The same room. Up in the corner by the piano stands the Christmas tree, stripped, dishevelled and with its candles burned down to the stubs. Nora’s outdoor clothes are lying on the sofa.
NORA, alone in the room, walks about anxiously; finally she stops at the sofa and picks up her coat.
NORA [dropping her coat again]: Someone’s coming! [Goes to the door, listens.] No – nobody’s there. Of course – nobody will come today, Christmas Day;27 – and not tomorrow either. – But perhaps – [opens the door and looks out] No; nothing in the letterbox; quite empty. [Moves forward across the room.] Oh, it’s ludicrous! Of course he won’t actually do it. Something like that can’t happen. It’s impossible. I’ve got three young children, after all.
The NANNY, carrying a large cardboard box, comes in from the room on the left.
NANNY: There now, I’ve finally found the box of fancy dress costumes.
NORA: Thank you; put it on the table.
NANNY [does so]: But they’re in rather a bad way, I’m afraid.
NORA: Oh, I wish I could rip them into a hundred thousand pieces!
NANNY: Heavens; they can easily be put right; just a little patience.
NORA: Yes, I’ll go over and get Mrs Linde to help me.
NANNY: Out again? In this foul weather? Miss Nora28 will catch a chill – get sick.
NORA: Well, that wouldn’t be the worst. – How are the children?
NANNY: The poor little mites are playing with their Christmas presents, but –
NORA: Are they asking for me a lot?
NANNY: Well, they are very used to having Mummy around.
NORA: Yes but, Anne-Marie, from now on I can’t be with them as much as before.
NANNY: Well, little ones get used to all sorts.
NORA: Do you believe that? Do you believe they’d forget their mummy if she was gone altogether?
NANNY: Heavens; gone altogether!
NORA: Listen, tell me, Anne-Marie – I’ve often thought – how could you overrule your heart and place your child with strangers?
NANNY: But I had to, of course, when I was going to be wet-nurse for little Nora.
NORA: Yes, but that you’d want to?
NANNY: When I could get such a good job? A penniless girl who’s got herself into trouble29 has to be grateful for whatever she gets. After all, that scoundrel did nothing for me.
NORA: But your daughter must have forgotten you.
NANNY: Oh no, she most certainly hasn’t. She wrote to me, you know, both when she was confirmed and after she was married.
NORA [caresses her neck]: Dear old Anne-Marie, you were a good mother to me, when I was little.
NANNY: Little Nora, poor thing, didn’t have any other mother but me.
NORA: And if my little ones didn’t have any other, I know that you’d –. Oh, nonsense, nonsense. [Opens the box.] Go in to them. Now, I must –. Tomorrow you’ll see how lovely I’ll be.
NANNY: Ah, there’ll certainly be nobody at the whole ball as lovely as Miss Nora.
She goes into the room on the left.
NORA [starts to unpack the box but soon throws it all aside]: Oh, if I dared to go out. If only I knew nobody would come. That nothing would happen here at home in the meantime. Stuff and nonsense; nobody’s coming. Just don’t think. Brush my muff. Lovely gloves, lovely gloves. Push it away; push it away! One, two, three, four, five, six – [Screams.] Ah, they’re coming – [Starts for the door, but stands irresolute.]
MRS LINDE comes in from the hall, where she has left her outdoor things.
NORA: Oh, is it you, Kristine? There’s nobody else out there, is there? – It’s so good you came.
MRS LINDE: I hear you’ve been up asking for me.
NORA: Yes, I was just passing. There’s something you really must help me with. Let’s sit here on the sofa. Look. There’s going to be a fancy dress ball tomorrow evening, upstairs at Consul30 Stenborg’s, and Torvald wants me to be a Neapolitan fisher-girl31 and dance the tarantella32 – I learned it on Capri.
MRS LINDE: I say; so you’ll be giving a whole performance?
NORA: Yes, Torvald says I should. Look, I’ve got the outfit here; Torvald had it sewn for me down there; but now the whole thing’s in such tatters, and I simply don’t know –
MRS LINDE: Oh, we’ll soon get that put right; it’s just the trimmings that have come a bit loose here and there. Needle and thread? Right, we’ve got everything we need.
NORA: Oh, it’s so kind of you.
MRS LINDE [sewing]: So you’ll be in disguise tomorrow, Nora? You know what, I’ll pop by for a moment then, to see you in your finery. But, of course, I’ve clean forgotten to thank you for that nice evening yesterday.
NORA [gets up and walks across the room]: Oh, I don’t think it was as nice here yesterday as it usually is. – You should have come to town a bit sooner, Kristine. – But yes, Torvald certainly knows how to make a home lovely and beautiful.
MRS LINDE: And yourself no less, I’d say; you’re not your father’s daughter for nothing. But tell me, is Dr Rank always as gloomy as he was yesterday?
NORA: No, it was particularly noticeable yesterday. But then he does suffer from a very dangerous illness. He has consumption of the spine,33 poor man. His father was a revolting man, let me tell you, who kept mistresses and that sort of thing; which is why his son was sickly from childhood, you understand.
MRS LINDE [lowers her sewing]: But my dearest, sweetest Nora, where do you get to know about such things?
