"Hide the Christmas tree well." "The children shouldn't see it till it's decorated." "How much?" "50 oere." "Here's a crown." "Keep the rest." "Back already?" "Yes, here I am!" "When did you get home?" "Just now!" "Come here!" "See what I bought." "You bought all that?" "Been squandering money again?" "We can afford it this year." "The first Christmas we haven't had to pinch pennies." "It's not there to be spent like water." "Yes it is, now you're earning... plenty of money." "Starting New Year." "I don't get my salary till 3 months later." "We can borrow on it." "Spendthrift as usual!" "Suppose I borrow 1.000 crowns... and you spend it over Christmas, and a brick falls on my head over New Year." "Then I wouldn't mind how much I owed." "What about the people who lent the money?" "Them?" "Who cares about them?" "Mere strangers!" "You know my attitude." "No debts!" "Never borrow!" "When a home is founded on debts and borrowing... it must be a miserable place." "As you like." "Nora?" "What would you say this was?" "Money!" "You see!" "I know how much..." "Christmas cost in a family." "60, 70, 80." "Thank you, Torvald." "That'll do for quite a while." "You'll have to, too." "Just think what I've bought, and so cheap, too!" "A suit for Ivar and a toy sword." "A horse and a trumpet for Bob." "A doll for Emmy, plus a bed." "Nothing special, but she'll break it anyway." "Dress material and handkerchiefs for the maid." "What's that?" "That's for you." "Really?" "And what would you like?" "Me?" "I don't want anything." "Of course you do!" "Tell me what you'd like best." "I don't really know." "Yes, I do." "Listen, Torvald." "If you want to give a present, give me..." "Well?" "Out with it!" "You might give me some money." "Whatever you can spare." "Then I'll buy something after Christmas." "But Nora!" "Please!" "What do we call people who spend every penny?" "Frivolous hens, I know." "But let's do it the way I said." "I'll have time to think over what I want most." "I call that sensible, don't you?" "Of course, if you really buy yourself something." "Usually it gets used for the household, and I... fork out again." "I'm as thrifty as I can be." "Too true!" "As you can be!" "But you simply can't!" "Money flows like water through your fingers." "You never know what's happened to it." "Well, well, I have to take you as you are." "It's in your blood." "Yes, Nora, these things are inherited." "If only I took more after Father." "I wouldn't want you to change." "I'd never do anything you disapproved of." "I know." "Did you invite Dr. Rank?" "No, but it isn't necessary." "It goes without saying I can tell him... when he drops in today." "I've got some good wine in." "Nora, you have no idea... how I'm looking forward to this evening." "So am I. And the children will go wild!" "It's a wonderful feeling to have a secure... position and a steady income." "Isn't it just?" "The idea is fantastic." "It is wonderful!" "You know what I've been thinking?" "Right after Christmas..." "Ah, the bell's ringing." "Someone must be coming." "What a pity!" "I'm not at home to visitors." "There's a lady just come." "Show her in, will you?" "The Doctor's arrived, too." "Did he go to my room?" "Yes, sir!" "Hello, Nora!" "Hello!" "Don't you recognize me?" "Kristine?" "Fancy not recognizing you at once!" "My how you've changed!" "I suppose I have." "In 9 or 10 long years." "Has it been so long since we met?" "Yes, you're right." "Oh, the last 8 years have been so happy." "You came all this way in depth of winter." "I arrived today by steamer." "To have a few nice days over Christmas." "Yes, now you're looking your old self." "It was just the first impression." "You grown a bit paler." "And much older." "Yes, a little older, perhaps." "You're widowed now." "3 years ago." "It was in the paper." "I meant to write, but things kept cropping up." "I can understand." "It was mean of me." "Didn't he leave you anything?" "Nothing." "And no children?" "Nothing at all?" "Not even a feeling of grief." "But Kristine, how is that possible?" "It can happen that way." "So alone." "How terribly hard it must be on you." "I have 3 lovely children." "I can't show you them... right now." "They've gone for a walk with the maid." "But, now tell me everything." "No, you tell me." "You start." "I don't want to be selfish." "I must... think of your concerns." "By the way, have you heard of our luck?" "What luck?" "My husband's been made a bank director." "Your husband?" "That's a stroke of luck." "And what a stroke!" "We're delighted, believe you me." "He gets a large salary and a percentage." "We'll be... able to afford a much better life." "It's fine to have lots of money and not a thing... to worry about." "Yes." "It must also be fine to have the bare necessities." "No, not the bare necessities, post of money." "Haven't you learnt sense yet?" "You always were... extravagant." "Torvald says I still am." "But Nora's not so scatter-brained as you think." "We didn't have any money to squander." "We both had to work." "You, too?" "At home: knitting and crocheting and so on." "He gave up his job and set up practice as a lawyer." "He overworked the first year." "He took on extra work and worked long hours." "He couldn't stand it and fell seriously ill." "The doctors prescribed a warmer climate." "You spent a year in Africa?" "Yes." "It wasn't easy to pay for the trip." "It was just before Ivar was born when we had to go." "It was wonderful stay and it saved Torvald's life." "But it cost an awful lot of money." "It cost 4.800 crowns." "That's an awful lot." "I'm sure." "You're lucky to have had it." "They all think Father gave it, including Torvald." "But it's not true." "I raked the money together." "I saved his life." "You?" "All that money?" "4.800 crowns." "But where from?" "You couldn't borrow it." "Really?" "Why not?" "No woman can borrow money without her husband's consent." "If a woman's got an eye for business..." "I don't get it at all." "Never mind." "I didn't have