The rooms at the TESMANS’, same as in the first act, except that the piano has been moved out, and an elegant little writing table with a bookcase put in its place. A smaller table stands by the sofa to the left. Most of the flowers have been removed. MRS. ELVSTED’s bouquet stands on the large table in the foreground. It is afternoon.
HEDDA, dressed to receive callers, is alone in the room. She stands by the open glass door, loading a revolver. The match to it lies in an open pistol case on the writing table.
HEDDA (looking down into the garden and calling). Good to see you again, Judge!
BRACK (heard from below, at a distance). Likewise, Mrs. Tesman!
HEDDA (raises the pistol and aims). And now, Judge, I’m going to shoot you!
BRACK (shouting from below). No-no-no! Don’t point that thing at me!
HEDDA. That’s what comes of sneaking in the back way. (She fires.)
BRACK (nearer). Are you out of your mind—!
HEDDA. Oh, dear—I didn’t hit you, did I?
BRACK (still outside). Just stop this nonsense!
HEDDA. All right, you can come in, Judge.
(JUDGE BRACK, dressed for a stag party, enters through the glass door. He carries a light overcoat on his arm.)
BRACK. Good God! Are you still playing such games? What are you shooting at?
HEDDA. Oh, I was just shooting into the sky.
BRACK (gently taking the pistol out of her hand). Permit me. (Looks at it.) Ah, this one—I know it well. (Glancing around.) Where’s the case? Ah, here. (Puts the pistol away and shuts the case.) We’ll have no more of that kind of fun today.
HEDDA. Well, what in heaven’s name do you want me to do with myself?
BRACK. You haven’t had any visitors?
HEDDA (closing the glass door). Not a single one. All of our set are still in the country, I guess.
BRACK. And Tesman isn’t home either?
HEDDA (at the writing table, putting the pistol case away in a drawer). No. Right after lunch he ran over to his aunts. He didn’t expect you so soon.
BRACK. Hm— I should have realized. That was stupid of me.
HEDDA (turning her head and looking at him). Why stupid?
BRACK. Because in that case I would have stopped by a little bit—earlier.
HEDDA (crossing the room). Well, you’d have found no one here then at all. I’ve been up in my room dressing since lunch.
BRACK. And there’s not the least little crack in the door we could have conferred through.
HEDDA. You forgot to arrange it.
BRACK. Also stupid of me.
HEDDA. Well, we’ll just have to settle down here—and wait. Tesman won’t be back for a while.
BRACK. Don’t worry, I can be patient.
(HEDDA sits in the corner of the sofa. BRACK lays his coat over the back of the nearest chair and sits down, keeping his hat in his hand. A short pause. They look at each other.)
HEDDA. Well?
BRACK (in the same tone). Well?
HEDDA. I spoke first.
BRACK (leaning slightly forward). Then let’s have a nice little cozy chat, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA (leaning further back on the sofa). Doesn’t it seem like a whole eternity since the last time we talked together? Oh, a few words last night and this morning—but they don’t count.
BRACK. You mean, like this—between ourselves? Just the two of us?
HEDDA. Well, more or less.
BRACK. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t wish you were home again.
HEDDA. And I was wishing exactly the same.
BRACK. You? Really, Mrs. Hedda? And I thought you were having such a marvelous time on this trip.
HEDDA. Oh, you can imagine!
BRACK. But that’s what Tesman always wrote.
HEDDA. Oh, him! There’s nothing he likes better than grubbing around in libraries and copying out old parchments, or whatever you call them.
BRACK (with a touch of malice). But after all, it’s his calling in life. In good part, anyway.
HEDDA. Yes, that’s true. So there’s nothing wrong with it— But what about me! Oh, Judge, you don’t know—I’ve been so dreadfully bored.
BRACK (sympathetically). You really mean that? In all seriousness?
HEDDA. Well, you can understand—! To go for a whole six months without meeting a soul who knew the least bit about our circle. No one that one could talk to about our kind of things.
BRACK. Ah, yes—I think that would bother me too.
HEDDA. But then the most unbearable thing of all—
BRACK. What?
HEDDA. To be everlastingly together with—with one and the same person—
BRACK (nodding in agreement). Morning, noon, and night—yes. At every conceivable hour.
HEDDA. I said “everlastingly.”
BRACK. All right. But with our good friend Tesman, I really should have thought—
HEDDA. My dear Judge, Tesman is—a specialist.
BRACK. Undeniably.
HEDDA. And specialists aren’t at all amusing to travel with. Not in the long run, anyway.
BRACK. Not even—the specialist that one loves.
HEDDA. Ugh—don’t use that syrupy word!
BRACK (startled). What’s that, Mrs. Hedda!
HEDDA (half laughing, half annoyed). Well, just try it yourself! Try listening to the history of civilization morning, noon, and—
BRACK. Everlastingly.
HEDDA. Yes! Yes! And then all this business about domestic crafts in the Middle Ages—! That really is just too revolting!
BRACK (looks searchingly at her). But tell me—I can’t see how it ever came about that—? Hm—
HEDDA. That George Tesman and I could make a match?
BRACK. All right, let’s put it that way.
HEDDA. Good Lord, does it seem so remarkable?
BRACK. Well, yes—and no, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA. I really had danced myself out, Judge. My time was up. (With a slight shudder.) Ugh! No, I don’t want to say that. Or think it, either.
BRACK. You certainly have no reason to.