NORA [strolling about]: Pff – when you have three children, you get an occasional visit from – from ladies who are halfway knowledgeable in medical matters, and they tell you this and that.
MRS LINDE [sewing again; brief silence]: Does Dr Rank come to the house every day?
NORA: Every single day. He’s been Torvald’s best friend since they were young, and he’s my good friend too. Dr Rank’s almost a part of the house.
MRS LINDE: But tell me, Nora: is the man completely sincere? I mean, doesn’t he rather like saying things to please people?
NORA: No, on the contrary. What makes you think that?
MRS LINDE: When you introduced me to him yesterday, he assured me he’d often heard my name mentioned in this house; but later I noticed that your husband had no idea who I actually was. So how could Dr Rank –?
NORA: No, but that’s quite right, Kristine. Torvald is so indescribably devoted to me; so he wants to have me all for himself, alone, as he says. In the beginning he’d almost get jealous if I so much as mentioned any of the dear people from home. So, naturally, I avoided it. But I often talk to Dr Rank about such things, because he’s so happy to hear about them, you see.
MRS LINDE: Now listen, Nora; you are in many respects like a child still; I’m considerably older than you, of course, and have a little more experience. I want to tell you something: you must get out of this thing with Dr Rank.
NORA: What exactly must I get out of?
MRS LINDE: Of this, that and the other, I’d say. Yesterday you mentioned something about a rich admirer who was going to give you money –
NORA: Yes, a man who doesn’t exist – unfortunately. But what of it?
MRS LINDE: Is Dr Rank wealthy?
NORA: Yes, he is.
MRS LINDE: And has no dependants?
NORA: No, none; but –?
MRS LINDE: And he comes to this house every day?
NORA: Yes, you heard what I said.
MRS LINDE: But how could such a distinguished man be so persistent?
NORA: I really don’t follow you.
MRS LINDE: Don’t pretend now, Nora. Don’t you think I know who you borrowed the twelve hundred speciedaler from?
NORA: Are you completely out of your mind? Can you imagine such a thing! A friend of ours, who comes here every single day! Just think how terribly awkward that would be!
MRS LINDE: So it really isn’t him?
NORA: No, I assure you. It never occurred to me for a moment –. He didn’t have any money to lend out at the time anyway; he only inherited it later.
MRS LINDE: Well, I think that was lucky for you, my dear Nora.
NORA: No, it could never occur to me to ask Dr Rank –. Having said that, I’m pretty certain that if I were to ask him –
MRS LINDE: But naturally you won’t.
NORA: No, naturally. I don’t think I can imagine it ever being necessary. But I’m pretty sure that if I were to speak to Dr Rank –
MRS LINDE: Behind your husband’s back?
NORA: I must get out of this other business; that’s behind his back too. I must get out of all this.
MRS LINDE: Yes, yes, that’s exactly what I said yesterday; but –
NORA [walks back and forth]: A man can handle this sort of thing so much better than a mere woman –
MRS LINDE: One’s own husband, yes.
NORA: Oh stuff and nonsense. [Stops.] When you pay everything you owe, you get your IOU back, yes?
MRS LINDE: Yes, obviously.
NORA: And can rip it into a hundred thousand pieces and burn it up – that filthy revolting bit of paper!
MRS LINDE [looks stiffly at her, puts her sewing down and gets up slowly]: Nora, you’re hiding something from me.
NORA: Does it show?
MRS LINDE: Something’s happened to you since yesterday morning. Nora, whatever is it?
NORA [towards her]: Kristine! [Listens.] Ssh! Torvald’s just got home. Look; you go and sit with the children for now. Torvald can’t bear to see mending and darning. Let Anne-Marie help you.
MRS LINDE [collects some of the sewing things together]: Yes, all right, but I’m not leaving until we’ve had a proper talk together.
She goes into the room on the left, just as HELMER comes from the hall.
NORA [goes to meet him]: Oh, how I’ve waited for you, Torvald dear.
HELMER: Was that the seamstress?
NORA: No, it was Kristine; she’s helping me put my costume right. I’m going to look wonderful, believe me.
HELMER: Yes, rather an inspired idea of mine, wasn’t it?
NORA: Marvellous! But aren’t I nice too, to give in to you?
HELMER [takes her chin in his hand]: Nice – for giving in to your husband? Well, well, you crazy little thing, I know you didn’t mean it that way. Still, I don’t want to intrude; you’ll be trying on your costume, I expect.
NORA: And you’ll be working?
HELMER: Yes. [Showing her a bundle of papers] Look at this. I’ve been down at the Bank – [About to go into his room.]
NORA: Torvald.
HELMER [stops]: Yes.
NORA: If your little squirrel asked you ever so prettily, for just one thing –?
HELMER: Well?
NORA: Would you do it?
HELMER: I’d need to know what it is first, naturally.
NORA: Your squirrel would run about and do tricks, if you were nice and gave in to her.
HELMER: Out with it then.
NORA: Your skylark would chirrup in all the rooms, both high and low –
HELMER: Oh, but my skylark does that anyway.
