"A DOLL'S HOUSE" "Hide the Christmas tree properly, Helene." "The children mustn't see it until tonight when it's decorated." " How much?" " Half a krone." "Here's one krone." "Keep the change." "Is that my skylark twittering?" "When did my little squirrel come home?" "Just now." "Come here, Torvald." "See what I've bought." "All that?" "Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?" "Surely we can spend a little." "Our first Christmas without having to save." " We mustn't waste money." " Just a teeny bit." "Now you'll get a big salary and earn lots and lots of money." " Not until New Year's Day." " We can borrow until then." "Nora!" "Aren't you being irresponsible again?" "Suppose I borrowed 1000 kroner which you spent for Christmas  and on New Year's Eve a roof tile fell on my head." "What then?" "If something so awful happened I wouldn't care if I was in debt." " And the people I'd borrowed from?" " Who cares about strangers?" "You know my views:" "Never borrow money." "A home that's built on debt is somehow fettered, even ugly." "We will manage the short time that it's still necessary." "If you say so, Torvald." "Now, now!" "My little songbird mustn't droop its wings." "Is my little squirrel sulking?" "What do you think I have here?" "Money!" "I know that Christmas costs a lot of money." " Thank you." "It helps a lot." " I should certainly think so." "Come here, Torvald." "See what I have bought." "New clothes for Ivar." "And a sabre." "A horse and a trumpet for Bob." "A doll and a doll's bed for Emmy." "It's cheap, but she'll soon smash it to pieces anyway." "Dress material and kerchiefs for the maids." " And this parcel?" " You can't see that till tonight." "My little prodigal, what do you want for yourself?" " I don't want anything." " Nonsense!" "Something, within reason." "I really don't know." "Unless..." "Torvald?" "You could... well..." "You could give me money!" "No more than you can spare." "I'll wrap it in gold paper and hang it on the Christmas tree." "What do you call birds that make money just fly away?" "Ducks-and-drakes..." "But let's do what I suggest." "Yes, if you really bought something for yourself." "But it'll turn into housekeeping money, and I have to pay out again." "It's a sweet songbird, but it spends a lot of money." "I save as much as I can!" "Yes, "as much you can"." "But you can't!" "If you only knew what expenses we skylarks and squirrels have." "You're a funny little one." "Just like your father." "Money seems to slip through your fingers." "We must take you as you are." "It's in your blood." "I wish I'd inherited more of papa's good qualities." "I wouldn't want you any different from what you are, my sweet..." "But you look like..." "you've something to hide." "Look into my eyes." "Did your sweet tooth indulge itself in town today?" "Not a trip to the confectioner's?" "A macaroon?" " No." " I was only joking, you know," " I won't do things you don't like." " No, you've given me your word." "Keep you Christmas secrets." "They'll be revealed this evening." " Did you invite Dr. Rank?" " No need to." "It is understood that he will dine with us." "I've ordered an excellent wine." "I'm really looking forward to tonight!" "So am I. The children will enjoy it." "It feels good to have safe employment and ample means." "Wonderful." "Last Christmas you shut yourself up till midnight for three weeks   making flowers for the tree you wanted to surprise us with." " The most boring time I've ever had!" " I wasn't the least bit bored." "You didn't have much to show for it!" "You know the cat got in and tore everything to shreds." "Poor Nora!" "You did your best to please us." "I'm glad the hard times are over." "I don't need to be bored by myself   and you need not tire your eyes and your lovely hands." "No, there's no need for that now." "It's wonderful to hear that." "I'll tell you how I think we should arrange things..." " Someone's coming." " I'm not home to visitors." " There's a lady to see you." " Show her in." " And Dr. Rank's here, too." " He went straight to my study?" "How do you do, Nora?" "You don't seem to remember me." "I'm afraid..." "Kristine!" "Is it really you?" "To think I didn't recognize you!" "You've changed, you know." "I suppose I have." "Ten long years..." "Has it been that long?" "The last eight years have been such a happy time." "And now you're back in town?" "I arrived by boat this morning." "In time to enjoy Christmas, of course." "We will have a good time!" "We'll sit here by the stove." "No, in the armchair." "I'll sit in the rocking chair." "Now you look like yourself again." "You're a little paler, and a little thinner, perhaps." " And much older, Nora." " Maybe a little older." "Not much." "How thoughtless of me!" "Dear Kristine, can you ever forgive me?" " You're a widow now." " Yes, three years ago." "I saw it in the papers." "I meant to write to you, but something always came up." " I do understand." " No, it was beastly of me." "What you must have gone through!" "He left you nothing to live on?" "And no children?" "Not even a feeling of grief or loss to keep me going." " How is that possible?" " These things happen sometimes." "Completely alone..." "That must be very hard on you." "Today I will only think about your affairs." "By the way, we've had a stroke of luck!" "My husband's been made Manager of the Savings Bank!" "A solicitor's life is uncertain at times." "Especially when he turns down cases that aren't wholly respectable." "He'll start after New Year's." "I'm so looking forward to it." "He'll have a good salary and commissions." "I feel so carefree and happy." "It's wonderful to have lots of money." "It must be good to have enough." " No, lots and lots of money!" " Haven't you learned sense yet?" "Even at school you were an awful spendthrift." "Torvald says I still am." "But Nora isn't as impractical as you think." " We both had to work." " You, too?" "Nothing big." "Crafts, crochet, embroidering." "And other things." "Torvald left his government position when we married." "He had to make more money than before." "But he worked far too hard." "From morning till night." "He couldn't take it and got very ill." "The doctors said he had to go to the south." "You spent a year in Italy?" "It wasn't easy to manage." "It was just after Ivar was born." "But we had to leave." "A wonderful trip." "And it saved Torvald's life." " It cost a lot of money." " I'm sure." "4800 krones." " You were lucky to have it." " We got it from papa." "Didn't your father die just about then?" "Yes." "And just think, I couldn't go and nurse him." "I was expecting Ivar and had to look after Torvald who was very ill." "Dear, kind papa..." "I never saw him again." " So you went to Italy?" " Yes." "By then we had the money." " And your husband was cured?" " Fit as a fiddle!" "But the maid said the doctor arrived the same time I did?" "Dr. Rank, our closest friend." "He comes every day." "Torvald has never been ill since." "The children are strong and healthy." "So am I." "It's wonderful to be alive and happy." "How dreadful of me!" "I've just been talking about myself." "Don't be angry with me." "Is it true that you didn't love your husband?" "Why did you marry him, then?" "Mother was bedridden and helpless." "I had two younger brothers." "I just couldn't refuse his offer." "I suppose not." "And he was rich at that time?" "Quite well off, I believe." "But his business wasn't sound." "When he died, there was nothing left." "I had to struggle along." "A small shop, teaching and things that came along." "The last three years I never stopped working." "But now it's over." "Mother has passed away." "The boys can support themselves." " How relieved you must feel." " No, empty." "I have no one to live for." "I couldn't stand the place any longer." "Here it must be easier to fi nd something to occupy my mind." "If I could find something permanent." "Office work..." "That's very tiring." "And you look worn out." "It would be better to go to a bath." " I have no father to pay my way!" " Don't be angry!" "Don't be angry with me." "In my situation you feel bitter." "There's no one to work for." "Still, one must always be on the alert." "When you told me about your good fortune " " I was less pleased for your sake than for my own." "You think that Torvald could help you?" "So he shall!" " I'd really like to help you." " How kind of you." "Especially since you know so little of life's hardships." "A little needlework?" "You're still a child." "Don't be so superior!" "None of you think I could do anything worthwhile!" "You think I've had an easy life." "But you've told me about your troubles." "They were nothing." "I haven't told you about the important thing." "What important thing?" "You dismiss me." "You shouldn't do that." "You're proud that you worked so hard for your mother." "I'm proud that I was able to make mother's last days much easier." " And proud of helping your brothers." " And rightly so!" "Listen, Kristine." "I have something that I'm proud of, too." "Speak softly." "What if Torvald heard you!" "No one must know but you." " What are you talking about?" " It was I who saved Torvald's life." "Torvald wouldn't have lived if he hadn't gone to Italy." " Your father gave you the money." " Torvald and everyone think so." "Papa didn't give us a shilling." "I raised the money. 