HEDDA. Oh—reasons— (Watching him carefully.) And George Tesman—he is, after all, a thoroughly acceptable choice.
BRACK. Acceptable and dependable, beyond a doubt.
HEDDA. And I don’t find anything especially ridiculous about him. Do you?
BRACK. Ridiculous? No-o-o, I wouldn’t say that.
HEDDA. Hm. Anyway, he works incredibly hard on his research! There’s every chance that, in time, he could still make a name for himself.
BRACK (looking at her with some uncertainty). I thought you believed, like everyone else, that he was going to be quite famous some day.
HEDDA (wearily). Yes, so I did. And then when he kept pressing and pleading to be allowed to take care of me—I didn’t see why I ought to resist.
BRACK. No. From that point of view, of course not—
HEDDA. It was certainly more than my other admirers were willing to do for me, Judge.
BRACK (laughing). Well, I can’t exactly answer for all the others. But as far as I’m concerned, you know that I’ve always cherished a—a certain respect for the marriage bond. Generally speaking, that is.
HEDDA (bantering). Oh, I never really held out any hopes for you.
BRACK. All I want is to have a warm circle of intimate friends, where I can be of use one way or another, with the freedom to come and go as—as a trusted friend—
HEDDA. Of the man of the house, you mean?
BRACK (with a bow). Frankly—I prefer the lady. But the man, too, of course, in his place. That kind of—let’s say, triangular arrangement—you can’t imagine how satisfying it can be all around.
HEDDA. Yes, I must say I longed for some third person so many times on that trip. Oh—those endless těte-à-tětes in railway compartments—!
BRACK. Fortunately the wedding trip’s over now.
HEDDA (shaking her head). The trip will go on—and on. I’ve only come to one stop on the line.
BRACK. Well, then what you do is jump out—and stretch yourself a little, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA. I’ll never jump out.
BRACK. Never?
HEDDA. No. Because there’s always someone on the platform who—
BRACK (with a laugh). Who looks at your legs, is that it?
HEDDA. Precisely.
BRACK. Yes, but after all—
HEDDA (with a disdainful gesture). I’m not interested. I’d rather keep my seat—right here, where I am. Těte-à-těte.
BRACK. Well, but suppose a third person came on board and joined the couple.
HEDDA. Ah! That’s entirely different.
BRACK. A trusted friend, who understands—
HEDDA. And can talk about all kinds of lively things—
BRACK. Who’s not in the least a specialist.
HEDDA (with an audible sigh). Yes, that would be a relief.
BRACK (hearing the front door open and glancing toward it). The triangle is complete.
HEDDA (lowering her voice). And the train goes on.
(GEORGE TESMAN, in a gray walking suit and a soft felt hat, enters from the hall. He has a good number of unbound books under his arm and in his pockets.)
TESMAN (going up to the table by the corner settee). Phew! Let me tell you, that’s hot work—carrying all these. (Setting the books down.) I’m actually sweating, Hedda. And what’s this—you’re already here, Judge? Hm? Berta didn’t tell me.
BRACK (rising). I came in through the garden.
HEDDA. What are all these books you’ve gotten?
TESMAN (stands leafing through them). They’re new publications in my special field. I absolutely need them.
HEDDA. Your special field?
BRACK. Of course. Books in his special field, Mrs. Tesman.
(BRACK and HEDDA exchange a knowing smile.)
HEDDA. You need still more books in your special field?
TESMAN. Hedda, my dear, it’s impossible ever to have too many. You have to keep up with what’s written and published.
HEDDA. Oh, I suppose so.
TESMAN (searching among the books). And look—I picked up Eilert Løvborg’s new book too. (Offering it to her.) Maybe you’d like to have a look at it? Uh?
HEDDA. No, thank you. Or—well, perhaps later.
TESMAN. I skimmed through some of it on the way home.
BRACK. Well, what do you think of it—as a specialist?
TESMAN. I think it’s amazing how well it holds up. He’s never written like this before. (Gathers up the books.) But I’ll take these into the study now. I can’t wait to cut the pages—! And then I better dress up a bit. (To BRACK.) We don’t have to rush right off, do we? Hm?
BRACK. No, not at all. There’s ample time.
TESMAN. Ah, then I’ll be at my leisure. (Starts out with the books, but pauses and turns in the doorway.) Oh, incidentally, Hedda—Aunt Julie won’t be by to see you this evening.
HEDDA. She won’t? I suppose it’s that business with the hat?
TESMAN. Not at all. How can you think that of Aunt Julie? Imagine—! No, it’s Auntie Rina—she’s very ill.
HEDDA. She always is.
TESMAN. Yes, but today she really took a turn for the worse.
HEDDA. Well, then it’s only sensible for her sister to stay with her. I’ll have to bear with it.
TESMAN. But you can’t imagine how delighted Aunt Julie was all the same—because you’d filled out so nicely on the trip!
HEDDA (under her breath; rising). Oh, these eternal aunts!
TESMAN. What?
HEDDA (going over to the glass door). Nothing.
TESMAN. All right, then. (He goes through the inner room and out, right.)
BRACK. What were you saying about a hat?
HEDDA. Oh, it’s something that happened with Miss Tesman this morning. She’d put her hat down over there on the chair. (Looks at him and smiles.) And I pretended I thought it was the maid’s.
BRACK (shaking his head). But my dear Mrs. Hedda, how could you do that! Hurt that nice old lady!
