A Doll's House : a play

SCENE. A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a door to...

A bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door is heard to open. Enter NORA, humming a tune...

NORA. There is a shilling. No, keep the change. The PORTER thanks her, and goes out. NORA shuts the...

HELMER. Nora. Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear. The same little featherhead....

HELMER. That is like a woman. But seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debt, no...

NORA. Yes, yes, it will. But come here and let me show you what I have bought. And all so cheap....

HELMER. smiling. Indeed it is that is to say, if you were really to save out of the money I give...

HELMER. You are an odd little soul. Very like your father. You always find some new way of...

HELMER. No, I am sure of that; besides, you gave me your word Going up to her. Keep your little...

HELMER. No. But there is no need; as a matter of course he will come to dinner with us. However, I...

HELMER. Do you remember last Christmas. For a full three weeks beforehand you shut yourself up...

NORA. clapping her hands. No, Torvald, I neednt any longer, need I. Its wonderfully lovely to hear...

NORA. Is it so long since we met. I suppose it is. The last eight years have been a happy time for...

NORA. To have some fun at Christmas time, of course. How delightful. We will have such fun...

NORA. No, you must begin. I mustnt be selfish today; today I must only think of your affairs. But...

NORA. Yes, tremendous. A barristers profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he wont...

NORA. laughing. Yes, that is what Torvald says now. Wags her finger at her. But Nora, Nora is not...

NORA. Yes; odds and ends, needlework, crotchet work, embroidery, and that kind of thing. Dropping...

NORA. Yes. It was no easy matter to get away, I can tell you. It was just after Ivar was born; but...

NORA. Yes; and, just think of it, I couldnt go and nurse him. I was expecting little Ivars birth...

NORA. Yes, that was Doctor Rank, but he doesnt come here professionally. He is our greatest friend,...

MRS LINDE. Well, I had to turn my hand to anything I could find first a small shop, then a small...

MRS LINDE. No, indeed; I only feel my life unspeakably empty. No one to live for anymore. Gets up...

MRS LINDE. going up to her. It is you that must not be angry with me, dear. The worst of a position...

NORA. He must, Christine. Just leave it to me; I will broach the subject very cleverly I will think...

NORA. There is no need you should. I never said I had borrowed the money. I may have got it some...

NORA. But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know. My goodness, cant you understand...

NORA. No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him...

NORA. Good Heavens, no. How could you think so. A man who has such strong opinions about these...

NORA. meditatively, and with a half smile. Yes someday, perhaps, after many years, when I am no...

NORA. Of course. Besides, I was the one responsible for it. Whenever Torvald has given me money for...

NORA. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a...

NORA. I cant tell you exactly. You see, it is very difficult to keep an account of a business...

NORA. Be quiet. that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained, written in big...

NORA. Good gracious, cant you understand. There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something...

DOCTOR RANK. comes out of HELMERS study. Before he shuts the door he calls to him. No, my dear...

RANK. Certainly. However wretched I may feel, I want to prolong the agony as long as possible. All...

RANK. Yes, he has some sort of appointment there. To Mrs Linde. I dont know whether you find also...

NORA. smiling and humming. Thats my affair. Walking about the room. Its perfectly glorious to think...

NORA. Oh, well, dont be alarmed. You couldnt know that Torvald had forbidden them. I must tell you...

NORA. And when she heard you had been appointed manager of the Bank the news was telegraphed, you...

NORA. Goodbye for the present. Of course you will come back this evening. And you too, Dr. Rank....

NORA. How fresh and well you look. Such red cheeks like apples and roses. The children all talk at...

NORA. Really. Did a big dog run after you. But it didnt bite you. No, dogs dont bite nice little...

NORA. With me. To the children, gently. Go in to nurse. What. No, the strange man wont do mother...

NORA. What right have you to question me, Mr. Krogstad. You, one of my husbands subordinates. But...

NORA. walking up and down the stage. Sometimes one has a tiny little bit of influence, I should...

KROGSTAD. Oh, there is no necessity to keep up the pretence of ignorance. I can quite understand...

KROGSTAD. It is not only for the sake of the money; indeed, that weighs least with me in the...

KROGSTAD. The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So...

NORA. It would be perfectly infamous of you. Sobbing. To think of his learning my secret, which has...

KROGSTAD. I promised to get you that amount, on certain conditions. Your mind was so taken up with...

KROGSTAD. Your father died on the 29th of September. But, look here; your father has dated his...

NORA. It was impossible; papa was so ill. If I had asked him for his signature, I should have had...

NORA. I couldnt take that into account; I didnt trouble myself about you at all. I couldnt bear...

KROGSTAD. Mrs Helmer, you evidently do not realise clearly what it is that you have been guilty of....

NORA. I dont believe it. Is a daughter not to be allowed to spare her dying father anxiety and...