4800 kroner!" " Did you win the lottery?" " The lottery?" " That would be no accomplishment!" " How did you raise it?" " Surely you didn't borrow it?" " Why not?" "A wife can't borrow without her husband's consent." "A wife with a flair for business, who is astute about it..." "I don't understand." "No need to." "And I haven't said I actually borrowed the money." "I could have come by it in other ways." "From an admirer." "When one is as attractive as I am..." "You're insane!" "You're dying of curiosity!" "Nora, you haven't done anything rash, I hope." "Is it rash to save your husband's life?" " Without his knowing..." " He didn't know how ill he was!" "The doctors told me nothing could save his life but a trip to the south." ""Well," I thought. "I will save you." And I found a way." "Didn't your father tell him that the money didn't come from him?" "No, that was just when papa was dying." "I meant to ask him not to give me away, but he was so ill..." "And you never told your husband?" "Good heavens, no!" "He's very strict in such matters." "And Torvald is a very proud man." "How humiliating for him to know   what he owed me." "That would spoil our relationship." "Won't you ever tell him?" "Some day, maybe." "When I'm not as pretty any more." "When he doesn't love me as much as he does now." "When he's no longer amused by my dancing for him and dressing up..." "Then I'd like to have something up my sleeve." "Nonsense." "That time will never come." "What about my great secret?" "Am I still of no use?" "But the matter has been a great worry to me." "It hasn't been easy to meet my obligations punctually." "There's something called "interest" and "payment on the principal"." "They're hard to meet." "How I've had to save!" "I couldn't touch the housekeeping money." "Torvald had to live well, and the children couldn't look shabby." "So it was your own needs that suffered, then?" "Yes, but it was the only way." "When Torvald gave me money for dresses, I only spent half of it." "Thank goodness Torvald never noticed." "Anything looks good on me." " It's lovely to be nicely dressed." " Yes, indeed." "I've had other sources of income, too." "Last year I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do." "Every evening I locked myself in till late at night." "I was so very tired." "But I really enjoyed working and earning money." "It was almost like being... a man." "How much have you been able to pay off, Nora?" "I'm not so sure exactly." "It's difficult to keep track of it." "But I've paid every penny I've been able to scape together." "At times I've been at my wits' end." "Then I'd dream that a rich old gentleman fell in love with me." "And now he was dead, and his will said explicitly:" ""All my money shall be paid out to the lovely Mrs. Nora Helmer."" "What gentleman was that?" "Don't you see?" "The old gentleman doesn't exist." "It was just something I would imagine when I didn't know how to raise money." "But now he can stay where he is, my troubles are over." "It's lovely to think of." "Imagine having no worries at all!" "To be able to play with the children..." "To have lovely things in the house, the way Torvald likes it." "Soon spring will be here with its grand blue air." "Maybe we can go away." "Perhaps I'll see the sea again." "Isn't it wonderful to be alive and happy?" " Maybe I'd better go." " No, it'll be someone for Torvald." " Someone to see the solicitor." " The Bank Manager, you mean." "Yes, the Bank Manager." "But since the Doctor is in there..." " Who is it?" " It's me, Mrs. Helmer." "You..?" "What do you want to see my husband about?" "Bank business." "I have a small post at the Savings Bank   and you husband will be our new manager." " So it's only..." " Just dull business." "Nothing else." "Please go into his study." " Who was that?" " A lawyer named Krogstad." " It was really him..." " Do you know that person?" "He once worked in a lawyer's office back home." "How he has changed!" "His marriage was very unhappy, I hear." " And now he's a widower?" " With lots of children." "He's involved in all sorts of business, they say." "Maybe." "I really don't know." "But let's not talk about a dull subject like business." "I'm so sorry." "I seem to be intruding here, too." "Not at all." "Dr. Rank." "Mrs. Linde." "A name I often hear in this house." "Didn't I pass you on the stairs?" "Yes, I have to take stairs very slowly." " Maybe some internal disrepair?" " Only overwork, I assume." "And you've come to town to rest up, at all the parties?" " I'm looking for work." " As a remedy for overwork?" " One must live." " Yes, that's the general sentiment." "You want to live, too, don't you?" "Yes, indeed." "I want to prolong the agony as along as I can." "All my patients feel the same way." "The morally infirm, too." "There's a moral patient with Helmer right now." "Krogstad, a lawyer." "You don't know him." "His moral character is diseased." "But even he said, as if it's important, that one has to live." "What did he want to see Torvald about?" "Something to do with the bank." "I didn't know Krog... this lawyer had anything to do with the bank." "Yes, he has been given a post there." "Maybe you've seen in your area people who scurry about   sniffing out for moral corruption and have that person committed   for observation in a good job?" "Healthy people are left in the cold." "It's the sick people who need care." "It's those ideas that turn society into a hospital." "Why do you laugh?" "Do you know what society is?" "What do I care for your dull society?" "I was laughing at something else, something very funny." "All employees at the bank are in Torvald's power, isn't that so?" " And that is funny?" " To me it is." "It is very funny to think that we  that Torvald has so much power over so many people." " Won't you have a macaroon?" " I thought they were banned here." " Kristine gave me these." " I did?" "How would you know that Torvald has forbidden them?" "He's afraid I'll spoil my teeth." "Just this once." "You too, Kristine." "I'll have you too." "A small one." "Or two at the most." "Now I'm really happy." "There's only one thing that I want to do so badly." "There's something I want to say in Torvald's hearing." " Why can't you say it?" " I dare not." "It's very bad." "Then don't." "But how about saying it to us instead of Helmer?" "I really want to say:" " "Damn it to hell!"" " Are you insane?" "Say it." "Here he is." " Dear Torvald, you got rid of him?" " Yes, he left." "This is Kristine who has come to town." " Kristine?" "I don't recall..." " Mrs. Linde, Torvald." " A childhood friend of my wife's?" " Yes, we used to know each other." "Imagine, she has come all this way just to see you." " How so?" " Well, not solely..." "She now wants to work for a very able man and learn from him." "Very sensible." "When she heard that you're a bank manager, she came immediately." "To please me, Torvald, you'll help Kristine, won't you?" "Not impossible." "You're a widow?" "And you have office experience?" "The it's very likely that I shall be able to find you employment." " I don't know how to thank you." " No need." "But please excuse me." " Don't be long, dear." " No more than an hour." " Are you leaving, too?" " Yes, I have to find lodging." "Maybe we can walk down the street together." "You'll be back this evening, won't you?" " You too, Dr. Rank." " I don't know if I'm up to it." "You'll be fine." "Just wrap up well." " Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer." " What do you want?" "The front door was ajar." "My husband is not at home, Mr. Krogstad." " I know." " Then why are you here?" " Have a word with you." " You want a word with me?" " It's not the first of the month yet." " No, it's Christmas Eve." "It's up to you to have a happy Christmas or not." "What do you want?" "I can't manage today." "This is about another matter." "Can you spare a moment?" " Of course, but..." " Good." "I saw your husband walk down the street." "With a lady." "Wasn't that Mrs. Linde?" "Just arrived in town?" "She's a good friend of yours?" "I knew