HEDDA (nervously, pacing the room). Well, it’s—these things come over me, just like that, suddenly. And I can’t hold back. (Throws herself down in the armchair by the stove.) Oh, I don’t know myself how to explain it.
BRACK (behind the armchair). You’re not really happy—that’s the heart of it.
HEDDA (gazing straight ahead). And I don’t know why I ought to be—happy. Or maybe you can tell me why?
BRACK. Yes—among other things, because you’ve gotten just the home you’ve always wanted.
HEDDA (looks up at him and laughs). You believe that story too?
BRACK. You mean there’s nothing to it?
HEDDA. Oh yes—there’s something to it.
BRACK. Well?
HEDDA. There’s this much to it, that I used Tesman as my escort home from parties last summer—
BRACK. Unfortunately—I was headed quite a different way.
HEDDA. How true. Yes, you went several different ways last summer.
BRACK (laughing). For shame, Mrs. Hedda! Well—so you and Tesman—?
HEDDA. Yes, so one evening we walked by this place. And Tesman, poor thing, was writhing in torment, because he couldn’t find anything to say. And I felt sorry for a man of such learning—
BRACK (smiling skeptically). Did you? Hm—
HEDDA. No, I honestly did. And so—just to help him off the hook—I came out with some rash remark about this lovely house being where I’d always wanted to live.
BRACK. No more than that?
HEDDA. No more that evening.
BRACK. But afterward?
HEDDA. Yes, my rashness had its consequences, Judge.
BRACK. I’m afraid our rashness all too often does, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA. Thanks! But don’t you see, it was this passion for the old Falk mansion that drew George Tesman and me together! It was nothing more than that, that brought on our engagement and the marriage and the wedding trip and everything else. Oh yes, Judge—I was going to say, you make your bed and then you lie in it.
BRACK. But that’s priceless! So actually you couldn’t care less about all this?
HEDDA. God knows, not in the least.
BRACK. But even now? Now that we’ve got it furnished a bit cosier for you here?
HEDDA. Ugh—all the rooms seem to smell of lavender and dried roses. But maybe that scent was brought in by Aunt Julie.
BRACK (laughing). No, I think it’s a bequest from the late Mrs. Falk.
HEDDA. Yes, there’s something in it of the odor of death. It’s like a corsage—the day after the dance. (Folds her hands behind her neck, leans back in her chair, and looks at him.) Oh, my dear Judge—you can’t imagine how horribly I’m going to bore myself here.
BRACK. But couldn’t you find some goal in life to work toward? Others do, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA. A goal—that would really absorb me?
BRACK. Yes, preferably.
HEDDA. God only knows what that could be. I often wonder if— (Breaks off.) But that’s impossible too.
BRACK. Who knows? Tell me.
HEDDA. I was thinking—if I could get Tesman to go into politics.
BRACK (laughing). Tesman! No, I can promise you—politics is absolutely out of his line.
HEDDA. No, I can believe you. But even so, I wonder if I could get him into it?
BRACK. Well, what satisfaction would you have in that, if he can’t succeed? Why push him in that direction?
HEDDA. Because, I’ve told you, I’m bored! (After a pause.) Then you think it’s really out of the question that he could ever be a cabinet minister?
BRACK. Hm—you see, Mrs. Hedda—to be anything like that, he’d have to be fairly wealthy to start with.
HEDDA (rising impatiently). Yes, there it is! It’s this tight little world I’ve stumbled into— (Crossing the room.) That’s what makes life so miserable! So utterly ludicrous! Because that’s what it is.
BRACK. I’d say the fault lies elsewhere.
HEDDA. Where?
BRACK. You’ve never experienced anything that’s really stirred you.
HEDDA. Anything serious, you mean.
BRACK. Well, you can call it that, if you like. But now perhaps it’s on the way.
HEDDA (tossing her head). Oh, you mean all the fuss over that wretched professorship! But that’s Tesman’s problem. I’m not going to give it a single thought.
BRACK. No, that isn’t—ah, never mind. But suppose you were to be confronted now by what—in rather elegant language—is called your most solemn responsibility. (Smiling.) A new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda.
HEDDA (angrily). Be quiet! You’ll never see me like that!
BRACK (delicately). We’ll discuss it again in a year’s time—at the latest.
HEDDA (curtly). I have no talent for such things, Judge. I won’t have responsibilities!
BRACK. Don’t you think you’ve a talent for what almost every woman finds the most meaningful—
HEDDA (over by the glass door). Oh, I told you, be quiet! I often think I have talent for only one thing in life.
BRACK (moving closer). And what, may I ask, is that?
HEDDA (stands looking out). Boring myself to death. And that’s the truth. (Turns, looks toward the inner room, and laughs.) See what I mean! Here comes the professor.
BRACK (in a low tone of warning). Ah-ah-ah, Mrs. Hedda!
(GEORGE TESMAN, dressed for the party, with hat and gloves in hand, enters from the right through the inner room.)
TESMAN. Hedda—there’s been no word from Eilert Løvborg, has there? Hm?
HEDDA. No.
TESMAN. Well, he’s bound to be here soon then. You’ll see.
BRACK. You really believe he’ll come?
TESMAN. Yes, I’m almost positive of it. Because I’m sure they’re nothing but rumors, what you told us this morning.
BRACK. Oh?