to borrow the money." "I could have earned it some other way." "An admirer... might have given it." "When a woman's not bad-looking..." "You must be crazy." "And you're very nosy, Kristine." "Are you sure you weren't rash?" "Is it rash to save one's husband's life?" "And you never said a word to your husband?" "Torvald - with his male self-esteem." "He'd be embarrassed at owing anything to me." "It would change our relationship." "Our whole... happy married life would not be the same." "Won't you ever tell him?" "Yes, later perhaps, many years from now..." "When I'm no longer so good-looking." "Don't laugh." "I mean, when he's not so much in love with me." "Then it can't do any harm to have that in reserve." "What do you say to my secret, Kristine?" "Am I any use, or not?" "The whole thing... was quite a headache, believe me." "It wasn't easy to keep up my payments, quarterly interest, repayments." "Money was hard to come buy." "I had to save... wherever I could." "I just sat here imagining a rich, old man... had fallen in love with me." "And then he died." "And when they opened his will, there it stood in big letters:" ""My whole fortune goes to the enchanting Mrs Nora Helmer, payable at once in cash."" "What man was that?" "Do get it right." "There was... no such man." "Then I kept imagining it when I was broke... and didn't know where the next penny would come from." "Now I'm free of all my cares!" "Good Lord, Kristine, how wonderful it is... to be living and happy, too." "I'm looking for a job, office work." "That's very strenuous. you'd be better advised... to take the waters somewhere." "I can't afford it." "Don't be angry with me!" "Don't you be angry with me!" "That's the worst of my situation, it embitters me." "I've no one to work for, and yet have to struggle on, we all have to live, and that makes us egoistic." "When you told me how well things had turned out... for you, I was not so much glad... for you sake as for mine." "Why?" "Oh, I see." "You think..." "Torvald might do something for you?" "Yes, that's what I thought." "So he should." "Just leave it to me." "Someone's ringing." "I'd better be going." "It's no one for me." "Someone will be wanting Torvald." "A gentleman to see the Master." "The Bank Director." "I don't really know, the Doctor's in there..." "Who is this gentleman?" "It's me, Mrs Helmer." "What's this about?" "Why do you want to see my husband?" "Bank business." "I work at the bank." "They say... your husband is to be our boss..." "So it's about... rather dull business, nothing else." "Let the maid show you in." "Who was that man?" "Name of Krogstad." "So it really was him!" "You know that fellow?" "I used to know him." "He was very unhappily married." "Is he a widower now?" "With lots of children." "They say he's involved in shady dealings." "Really?" "Maybe." "I wouldn't know." "Don't let's talk business." "It's so uninteresting." "I'll go and join your wife a while." "Sorry." "I suppose I'm in the way." "Not at all." "Doctor Rank - Mrs. Linde." "A name often mencionated here." "I passed you on the stairs." "I have to take them slowly." "I can't stand climbing stairs quickly." "A little internal trouble?" "More likely over-exertion." "That all?" "You're seeking recuperation in social distractions?" "I'm looking for work." "To counteract over-exertion?" "People have to live, Doctor." "Yes, that's a pretty widespread notion." "You want to live, too." "Of course." "Miserable though my state is, I'd like... to crawl around as long as I can." "All my patients feel that way, even those... morally debilitated." "There's such a moral invalid with Helmer now." "Whom do you mean?" "A certain Krogstad." "You wouldn't know him." "His character is rotten to the core, but even he... makes a fuss about going on living... as if it were important." "What did he want of Torvald?" "I don't know." "I heard it was something about the bank." "I never knew this Krogstad had... dealings with the bank." "He has a bit of a job there." "I don't know if you have people... who spy around, to dig up anything rotten, and then you decide to give priority to... these normal patients." "The healthy get short shrift." "The sick need a shelter more than other people." "That's just it." "This attitude... makes a hospital of our society." "What so funny?" "Do you know... what it is: our society?" "Who cares about society?" "I'm laughing about... something very funny." "Tell me, Doctor:" "Is Torvald in charge of all the Bank's employees?" "What's so funny about that?" "Let me speak." "Yes, I find it very stimulating... to imagine that we " "that Torvald has so much power over so many people." "Now I'm really terribly happy." "Now I feel a terrible urge." "To do what?" "To say something so that Torvald can hear." "Why don't you say it?" "I can't, it isn't decent." "What is it you'd so much like to say?" "I'd like to say: "They can all go and get...!"" "Once again!" "He's coming." "Well, Torvald?" "Got rid of him?" "He's gone." "This is Kristine." "She arrived today." "I'm sorry, but I don't know..." "Mrs. Linde, Torvald, dear." "Mrs. Kristine Linde." "A childhood friend of my wife's?" "We're old acquaintances." "She made this long trip to see you." "What does that mean exactly?" "Well, not really..." "She's a skilled office employee and wants to learn more under the guidance of a competent man." "You'll do something for Kristine for my sake, won't you, Torvald?" "I supoose it might be arranged." "Have you done any book-keeping?" "Yes, quite a bit." "I can probably find you employment, then." "You see!" "You came at the right moment, Mrs..." "Linde!" "Thank you." "That's all right." "You must excuse me." "I'll come along." "Don't be long." "An hour at most." "You leaving, too?" "I have to find a room." "I'll go with you part of the way." "But you'll come here this evening." "You, too, Doctor." "Excuse me, Mrs Helmer?" "What is it?" "The door was ajar." "Someone must have forgotten to shut it." "Mi husband's not