to excuse me –

  RANK: Wait; I’ll come with you. [Fetches his fur coat from the hall and warms it by the stove.]

  NORA: Don’t stay out long, Torvald dear.

  HELMER: An hour; no more.

  NORA: Are you leaving too, Kristine?

  MRS LINDE [putting on her outdoor clothes]: Yes, I must go out now to look for a room.

  HELMER: Perhaps we’ll walk down the street together.

  NORA [helping her]: What a bore that we’re so cramped for space here; but we really can’t –

  MRS LINDE: Oh, don’t even think about it! Goodbye, dear Nora, and thank you for everything.

  NORA: Goodbye for now. But you’ll come back this evening, of course. And you too, Dr Rank. Hmm? If you feel well enough? Oh, of course you will; just wrap up well.

  Amidst general conversation they go into the hallway. Children’s voices are heard outside, on the stairs.

  NORA: There they are! There they are!

  She runs over and opens the door. The nanny, ANNE-MARIE, is coming with the CHILDREN.

  NORA: Come in; come in! [Bends down and kisses them.] Oh you sweet little angels –! You see them, Kristine? Aren’t they lovely!

  RANK: Enough pleasantries out here in the draught!

  HELMER: Come on, Mrs Linde; it’ll be intolerable here now for anybody but a mother.

  DR RANK, HELMER and MRS LINDE go down the stairs. The NANNY comes into the living room with the CHILDREN, as does NORA, who closes the door to the hall.

  NORA: How fresh and healthy you look! What red cheeks you’ve got! Like apples and roses. [The CHILDREN are talking at her during the following.] Have you enjoyed yourself that much? That’s marvellous. Really; you pulled both Emmy and Bob on the sledge? What, really, both at once? Yes, you are a clever boy, Ivar. Oh, let me hold her for a bit, Anne-Marie. My sweet little doll! [Takes the youngest from the NANNY and dances with her.] Yes, yes, Mummy will dance with Bob, too. What? Have you been throwing snowballs? Oh, I wish I’d been there! No, don’t; I’ll take their coats off myself, Anne-Marie. Oh yes, do let me; it’s such fun. Go inside for now; you look frozen through. There’s some hot coffee for you on the stove.

  The NANNY goes into the room on the left. NORA takes the CHILDREN’s outdoor clothing off and drops it all over the place as she lets them all talk excitedly at once.

  NORA: No, really? So there was a big dog that ran after you? But it didn’t bite? No, dogs don’t bite lovely little baby dolls. Don’t look in the parcels, Ivar! What is it? Yes, wouldn’t you like to know? Oh no, no; it’s something really horrid. Well? Shall we play? What shall we play? Hide and seek. Yes, let’s play hide and seek. Bob can hide first. Shall I? All right, let me hide first.

  She and the CHILDREN play, laughing and shouting, in the living room and in the adjoining room to the right. Finally NORA hides under the table; the CHILDREN come storming in, look, but cannot find her, hear her muffled laughter, dash over to the table, lift the cloth, see her. Squeals of delight. She creeps out as if to scare them. More squeals of delight. Meanwhile someone has been knocking on the door; nobody has noticed. Now the door is pushed ajar, and KROGSTAD appears; he waits a little; the game continues.

  KROGSTAD: Excuse me, Mrs Helmer –

  NORA [with a muffled cry, turns, startled]: Ah! What do you want?

  KROGSTAD: I’m sorry; the front door24 was ajar; someone must have forgotten to close it –

  NORA [gets up]: My husband’s not at home, Mr Krogstad.

  KROGSTAD: I know.

  NORA: Right – so what do you want here?

  KROGSTAD: To have a word with you.

  NORA: With –? [To the CHILDREN, quietly] Go in to Anne-Marie now. What? No, the strange man won’t hurt Mummy. When he’s gone, we’ll play again.

  She ushers the CHILDREN into the room on the left and closes the door behind them.

  NORA [nervous, tense]: You want to talk to me?

  KROGSTAD: Yes, I do.

  NORA: Today –? But we’ve not got to the first of the month yet –

  KROGSTAD: No indeed, it’s Christmas Eve. It’ll be up to you how merry your Christmas is.

  NORA: What do you want? Today I can’t possibly –

  KROGSTAD: We shan’t talk about that for now. There’s something else. You do have a moment?

  NORA: Well yes; yes, of course I have, although –

  KROGSTAD: Good. I was sitting in Olsen’s café and I saw your husband walking down the street –

  NORA: Yes?

  KROGSTAD: – with a lady.

  NORA: What about it?

  KROGSTAD: May I be so bold as to ask; wasn’t the lady a certain Mrs Linde?

  NORA: Well, yes it was.

  KROGSTAD: Just arrived in town?

  NORA: Yes, today.

  KROGSTAD: And she’s a good friend of yours?

  NORA: Yes, she is. But I don’t see –

  KROGSTAD: I knew her too once.

  NORA: I know.

  KROGSTAD: Oh? So you do know about it. I thought as much. Well, to get straight to the point, might I ask: is Mrs Linde to have some kind of employment at the Commercial Bank?

  NORA: How can you permit yourself to quiz me, Mr Krogstad, you, one of my husband’s subordinates? But since you ask, you shall get your answer: Yes, Mrs Linde is to have employment. And it was I who recommended her, Mr Krogstad. Now you know.

  KROGSTAD: So I was right to put two and two together.

  NORA [walk
s to and fro]: Oh, I’d have thought one always has a little grain of influence. Just because one is a woman really doesn’t mean –. Being in a subordinate position, Mr Krogstad, one really should take care not to offend someone who – hmm –

  KROGSTAD: – who has influence?

  NORA: Yes, exactly.

  KROGSTAD [changing tone]: Mrs Helmer, would you have the kindness perhaps to employ your influence for my benefit?

  NORA: What? What do you mean?

  KROGSTAD: Would you be kind enough to ensure I hold on to my subordinate post in the Bank?

  NORA: How do you mean? Who’s thinking of taking your post from you?

  KROGSTAD: Oh, you don’t need to play ignorant with me. I quite understand that it can’t be comfortable for your friend to risk having to bump into me; and now I know too who I’ll have to thank when I’m chased out.

  NORA: But I can assure you –

  KROGSTAD: Yes, yes, but to the point now: there’s still time, and I advise you to use your influence to prevent it.

  NORA: But, Mr Krogstad, I have absolutely no influence.

  KROGSTAD: Really? I thought you said a moment ago –

  NORA: Not in that sense of course. Me? How can you think I have that kind of influence over my husband?

  KROGSTAD: Oh, I’ve known your husband since our student days. I don’t imagine our Mr Bank Director is any less biddable than other husbands.

  NORA: If you speak disrespectfully of my husband, I’ll show you the door.

  KROGSTAD: Madam is brave.

  NORA: I’m not afraid of you any more. Once the New Year is over, I’ll soon be out of this whole thing.

  KROGSTAD [more controlled]: Listen to me, Mrs Helmer. If it proves necessary, I’ll fight as though my life depended on it to keep my little job in the Bank.

  NORA: Yes, so it seems.

  KROGSTAD: Not just for the sake of the income; that’s the least of my worries. But there’s something else –. Yes well, out with it! It’s this, you see. You know, of course, as well as everybody else, that some years ago I was guilty of an imprudence.