her once, too." " I know." " So you did know?" "I thought so." "Let me ask you:" "Will Mrs. Linde work at the Savings Bank?" "How dare you interrogate me, Mr. Krogstad?" "You, one of my husband's subordinates?" "But yes, she will work there." "I recommended her." "Now you know." "Yes, just as I thought." "Even though one's a woman, one still has a little influence, you know." "In a subordinate position, you should that care not to offend those..." " ... those with influence?" " Precisely." "Would you be kind enough to use your influence on my behalf?" "I mean, see to it that I keep my subordinate position at the bank?" "Who is trying to take your position away?" "No need to pretend." "It won't be pleasant for your friend to keep running into me." "And I know whom to thank for my dismissal." "There is still time!" "Use your influence to prevent it." "But I have no influence!" "Not like that!" "How do you think I could influence him in such matters?" "I don't believe our Bank Manager is less tractable than other husbands." "If you speak disrespectfully of my husband, I'll show you the door!" "I'm not afraid of you." "After New Year's I'll be free." "If need be, I'll fight desperately to keep my little job at the bank." " So it would seem!" " It's not the money." "Something else." "It's..." "You know of course that a few years ago " " I committed an indiscretion." "It was never taken to court, but afterwards all doors seemed closed." "Then I started in the business you know about." "I need to give it up." "My sons are growing up." "I need to regain a respectable position in society." "The position at the bank was the first step for me." "Now your husband intends to kick me off the ladder." " I really am powerless to help you." " You don't want to!" "But I have ways of forcing you." "You won't tell my husband that I owe you money, will you?" "Suppose I told him?" "That would be a shameful thing to do." "To think that my splendid secret would be revealed in such a  such an ugly and crass way, by you!" "It would be terribly unpleasant!" "Only unpleasant?" "Go ahead!" "But then my husband will see what a scoundrel you are!" "Only domestic unpleasantness?" "My husband will pay what I owe, and that's the end of it." "Mrs. Helmer, either your memory fails you   or you're ignorant about business." "I'll enlighten you." "When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow 4800 krones." "I promised to raise the money on certain conditions." "You were probably too worried to pay attention to the details." " I drew up a promissory note." " Which I signed." "But I added a few lines making your father security for the money." " Your father was to sign this clause." " But he did sign!" "You were to send this note to your father." "In a few days, his signature came, and I handed you the money." " Haven't I kept up my payments?" " Fairly regularly." "No matter." "This must have been a trying time for you." "Your father was very ill." "And he died soon afterwards." "Do you recall which day your father died?" "The date, I mean." " Papa died on September 29th." " Correct." "I've had it confirmed." " Which brings up a strange matter." " Which strange matter..?" "This curious fact:" "Your father signed this note three days after he died." "Your father died on September 29th." "His signature is dated October 2nd." "Isn't that curious?" "Can you explain it?" "Also, it's odd that the date is not written in your father's handwriting." "Rather, in a handwriting I think I know." "Maybe your father forgot to add the date and someone else did." "Nothing wrong in that." "It's the signature that matters." "It really was your father who wrote his name here?" "No!" "It was I who wrote papa's name." " A dangerous admission." " Why?" "You'll have your money soon." "May I ask why you didn't send your father the note." "He was ill." "I couldn't tell him my husband's life was in danger." "You should have dropped your trip!" "It was to save my husband's life." "It didn't occur to you that this was fraud against me?" "I couldn't worry about that!" "And I couldn't stand you, making so many difficulties for me!" "Mrs. Helmer, you obviously have no idea what you are guilty of." "What I did to ruin my respectability was nothing worse than this." "You mean you did something brave to save your wife's life?" " The laws don't ask why." " Then they must be very bad laws!" "If I produce this paper in court, these laws will convict you." "I simply don't believe it." "Has a daughter no right to protect her dying father from worry?" "Has a wife no right to save her husband's life?" "I'm quite certain that some law somewhere must allow such things" "And you don't about that?" "You must be an incapable lawyer." "Maybe so." "But I do understand the kind of business we've had together." "Do as you please." "If I am shunned for a second time, you will keep me company!" " Where are the children, Anne-Marie?" " Out sledding." "There's hot coffee on the stove." "Helene!" "Bring me the tree." " Where shall I put it, Madam?" " In the middle of the room." " Anything else you need?" " No thanks." "I have what I need." "Back so soon?" "Has anyone been here?" "No." "That's odd." "I saw Krogstad leave by the gate." "Oh..?" "Yes, that's true." "Krogstad stopped by for a minute." "I see it in your face." "He begged you to put in a good word for him." "And make it look like it was your own idea." "And you weren't supposed to say that he was here?" "How could you engage in giving promises to a man like that?" "And even telling me a lie!" "Didn't you say no one had been here?" "Never again." "A songbird must have a clear voice, no false notes." "Correct?" "Let's say no more about it." "This is a nice and comfortable place." "I'm so looking forward to the fancy-dress party." "And I'm very curious to see what you'll surprise me with." "That silly idea..." "I can't think of a costume." "Everything seems so pointless." "So little Nora has realized that?" "Are you very busy, Torvald?" " What are those papers?" " Bank business." "I have the authority to make changes in the staff   and the business plan." "I have to spend Christmas week on it." "So that's why this poor Krogstad..." "If you hadn't been so busy, I'd have asked you a big favor." " Tell me." " Nobody has better taste than you." "I want to look good at the party." "Won't you take care of me, decide what my costume should look like..." "So my little wilful one is looking for a rescuer?" "I'm stuck without your help." "Good!" "We'll think of something." "You are nice!" "Was it really bad, what this Krogstad did?" "Forged a signature." "Do you know what that means?" " Maybe it was a desperate situation." " Or maybe it was folly." "I'm not pitiless enough to condemn outright a man for a single slip." "One redeems oneself by admitting one's guilt and taking one's punishment." "Krogstad didn't." "He used tricks and cunning." "And that corrupted him." "Imagine how a guilty man has to lie and live the life of a hypocrite." "Wearing a mask with those close him, even with his wife and children." "And the children, that's the most terrible part." "An atmosphere of lies poisons life in the home." "Every breath the children take is infected with germs of evil." " Are you certain?" " Yes." "As a lawyer I've seen it often." "People depraved early in life have all had lying mothers." "Why only the mothers?" "Well, generally the mother is the cause." "A father can have the same effect, as any lawyer knows full well." "Nevetheless, Krogstad has poisoned his children with lies and deceit." "Therefore I call him morally depraved." "Little Nora must promise not to plead his cause." "Let's shake hands on it." "That's settled then." "I can't work with him." "I feel physically ill in the presence of such people." "How hot this room is!" "And I have so much to do." "I'd better read through this." "And I'll think about your costume, too." "And I have something in gold paper to hang on the tree." "My darling little songbird!" "The children want to come in and be with their mother." "No, don't let them in here!" "You stay with them." "I finally found the box with the costume." "It seems to be in a terrible state." " I want to tear it to pieces!" " It's easily fixed." "It needs patience." "I'll ask Mrs. Linde to help me." "Out again, in this terrible weather?" "You'll catch a cold, Miss Nora." "There are worse things!" "How are the children?" "The poor darlings are playing with their presents, but..." " Do they ask for me?" " Yes, they're always with their mama." "I can't be with them as often as I used to." " Children will get used to anything." " Do you think so?" "Would they forget me if I went away altogether?" "Away