at home." "I know." "What is it you want, then?" "To speak to you." "Speak to me?" "Exactly." "Today?" "But this isn't the first of the month?" "No, Christmas Eve." "You have it in your power to decide how happy your Christmas shall be." "What do you want?" "I saw your husband going down the street." "with a lady." "So what?" "Was that Mrs. Linde?" "Yes." "Just arrived?" "Yes, today." "Is she a friend of yours?" "She is." "We have met before." "I know that." "Is Mrs Linde getting a job at the bank?" "Do you work under my husband?" "You ought to know that." "Mrs Linde will be employed, at my request, to be exact." "I was right, then." "One has a certain influence, I should think." "Just because I'm a woman, doesn't mean that..." "If one is a humble employee, one should be careful not to offend someone who  who has influence?" "Very true." "Use your influence in my favour." "How do you mean?" "See that I keep my lowly position." "Who's going to take it from you?" "I know who's responsible for me being dismnissed." "But I can assure you..." "I advise you to prevent it through your influence." "But I have no influence, Mr Krogstad." "You just said yourself..." "I didn't mean it that way." "What makes you assume I have any influence on my husband?" "I know your husband of old." "If you speak derogatorily of him, I must ask you to leave." "You're very brave." "I am no longer afraid." "After New Year the matter will be closed for me." "I'll fight to the death to keep my job at the bank." "It looks that way." "It's not the wages I'm after, but the chance to regain the respect of my fellow men." "The position at te bank was to be the first step." "Your husband intends kicking me into the mire." "No, I really have no power to help you." "I can force you to." "By telling my husband I owe you money?" "What if I told him?" "That would be low." "If he found out my secret, which is my pride and joy, in this mean, low way it would mean terrible unpleassantness for me." "Unpleassantness?" "Go ahead." "If you do, your job's as good as lost." "Is unpleassantness all you fear?" "If my husband gets to know, he will pay you off, of course." "And we'll have seen the last of you." "Either you have a bad memory, or you have no idea of financial affairs." "I'll have to put you right." "How?" "When your husband was ill, you came to borrow 4.800 crowns." "There was no one else." "I was prepared to put up the money..." "So you did." "I provided it against a promissory note." "Which I signed." "In a codicil your father stood surety." "He signed it." "I left the date open." "Your father was to enter it the day he signed." "I gave you the promissory note to send to your father." "Isn't that so?" "You did that." "After 5 or 6 days I got the note with your father's signature, whereupon you were paid the sum." "Didn't I pay up punctually?" "More or less." "But to come back " "It must have been a hard time for you, Mrs Helmer?" "Yes, it was." "Your father was very ill." "He was dying." "And soon died?" "Do you happen to remember the day he died?" "I mean the month and day." "Father died on September 29th." "Quite so." "I inquired." "That's why it seems to me there's something inexplicable." "What?" "I don't know..." "It's queer that he signed 3 days after his death." "Why, I don't understand..." "Your father died on September 29th." "Now look here." "The paper says it was October 2nd." "Isn't that strange?" "Your father signed with his own hand." "No, he didn't." "I signed his name." "That is a dangerous admission." "You'll get your money back." "That means you cheated me." "I didn't take that into account." "You didn't interest me." "I couldn't stand you." "You caused a lot of trouble although you knew my husband's life was in danger." "I committed no greater nor worse crime." "Yet it cost me my decent living." "You?" "You mean to say you did a brave deed to save your wife's life?" "Laws do not weigh people's reasons." "They must be bad laws." "If I show the court the note, you will be sentenced by our laws." "If I'm cast out a second time," "I shall drag you with me." "He's trying to frighten me." "I did it for love." "Helen, bring the tree in." "Where shall I put it?" "In the middle of the room." "Shall I bring anything else?" "Nothing more is needed." "Put a light here and the flowers here." "That revolting fellow!" "I will do anything to please you, Torvald." "Are you back already?" "Yes." "Has anyone been here?" "Here?" "No!" "Strange." "I saw Krogstad leaving the front way." "Krogstad?" "Oh, yes." "He was here for a moment." "Did he ask you to put a good word in?" "He told you to pretend it was your idea?" "And not tell me he was here?" "Did he ask you that?" "Yes, Torvald, but..." "Nora!" "Nora!" "And you agreed to that?" "You stooped to talk to him?" "Even made a promise to him!" "And told a lie into the bargain!" "It's so warm and cosy in here!" "Torvald." "Yes?" "Are you very bussy?" "What are those papers?" "Bank business." "Already?" "I have power to change the personnel and policy." "I have to make use of Christmas week." "Everything's to be fixed by New Year." "Is what Krogstad did really so bad?" "Forgery." "Do you know what that means?" "Can't he have done it out of necessity?" "Yes, or frivolously." "I condemn no man for just one slip." "You're right." "Some people recover morally when they admit their fault and take their punishment." "Punishment?" "Krogstad didn't choose that way." "He tricked his way out." "That ruined him morally." "Do you really think..." "Imagine the way such a person has to lie, play the hypocrite with everyone, wearing a mask for his family, his wife and children." "The worst thing is the children." "That's really terrible." "How?" "Such a lying atmosphere infects the family with his germs." "Every breath the children take is full of the virus." "Can you be sure?" "I've frequently experienced it." "Almost all delinquents have had dishonest mothers." "Why mothers especially?" "It usually comes from