TESMAN. Yes. At least Aunt Julie said she couldn’t for the world believe that he’d stand in my way again. Can you imagine that!
BRACK. So, then everything’s well and good.
TESMAN (putting his hat with the gloves inside on a chair to the right). Yes, but I really would like to wait for him as long as possible.
BRACK. We have plenty of time for that. There’s no one due at my place till seven or half past.
TESMAN. Why, then we can keep Hedda company for a while. And see what turns up. Uh?
HEDDA (taking BRACK’s hat and coat over to the settee). And if worst comes to worst, Mr. Løvborg can sit and talk with me.
BRACK (trying to take his things himself). Ah, please, Mrs. Tesman—! What do you mean by “worst,” in this case?
HEDDA. If he won’t go with you and Tesman.
TESMAN (looks doubtfully at her). But Hedda dear—is it quite right that he stays with you here? Uh? Remember that Aunt Julie isn’t coming.
HEDDA. No, but Mrs. Elvsted is. The three of us can have tea together.
TESMAN. Oh, well, that’s all right.
BRACK (smiling). And that might be the soundest plan for him too.
HEDDA. Why?
BRACK. Well, really, Mrs. Tesman, you’ve made enough pointed remarks about my little bachelor parties. You’ve always said they’re only fit for men of the strictest principles.
HEDDA. But Mr. Løvborg is surely a man of principle now. After all, a reformed sinner—
(BERTA appears at the hall door.)
BERTA. Ma’am, there’s a gentleman here who’d like to see you—
HEDDA. Yes, show him in.
TESMAN (softly). I’m sure it’s him! Just think!
(EILERT LøVBORG enters from the hall. He is lean and gaunt, the same age as TESMAN, but looks older and somewhat run-down. His hair and beard are dark brown, his face long and pale, but with reddish patches over the cheekbones. He is dressed in a trim black suit, quite new, and holds dark gloves and a top hat in his hand. He hesitates by the door and bows abruptly. He seems somewhat embarrassed.)
TESMAN (crosses over and shakes his hand). Ah, my dear Eilert—so at last we meet again!
EILERT LøVBORG (speaking in a hushed voice). Thanks for your letter, George! (Approaching HEDDA.) May I shake hands with you too, Mrs. Tesman?
HEDDA (taking his hand). So glad to see you, Mr. Løvborg. (Gesturing with her hand.) I don’t know if you two gentlemen—?
LøVBORG (bowing slightly). Judge Brack, I believe.
BRACK (reciprocating). Of course. It’s been some years—
TESMAN (to LøVBORG, with his hands on his shoulders). And now, Eilert, make yourself at home, completely! Right, Hedda? I hear you’ll be settling down here in town again? Uh?
LøVBORG. I plan to.
TESMAN. Well, that makes sense. Listen—I just got hold of your new book. But I really haven’t had time to read it yet.
LøVBORG. You can save yourself the bother.
TESMAN. Why? What do you mean?
LøVBORG. There’s very little to it.
TESMAN. Imagine—you can say that!
BRACK. But it’s won such high praise, I hear.
LøVBORG. That’s exactly what I wanted. So I wrote a book that everyone could agree with.
BRACK. Very sound.
TESMAN. Yes, but my dear Eilert—!
LøVBORG. Because now I want to build up my position again—and try to make a fresh start.
TESMAN (somewhat distressed). Yes, that is what you want, I suppose. Uh?
LøVBORG (smiling, puts down his hat and takes a packet wrapped in brown paper out of his coat pocket). But when this comes out—George Tesman—you’ll have to read it. Because this is the real book—the one that speaks for my true self.
TESMAN. Oh, really? What sort of book is that?
LøVBORG. It’s the sequel.
TESMAN. Sequel? To what?
LøVBORG. To the book.
TESMAN. The one just out?
LøVBORG. Of course.
TESMAN. Yes, but my dear Eilert—that comes right down to our own time!
LøVBORG. Yes, it does. And this one deals with the future.
TESMAN. The future! But good Lord, there’s nothing we know about that!
LøVBORG. True. But there are one or two things worth saying about it all the same. (Opens the packet.) Here, take a look—
TESMAN. But that’s not your handwriting.
LøVBORG. I dictated it. (Paging through the manuscript.) It’s divided into two sections. The first is about the forces shaping the civilization of the future. And the second part, here—(Paging further on.) suggests what lines of development it’s likely to take.
TESMAN. How extraordinary! It never would have occurred to me to write about anything like that.
HEDDA (at the glass door, drumming on the pane). Hm—no, of course not.
LøVBORG (puts the manuscript back in its wrapping and lays it on the table). I brought it along because I thought I might read you a bit of it this evening.
TESMAN. Ah, that’s very good of you, Eilert; but this evening— (Glancing at BRACK.) I’m really not sure that it’s possible—
LøVBORG. Well, some other time, then. There’s no hurry.
BRACK. I should explain, Mr. Løvborg—there’s a little party at my place tonight. Mostly for Tesman, you understand.
LøVBORG (looking for his hat). Ah—then I won’t stay—
BRACK. No, listen—won’t you give me the pleasure of having you join us?
LøVBORG (sharply and decisively). No, I can’t. Thanks very much.
BRACK. Oh, nonsense! Do that. We’ll be a small, select group. And you can bet we’ll have it “lively,” as Mrs. Hed—Mrs. Tesman says.