altogether?" "How did you have the heart to give your child to strangers?" "I had to." "Or I couldn't nurse my little Nora." "How could you want to?" "With a good position like this?" "A poor girl in the family way would be glad to." "And the man didn't help." "But your daughter has forgotten you?" "No, she wrote to me when she was confirmed and when she married." " You were a good mother to me." " Little Nora had no other mother." "If my children had no one else I know you would..." "Oh, such nonsense!" "Go to them." "Tomorrow you'll see how pretty I'll look." "There'll be no one as lovely as you, Miss Nora." "Oh, it's you, Kristine." " There's no one else out there?" " No." " Good of you to come." " I hear you've been to see me." "I happened to pass by." "There's something I need your help with." "The Stenborgs upstairs are having a fancy-dress ball tomorrow." "Torvald wants me as a Neopolitan fisher girl and dance the tarantella." " So you'll give a performance?" " Torvald says that I should." "Here's the dress, but it's so torn now..." "The trimming just needs fastening here and there." "Needle and thread?" "This is kind of you." "So you'll be dressed up tomorrow?" "I'll come by to see you in your finery." "I've forgotten to thank you for a lovely evening yesterday." "Yesterday was not as nice as usual." "You know, Torvald knows how to make a house nice and comfortable." "So do you!" "Or you wouldn't be your father's daughter." "Tell me, is Dr. Rank always as depressed as last night?" "No, yesterday was out of the ordinary." "He's very ill, poor man." "Consumption of the spine." "His father was a horrible man who had mistresses." " So his son has always been delicate." " How so you know about such things?" "When you have three children you're visited by women with  with medical knowledge." "They tell you about these things." " Does Dr. Rank come here every day?" " Yes." "He is Torvald's good friend from childhood." "He's my good friend, too." "He's almost part of the family." "Is he really sincere?" "Or does he like to say things to please people?" "On the contrary." "How so?" "When we met, he said he had often heard my name." "But your husband had no idea who I was." "How could Dr. Rank..?" "Torvald is so fond of me that he wants me all to himself." "As he puts it." "At first he got jealous if I even mentioned people back home." "So of course I gave it up." "But with Dr. Rank I often talk about them." "He likes to listen." "In many ways you're still a child." "I'm older and have more experience." " You should stop this with Dr. Rank!" " What should I stop?" " You mentioned a rich admirer..." " Who doesn't exist, worse luck." " Is Dr. Rank rich?" " Yes, he is." "With no one to support?" "And he comes here every day?" "How could such a fine man be so tactless?" "Don't pretend." "I know whom you borrowed the money from!" "Have you gone mad?" "A friend who comes here every day?" "How embarassing!" " So it wasn't him?" " No, I assure you." "And he had no money then." "He inherited it later." "That was lucky for you." "I wouldn't dream of it!" "But if I were to ask him..." " But you won't." " No." "I must resolve this other thing!" "A man can easily straighten it out." " One's own husband!" " Nonsense!" "After you've paid, you get the promissory note back?" "And you can tear it up and burn the filthy thing!" "You're hiding something from me." " Can you see it on me?" " What has happened, Nora?" "Torvald's here." "Sit with the children." "He doesn't like to see sewing." "I'm not leaving until we've talked this through." "I've been longing for you to come back, dear Torvald." " Was that the dressmaker?" " It was Kristine." "She's helping me mend my costume." " I'll look just grand!" " That was a splendid idea I had." "Isn't it nice of me to do as you said?" "Nice, to do as your husband said?" "I know you didn't mean it like that." " I suppose you want to try it on." " And you got work to do?" "Yes, I've been to the bank." "If your little squirrel were to ask you nicely for something..." " Would you do it?" " First I must know what it is." "The squirrel would do all her tricks..." " Your skylark would sing prettily." " My skylark does than anyway." "I'll be a fairy and dance for you in the moonlight." " The matter from this morning?" " I do beg you!" "And you dare bring it up again?" "You must let Krogstad keep his job at the bank!" "It's his place I'm giving to Mrs. Linde." "But you could dismiss another clerk instead of Krogstad." "You're being extremely wilful!" " Just because you promised him..." " No, it's for your own sake, Torvald." "This person writes in the most vulgar newspapers." "He can do you so much harm!" "I'm so frightened..." "It's the old memories that scare you." "You're thinking of your father." "Yes!" "Remember how evil people slandered him in the papers." "He'd have been dismissed, if the Ministry hadn't sent you to look into it." "There's a difference between him and me." "He was no unimpeachable official, but I am." "And I'll stay that way." "There's no limit to the harm evil people can cause." "We could live so happily here in our comfortable home." "With the children." "By pleading for him you make it impossible for me to keep him!" "In the bank they know that I'm dismissing Krogstad." "Suppose people heard that the new manager was swayed by his wife..." " Would it matter?" " No, not as long as you got you way!" "I should be the laughing stock of the staff!" "Influenced by outsiders..." "I'd soon face the consequences." "As his superior, one matter makes it impossible to keep him at the bank." "His moral failings I could overlook." "And he is good at his work, they say." "But I knew him when we were young." "One of the unfortunate friendships one often regrets later in life." "I'll tell you frankly:" "We're on informal terms with each other." "This tactless person doesn't hide it when others are present." "He thinks he has the right to be familiar with me." "It's very unpleasant!" "He'll make my position intolerable." "Torvald, you can't mean this?" "Why not?" " It's such a petty reason." " What do you mean?" " Do you think I'm petty?" " On the contrary." "And that's why..." "You said my reasons are petty, hence you think that I'm petty..." "We'll put an end to this right now." "Helene!" " What are you doing?" " Settling things." "Take this letter." "Find a messenger and have it delivered at once." "There, my little stubborn one." " What was that letter?" " Krogstad's dismissal." "Call it back, Torvald!" "For my sake, for your sake, for the children's sake!" "Too late." "I forgive you your anxiety for me." "Even though it is an insult to me  to believe I should be afraid of a poor scribbler's revenge!" "But I forgive you." "It is proof of your great love for me." "It's right and proper, my darling Nora." "Come what may, " " I have courage and strength." "I'm man enough to take it on myself." " What do you mean?" " Everything, I tell you." "You shall never have to do that." "Then let's share it, Nora." "As husband and wife." "Happy now?" "Don't look like a frightened dove." "Play the tarantella, with the tambourine." "In my office I won't hear a thing." "When Rank comes, tell him where to find me." "Good afternoon, Dr. Rank." "I recognized your ring." "Don't disturb Torvald just yet." "I think he has some work to do." "And you?" " For you I always have time." " Thank you." "I shall take advantage of it as long as I can." "What do you mean?" "As long as you can?" "Does it alarm you?" "No, it was just an odd expression." "Is anything going to happen?" "Yes, what I've been expecting for a long time." "But not quite this soon." "What have you heard?" "Dr. Rank, please tell me." "I'm going downhill fast." "Nothing can stop it." " So it's you..?" " Who else?" "You can't lie to yourself." "I'm the most miserable of all my patients." "I have audited my entire internal status." "Bankruptcy!" "Within a month I'll probably be rotting in the churchyard." " What a horrible thing to say." " The thing itself is damned horrible." "There's one more test left." "Then I'll know when the disintegration will begin." "There's something I want to say." "Helmer has an aversion to things that are ugly   so I won't see him by my sick-bed." "I don't want him there." "When I know the worst is coming, I'll send you my card with a black cross." "Then you'll know that the abominable decay has set in." "Today you're unreasonable." "Just when I wanted you in a good mood." "With death approaching?" "And having to pay for someone else's transgressions?" "Where's the justice?" "Cheer up now!" "It's really a laughing matter." "My innocent spine must pay for my father's merry days as an officer." "He