mothers." "But the influence of fathers can be similar." "Every lawyer knows that." "And still Krogstad lived for years with his children and poisoned them with his dishonesty." "That's why I call him a moral wreck." "Promise not to intercede for him." "I could never work with him." "I feel physically sick in the presence of such people." "How hot it is in here!" "And I have so much to do." "I have things to do before we eat, too." "It can't be true!" "It's impossible." "It must be impossible." "The children would like to see their Mama." "No, Anne-Marie, don't let them in." "You stay with them." "Poison my children." "It's not true." "It simply can't be true." "I finally found the fancy dress." "Put the box on the table." "It's in pretty bad shape." "I wish I could tear it to pieces." "It can be repaired." "I'll go and see Kristine." "She can help me mend it." "In this weather?" "You'll catch a cold and be sick." "That wouldn't be that bad." "Where are the children?" "They're playing with their Christmas presents." "Do they often as after me?" "Yes." "They're so used to having their mother about them." "I won't be able to be with them so often now." "Children get used to anything." "D'you think so?" "Would they forget their mother if she weren't here anymore?" "How could you do such a thing, handing your child over to strangers?" "I had to, to be your wet nurse." "But you wanted to!" "If I could get such a good job?" "That fellow never did a thing for me." "Your daugther must have forgotten you." "She wrote when she was confirmed, and at her wedding." "You were a good mother to me." "And for my children you'll..." "Nonsense!" "Go back to them." "I'll look very nice in this, you'll see." "There won't be anyone as pretty at the ball." "I heard you were asking for me." "You have to help me." "Consul Stenborg's giving a fancy-dress ball tomorrow." "and Torvald wants me to dance." "Put on a real performance?" "Torvald would like me to." "This is the dress." "It's all so torn, and I haven't any idea..." "We'll soon fix that." "That's very nice of you." "I'll come tomorrow to admire you in the costume." "That was a very cosy evening yesterday." "I didn't think it was as nice as usual." "You should have come here sooner." "Torvald has a wonderful way of making our home lovely and cosy." "So do you." "Tell me, is Dr Rank always so depressed?" "Yesterday it was especially noticeable." "He's suffering from an incurable disease." "He has tuberculosis of the spine, poor man." "His father was a revolting man who kept mistresses." "His son was sickly even as a child, you know." "But how do you know?" "Does he call every day?" "Yes, every day." "He's Torvald's best friend." "And mine, too." "He's practically a member of the family." "Is he always truthful?" "Yesterday he said he'd heard my name mentioned often." "But your husband didn't know who I was." "Yes, that's true." "Torvald loves me so very much, and so he wants me all to himself, as he says." "He used to be jealous when I mentioned my parents." "So I avoided that." "But I talk to the Doctor about it." "He likes to listen." "That's how it is." "You shlould break off the affair with him." "What affair?" "You mentioned an admirer who lent you money." "One who doesn't exist, unfortunately." "Go on!" "Is Dr Rank wealthy?" "Well, yes." "Without any dependents?" "No one." "And he visits you two every day?" "Yes, I already told you." "How can such a fine man be so pressing." "I don't know what you mean." "Don't try and pretend." "I have guessed who lent you the money." "Are you mad?" "How can you think such thing?" "A friend of ours, who calls every day." "How embarrassing that would be." "Really not from him?" "I assure you." "I would never have dreamt of it." "However, I'm sure, if I'd asked him..." "But you wouldn't?" "Of course not!" "I can't imagine it would ever come to that." "But I'm sure if I spoke to Dr Rank..." "Behind your husband's back?" "I have to get out of the other matter." "That's behind his back, too." "Of course." "I told you yesterday." "But..." "A man can manage these things better than us." "When you finish the payments you get your promissory note back, don't you?" "Of course you do." "You're hiding something." "Can you tell by my face?" "Something's happened since yesterday." "Torvald coming." "Go into the children's room, please." "Torvald can't stand sewing." "Anne-Marie will help you." "I won't leave till we're talked it over." "I've been waiting for you." "Was that the sempstress?" "No, Kristine." "She's helping me fix my costume." "Don't you worry." "I'll look really good." "Must you work?" "I've been to the bank." "If I asked you for a great favour..." "What, then?" "Would you do it?" "I'd have to know what it's all about." "I hope it's not the same thing you were bothering me with this morning?" "Yes, Torvald." "I beg you." "You dare to ask me again?" "Yes, Torvald." "You must do me this favour." "You must let Krogstad keep his job." "I intended Mrs Linde to replace him." "That's awfully nice of you." "But all you need do is dismiss another clerk." "It doesn't have to be Krogstad." "You're incredubly stubborn!" "Just because you promised to put in a good word for him, I'm supposed to..." "That's not why." "It's for your sake." "This fellow can cause you dreadful harm." "I'm scared to death..." "You mean that affair of your father?" "Of course." "You know the way they wrote in the paper about Father." "The rumours that circulated." "They would have got him dismissed if the Ministry hadn't sent you and you hadn't been so lenient toward him." "The two cases aren't the same." "As an official, your father was vulnerable." "I am not." "I hope I never will be." "We could have such a wonderful time, us and the children." "That's why I implore you..." "This makes it impossible for me to keep him." "They know I want to dismiss Krogstad." "If they said:" "The new director allows his wife to change his mind." "What then?" "Am I to be a laughing