NORA: I’d play elfin-girl34 and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.
HELMER: Nora – surely it’s never that thing you started on this morning?
NORA [closer]: Yes, Torvald, I beg and beseech you!
HELMER: And you have the courage to rake that business up again?
NORA: Yes, yes, you have to give in to me; you have to let Krogstad keep his post at the Bank.
HELMER: But my dear Nora, it’s his job I’ve allotted to Mrs Linde.
NORA: Yes, that’s extremely kind of you; but surely you can just dismiss another clerk instead of Krogstad.
HELMER: This really is the most incredible obstinacy! Just because you go making some thoughtless promise to speak on his behalf, I’m supposed to –!
NORA: That’s not why, Torvald. It’s for your own sake. This person writes in the foulest newspapers; you’ve said so yourself. He can do you such unutterable harm. I’m so deadly afraid of him –
HELMER: Aha, now I understand; old memories – that’s what’s putting you into this fearful flutter.
NORA: What do you mean?
HELMER: You’re thinking of your father, of course.
NORA: Oh yes, that’s it, yes. Remember how those evil-minded people wrote in the newspapers about Daddy and slandered him so horribly. I think they would have got him dismissed, if the Department hadn’t sent you over to look into it, and if you hadn’t been so obliging and helpful to him.
HELMER: My little Nora, there is a significant difference between your father and myself. Your father wasn’t an unimpeachable public servant. But I am and hope to remain so for as long as I am in my post.
NORA: Oh, nobody knows what things evil people can think up. Things could be so nice now, so calm and happy for us here in our peaceful and carefree home – you and I and the children, Torvald! That’s why I beg you, earnestly –
HELMER: And it’s precisely by pleading for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It’s already known at the Bank that I intend to dismiss Krogstad. If it were rumoured now that the new Bank director allowed his mind to be changed by his wife –
NORA: Would that matter –?
HELMER: No, naturally; so long as this little Miss Wilful could get her way –. I’m supposed to go in and make myself ridiculous in front of the entire staff – give people the idea I’m subject to all kinds of external influence? Well, believe me, I’d soon feel the consequences! And besides – there’s one factor that makes it absolutely impossible to have Krogstad at the Bank, as long as I am director.
NORA: And what’s that?
HELMER: I could, at a pinch, perhaps have overlooked his moral defects –
NORA: Yes, isn’t that so, Torvald?
HELMER: And I hear that he’s pretty good at his job too. But he’s an acquaintance from my youth. It was one of those rash associations that one’s so often embarrassed by later in life. Well, I may as well tell you straight: we’re on first-name terms.35 And this tactless individual does nothing to hide it in the presence of others. Quite the contrary – he thinks it entitles him to take a familiar tone with me; so he constantly gets one over me with his ‘Torvald this’ and ‘Torvald that’. I assure you, it is highly embarrassing. He’d make my position at the Bank intolerable.
NORA: Torvald, you don’t mean anything by this.
HELMER: Oh really? Why not?
NORA: Because it’s such a petty concern.
HELMER: What are you saying? Petty! You think I am petty!
NORA: No, quite the contrary, Torvald dear; and that’s precisely why –
HELMER: Nevertheless; you’re calling my motives petty; so I must be too. Petty! I see! – Right, this will be brought to a decisive end. [Goes to the hall door and calls] Helene!
HELMER [searching among his papers]: Settling the matter.
The MAID comes in.
HELMER: Here; take this letter; go down with it immediately. Get hold of a messenger and have him deliver it. But quickly. The address is on it. Look, there’s the money.
MAID: Very well.
She leaves with the letter.
HELMER [assembles his papers]: So, my little Miss Stubborn.
NORA [with bated breath]: Torvald – what was that letter?
HELMER: Krogstad’s notice.
NORA: Call it back, Torvald! There’s still time. Oh, Torvald, call it back! Do it for my sake – for your own sake; for the children’s sake! Are you listening, Torvald? Do it! You don’t realize what this can bring down on us all.
HELMER: Too late.
NORA: Yes, too late.
HELMER: My dear Nora, I forgive you the anxiety you’re going through here, even if it’s essentially an insult to me. Oh yes, it is! Or isn’t it perhaps an insult to believe that I would be worried about some wretched hack lawyer’s revenge? But I do nevertheless forgive you, because it’s such sweet testimony to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] That’s how it should be, my own darling Nora. Let whatever comes come.36 When it really counts, you can be sure, I have both strength and courage. You’ll see, I am man enough to take everything upon myself.
NORA [terrified]: What do you mean?
HELMER: Everything, I say –
NORA [firmly]: No, you shall never, never do that.
HELMER: All right; then we’ll share it, Nora – as husband and wife. That’s how it should be. [Caresses her.] Are you satisfied now? There, there, now; not these terrified doves’ eyes! This is nothing, really, but the emptiest figment of your imagination. – You should run through the tarantella and practise with the tambourine now. I’ll sit in the inner office and close the door between, so I won’t hear a thing; you can make as much noise as you want. [Turns around in the doorway.] And when Rank arrives, tell him where he can find me.
He nods to her, goes into his room with his papers and closes the door.