was very fond of asparagus and foie gras?" " With truffles." " And oysters, I suppose." "Lots of oysters." "Accompanied by port and champagne." "Too bad that these delicacies should attack the spine." "Especially when the poor spine never had enjoyment from them." " Why did you smile?" " It was you who laughed." "No, it was you who smiled." "You're more of a rogue than I thought." "I'm in the mood for foolishness today." "Dear Dr. Rank, you mustn't die and leave Torvald and me." "You'll soon get over it." "Those who pass away are soon forgotten." "People make new acquaintances." " Who will?" " You and Helmer." "You've already started." "What was Mrs. Linde doing here last night?" " You're not jealous of poor Kristine?" " I am." "She'll take my place in this house." "When I'm gone, this woman..." " Not so loud!" "She's in there." " Today, too?" "Just to mend my costume." "My goodness, you're unreasonable." "Be nice, Dr. Rank." "Tomorrow you'll see how beautifully I dance." "Imagine that I'm doing just for you." "And for Torvald, of course." "Dr. Rank, sit here and I'll show you something." " Silk stockings?" " Flesh-colored." "Aren't they lovely?" "Now it's dark in here, but tomorrow..." "You must only look at the foot." "Oh well, you may see the rest, too." "Why so critical?" "Don't you think they'll fit?" "I couldn't possibly have an informed opinion." "Shame on you!" "Take that." "What other splendid sights are in store for me?" "I won't show you anything." "You're being naughty." "When I'm talking familiarly with you like this, I can't imagine   what would have become of me if I hadn't had this house to come to." " I think you feel at home with us." " And to have to leave it!" "Not even be able to leave behind a small token of gratitude." "Just an empty place to be filled by the next person to come along." "Suppose I asked you for  a great proof of your friendship, a terribly great favor." " I'd be very happy if you'd let me." " You don't know what it is." "I just can't." "It's something enormous." "Advice and help and a great favor." "All the better!" "I have no idea what you mean." "Please tell me." "Don't you trust me?" "Yes, more than anyone else." "You're my best and most faithful friend." "So I'll tell you." "Dr. Rank, there's something you must help me prevent." "You know how indescribably deep Torvald's love for me is." "He wouldn't hesitate for a moment to give his life for me." "Nora, do you think he is the only one?" "Who'd gladly give his life for you?" "I promised myself that you should know before I passed away." "Now you know." "You know that you can trust me, more than anyone else." "Helene, bring the lamp." "This was horrid of you." "That I've loved you deeply..." "was horrid?" "No, but to tell me." "There was no need for that." "Did you know?" "Nora..." "Mrs. Helmer..." "I ask you:" "Did you know?" "How can I say what I knew or didn't know." "I really couldn't say." "How could you be so clumsy, Dr. Rank?" "Everything was going so well..." "At least you know that I'm at your service, body and soul." "Please tell me." " After what you said?" " Tell me what it is." " I could never tell you anything now." " Please don't punish me like this." " Let me help you." " You can't help me now." "Besides, I don't really need any help." "It was just my imagination, I expect." "You're a fine one, Dr. Rank." "Aren't you ashamed, now that the lamp is here?" "Not really." "But perhaps I should leave now." "For good." "No, of course not." "You must come here as usual." " Torvald would miss you terribly" " And you?" "Things always get so pleasant when you arrive." "That's precisely what misled me." "Often it looked to me like   you'd rather be with me than with Helmer." "There are some people you love   and others that you'd rather be with." "There's something in that." "When I lived at home, I naturally loved papa best." "I always found it amusing to slip into the maids' room." "No one lectured me, and they always spoke about amusing things." "So they're the ones I replaced?" "Dear Dr. Rank, that's not what I meant." "With Torvald it is a lot like with papa..." "Something wrong?" "No, not at all." "It's just..." "just my new costume." " But your new dress is there?" " Yes, this is another one." "I've ordered it." " Torvald mustn't know." " So this is your big secret?" "Yes." "Please go in there." " Keep him there for a while." " Don't worry, he won't escape." "He's waiting in the kitchen?" " You told him someone's here?" " It was no good." "He won't leave until he's seen you, Madam." "All right, show him in." "But please don't tell anyone." " It's a surprise for my husband." " I see." " Speak softly." "My husband's home." " What of it?" " What do you want?" " To find out something." "You know that I've been dismissed?" "I couldn't help it." "I fought for you, but to no avail." "He can't love you very much." "He knows I can expose you." "He doesn't know about it." "No, it would not be like him to show so much courage." " I demand respect for my husband." " All the respect he deserves..." "By now you must know what you're actually guilty of?" " Better than you could teach me." " Yes, I'm such an incapable lawyer." "What is it you want?" "See how things are with you." "I've thought about you all day." "A cashier, a scribbler like me also has a touch of compassion." "Then think about my children!" "Did you and your husband think about mine?" "Well, that neither her nor there." "I want to tell you that you needn't take this matter too seriously." "I do not intend to take it to court." " No, I knew it!" " It can be settled amicably." "It will stay between the three of us." " My husband must never know!" " Can you pay the rest of the debt?" " Do you have a way to raise the money?" " No way I would use." "It wouldn't help." "If you had cash now, you wouldn't get the note." "What will you do with it?" "Keep it." "Have it in my possession." "If you plan on doing something desperate..." " I do." " Like running away from home." " Or doing what is even worse..." " How did you know?" "Then give up such ideas." "How did you know I'm considering that?" "Most of us consider it at first." "I thought about it, too, but I didn't have the courage." " Nor did I." " No, you haven't the courage either." "No, I haven't..." "It would be pointless." "After the first domestic storm is over..." "I have a letter for your husband." "I tell him everything in gentle terms." "He mustn't see it." "Tear it up." "I'll get the money." "Not the money I owe!" "How much do you demand from him?" "I demand no money from him!" "I'll tell you what I want." "I want my reputation back." "And your husband will help with that." "For 18 months I've been an honest man, struggling to make ends meet." "I was prepared to work my way slowly up." "But now I've been hounded off." "I want to work in the bank, in a higher position your husband will create." " He'll never do that." " He will." "He daren't oppose it." "And within a year I'll be the Manager's right hand man!" "The Savings Bank will be run by Krogstad, not by Helmer." " You'll never live to see that!" " Do you mean that you might..." " Now I have the courage." " You can't frighten me." "A pampered lady like yourself..." " You'll see!" " Under the ice, maybe?" "Into the cold, black water?" "And in the spring you'd float up, ugly and unrecognizable..." " You can't frighten me!" " And you can't frighten me." "People don't do such things." "And what good would it do?" "He would still be in my power." "Afterwards, when I no longer..." "Don't forget that your reputation would be in my hands." "Now you've been forewarned." "Don't do anything rash." "When Helmer has read my letter I expect to hear from him." "He is the one who forced me to such actions." "I'll never forgive him for that." "Good bye, Mrs. Helmer." "Torvald, Torvald..." "Now there is no hope left!" " Do you see that letter?" " You look upset." " It's from Krogstad!" " It was he who lent you the money!" " Yes, and now Torvald will know." " Nora, it's for the best." "There's more." "I forged a signature." " I want you to be my witness." " Witness?" "If I were to go mad, or something happened to me so I can't be here..." "Or in case someone else wants to shoulder the guilt..." "You must bear witness that it isn't true!" "I'm telling you this:" "No one else had any part in this." "I did it all by myself." " But I don't understand." " You can't understand." "I know we're going to see a miracle." " A miracle?" " Yes, a miracle." "But the terrible thing is that it mustn't happen, not at any price!" " I'll go and talk to Krogstad." " No, he might harm you." "At one time he would have done any- thing for me." "Where does