stock?" "Let people see I'm open to all sorts of pressure?" "I'd soon feel the consequences." "What do you want?" "Make an end of things!" "Hand this letter to a porter to deliver immediately!" "Immediately!" "It's already addressed." "Here's the money." "Torvald!" "What was that letter?" "Krogstad's dismissal." "You don't know what consequences that letter can have fou us all." "Too late!" "Yes, too late!" "I forgive your fears, though they are an insult to me." "Yes, they are!" "Isn't it insulting when I'm supposed to fear a crooked lawyer's revenge?" "But I still forgive you, because your fears are also wonderful proof that you love me!" "If Rank comes, tell him where to find me." "I recognized the way you rang." "Don't go to him, he's busy." "And you?" "You know very well I always have time for you." "Thank you!" "I'll take you up on it, as long as I can." "Meaning what?" "As long as you can?" "Yes." "Are you shocked?" "You spoke so strangely." "Are you expecting something to happen?" "Something I am prepared for." "I never thought it would happen so soon." "What?" "What's going to happen?" "You must tell me." "I'm on the downhill run." "Is something wrong with you?" "With who else?" "There's no point in deceiving myself." "I'm the most hopeless case of all my patients." "I've just made a general examination of my internal state." "I'm bankrupt." "I may be lying in the churchyard, rotting away within a month." "How can you talk in that ugly way?" "The whole thing's pretty ugly." "But the worst thing is," "so many ugly things will happen first." "There's still one examination to go." "When I've done that, I'll pretty well know just when the break-up begins." "There's one thing I'd like to say:" "Helmer's highly-strung, and he has an aversion to anything that's ugly." "I don't want him at my bedside." "Under no circunstances!" "My door is shut to him." "As soon as I know the veredict, I'll send you my card with a black cross on it." "Then you know that the ugly process of dissolution has begun." "No, no." "You're talking nonsense today." "I'd liked to see you in a good humour." "With death facing me?" "Having to pay for someone else's guilt?" "Is that justice?" "Somehow, in every family there's such a case of retribution." "Please stop!" "Let's be cheerful and gay!" "Yes, it's actually a funny story, only fit to be laughed at." "My poor, innocent spine is paying for my father's gay times as an army officer." "He was probably fond of asparagus and goose liver paté." "Yes, and truffles." "Yes, on truffles and oysters, too, I suppose?" "Yes, oysters, too, of course!" "Then there's port wine and champagne." "How sad that all these tasty morsels are bad for the back." "Especially sad when they ruin a miserable back that didn't even have the benefit." "Yes, that's the saddest thing of all." "Why did you smile?" "No, you smiled." "No, you." "You're a bigger rogue than I thought." "I could really act the fool today." "It looks that way." "you can't die and leave" "Torvald and me." "You'll soon get over the loss!" "You think so?" "You make new contacts, and then..." "Who'll make new contacts?" "You and Helmer, when I'm gone." "You've already started it seems." "What did Mrs Linde want here?" "Don't tell you're jealous of Kristine?" "I am." "She will be my successor in this house." "After me this person..." "Quiet!" "She's in there." "Here again?" "There, you see!" "To fix my costume." "How irritable you are!" "Do be calm, Doctor." "Tomorrow you can see me dance." "You can imagine I'm doing it for you." "And for Torvald, of course." "Take a seat." "I want to show you something." "What?" "Look!" "Here!" "Silk stockings." "Flesh-coloured." "Aren't they pretty?" "It's dark in here, but tomorrow..." "You may only look at the foot." "Well, all right you can see more." "Why so critical?" "Don't they suit me?" "I can hardly form an opinion on that." "Shame on you!" "It's your own fault!" "What other wonderful things do I get to see?" "You're not going to see a thing, for being so naughty." "When I sit here so cosily with you, I can't conceive..." "I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't been allowed in this house." "I really believe you feel at home with us." "Having to leave all this... and not even leave behind a token of gratitude." "Just a fugitive sorrow." "An empty place to be filled in by the first that comes along." "What if I asked you..." "For what?" "For a great favour..." "What?" "I mean a very great favour..." "Will you make me so happy?" "You don't know what I mean." "Well, tell me." "I can't." "It's asking too much." "The more, the better." "But I have no idea what you want." "Do tell me!" "Don't you trust me?" "I do." "You're my best friend, I know that." "And I'll tell you." "Something must be prevented." "And you must help me." "You know how Torvald loves me" "He would give his life for me." "He's not the only one would give his life for you." "I wanted you to know." "Yes, now you know." "And now you know, too, that you can trust me absolutely." "Let me pass!" "Helene, bring the lamp!" "That was beastly of you." "Loving you as much as someone else." "Is that beastly?" "No, but telling me was." "That was uncalled-for." "Did you know..." "I ask you, did you know?" "Who knows whether I knew or didn't know." "How could you be so clumsy!" "When everything was so lovely!" "You can be sure I am at your service." "Please speak your mind." "After what just happened?" "You mustn't punish me like that." "Let me do all in my power to help you." "You can't do a thing for me." "I shan't need any help." "You'll see, it's all imagination." "Sure!" "Of course!" "You're a right rogue." "I suppose you're ashamed now the light's on?" "No, not really." "But perhaps I should withdraw - for ever?" "No." "Of course, you must keep coming to see us." "Torvald can't do without you." "Yes." "And you?" "I always found it immensely entertaining having you here" "And that put me on the wrong track" "You're a riddle to