NORA [in bewildered fear, stands as if rooted to the spot, whispers]: He was prepared to do it. He’ll do it. He’ll do it, in the face of everything. – No, never that, never! Before all else! Rescue –! A way out – [The doorbell rings in the hall.] Dr Rank –! Before all else! Before anything, whatever it takes!
She runs her hands over her face, pulls herself together and goes over to open the door to the hall. DR RANK is standing out in the hall, hanging up his fur coat. During the following scene darkness begins to fall.
NORA: Hello, Dr Rank. I recognized you by the way you rang. But you mustn’t go in to Torvald just now; I think he’s busy with something.
RANK: And you?
NORA [as he enters the living room, and she closes the door behind him]: Oh, you know very well – for you, I always have a moment to spare.
RANK: Thank you. I shall avail myself of that for as long as I can.
NORA: What do you mean? For as long as you can?
RANK: Yes. Does that alarm you?
NORA: Well, it’s such a strange turn of phrase. Is anything going to happen?
RANK: What’s going to happen is what I’ve long been prepared for. But I really didn’t think it would come so soon.
NORA [clutching his arm]: What have you found out? Dr Rank, you’re to tell me!
RANK [sits next to the stove]: It’s downhill for me. There’s nothing to be done about it.
NORA [sighs with relief]: Oh, is it you –?
RANK: Who else? There’s no point lying to oneself. I am the most miserable of all my patients, Mrs Helmer. In the last few days I’ve carried out a complete assessment of my internal status. Bankrupt. Before the month is out I’ll be lying, perhaps, rotting up at the churchyard.
NORA: Shame on you, what an ugly way to talk.
RANK: Well, this thing is damned ugly. But the worst is that there’ll be so much other ugliness to come beforehand. There’s only one final investigation to be carried out now; when I’m finished with that, I’ll know the approximate hour that the disintegration will set in. There’s something I want to tell you. Helmer, with his fine sensibilities, has such a marked loathing for anything hideous. I don’t want him in my sickroom –
NORA: Oh, but Dr Rank –
RANK: I don’t want him there. Under any circumstance. I’m closing my door to him. – As soon as I’m fully informed of the worst, I shall send you my visiting-card with a black cross on it, and then you will know that the abominable process of destruction37 has begun.
NORA: Oh, you’re being quite unreasonable today. And just when I wanted you to be in a really good mood.
RANK: With death at hand? – And to pay like this for another man’s sin. Is there any justice in that? And every single family is in some way or other governed by this kind of inexorable retribution –
NORA [covers her ears]: Oh, stop now! Merry; merry!
RANK: Yes, there’s really no alternative but to laugh at the whole thing. My poor innocent spine38 has to suffer for my father’s merry days as a lieutenant.
NORA [at the table on the left]: He had such a weakness for asparagus and pâté de foie gras. Wasn’t that it?
RANK: Yes; and for truffles.
NORA: Yes, truffles, yes. And then oysters, I think?
RANK: Yes, oysters, oysters; that goes without saying.
NORA: And then all that port and champagne. It’s sad that all these delicious things should affect the spine.
RANK: Particularly that they should affect an unfortunate spine that hasn’t had the least pleasure from them.
NORA: Ah me, yes, that’s what’s saddest of all.
RANK [looks at her searchingly]: Hm –
NORA [after a brief pause]: Why did you smile?
RANK: No, it was you who laughed.
NORA: No, it was you who smiled, Dr Rank!
RANK [getting up]: You really are a bigger scamp than I thought.
NORA: I’m so bent on mischief today.
RANK: So it seems.
NORA [with both hands on his shoulders]: My dear, dear Dr Rank, you’re not to go and die on Torvald and me.
RANK: Oh, you’d soon recover from the loss. Those who depart are soon forgotten.
NORA [looks anxiously at him]: You think so?
RANK: One forms new bonds, and then –
NORA: Who forms new bonds?
RANK: You and Helmer both will, when I’m gone. You’ve already made a good start, I’d say. What was this Mrs Linde doing here yesterday evening?
NORA: Aha – you’re not jealous of poor Kristine, are you?
RANK: Yes, I am. She’ll be my successor here in this house. When I’ve got my final leave of absence, perhaps that woman will –
NORA: Hush; don’t talk so loud; she’s in there.
RANK: Today too? You see.
NORA: Only to sew my costume. Good Lord, you’re so unreasonable. [Sits down on the sofa.] Be nice now, Dr Rank; tomorrow you’ll see how prettily I shall dance; and then you’ll imagine that I’m doing it just for your sake – well, and for Torvald’s too, of course – that goes without saying. [Takes various things out of the box.] Dr Rank, sit down here, and I’ll show you something.
RANK [sits down]: What is it?
NORA: Look here. Look!
RANK: Silk stockings.
NORA: Flesh-coloured. Aren’t they lovely? Well, it’s dark in here now; but tomorrow –. No, no, no; you’re only to see the foot. Oh all right then, of course you can look higher up39 too.
RANK: Hm –
NORA: Why are you looking so critical? You think perhaps they won’t fit me?
RANK: Well, on that I couldn’t possibly have an informed opinion.