he live?" "His card." "But the letter..!" "What do you want?" "Don't be alarmed!" "Are you trying on your dress?" "Yes, I'll look so nice, Torvald!" " It's just around the corner." " But the letter's in the box!" "Krogstad must demand the letter back, unread." " But Torvald always opens the..." " Put him off." "I'll be right back." "So I'm allowed in my own living room again?" " Now, what's this?" " What, dear?" "Rank prepared me for a great masquerade scene." "It seems I was mistaken." "No one may admire me until tomorrow." "Dear, you look flustered." "Have you been rehearsing too much?" " No, I haven't rehearsed." " But you must." "Yes, but I can't do anything without your help." "I've forgotten everything." "Yes, you must take care of me." "I'm so nervous!" "The party..." "You have to devote your whole evening to me." "No business matters, not even use a pen." "Promise?" "I promise." "This evening will be fully and entirely devoted to you." "You helpless creature..." "There's one thing I have do first." " What do you want?" " To see if there are any letters." " Please don't." "There's nothing there." " I'll just take a look." "I won't be able to dance tomorrow unless I rehearse with you!" " Are you really so worried, dear?" " Yes, terribly afraid." "Let's rehearse now." "Before dinner." "Play for me, advice me." "Tell me where I go wrong, as usual." "Play!" "I want to dance." " Slower!" " I can't!" " Not so frenzied!" " It must be like this!" " No, this is absurd!" " What did I tell you?" "Let me play for her." "Please do so I can more easily coach her." "You dance as if your life depends on it!" "So it does!" "Stop, Rank!" "This is sheer madness." "Stop it!" "Incredible!" "You've forgotten everything I taught you." " Yes, as you see." " You need a lot of coaching." "You see how much I need it." "You must teach me up to the last minute." "Today and tomorrow, you must think of nothing but me." "Do not open any letters, not even the letterbox." " Are you still scared of this person?" " Yes, that too." "I see it in your face." "There's a letter from him out there." "I think so, but you mustn't read such things now." "Nothing ugly should come between us until it's all over." "You should respect her wish." "My child shall have her way." "But tomorrow night, after you've danced..." "Then you'll be free!" "Dinner is served." " We want champagne, Helene." " This will be festive!" "A festive champagne dinner till dawn." "And macaroons, Helene." "Lots of them, for once!" "You're too excitable!" "Be my little skylark again." "I will be, but please go in with Dr. Rank." " Help me." "Well?" " He has left town." "I left a note for him." "You shouldn't have done that." "It's a celebration, this waiting for a miracle." "What is it you're expecting?" "You wouldn't understand." "Join the others." "It's five o'clock." "Seven hours until midnight." "Then 24 hours till midnight tomorrow." "31 hours to live." "Where's my little skylark?" "Here's your skylark!" "I found a note from you." "What is this about?" "I just had to have a talk with you." "And you just had to have it in this house?" "At my place it was impossible." "Come in." "We're all alone." "The Helmers are upstairs at a ball." "You don't say..." "The Helmers are dancing tonight?" " Why not?" " That's true." "Krogstad, you and I need to talk." " Have we anything more to talk about?" " A great deal." " I wouldn't have thought so." " You never really understood me." "A heartless woman abandoning a man when someone better comes along?" "Do you think it was easy to break with you?" "Then why did you write what you did?" "What could I do?" "I had to break with you in such a way  that all your feelings for me were killed." "So that was it?" "And you did it just for the money?" "I had a helpless mother and two small brothers, don't forget." "I couldn't wait for you." "Your prospects were poor." "Maybe so, but you had no right to jettison me for anyone else!" "I've asked myself that." "When I lost you, it was as if the ground gave way under me." "Look at me now, a shipwrecked man about to go down." " Help may be at hand." " It was, until you came and interfered." "I only found out today that I was going to replace you at the bank." "I believe you." "Now that you know, won't you give it up?" " It wouldn't do you any good." " I still would have done it!" "From bitter necessity I've learned to think before I act." "Life has taught me to distrust fine speeches." " Good!" "But you must believe in actions." " What do you mean?" "You said you were like a shipwrecked man about to go down." "I'm also like a shipwrecked woman." "No one to care for or mourn over." " It was your choice." " At that time I had no choice." "What if the shipwrecked people joined forces?" "What do you mean?" "Two on one wreck are better off than each one alone." "Why do you think I came to town?" "Are you saying that you were thinking of me?" "I must work or life isn't worth living." "I've always worked." "It's been my one joy." "Let me have something and someone to work for." "I don't trust this." "A woman's exciteable nobility in sacrificing herself." "Have you ever seen me excitable?" "Could you really do it?" "Do you know everything about my past?" " You know what people think of me?" " But you sounded like with me you might have been a different person." " I'm sure of it." " Couldn't this still happen?" "Kristine, you say this as if you really mean it." "Yes, I see it in your face." "Do you have the courage?" "Your children need a mother." "You and I need each other." "I have faith in you." "With you I can face anything." "Kristine..." " The tarantella." "Go!" " Why?" "When the dance is over, they'll be coming here." "I'll go." "You can't know the action I've taken against the Helmers." "I know all about it." "I do understand how despair can drive a pesron." " If only I could undo it!" " You can." "The letter's in the letterbox." "I see." "You want to save your friend at any price." "Is that it?" "If you've sold yourself for the sake of others once, you don't do it again." " I will ask for my letter back." " No!" "At first I wanted you to." "This last day I've witnessed the most incredible things in this house." "Helmer must be told." "The secrecy and concealment must end." "Very well, if you want to risk it." " But there's one thing I can do..." " Hurry." "The dance is over." " I'll wait for you downstairs." " Please do." "What a change!" "Let's go upstairs again." "I don't want to leave yet!" "I do beg you." "Just one more hour!" "Not a single minute." "You know what we agreed." " Kristine!" " Mrs. Linde, here so late?" " I wanted to see Nora all dressed up." " Have you been waiting for me?" "I was too late." "And I didn't want to leave until I'd seen you." "Take a good look at her." "Isn't she lovely?" "Remarkably lovely!" "That was the general consensus at the party." "But she's terribly wilful, this sweet little thing." "I almost had to resort to force to make her come with me." "You'll regret that you didn't let me stay even for just half an hour." "She dances her tarantella and is a huge success." "Even though her performance was more realistic than artistically called for." "But she is a huge success." "Should I let her stay after that?" "And spoil the effect?" "I took my little... my capricious little Capri girl by the arm." "A quick turn around the room, a bow all around   and the beautiful vision is gone, as the novels put it." "An exit should always be impressive,   but I simply can't make little Nora see my point." "It's warm in here." "It's dark in there." "Of course!" "Excuse me." "I've talked to him." "You must tell your husband everything." "You've nothing to fear from Krogstad, but you must talk!" " I'll never tell him." " Then the letter will." "Thank you." "I now know what I must do." " Have you been admiring her?" " Yes." " And now I must say good night." " So soon?" " Is that your knitting?" " Yes, I almost forgot it." "So you knit?" "It'd be much better if you did embroidery." "It's more graceful." "You hold the embroidery in your left hand." "With your right work the needle in a long sweep." "Knitting is always ungraceful." "Pinched arms and needles going up and down, up an down..." "Excellent champagne we were served." "Good night, Nora." "Don't be wilful any longer." " Well spoken, Mrs. Linde." " Good night, Sir." "I hope you get safely home." "I'd be glad to... but you live quite near." "We finally got rid of her." "What a boring person!" " Aren't you very tired?" " Not at all." "I feel remarkably cheerful." "But you look tired and sleepy." "I am tired." "I'd like to go to sleep very soon." "You see how right I was in not staying longer." "You're