me." "Sometimes I felt as if you liked being with me as much as with Helmer." "You see, we love certain people best, and almost prefer to be with the others." "At home, I loved Father best, but I found it exciting to slip up to the maids' rooms." "No one tried to bring me up, and when the girls were among themselves they chatted so amusingly." "So I was their successor." "It wasn't meant that way." "But you must understand:" "With Torvald it's the same as with Father." "Something unpleasant?" "No, not at all." "It's just..." "It's about my new costume." "I ordered it, and Torvald isn't to know about it." "So that's the great secret." "Of course." "Go over now and try and keep him occupied." "Don't you worry." "He won't slip out of my grasp." "Is he waiting in the kitchen?" "He came up the back stairs." "Didn't you say I had a visitor?" "I did, but it had no effect." "He wanted to wait?" "He says he's simply got to see Mrs Helmer." "All right." "Let him in." "But quietly." "Helene!" "Don't tell anyone." "It's a surprise for Mr. Helmer." "I understand." "Please come in." "Speak softly." "My husband's at home." "For all I care!" "What do you want?" "Information." "What about?" "I've received my dismissal." "I couldn't prevent it." "Does your husband love you so little?" "You're in my power..." "What do you want?" "Just see how you're keeping." "Think of my children." "Did you and your husband think of my children?" "Let's drop it." "Don't take it too hard." "I'm no one to start trouble." "I knew you wouldn't!" "The matter can be settled amicably." "It can be kept among us three." "My husband must not know ahything." "How can you prevent it?" "You won't get your promissory note back." "What do you want with it?" "Keep it." "And if you're thinking of doing something desperate..." "I am." "such as leaving husband and children..." "I am." "... or even worse things..." "Then you'd better forget them!" "How do you know I'm thinking of that?" "Most of them do, at first." "I thought of it, too." "But then I lacked courage..." "I do, too." "You, too?" "You haven't got it?" "No, I haven't." "It would be very stupid, too!" "I have a letter here for your husband." "Does it tell all?" "It breaks it gently." "My husband musn't get that letter." "Tear it up!" "Tell me how much you want." "I'll get the money." "I don't want money!" "What is it you want?" "I want to get on." "And your husband will help me." "I tell you, I want to get on, get back to the bank." "I want a better job." "Your husband's going to get me that job." "He never will!" "He will!" "I know him." "He won't dare kick." "Once I'm in the Director's office, just watch me." "In a year I'll be the boss's right hand man." "Nils Krogstad will run the bank, not Torvald Helmer." "You'll never get that far." "You mean you'd...?" "Now I have the courage." "You can't frighten me." "A fine, spoilt lady like you..." "You'll soon see." "Maybe under the ice?" "Into the cold, black wetness, to be washed up in spring, disfigured beyond recognition, hair fallen out..." "You can't frighten me." "Nor can you me." "Paople don't do these things." "What good would it do?" "You woudn't get him back?" "Even then?" "When I'm no longer..." "Your obituary will depend on me." "I expect your husband to reply to my letter." "He has forced me to take this path again." "I shall never forgive him for it." "Torvald - now we are lost." "It can't be improved any more." "Shall we try it on?" "Come here." "What's the matter?" "Come here!" "Do you see that letter?" "Behind the pane in the letter box?" "That letter is from Krogstad." "Krogstad lent you the money!" "Yes." "And now Torvald will discover everything." "It's the best thing for both of you." "You don't know eveything." "I forged the signature." "Let me tell you something, Kristine:" "You must be my witness." "Witness?" "What should I do?" "If I lose my reason, which might easily happen... or anything happens to me, and I can't be here... if anyone else takes the blame, you must testify that it isn't true." "I tell you:" "No one knew anything" "I did it all by myself." "Remember!" "I will." "I don't quite see the connection." "I'll speak to Krogstad." "No, don't do that." "He'll do you some harm." "Time was when he'd do anything to please me." "What's his address?" "Oh, how should I know?" "Or, rather " "Here's his card." "Yes." "What is it you want?" "Don't be afraid." "We can't get in." "You've locked yourself in." "Are you still trying the dress on?" "Yes." "I'll be lovely, Torvald." "He lives round the corner." "He must demand his letter back, unread." "Distract your husband's attention." "I'll be right back." "Can I come into my own living room now?" "Now, let's see." "What is this?" "Rank was preparing me for a great surprise." "I must have misunderstood." "No one's going to see me in my costume before tomorrow evening." "You're looking worn out!" "Been practising too much?" "No, I haven't been practising at all." "But you have to." "Yes, I really must." "But I can't do a thing without your help." "I've fotgotten it all." "We'll soon fix that." "I hope so." "I need you all evening." "You musn't think of business one moment." "I promise." "Today I'm here foy you alone." "But first I want to..." "Want to what?" "See if the mail's come." "Don't do that." "Why not?" "Please stay here." "There is no mail." "Let me look." "You musn't think of it all today and tomorrow." "You musn't open any letters, or any mailbox." "Aha, still scared of that fellow!" "Yes, that, too." "I can tell there's a letter from him in the box." "No, I don't know." "I think..." "But you musn't read anything like that now, Torvald." "There must be nothing ugly between us." "Don't gainsay her now." "Let her have her will." "But tomorrow, after you've danced..." "Then you're free!" "The table is laid." "French champagne, Helene." "Yes, Ma'am." "Kristine, you must help me with my hair." "You go along, please." "Well?" "Gone to the country." "I could see by your face." "I