NORA [looks at him for a moment]: Shame on you! [Hits him lightly on the ear with the stockings.] Take that. [Puts them back in the box.]
RANK: And what other glorious things am I to see?
NORA: You shan’t see a scrap more, because you’re naughty.
She hums to herself a little, and searches among the things.
RANK [after a brief silence]: When I sit here like this with you in such close confidence, then I can’t imagine – no, I can’t conceive – what would have become of me if I’d never come into this house.
NORA [smiles]: Yes, I do believe you actually enjoy yourself here with us.
RANK [more quietly, looking straight in front of him]: And then to have to leave it all –
NORA: Oh stuff and nonsense. You’re not leaving it.
RANK [as before]: – without being able to leave behind even a humble token of gratitude; scarcely a fleeting sense of loss – nothing but a vacant place that can be filled by the first person to come along.
NORA: And if I were to ask you for –? No –
RANK: For what?
NORA: For a great proof of your friendship –
RANK: Yes, yes?
NORA: No, I mean – for a tremendously big favour –
RANK: Would you really, just this one time, make me so happy?
NORA: Oh, but you don’t have any idea what it is.
RANK: All right; so tell me.
NORA: No, but really I can’t, Dr Rank; it’s so unreasonably much: advice, and help and a favour too –
RANK: The more the better. It’s a mystery to me what you might mean. Well, speak out. Haven’t I your confidence?
NORA: Yes, you have, like nobody else. You’re my truest and best friend, I know that. And that’s also why I shall tell you. You see, Dr Rank: there’s something you must help me to prevent. You know how deeply, how indescribably Torvald loves me; he wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to give his life for my sake.
RANK [leaning towards her]: Nora – do you think he’s the only one –?
NORA [with a slight start]: Who would –?
RANK: Who would gladly give his life for your sake.
NORA [sadly]: I see.
RANK: I swore to myself that you’d know it before I went away. I’ll never find a better opportunity. – Yes, Nora, now you know. And now you also know that you can confide in me as in nobody else.
NORA [gets up; steadily and calmly]: Let me pass.
RANK [makes room for her, but remains seated]: Nora –
NORA [in the doorway to the hall]: Helene, bring in the lamp. – [Walks over towards the stove.] Oh, my dear Dr Rank, that was really horrid of you.
RANK [gets up]: To have loved you as deeply as anyone else? Was that horrid?
NORA: No, but that you should go and tell me. That was absolutely unnecessary –
RANK: What do you mean? Did you know –?
The MAID comes in with the lamp, puts it on the table and goes out again.
RANK: Nora – Mrs Helmer – I’m asking you: did you know something?
NORA: Oh, how do I know what I knew or didn’t know? I really can’t say –. That you could be so clumsy, Dr Rank! Everything was so good a moment ago.
RANK: Well, at least you can be quite sure now that I’m here at your disposal, body and soul. So if you do want to speak out –
NORA [looks at him]: After this?
RANK: I beg you, let me know what it is.
NORA: I can’t tell you anything now.
RANK: Oh please. You mustn’t punish me like this. Let me do whatever’s humanly possible for you.
NORA: You can’t do anything for me now. – Anyway, I probably don’t need any help. You’ll see, the whole thing is just a figment of my imagination. Of course it is! Naturally. [Sits down in the rocking-chair, looks at him, smiles.] Well, you really are a fine gentleman, Dr Rank! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, now that the lamp’s come in?
RANK: No, not really. But perhaps I should go – for ever?
NORA: No, you certainly mustn’t do that. Naturally you’ll come here as before. You know very well Torvald can’t do without you.
RANK: Yes, but you?
NORA: Oh, I always think it’s tremendously amusing here when you come by.
RANK: Yes, it was that that led me astray. You’re an enigma to me. I’ve often had the sense that you’d almost as soon be with me as with Helmer.
NORA: Well, you know, there are certain people one loves most, and others one might almost prefer to be with.
RANK: Indeed, there’s something in that.
NORA: When I was at home, I loved Daddy best, of course. But I always thought it was tremendous fun when I could steal down to the maids’ room; they never ever tried to guide or instruct40 me; and they always talked so amusingly among themselves.
RANK: Aha. So it’s them I’ve replaced.
NORA [jumps up and goes over to him]: Oh, dear, kind Dr Rank, that’s not what I meant at all. But you can understand, surely, that with Torvald it’s the same as with Daddy –
The MAID comes in from the hall.
MAID: Madam! [Whispers and hands her a card.]
NORA [glances at the card]: Ah! [Stuffs it in her pocket.]
RANK: Something wrong?
NORA: No, no, not at all; it’s just – it’s my new costume –
RANK: Really? But your costume’s over there.
NORA: Oh, yes, that one; but this is another; I’ve ordered it – Torvald mustn’t know –
RANK: Aha, so there we have the big secret.
NORA: Yes, quite so; just go in to him; he’s sitting in the inner room; keep him busy for a bit –
RANK: Don’t worry; he shan’t escape me.
He goes into HELMER’s room.
NORA [to the MAID] And he’s waiting in the kitchen?