always, always right." "Now my skylark is talking like a human being." "Did you notice how cheerful Rank was this evening?" "He was?" "I hardly spoke a word to him." "Nor I, but I haven't seen him in this good mood for a long time." "It's wonderful to be back home." "All alone with you, you lovely young woman." "Don't look at me like that." "Not look at my own treasure, at this beauty that belongs to me, me alone?" "Don't say that." "Not tonight." "You still have the tarantella in your blood." "That makes you more desirable." "The guests are leaving." "Soon the house will be quiet." "I hope so." "When I'm at a party with you,   do you know why I never speak to you, just glance at you?" "I like to pretend that you're my secret young love." "Secretly engaged." "No one thinks there's anything between us." "I know that you're always thinking of me." "When I put the shawl on your young shoulders..." "Then I pretend that you're my young bride." "That we've just been wed." "That I'm alone with you for the first time, my trembling young bride." "All evening I've longed for nothing but you." "Your tempting tarantella set my blood on fire." "I couldn't bear to wait!" "No, I don't want to!" "What's this?" "You're playing games with me!" "Not want to?" "I'm your husband, aren't I?" " Who is it?" " Me!" "May I come in for a moment?" "What does he want?" "Just a minute!" " Kind of you not to stop by." " I thought I heard your voice." "This dear, familiar place." "You have such a comfortable home." " You enjoyed being upstairs, too?" " Very much so." "Why not taste whatever this world has to offer?" "As much as one can and as long as one can." " The wine was excellent." " Especially the champagne." "I managed to put away an incredible amount." "Torvald also had a lot of champagne." "That makes him so lively afterwards." "Why not have a pleasant evening after a good day's work?" "A good days work?" "I cannot claim that." "I can, you see." "You've made a scientific test today?" "Little Nora talking about scientific tests?" "May I congratulate you on the result?" "Yes, indeed you may." " A good result?" " The best possible result." " Certainty." " Certainty?" "Complete certainty." "Shouldn't I allow myself a happy night after that?" " Yes, you should." " As long as you don't have to pay later." "You don't get anything for nothing in life." " You like fancy-dress parties?" " Yes, when the costumes are good." "What should you and I wear at the next one?" "Little featherbrain!" "Already thinking about the next one?" "You and I?" "I'll tell you." "You must be a child of fortune." "Find a costume to signify that!" "Let your wife wear what she wears every day." " Splendid!" "And what will you be?" " I'm certain about that, too." "At the next fancy-dress party I shall be invisible." "What a strange idea!" "Have you never heard of the lnvisibilty Hat?" "When you put that on, no one will see you." "I'm forgetting why I came." "Helmer, give me a cigar." "A Havana." "With the greatest of pleasure, my dear fellow." "Let me give you a light." "Good bye." " Good bye, my friend." " Sleep well, Dr. Rank." " Thank you for that wish." " Wish me the same." "You?" "Very well, if that's what you want." "Sleep well." "And thank you for the light." "He's been drinking a good deal." "Maybe so." "What are you doing?" "Emptying the letterbox." "It's almost full." " Will you be working tonight?" " You know I won't be." " Someone has been at the lock." " At the lock?" "It's hard to believe that one of the maids..." "I found a hairpin." "It's yours." " It must be the children." " You must teach them not to do it." "See how much was in there." " Two visiting cards, from Rank." " From Dr. Rank?" "He must have put them in as he left." "A black cross over his name..." "It's as if he's announcing his own death." " He is." " Has he said anything to you?" "Yes, when we receive that card he has said his last farewell to us." "He's going to shut himself in and die." "Poor man!" "I knew he wouldn't be with me long, but this soon..." "Then he hides, like a wounded animal." "When we go, it best to go without a word, isn't it, Torvald?" "He was so much a part of our life." "And now he is gone?" "His suffering and loneliness   created a cloudy background for our sunny happiness." "Maybe it's for the best." "At least for him." "Maybe for us, too." "Now you and I have no one but each other." "My darling wife, I can't hold you close enough!" "I often wish that some danger might threaten you   so I could risk everything for your sake!" "Now you must read your letters!" "Not tonight." "Now I want to be with my darling." "With the thought of your dying friend?" "You are right." "This has upset ut." "We must shake off the thought of death and decay." "Till then we must remain apart." "Torvald!" " Good night, Torvald." " Good night, my darling songbird." "I'll go and read my letters." "Never see him again!" "And never see the children..." "The icy, black water..." "Nora!" "What's this?" "Do you know what is in this letter?" "Yes, I know." " Let me go." "Let me get away." " Where are you going?" "I won't let you save me!" "Is it true, what he says here?" "It's true." "I've loved you more than anything." "No silly excuses!" "What have you done?" "!" "No melodrama!" "You'll stay here and explain yourself." "Do you understand what you've done?" "Do you?" "Yes, now I begin to understand it fully." "What an awful awakening for me!" "You've been my pride and joy these eight years." "You're a hypocrite, a liar, even a criminal!" "What unspeakable hideousness!" "I should have foreseen something like this." "All you father's irresponsible - quiet!" " traits you have inherited." "No religion, no morality, no sense of duty." "This is punishment for shielding him." "For you!" "And this is how you repay me." "You've destroyed my happiness and ruined my whole future!" "I'm in the power of a man with no scruples." "He can do what he likes, order me about and I dare not refuse!" "And I have to sink so low just because of an irresponsible woman!" " When I'm gone, you'll be free." " No phrases, please!" "Your father had fine phrases, too." "What good would it do me if you were "gone"?" "No good at all!" "He can let the story be known." "Maybe I will be suspected of being involved in your crooked actions,   maybe even being at the bottom of it." "It's you I have to thank for all this, after I've taken such care of you!" " Do you see what you've done to me?" " Yes." "It's incredible, but I suppose we have to come to an understanding." "Take off your shawl." "I must try to appease him." "The thing must be hushed up!" "You and I must seem to go on as before, but only in the eyes of others." "You will remain in my house." "The children..." "I will not let you raise the children." "I dare not trust you with them." "Having to say this to someone that I've loved so much, that I still..." "From now on there's no question of happiness,   just saving the ruins, putting on a facade..." "What's this?" "At this hour?" "What if the worst have happen..." "What if he..?" "Keep out of sight." "Say you're ill." "A letter for the Mistress." " It is from him." "I want to read it." " You read it." "I don't know if I have the nerve to read it..." "I must know!" "Nora..." "I am saved, Nora." " And I?" " You too, of course." "Both of us." "He's returning the promissory note." "He regrets..." "A fortunate change..." "No matter!" "We are saved, Nora." "No one can touch you now." "First, let me destroy this detestable thing." "Let me read..." "No, I won't." "This will be nothing but a bad dream." "Now it's gone." "He writes that since Christmas Eve you have..." "You must have had three terrible days." "In agony, seeing no way out." "Let's forget those terrible things and rejoice that it's over!" "You look like you don't understand." "Nora, it's over!" "I understand." "You simply can't believe that I've forgiven you." "I have, I swear." "I've forgiven you." "I know you did this from your love for me." "You loved me like a wife should." "You just lacked the insight to understand the means you used." "Such feminine helplessness makes you even more attractive in a man's eyes." "You must forget the harsh words I said when my world was falling apart." "I have forgiven you." "Thank you for your forgiveness." "No, stay!" "What are you doing in there?" " Removing my costume!" " Do!" "Try to settle down, my frightened little songbird." "Rest safely." "I have broad wings to shelter you with." "I'll keep you as a wounded dove I've saved from a hawk's talons." "I'll soon help your beating heart to rest." "Don't you worry about it." "It will happen in time." "How could you think I would reject or reproach