left him a note." "You could have saved yourself the trouble." "Don't try and prevent anything." "Everything's fine after all." "I want to go upstairs again." "I'm not finished yet." "But Nora, Dear!" "Please!" "I implore you." "Just one more hour." "Not one minute, my sweet Nora." "That was the agreement." "Now into the parlour." "You'll catch cold here." "Good evening." "Your here?" "At this hour?" "I'm sorry, but I wanted to see Nora in her costume." "Well, take a good look at her." "She's worth looking at." "Isn't she lovely, Mrs Linde, absolutely beautiful?" "Every was unanimous at the ball, though her dance was perhaps exceedingly naturalistic." "More natural than art would seem to allow." "I spoke to him." "And?" "You have to tell your husband everything." "I knew it." "You needn't worry about Krogstad." "He loves me" "We shall marry." "Nevertheless you should tell your husband the truth." "I won't do that." "Then the letter will." "Thak you, Kristine." "Now I know what I have to do." "Well, have you admired her?" "Yes, and now I'll say goodnight." "Already?" "Well, goodnight Nora Goodnight, Mr Helmer" "Goodnight." "I hope you get home all right." "I'd be glad..." "But it's not that far." "Goodnight, then." "We finally got rid of her, that awfully boring old hen." "Aren't you very tired?" "Not at all." "I even feel very fresh" "But you look really very tired." "I am tired, too." "I'll soon be asleep." "So it was right of me not to stay any longer." "Whatever you do is always right." "Now you're talking sense." "Did you notice how chipper Rank was today?" "Was he really?" "I didn't speak to him." "It's ages since I saw him in such good humour" "You know, it's great to be back in one's own four walls all alone with you." "Don't look at me like that." "Can't I look at my most precious possession?" "This wonderful gift that's mine, all mine." "all mine alone!" "You musn't talk to me like that tonight." "That makes you even more seductive." "I was longing just for you." "When I saw you dancing, so sparking and enticing, my blood began to seethe." "I couldn't stand any more, so I abducted you from the party early on." "Sopt it!" "I don't feel like it tonight." "What do you mean?" "You must be joking, little Nora." "You refuse!" "Am I not your husband?" "What are you doing?" "I'm emptying the letter box." "It's full up." "There won't be any room for newspaper tomorrow." "Are you going to work?" "You know I'm not." "Helene, turn that lamp off." "The way things pile up!" "What's that?" "The letter?" "2 visiting cards from Rank." "The Doctor?" ""Doctor medicinae Rank."" "Any message?" "Above his name, a black cross." "Look!" "What weird idea!" "As if he was announcing his own death." "So he is." "What?" "Do you know something?" "Did he tell you?" "The cards mean he has said goodbye." "He's locking himself up to die." "He's crawling away like a wounded animal." "It's best done without words." "With his suffering and loneliness he formed a gloomy background to our happiness." "Now we're thrown on our own resources." "I feel as if I couldn't hold you tight enough." "You know, Nora, sometimes I wish you might be in very great danger, so I could rick my life and everything foy you." "Now you should read your mail, Torvald." "All right!" "Never see him again!" "Never see the children!" "Not even them!" "The ice cold black water!" "The gloomy depths." "Now he's got the letter." "Now he's reading it." "Do you know what's in this letter?" "Yes, I know." "Whare are you going?" "You mustn't save me." "So it's true what he writes?" "No, no, it can't be." "it must be imposible." "Yes, it's true." "I loved you more than anything." "Don't give me those stupid excuses." "You mustn't take the blame yourself." "Quit play acting!" "Do you know what you've done?" "Answer me!" "Do you know?" "Now I begin to see the whole thing." "A hypocrite, a liar!" "Worse, a criminal!" "How wretched it all is!" "I might have thought something like this would happen." "I should have foreseen it." "Your father's irresponsible ways..." "No religion, no morality, no sense of duty!" "I'm well punished for having been lenient with him." "For your sake - and this is how you repay me!" "This way!" "You've ruined my life, wrecked my future." "I'm in the power of a ruthless man." "He can do what he likes, demand anything of me." "Can command me, order me about." "I daren't open my mouth." "All because of an irresponsible wife!" "When I leave this world, you will be free." "Your father always came up with such talk." "What good would that do me?" "People would think I'd incited you." "Do you realize now what you've done to me?" "Yes." "This has to be covered up, no matter what." "As for you and me, it has to look as if everything was normal." "But only in other people's eyes." "You remain here, of course." "But I can't allow you to bring up the children anymore." "It's not our happiness that counts." "What counts is keeping up appearances." "What's that?" "So late at night?" "Hide!" "Say you're ill." "A letter for Mrs. Helmer." "From him!" "You shan't have it." "I must know what he writes." "Nora, I am saved!" "I am saved." "And me?" "You, too." "We're both saved." "Look!" "He's sent the promissory note." "He writes he's sorry, and his life has taken a happy turning." "It doesn't matter what he writes." "We are saved." "No one can do a thing to you." "Oh, Nora, Nora!" "But first this must disappear." "I'll look upon this affair as just a bad dream." "He wrote that since Christmas you have..." "These days must have been terrible for you." "Yes, in these 3 days I have fought a hard battle." "And you were stricken with fear and saw no other way out but ..." "Let's forget about it." "Let's celebrate." "It's all over!" "It's all over!" "You don't seem to grasp it." "It's over and done with." "What's the matter?" "That frozen expression!" "You can't believe I have forgiven you." "I swear I have forgiven you everything." "What you did was for love of