LøVBORG. I don’t doubt it. But nevertheless—
BRACK. You could bring your manuscript with you and read it to Tesman there, at my place. I have plenty of rooms.
TESMAN. Why, of course, Eilert—you could do that, couldn’t you? Uh?
HEDDA (intervening). But dear, if Mr. Løvborg simply doesn’t want to! I’m sure Mr. Løvborg would much prefer to settle down here and have supper with me.
LøVBORG (looking at her). With you, Mrs. Tesman!
HEDDA. And with Mrs. Elvsted.
LøVBORG. Ah. (Casually.) I saw her a moment this afternoon.
HEDDA. Oh, did you? Well, she’ll be here soon. So it’s almost essential for you to stay, Mr. Løvborg. Otherwise, she’ll have no one to see her home.
LøVBORG. That’s true. Yes, thank you, Mrs. Tesman—I’ll be staying, then.
HEDDA. Then let me just tell the maid—
(She goes to the hall door and rings. BERTA enters. HEDDA talks to her quietly and points toward the inner room. BERTA nods and goes out again.)
TESMAN (at the same time, to LøVBORG). Tell me, Eilert—is it this new material—about the future—that you’re going to be lecturing on?
LøVBORG. Yes.
TESMAN. Because I heard at the bookstore that you’ll be giving a lecture series here this autumn.
LøVBORG. I intend to. I hope you won’t be offended, Tesman.
TESMAN. Why, of course not! But—?
LøVBORG. I can easily understand that it makes things rather difficult for you.
TESMAN (dispiritedly). Oh, I could hardly expect that for my sake you’d—
LøVBORG. But I’m going to wait till you have your appointment.
TESMAN. You’ll wait! Yes, but—but—you’re not competing for it, then? Uh?
LøVBORG. No. I only want to win in the eyes of the world.
TESMAN. But, my Lord—then Aunt Julie was right after all! Oh yes—I knew it all along! Hedda! Can you imagine—Eilert Løvborg won’t stand in our way!
HEDDA (brusquely). Our way? Leave me out of it.
(She goes up toward the inner room where BERTA is putting a tray with decanters and glasses on the table. HEDDA nods her approval and comes back again. BERTA goes out.)
TESMAN (at the same time). But you, Judge—what do you say to all this? Uh?
BRACK. Well, I’d say that victory and honor—hm—after all, they’re very sweet—
TESMAN. Yes, of course. But still—
HEDDA (regarding TESMAN with a cold smile). You look as if you’d been struck by lightning.
TESMAN. Yes—something like it—I guess—
BRACK. That’s because a thunderstorm just passed over us, Mrs. Tesman.
HEDDA (pointing toward the inner room). Won’t you gentlemen please help yourselves to a glass of cold punch?
BRACK (looking at his watch). A parting cup? That’s not such a bad idea.
TESMAN. Marvelous, Hedda! Simply marvelous! The way I feel now, with this weight off my mind—
HEDDA. Please, Mr. Løvborg, you too,
LøVBORG (with a gesture of refusal). No, thank you. Not for me.
BRACK. Good Lord, cold punch—it isn’t poison, you know.
LøVBORG. Perhaps not for everyone.
HEDDA. I’ll keep Mr. Løvborg company a while.
TESMAN. All right, Hedda dear, you do that.
(He and BRACK go into the inner room, sit down, drink punch, smoke cigarettes, and talk animatedly during the following. LøVBORG remains standing by the stove. HEDDA goes to the writing table.)
HEDDA (slightly raising her voice). I can show you some photographs, if you like. Tesman and I traveled through the Tyrol on our way home.
(She brings over an album and lays it on the table by the sofa, seating herself in the farthest corner. EILERT LøVBORG comes closer, stops and looks at her. Then he takes a chair and sits down on her left, his back toward the inner room.)
HEDDA (opening the album). You see this view of the mountains, Mr. Løvborg. That’s the Ortler group. Tesman’s labeled them underneath. Here it is: “The Ortler group, near Meran.”
LøVBORG (whose eyes have never left her, speaking in a low, soft voice). Hedda—Gabler!
HEDDA (with a quick glance at him). Ah! Shh!
LøVBORG (repeating softly). Hedda Gabler!
HEDDA (looks at the album). Yes, I used to be called that. In those days—when we two knew each other.
LøVBORG. And from now on—for the rest of my life—I have to teach myself not to say Hedda Gabler.
HEDDA (turning the pages). Yes, you have to. And I think you ought to start practicing it. The sooner the better, I’d say.
LøVBORG (resentment in his voice). Hedda Gabler married? And to George Tesman!
HEDDA. Yes—that’s how it goes.
LøVBORG. Oh, Hedda, Hedda—how could you throw yourself away like that!
HEDDA (looks at him sharply). All right—no more of that!
LøVBORG. What do you mean?
(TESMAN comes in and over to the sofa.)
HEDDA (hears him coming and says casually). And this one, Mr. Løvborg, was taken from the Val d’Ampezzo. Just look at the peaks of those mountains. (Looks warmly up at TESMAN.) Now what were those marvelous mountains called, dear?
TESMAN. Let me see. Oh, those are the Dolomites.
HEDDA. Why, of course! Those are the Dolomites, Mr. Løvborg.
TESMAN. Hedda dear—I only wanted to ask if we shouldn’t bring in some punch anyway. At least for you, hm?
HEDDA. Yes, thank you. And a couple of petits fours, please.