MAID: Yes, he came up the back stairs41 –
NORA: But didn’t you tell him there was somebody here?
MAID: Yes, but it was no good.
NORA: He won’t go away?
MAID: No, he won’t go until he’s spoken with you, madam.
NORA: Well, let him come in; but quietly. Helene, you mustn’t tell anybody; it’s a surprise for my husband.
MAID: Yes, yes, I understand, of course –
She goes out.
NORA: It’s happening – the most terrible thing.42 It’s coming after all. No, no, no, it can’t be happening; it shan’t happen. [She goes over and bolts HELMER’s door.]
The MAID opens the door to the hallway for KROGSTAD and closes it after him. He is wearing a fur travel coat, boots and a fur hat.
NORA [going towards him]: Talk quietly; my husband’s at home.
KROGSTAD: What of it?
NORA: What do you want from me?
KROGSTAD: To get some answers.
NORA: Then hurry up. What is it?
KROGSTAD: You know presumably that I’ve had my dismissal.
NORA: I couldn’t prevent it, Mr Krogstad. I fought my utmost on your behalf, but it was no use.
KROGSTAD: Does your husband have so little love for you? He’s aware of what I can expose you to, and yet he dares –
NORA: How could you think he’d know anything?
KROGSTAD: Well, no, I didn’t actually think he did. It didn’t seem the least bit like dear old Torvald Helmer to show that much manly courage –
NORA: Mr Krogstad, I demand respect for my husband.
KROGSTAD: Oh, absolutely, all due respect. But since madam is so anxious to keep all this hidden, I dare to presume you’re a little better informed than yesterday about what it is you’ve actually done.
NORA: More than you could ever teach me.
KROGSTAD: Yes, such a bad lawyer as I am –
NORA: What do you want from me?
KROGSTAD: Just to see how things stood with you, Mrs Helmer. I’ve been thinking about you all day. A debt-collector, a hack lawyer, a – well, even someone of my sort has a little of what’s called compassion, you see.
NORA: Show it then; think of my young children.
KROGSTAD: Have you and your husband thought of mine? But that makes no odds now. All I wanted to tell you was this: you needn’t take this affair too seriously. There won’t, for the present, be any charges brought from my side.
NORA: No; that’s so, isn’t it; I knew it.
KROGSTAD: This entire affair can be sorted out amicably; there’s absolutely no need for it to come out; it’ll stay between the three of us.
NORA: My husband must never get to know about this.
KROGSTAD: How are you going to prevent it? Can you pay off what’s outstanding perhaps?
NORA: No, not straight away.
KROGSTAD: Or do you perhaps have some way of raising the money over the next few days?
NORA: Not a way I want to make use of.
KROGSTAD: No, it would be of no help to you now anyway. Even if you stood here with the biggest pile of cash in your hand, you’d not get your bond from me.
NORA: Then explain to me what you want to use it for.
KROGSTAD: I just want to hold on to it – have it in my safekeeping. Nobody else at all will get the least hint of this. So if you were going about here with some desperate solution or other –
NORA: I am.
KROGSTAD: – thinking of running away from your house and home –
NORA: I am!
KROGSTAD: – or thinking of something worse still –
NORA: How can you know?
KROGSTAD: – then forget it.
NORA: How can you know I’m thinking of that?
KROGSTAD: Most of us think of that in the beginning. I thought of it too; but I honestly didn’t have the courage –
NORA [in a dull tone]: Neither do I.
KROGSTAD [relieved]: No, that’s quite right; you don’t have the courage for it either, do you?
NORA: No, I haven’t; I haven’t.
KROGSTAD: And a very foolish mistake it would be. Once the initial domestic storm is over –. I have in my pocket here a letter for your husband –
NORA: And it says everything?
KROGSTAD: Expressed as delicately as possible.
NORA [quickly]: He mustn’t get that letter. Rip it up again. I’ll find a way out, I’ll get the money.
KROGSTAD: I’m sorry, Mrs Helmer, but I believe I just told you –
NORA: Oh, I’m not talking about what I owe you. Let me know exactly how much you’re demanding from my husband, and I’ll get the money.
KROGSTAD: I’m not demanding any money from your husband.
NORA: So what are you demanding?
KROGSTAD: I’ll tell you. I want to get back on my feet, Mrs Helmer; I want to rise in the world; and your husband will help me. For a year and a half I’ve been guilty of nothing dishonest; I have, in all that time, battled in the most straitened circumstances; I was content to work my way up step by step. Now I’ve been chased out and I refuse to be content with merely being taken back into the fold. I want to rise in the world, I tell you. I want to be back in the Bank – in a higher position; your husband will create a position for me –
NORA: He’ll never do that!
KROGSTAD: He will do it; I know him; he won’t dare breathe a word. And once I’m in there with him, then you’ll see! Within a year I shall be the director’s right-hand man. It’ll be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer running the Commercial Bank.
NORA: That’s something you’ll never see!
KROGSTAD: You might perhaps –?
NORA: I have the courage for it now.
KROGSTAD: Oh, you don’t frighten me. A fine, cosseted lady like you –
NORA: You’ll see; you’ll see!