me." "Yes, that's true." "You loved me as a woman should love her husband you just chose the wrong means." "I don't love you any less for acting on your own." "Lean upon me, I am your counsellor and guide." "Forget the hash words that escaped my lips." "I have forgiven you, I swear I have forgiven you." "I thamk you for you forgiveness." "Stay here." "What do you want in there?" "To take my costume off." "Do that." "And see that you calm down and regain your balance somewhat." "How nice and cosy our home is." "There's something so satisfying and sweet for a man when he knows he has forgiven his wife." "It sort of puts her doubly in his possession." "You're not going to bed?" "You've changed your clothes?" "I shan't be sleeping tonight." "But..." "It isn't very late." "Sit down." "We two have a lot to talk over." "What do you mean?" "Sit down." "This will take time." "I have a lot to discuss with you." "You frighten me." "I don't understand you." "That's just it." "You don't understand me " "I never understood you, either, till tonight." "No, don't interrupt." "I want you to listen to what I say." "How do you mean?" "Don't you notice anything about us sitting here?" "What should I notice?" "Don't you notice it's the first time we ever talked seriously - as man and wife?" "Seriously?" "How do you mean?" "For fully 8 years." "No, longer!" "From the firts time we met, we never spoke seriously about serious matters." "Should I have to you with my worries," "Which you couldn't relieve me of?" "I'm not talking about worries." "You have never understood me." "A lot of harm has been done to me." "By Father and by you." "What?" "By both of us?" "You never loved me." "You both thought it delightful to be in love with me." "How can you say such a thing, Nora?" "It's true." "When I was still with my father" "I had to share his opinions." "When I came into your house ..." "What an expression for a marriage!" "I mean I passed from his possession into your." "I adopted your tastes." "Or pretended I did" "I'm not quite sure." "I think a bit of both" "If you ask me, I've led a miserable life." "From hand to mouth." "I lived on pretending to you." "But that's how you wanted it." "Father and you - you are to blame that I amounted to nothing." "You're ungrateful." "You were happy here." "No, just entertained." "You were always nice to me." "I found it amusing when you played with me." "Just like the children liked me playing with them." "That was our marriage." "There's some truth in it, exaggerated as it may sound" "But now things have to change." "The time for playing is over." "Now is the time for education." "Whose education?" "Mine or the children's?" "Yours and the children's." "Oh, you're man to educate me into being a woman, the kind you need." "You say that?" "And me - am I mature enough to bring up children?" "You said yourself you couldn't let me bring them up." "I was overwrought." "You were right." "I am not up to bringing up children." "I have to bring up myself." "And you're not the man to help me in this." "I have to do the whole thing alone." "That's why I'm leaving you." "I won't allow it" "There's no sense in forbidding me anything." "I'll take what belongs to me." "I want nothing of yours, neither now or later." "This is sheer madness!" "I'm leaving tomorrow." "You don't care what people may say?" "I know what I have to do." "This is intolerable!" "Can you forget your duties like this?" "I have duties towards myself, and nobody else." "I'm your husband, you're the mother of my children." "I know most people will say you are right." "I can't bother about what people say." "I have to think things over and see my way clearly." "That's what religion is for." "I don't even know what religion means." "But you must have some idea of morality?" "Or perhaps you haven't?" "Answer me!" "It's hard to answer." "I really don't know." "I can't see such things clearly." "All I know is I see them differently from you." "I also hear that laws are different from what I thought." "You're talking like a child." "You don't understand the society you live in." "No, that's true." "I don't understand it." "I have to find out which of us is right." "Society or me!" "You're sick!" "I've never been so sure of anything as now." "You're leaving your husband and children deliberately?" "Yes, I am." "There's only one explanation." "What?" "You don't love me anymore." "No!" "That's just it!" "Just like that?" "It hurts." "You're always been good to me." "But I can't change things." "I don't love you anymore." "Can you tell me what made you stop loving me?" "You're not the man I took you for." "When Krogstad's letter was in the mail-box." "I never thought you would give in to his demands." "I was convinced you would tell him:" "Tell the whole world, and then..." "What then?" "What if I'd exposed my wife to the world's opprobrium and shame?" "Then - and this what I firmly believed - you would have faced the world and said:" "I am the guilty one." "But ..." "I'd never have accepted that sacrifice, and would have departed from this world." "No one sacrifices his honour for the one he loves." "You think and talk like an unruly child." "I lived for 8 years with a stranger." "and had 3 children by a stranger." "An abyss has opened between us." "Can't it be bridged?" "I have the strength to change myself." "Perhaps." "I cannot be parted from you." "The more need for it then." "Wait till tomorrow." "I cannot sped the night in the home of a stranger." "Farewell, Torvald." "I don't know what will become of me." "You are my wife, Nora, now and forever." "I absolve you of your ties." "Here is your ring back." "Give me mine." "There." "So now it is all over." "I¡ll leave the key here." "The maids know how to run things better then me." "Tomorrow Kristine will come to pack my things." "They are to be sent on." "Can I help you if you need anything?" "I can't accept help from strangers." "We would both have to change, so that ..." "Change, so that ..." "Nora!"