TESMAN. No cigarettes?
HEDDA. No.
TESMAN. Right.
(He goes through the inner room and out to the right. BRACK remains sitting inside, keeping his eye from time to time on HEDDA and LøVBORG.)
LøVBORG (softly, as before). Answer me, Hedda—how could you go and do such a thing?
HEDDA (apparently immersed in the album). If you keep on saying Hedda like that to me, I won’t talk to you.
LøVBORG. Can’t I say Hedda even when we’re alone?
HEDDA. No. You can think it, but you mustn’t say it like that.
LøVBORG. Ah, I understand. It offends your—love for George Tesman.
HEDDA (glances at him and smiles). Love? You are absurd!
LøVBORG. Then you don’t love him!
HEDDA. I don’t expect to be unfaithful, either. I’m not having any of that!
LøVBORG. Hedda, just answer me one thing—
HEDDA. Shh!
(TESMAN, carrying a tray, enters from the inner room.)
TESMAN. Look out! Here come the goodies. (He sets the tray on the table.)
HEDDA. Why do you do the serving?
TESMAN (filling the glasses). Because I think it’s such fun to wait on you, Hedda.
HEDDA. But now you’ve poured out two glasses. And you know Mr. Løvborg doesn’t want—
TESMAN. Well, but Mrs. Elvsted will be along soon.
HEDDA. Yes, that’s right—Mrs. Elvsted—
TESMAN. Had you forgotten her? Uh?
HEDDA. We’ve been so caught up in these. (Showing him a picture.) Do you remember this little village?
TESMAN. Oh, that’s the one just below the Brenner Pass! It was there that we stayed overnight—
HEDDA. And met all those lively summer people.
TESMAN. Yes, that’s the place. Just think—if we could have had you with us, Eilert! My! (He goes back and sits beside BRACK.)
LøVBORG. Answer me just one thing, Hedda—
HEDDA. Yes?
LøVBORG. Was there no love with respect to me, either? Not a spark—not one glimmer of love at all?
HEDDA. I wonder, really, was there? To me it was as if we were two true companions—two very close friends. (Smiling.) You, especially, were so open with me.
LøVBORG. You wanted it that way.
HEDDA. When I look back on it now, there was really something beautiful and fascinating—and daring, it seems to me, about—about our secret closeness—our companionship that no one, not a soul, suspected.
LøVBORG. Yes, Hedda, that’s true! Wasn’t there? When I’d come over to your father’s in the afternoon—and the general sat by the window reading his papers—with his back to us—
HEDDA. And we’d sit on the corner sofa—
LøVBORG. Always with the same illustrated magazine in front of us—
HEDDA. Yes, for the lack of an album.
LøVBORG. Yes, Hedda—and the confessions I used to make—telling you things about myself that no one else knew of then. About the way I’d go out, the drinking, the madness that went on day and night, for days at a time. Ah, what power was it in you, Hedda, that made me tell you such things?
HEDDA. You think it was some kind of power in me?
LøVBORG. How else can I explain it? And all those—those devious questions you asked me—
HEDDA. That you understood so remarkably well—
LøVBORG. To think you could sit there and ask such questions! So boldly.
HEDDA. Deviously, please.
LøVBORG. Yes, but boldly, all the same. Interrogating me about—all that kind of thing!
HEDDA. And to think you could answer, Mr. Løvborg.
LøVBORG. Yes, that’s exactly what I don’t understand—now, looking back. But tell me, Hedda—the root of that bond between us, wasn’t it love? Didn’t you feel, on your part, as if you wanted to cleanse and absolve me—when I brought those confessions to you? Wasn’t that it?
HEDDA. No, not quite.
LøVBORG. What made you do it, then?
HEDDA. Do you find it so very surprising that a young girl—if there’s no chance of anyone knowing—
LøVBORG. Yes?
HEDDA. That she’d like some glimpse of a world that—
LøVBORG. That—?
HEDDA. That she’s forbidden to know anything about.
HEDDA. Partly. Partly that, I guess.
LøVBORG. Companionship in a thirst for life. But why, then, couldn’t it have gone on?
HEDDA. But that was your fault.
LøVBORG. You broke it off.
HEDDA. Yes, when that closeness of ours threatened to grow more serious. Shame on you, Eilert Løvborg! How could you violate my trust when I’d been so—so bold with my friendship?
LøVBORG (clenching his fists). Oh, why didn’t you do what you said! Why didn’t you shoot me down!
HEDDA. I’m—much too afraid of scandal.
LøVBORG. Yes, Hedda, you’re a coward at heart.
HEDDA. A terrible coward. (Changing her tone.) But that was lucky for you. And now you’re so nicely consoled at the Elvsteds’.
LøVBORG. I know what Thea’s been telling you.
HEDDA. And perhaps you’ve been telling her all about us?
LøVBORG. Not a word. She’s too stupid for that sort of thing.
HEDDA. Stupid?
LøVBORG. When it comes to those things, she’s stupid.
HEDDA. And I’m a coward. (Leans closer, without looking him in the eyes, and speaks softly.) But there is something now that I can tell you.
LøVBORG (intently). What?
HEDDA. When I didn’t dare shoot you
LøVBORG. Yes?
HEDDA. That wasn’t my worst cowardice—that night.