KROGSTAD: Under the ice perhaps? Down in the cold, coal-black water? And then to float up in the spring, hideous, unrecognizable, with your hair fallen out –
NORA: You don’t frighten me.
KROGSTAD: Nor do you frighten me. People don’t do such things, Mrs Helmer. Besides, what purpose would it serve? I’d have him in my pocket all the same.
NORA: Afterwards? When I’m no longer –?
KROGSTAD: Are you forgetting that I would then have control over the reputation you leave behind?
NORA looks at him, speechless.
KROGSTAD: Well, I’ve prepared you now. Don’t go doing anything silly. As soon as Helmer’s got my letter, I expect to hear from him. And remember, it’s your husband himself who’s forced me back on to such a path. And for that I shall never forgive him. Goodbye, Mrs Helmer.
He goes out through the hall.
NORA [going to the door leading to the hall, opens it a crack and listens]: Going. Isn’t dropping the letter off. Oh no, no, of course, that would be impossible surely. [Opens the door wider and wider.] What’s happening? He’s standing outside. Isn’t going down the stairs. Is he changing his mind? Might he –?
A letter falls into the letterbox; then KROGSTAD’s steps are heard as they fade down the stairwell.
NORA [with a stifled cry, runs across the room and towards the sofa table; brief pause]: In the letterbox. [Sneaks nervously over to the hall door.] There it is. – Torvald, Torvald – we’re beyond rescue now!
MRS LINDE [comes in with the costume, from the room on the left]: Well, I don’t think there’s more to put right. Should we perhaps try it on –?
NORA [hoarsely and quietly]: Kristine, come here.
MRS LINDE [throws the dress on the sofa]: What’s wrong? You look quite distraught.
NORA: Come here. Do you see that letter? There; look – through the glass in the letterbox.
MRS LINDE: Yes, yes; I can see it.
NORA: That letter is from Krogstad –
MRS LINDE: Nora – it’s Krogstad who lent you the money!
NORA: Yes; and now Torvald will get to know everything.
MRS LINDE: Oh, believe me, Nora, it’s best for both of you.
NORA: There’s more to it than you know. I forged a signature –
MRS LINDE: But for heaven’s sake –?
NORA: Now, there’s just one thing I want to tell you, Kristine; you’ve got to be my witness.
MRS LINDE: What do you mean witness? What am I to –?
NORA: In case I were to go insane – and that could well happen –
MRS LINDE: Nora!
NORA: Or if something else were to happen to me – something that meant I couldn’t be around –
MRS LINDE: Nora, Nora, you seem quite out of your mind!
NORA: If there were someone who wanted to take everything upon themselves, all the blame, you understand –
MRS LINDE: Yes, yes; but how can you think –?
NORA: Then you’ll be a witness to it not being true, Kristine. I am not out of my mind at all; I have full powers of reasoning in this moment; and I am telling you: nobody else knew about this; I did the whole thing on my own. Remember that.
MRS LINDE: Of course I will. But I don’t understand any of this.
NORA: Well, how could you understand? After all, it’s the most miraculous thing that’s about to happen now.
MRS LINDE: Miraculous?
NORA: Yes, miraculous. But it’s so terrible, Kristine – it mustn’t happen, not for anything in the world.
MRS LINDE: I’ll go straight to Krogstad and talk to him.
NORA: Don’t go to him; he’ll only do you harm!
MRS LINDE: There was a time when he’d gladly have done absolutely anything for my sake.
NORA: Krogstad?
MRS LINDE: Where does he live?
NORA: Oh, how do I know –? Wait, [feels in her pocket] here’s his card. But the letter, the letter –!
HELMER [in his room, knocking on the door]: Nora!
NORA [screams in terror]: Oh, what is it? What do you want of me?
HELMER: Now, now, don’t be so scared. We’re not coming in; you’ve locked the door anyway; trying your dress on perhaps?
NORA: Yes, yes; I’m trying it on. I’ll be so pretty, Torvald.
MRS LINDE [who has read the card]: He lives just round the corner.
NORA: Yes; but it’s useless. We’re beyond rescue. The letter’s lying there in the box.
MRS LINDE: And your husband has the key?
NORA: Yes, always.
MRS LINDE: Krogstad must ask for his letter back unread; he must find an excuse –
NORA: But it’s usually around now that Torvald –
MRS LINDE: Stall him; go in to him for now. I’ll come back as quickly as I can.
She hurries out through the door to the hall.
NORA [goes over to HELMER’s door, opens it and peeps in]: Torvald!
HELMER [in the inner room]: Well, is one finally allowed back into one’s own living room? Come on, Rank, now we’ll get to see – [In the doorway] But what’s this?
NORA: What, Torvald dear?
HELMER: Rank prepared me for a scene of splendid disguise.
RANK: That’s what I understood, but I was clearly mistaken.
NORA: Yes, nobody’s to admire me in my full glory before tomorrow.
HELMER: But, Nora dear, you look quite exhausted. Have you been practising too hard?
NORA: No, I’ve not practised at all yet.
HELMER: Well, it’ll be necessary –
NORA: Yes, it’ll be absolutely necessary, Torvald. But I can’t get anywhere without your help; I’ve completely forgotten it all.