you?" "You don't know what a real man's heart is like." "It's deeply satisfying for a man to know that he has forgiven his wife." "She is doubly his property." "He has given her a new life." "She is both his wife and his child." "That is what you will be to me, you helpless little creature." "Open your heart to me and I'll be your will and your conscience." "You didn't go to bed?" "You've changed your clothes?" "Yes, I've changed my clothes." " Why, at this hour?" " I shall not sleep tonight." "Sit down." "You and I have much to talk about." "You frighten me." " I don't understand you." " That's just it." "You don't understand me." "And I've never understood you, until tonight." "No, don't interrupt!" "Just listen." "We must settle things." "What do you mean?" "Doesn't this situation strike you as odd?" "We've been married for 8 years." "This is the first time that we, husband and wife, have a serious talk." "Serious?" "What do you mean?" "Ever since we met we've never spoken seriously about serious matters." "Should I involve you in problems you could help with?" "Not problems." "We've never seriously tried to get to the bottom of anything." " What good would it have done you?" " That's just the point." "You've never understood me." "I've suffered a great injustice, first by papa, and then by you." "By us who loved you more than anyone else?" "You never loved me." "You just enjoyed being in love with me." "What kind of talk is this?" "When I lived at home, papa told me his opinions." "And then I shared his opinions." "If I didn't, I kept quiet." "Or he wouldn't have liked it." "He called me his little doll and played with me like I played with my dolls." " Then I came into your house..." " You mean our marriage." "I passed from papa's hands into yours." "You arranged everything to suit your taste, and I had the same taste." "Or I pretended to." "I'm not sure which." "Now it strikes me that I've lived here as a pauper." "I've lived by performing tricks for you." "You wanted it that way." "You and papa have committed a great sin against me." "It's your fault that I've made nothing of myself in life." "You're unreasonable and ungrateful." "Haven't you been happy here?" "I thought I was, but I've never been happy here." "Not happy?" "Only merry." "You've always been kind to me." "But our home has never been anything but a playroom." "I've been your doll-wife, just as I was papa's doll-child." "And the children..." "They've been my dolls." "I liked it when you played with me." "They liked it when I played with them." "That's how our marriage has been." "There's some truth to what you say, even though you exagerrate." "Things will be different from now on." "It's time for learning." "Learning?" "For me or the children?" "Both you and the children." "You're not the man to teach me to be a real wife for you." "And how well am I prepared to raise my children?" "You said it yourself!" "You didn't trust me to do it." " I was very distraught at the time!" " You were right." "I can't do it!" "There's another task I must fi nish first." "I need to educate myself." "You're not the man to help." "I must do it alone." "That's why I'm leaving you." "What did you say?" "I must stand alone to find out about myself." "That's why I can't stay here." " I'm going now." "Kristine will put me up." " You're mad." "I forbid it!" "You're not forbidding me anything any longer." "I'll take my own things along." "Tomorrow I'll go home... to my old home." "I'll find something to do there." " You blind, inexperienced creature!" " I must get some experience." "But to leave your home, husband and children!" "What will people say?" "I can't think of them." "This is necessary for me." "This is monstrous!" "Neglecting your most sacred duty..." "What is my most sacred duty?" " Your duty to husband and children." " I have other duties, just as sacred." " My duty to myself." " First, you're a wife and mother." "No, I don't believe that now." "I believe that before all else I'm a human being." "Like you." "At least I will try to become one." "I know that most people agree with you and that they say so in books." "But I can't be satisfied with that." "I must try to understand things by myself." "Understand your place in your home first!" "And use an infallible guide: religion." "But I don't know what religion is." "I only know what the pastor taught me for my confirmation." "Let me appeal to your conscience." "You do have a sense of morality?" " Or haven't you?" " I just don't know." "I'm all confused." "I know that I think very differently about things than you do." "The laws are different from what I thought,   but I just can't accept that those laws are right." " You don't understand society." " No, I don't." "But I need to learn about it." "I must find out who is right, society or me." "You're feverish, out of your senses." "I've never felt more certainty and clearness than tonight." "Clear and certain?" "Yet you leave husband and children?" "Yes." " There's only one explanation possible." " Which is?" "You don't love me any more." "No, that's just it." "Nora?" "How can you say that?" "I'm so sorry." "You've always been kind to me." "But I can't help it." "I don't love you any more." "You're clear and certain about this, too?" "Absolutely certain." "That's why I can't stay any longer." "Tell me how I forfeited your love." "It was tonight when the miracle didn't happen." "Then I saw you aren't the man I had imagined." "Explain." "I don't understand!" "I waited patiently for eight years." "Miracles don't happen every day." "Then disaster stared me in the face." "I was absolutely certain that the miracle finally was about to happen." "I never imagined you would give in to Krogstad's conditions." "I was absolutely certain you would say:" ""Let the whole world know!" And then..." "When I had exposed my own wife to disgrace!" "Then I thought with absolute certainty  that you would take the blame and say: "I'm the guilty one."" "You think I never would have accepted this great sacrifice?" "Of course not." "What would my word count against yours?" "That was the miracle I hoped for - and feared." "To prevent that I wanted to end my life." "I'd gladly work day and night for you, Nora." "Endure poverty and grief." "But no man sacrifices his honor even for the one he loves." "Hundred thousand women have." " You think and speak like a child." " Maybe." "But you don't think or talk like a man I can share my life with." "When your panic was over, not on my behalf,   but for the threat to yourself,   it was as if nothing at all had happened." "I just remained your little songbird!" "Your doll, that you would handle twice as gently  because it was so delicate and fragile." "At that moment I saw that for eight years I've lived here with a stranger." "That we've had three children." "I can't bear to think of it." "I could tear myself to little pieces!" "Yes, I see." "I see there is a gulf between us." "But couldn't it be filled in?" "As I am now, I am not the wife for you." "I have the strength to change." "Maybe- if your doll is taken away from you." "But to part - to part from you?" "I can't even comprehend the idea." "All the more reason for it to happen." "Wait til tomorrow." "I can't stay the night in a stranger's rooms." "Couldn't we live here as brother and sister?" "You know that wouldn't last long." "Good bye, Torvald." "I won't see the children." "They're in better hands than mine." "As I am now, I can be nothing to them." "But some day, Nora?" "How can I tell?" "I don't know what will become of me." "But you are my wife, as you are now and as you will be." "When a wife leaves her husband, as I'm doing now, I've heard   that he's legally free of his obligations to her." "Anyway, I set you free." "You mustn't feel bound in any way." "Neither shall I." "There must be freedom on both sides." "Here's your ring back." "Give me mine." " That, too?" " That, too." "Now it's all over." "The keys." "The maids can run the house better than I did." "Tomorrow Kristine will come and pack the things I brought from home." "Over." "It's over?" "Will you ever think of me again?" "I shall often think of you - and the children, and this house." " May I write to you?" " No, never!" " Help you if you need it?" " I can't accept anything from a stranger." "Can I ever be more than a stranger to you?" "Then the greatest miracle of all would have to happen." "What is the greatest miracle?" "Then you and I would have to change enough that..." "I no longer believe in miracles." "But I want to believe!" "Change enough that..?" "That our life together could be a real marriage." "Good bye." "Nora!" "Empty..." "She's no longer here." "The greates miracle of all?"