LøVBORG (looks at her a moment, understands, and whispers passionately). Oh, Hedda! Hedda Gabler! Now I begin to see it, the hidden reason why we’ve been so close! You and I—! It was the hunger for life in you—
HEDDA (quietly, with a sharp glance). Careful! That’s no way to think!
(It has begun to grow dark. The hall door is opened from without by BERTA.)
HEDDA (clapping the album shut and calling out with a smile). Well, at last! Thea dear—please come in!
HEDDA (on the sofa, stretching her arms out toward her). Thea, my sweet—I thought you were never coming!
(In passing, MRS. ELVSTED exchanges light greetings with the gentlemen in the inner room, then comes over to the table and extends her hand to HEDDA. LøVBORG has gotten up. He and MRS. ELVSTED greet each other with a silent nod.)
MRS. ELVSTED. Perhaps I ought to go in and talk a bit with your husband?
HEDDA. Oh, nonsense. Let them be. They’re leaving soon.
MRS. ELVSTED. They’re leaving?
HEDDA. Yes, for a drinking party.
MRS. ELVSTED (quickly, to LøVBORG). But you’re not?
LøVBORG. No.
HEDDA. Mr. Løvborg—is staying with us.
MRS. ELVSTED (taking a chair, about to sit down beside him). Oh, it’s so good to be here!
HEDDA. No, no, Thea dear! Not there! You have to come over here by me. I want to be in the middle.
MRS. ELVSTED. Any way you please.
(She goes around the table and sits on the sofa to HEDDA’S right. LøVBORG resumes his seat.)
LøVBORG (after a brief pause, to HEDDA). Isn’t she lovely to look at?
HEDDA (lightly stroking her hair). Only to look at?
LøVBORG. Yes. Because we two—she and I—we really are true companions. We trust each other completely. We can talk things out together without any reservations—<
HEDDA. Never anything devious, Mr. Løvborg?
LøVBORG. Well—
MRS. ELVSTED (quietly, leaning close to HEDDA). Oh, Hedda, you don’t know how happy I am! Just think—he says that I’ve inspired him.
HEDDA (regarding her with a smile). Really, dear; did he say that?
LøVBORG. And then the courage she has, Mrs. Tesman, when it’s put to the test.
MRS. ELVSTED. Good heavens, me! Courage!
LøVBORG. Enormous courage—where I’m concerned.
HEDDA. Yes, courage—yes! If one only had that.
LøVBORG. Then what?
HEDDA. Then life might still be bearable. (Suddenly changing her tone.) But now, Thea dearest—you really must have a nice glass of cold punch.
MRS. ELVSTED. No, thank you. I never drink that sort of thing.
HEDDA. Well, then you, Mr. Løvborg.
LøVBORG. Thanks, not for me either.
MRS. ELVSTED. No, not for him either!
HEDDA (looking intently at him). But if I insist?
LøVBORG. Makes no difference.
HEDDA (with a laugh). Poor me, then I have no power over you at all?
LøVBORG. Not in that area.
HEDDA. But seriously, I think you ought to, all the same. For your own sake.
MRS. ELVSTED. But Hedda—!
LøVBORG. Why do you think so?
HEDDA. Or, to be more exact, for others’ sakes.
LøVBORG. Oh?
HEDDA. Otherwise, people might get the idea that you’re not very bold at heart. That you’re not really sure of yourself at all.
MRS. ELVSTED (softly). Oh, Hedda, don’t—!
LøVBORG. People can think whatever they like, for all I care.
MRS. ELVSTED (happily). Yes, that’s right!
HEDDA. I saw it so clearly in Judge Brack a moment ago.
LøVBORG. What did you see?
HEDDA. The contempt in his smile when you didn’t dare join them for a drink.
LøVBORG. Didn’t dare! Obviously I’d rather stay here and talk with you.
MRS. ELVSTED. That’s only reasonable, Hedda.
HEDDA. But how could the judge know that? And besides, I noticed him smile and glance at Tesman when you couldn’t bring yourself to go to their wretched little party.
LøVBORG. Couldn’t! Are you saying I couldn’t?
HEDDA. I’m not. But that’s the way Judge Brack sees it.
LøVBORG. All right, let him.
HEDDA. Then you won’t go along?
LøVBORG. I’m staying here with you and Thea.
MRS. ELVSTED. Yes, Hedda—you can be sure he is!
HEDDA (smiles and nods approvingly at LøVBORG). I see. Firm as a rock. True to principle, to the end of time. There, that’s what a man ought to be! (Turning to MRS. ELVSTED and patting her.) Well, now, didn’t I tell you that, when you came here so distraught this morning—
LøVBORG (surprised). Distraught?
MRS. ELVSTED (terrified). Hedda—! But Hedda—!
HEDDA. Can’t you see for yourself? There’s no need at all for your going around so deathly afraid that— (Changing her tone.) There! Now we can all enjoy ourselves!
LøVBORG (shaken). What is all this, Mrs. Tesman?
MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, God, oh, God, Hedda! What are you saying! What are you doing!
HEDDA. Not so loud. That disgusting judge is watching you.
LøVBORG. So deathly afraid? For my sake?
MRS. ELVSTED (in a low moan). Oh, Hedda, you’ve made me so miserable!
LøVBORG (looks intently at her a moment, his face drawn). So that’s how completely you trusted me.
MRS. ELVSTED (imploringly). Oh, my dearest—if you’ll only listen—!