HELMER: Oh, we’ll soon brush it up.
NORA: Yes, do take me in hand, Torvald. Will you promise? Oh, I’m so nervous. All those people –. You must sacrifice yourself to me totally this evening. Not a scrap of work; no pen in hand. Hmm? You agree, Torvald dear?
HELMER: I promise you; this evening I shall be totally and utterly at your service – you helpless little thing. – Hmm, but that’s true, there’s just one thing I have to do first – [Goes towards the door to the hall.]
NORA: What are you looking for out there?
HELMER: Just looking to see if any letters have come.
NORA: No, no, don’t do that, Torvald!
HELMER: What now?
NORA: Torvald, I beg you; there aren’t any.
HELMER: Just let me look. [Wanting to go.]
NORA at the piano, plays the first few bars of the tarantella.
HELMER [at the door, stops]: Aha!
NORA: I can’t dance tomorrow if I don’t practise with you.
HELMER [goes over to her]: Are you really that anxious, Nora dear?
NORA: Yes, extremely anxious. Let me practise immediately; there’s still time before we have dinner. Oh, sit down and play for me, dear Torvald; correct me, instruct me as you always do.
HELMER: With pleasure, the greatest pleasure, since that’s your wish.
He sits down at the piano.
NORA [grabs the tambourine from the box as well as a long, multi-coloured shawl, which she drapes round herself hurriedly; then she leaps into the middle of the room, stands waiting and calls out]: Now play for me! I want to dance now!
HELMER plays and NORA dances; DR RANK stands at the piano behind HELMER and looks on.
HELMER [playing]: Slower – slower.
NORA: Can’t do it differently.
HELMER: Not so fiercely, Nora!
NORA: It has to be this way.
HELMER [stops]: No, no, this really won’t do.
NORA [laughs and swings the tambourine]: Wasn’t that what I told you?
RANK: Let me play for her.
HELMER [gets up]: Yes do; then I can instruct her better.
RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA dances increasingly wildly. HELMER has placed himself by the stove and issues her with corrections regularly throughout the dance; she seems not to hear; her hair comes down and falls over her shoulders; she takes no notice, but goes on dancing.
MRS LINDE comes in.
MRS LINDE [stands by the door, dumbstruck]: Ah –!
NORA [dancing]: See what fun this is, Kristine!
HELMER: But, my dear sweet Nora, you’re dancing as if your life depended on it.
NORA: And so it does.
HELMER: Rank, stop; this is sheer madness. Stop, I say.
RANK stops playing, and NORA suddenly stands still.
HELMER [goes over to her]: I’d never have believed this. You really have forgotten everything I taught you.
NORA [throws down the tambourine]: There now, you see for yourself.
HELMER: Well, there’s certainly need for instruction here.
NORA: Yes, you can see how necessary it is. You must instruct me right to the very last moment. Promise me that, Torvald?
HELMER: You can depend on it.
NORA: You’re not to think, either today or tomorrow, about anything but me; you’re not to open any letters – not open the letterbox –
HELMER: Aha, it’s still the fear of that man –
NORA: Well yes, yes, that too.
HELMER: Nora, I see it in your face, there’s a letter from him already.
NORA: I don’t know; I think so; but you’re not to read anything of that sort now; nothing ugly must come between us before it’s all over.
RANK [quietly to HELMER]: You’d better not contradict her.
HELMER [throws his arm around her]: The child shall have her way. But tomorrow night, when you’ve danced –
NORA: Then you’re free.
MAID [in the doorway to the right]: Madam, dinner is served.
NORA: We’ll have champagne, Helene.
MAID: Very good, madam. [Goes out.]
HELMER: I say – a great feast, eh?
NORA: A champagne feast until dawn. [Calls out] And a few macaroons, Helene, lots – for once.
HELMER [takes her hands]: Now, now, now; let’s have none of this wild fluttering. Be my own little lark now as usual.
NORA: Oh yes, I will of course. But go in ahead, and you too, Dr Rank. Kristine, you must help me put my hair up.
RANK [quietly, as they go]: I don’t suppose there’s – well, you know – something on the way?
HELMER: Oh, not at all, my friend, it really is nothing but this childlike anxiety I was telling you about.
They go in, to the right.
NORA: Well?!
MRS LINDE: Gone to the country.
NORA: I could see by your face.
MRS LINDE: He’s coming home tomorrow evening. I wrote him a note.
NORA: You shouldn’t have. You’re to prevent nothing. Actually it’s a deep joy, to be sitting here and waiting for the miraculous to happen.
MRS LINDE: What is it you’re waiting for?
NORA: Oh, you wouldn’t understand. Go in to them; I’ll come right away.
MRS LINDE goes into the dining room.
NORA [stands for a moment as if to collect herself; then looks at her watch]: Five. Seven hours until midnight. Then twenty-four hours until the next midnight. Then the tarantella’s over. Twenty-four plus seven? Thirty-one hours left to live.
HELMER [in the doorway to the right]: But where’s my little song-lark?
NORA [going towards him with open arms]: Here is your song-lark!