LøVBORG (takes one of the glasses of punch, raises it, and says in a low, hoarse voice). Your health, Thea! (He empties the glass, puts it down, and takes the other.)
MRS. ELVSTED (softly). Oh, Hedda, Hedda—how could you want such a thing!
HEDDA. Want it? I? Are you crazy?
LøVBORG. And your health too, Mrs. Tesman. Thanks for the truth. Long live truth! (Drains the glass and starts to refill it.)
HEDDA (laying her hand on his arm). All right—no more for now. Remember, you’re going to a party.
HEDDA. Shh! They’re watching you.
LøVBORG (putting down his glass). Now, Thea—tell me honestly—
MRS. ELVSTED. Yes!
LøVBORG. Did your husband know that you followed me?
MRS. ELVSTED (wringing her hands). Oh, Hedda—listen to him!
LøVBORG. Did you have it arranged, you and he, that you should come down into town and spy on me? Or maybe he got you to do it himself? Ah, yes—I’m sure he needed me back in the office! Or maybe he missed my hand at cards?
MRS. ELVSTED (softly, in anguish). Oh, Eilert, Eilert—!
LøVBORG (seizing his glass to fill it). Skoal to the old sheriff, too!
HEDDA (stopping him). That’s enough. Don’t forget, you’re giving a reading for Tesman.
LøVBORG (calmly, setting down his glass). That was stupid of me, Thea. I mean, taking it like this. Don’t be angry at me, my dearest. You’ll see—you and all the others—that if I stumbled and fell—I’m back on my feet again now! With your help, Thea.
MRS. ELVSTED (radiant with joy). Oh, thank God—!
(BRACK, in the meantime, has looked at his watch. He and TESMAN stand up and enter the drawing room.)
BRACK (takes his hat and overcoat). Well, Mrs. Tesman, Our time is up.
HEDDA. I suppose it is.
LøVBORG (rising). Mine too, Judge.
MRS. ELVSTED (softly pleading). Oh, Eilert—don’t!
HEDDA (pinching her arm). They can hear you!
MRS. ELVSTED (with a small cry). Ow!
LøVBORG (to BRACK). You were kind enough to ask me along.
BRACK. Oh, then you are coming, after all?
LøVBORG. Yes, thank you.
BRACK. I’m delighted—
LøVBORG (putting the packet back in his pocket, to TESMAN). I’d like to show you one or two things before I turn this in.
TESMANS. Just think—how exciting! But Hedda dear, how will Mrs. Elvsted get home? Uh?
HEDDA. Oh, we’ll hit on something.
LøVBORG (glancing toward the ladies). Mrs. Elvsted? Don’t worry, I’ll stop back and fetch her. (Coming nearer.) Say about ten o’clock, Mrs. Tesman? Will that do?
HEDDA. Yes. That will do very nicely.
TESMAN. Well, then everything’s all set. But you mustn’t expect me that early, Hedda.
HEDDA. Dear, you stay as long—just as long as you like.
MRS. ELVSTED (with suppressed anxiety). Mr. Løvborg—I’ll be waiting here till you come.
LøVBORG (his hat in his hand). Yes, I understand.
BRACK. So, gentlemen—the excursion train is leaving! I hope it’s going to be lively, as a certain fair lady puts it.
HEDDA. Ah, if only that fair lady could be there, invisible—
BRACK. Why invisible?
HEDDA. To hear a little of your unadulterated liveliness, Judge.
BRACK (laughs). I wouldn’t advise the fair lady to try.
TESMAN (also laughing). Oh, Hedda, that’s a good one! Just imagine!
BRACK. Well, good night. Good night, ladies.
LøVBORG (bowing). About ten o’clock, then.
(BRACK, LøVBORG, and TESMAN go out the hall door. At the same time, BERTA enters from the inner room with a lighted lamp, which she sets on the drawing room table, then goes out the same way.)
MRS. ELVSTED (having risen, moving restlessly about the room). Hedda—Hedda—what’s going to come of all this?
HEDDA. At ten o’clock—he’ll be here. I can see him now—with vine leaves in his hair—fiery and bold—
MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, how good that would be!
HEDDA. And then, you’ll see—he’ll be back in control of himself. He’ll be a free man, then, for the rest of his days.
MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, God—if only he comes as you see him now!
HEDDA. He’ll come back like that, and no other way! (Gets up and goes closer.) Go on and doubt him as much as you like. I believe in him. And now we’ll find out—
MRS. ELVSTED. There’s something behind what you’re doing, Hedda.
HEDDA. Yes, there is. For once in my life, I want to have power over a human being.
MRS. ELVSTED. But don’t you have that?
HEDDA. I don’t have it. I’ve never had it.
MRS. ELVSTED. Not with your husband?
HEDDA. Yes, what a bargain that was! Oh, if you only could understand how poor I am. And you’re allowed to be so rich! (Passionately throws her arms about her.) I think I’ll burn your hair off, after all!
MRS. ELVSTED. Let go! Let me go! I’m afraid of you, Hedda!
BERTA (in the doorway to the inner room). Supper’s waiting in the dining room, ma’am.
HEDDA. All right, we’re coming.
MRS. ELVSTED. No, no, no! I’d rather go home alone! Right away—now!
HEDDA. Nonsense! First you’re going to have tea, you little fool. And then—ten o’clock—Eilert Løvborg comes—with vine leaves in his hair.
(She drags MRS. ELVSTED, almost by force, toward the doorway.)