KROGSTAD. Maybe. But matters of business such business as you and I have had together do you think...

NORA. appears buried in thought for a short time, then tosses her head. Nonsense. Trying to...

NORA. Yes, but I cant now. Run away in; I have such a lot to do. Run away in, my sweet little...

NORA. begins dressing the tree. A candle here and flowers here The horrible man. Its all nonsense...

HELMER. Didnt you tell me no one had been here. Shakes his finger at her. My little songbird must...

HELMER. I have got authority from the retiring manager to undertake the necessary changes in the...

NORA. There is no one has such good taste as you. And I do so want to look nice at the fancy dress...

HELMER. Just think how a guilty man like that has to lie and play the hypocrite with every one, how...

HELMER. It seems most commonly to be the mothers influence, though naturally a bad fathers would...

HELMER. getting up and putting his papers in order. Yes, and I must try and read through some of...

THE SAME SCENE. THE Christmas Tree is in the corner by the piano, stripped of its ornaments and...

NORA. drops her cloak. Someone is coming now. Goes to the door and listens. No it is no one. Of...

NORA. And if my little ones had no other mother, I am sure you would What nonsense I am talking....

NORA. begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it away from her. If only I dared go out. If only...

NORA. Yes, I was passing by. As a matter of fact, it is something you could help me with. Let us...

MRS LINDE. sewing. So you are going to be dressed up tomorrow Nora. I will tell you what I shall...

NORA. gets up, and crosses the stage. Well, I dont think yesterday was as pleasant as usual. You...

NORA. No; yesterday it was very noticeable. I must tell you that he suffers from a very dangerous...

MRS LINDE. When you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he had often heard my name...

NORA. That is quite right, Christine. Torvald is so absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely...

MRS LINDE. Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than...

MRS LINDE. gathering some of the things together. Certainly but I am not going away from here until...

HELMER. Nice. because you do as your husband wishes. Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you...

NORA. That isnt the reason, Torvald. It is for your own sake. This fellow writes in the most...

NORA. Yes yes, of course. Just recall to your mind what these malicious creatures wrote in the...

HELMER. My little Nora, there is an important difference between your father and me. Your fathers...

NORA. You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug...

HELMER. And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It is...

HELMER. Of course. if only this obstinate little person can get her way. Do you suppose I am going...

HELMER. And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those...

HELMER. looking among his papers. Settle it. Enter MAID. Look here; take this letter and go...

NORA. Call her back, Torvald. There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back. Do it for my sake for...

HELMER. My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me....

HELMER. Thats right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be....

NORA. bewildered with anxiety, stands as if rooted to the spot, and whispers. He was capable of...

RANK. Who else. It is no use lying to ones self. I am the most wretched of all my patients, Mrs...

RANK. The thing itself is cursedly ugly, and the worst of it is that I shall have to face so much...

RANK. I wont have him there. Not on any account. I bar my door to him. As soon as I am quite...

NORA. She has only come to sew my dress for me. Bless my soul, how unreasonable you are. Sits down...

NORA. More than anyone else. I know you are my truest and best friend, and so I will tell you what...

RANK. I was determined you should know it before I went away, and there will never be a better...

NORA. You can do nothing for me now. Besides, I really dont need any help at all. You will find...

NORA. When I was at home, of course I loved papa best. But I always thought it tremendous fun if I...

NORA. This dreadful thing is going to happen. It will happen in spite of me. No, no, no, it cant...

KROGSTAD. Certainly all the respect he deserves. But since you have kept the matter so carefully to...

KROGSTAD. Only to see how you were, Mrs Helmer. I have been thinking about you all day long. A mere...

KROGSTAD. Have you and your husband thought of mine. But never mind about that. I only wanted to...

KROGSTAD. I shall only preserve it keep it in my possession. No one who is not concerned in the...

KROGSTAD. I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs Helmer; I want to get on; and in that...

KROGSTAD. He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him,...

KROGSTAD. Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation. NORA stands...

NORA. goes to the hall door, opens it slightly and listens. He is going. He is not putting the...

NORA. Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine. I am not out of my mind at all;...

NORA. Yes, help me, Torvald. Promise that you will. I am so nervous about it all the people . You...

NORA. takes out of the box a tambourine and a long variegated shawl. She hastily drapes the shawl...

RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA dances more and more wildly. HELMER has taken up a...

NORA. Oh, you wouldnt understand. Go in to them, I will come in a moment. Mrs Linde goes into the...

THE SAME SCENE. The table has been placed in the middle of the stage, with chairs around it. A lamp...

MRS LINDE. looking at her watch. Not yet and the time is nearly up. If only he does not . Listens...

MRS LINDE. I could not endure life without work. All my life, as long as I can remember, I have...

MRS LINDE. In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty four hours have elapsed since then, and...

MRS LINDE. tidying up the room and laying her hat and cloak ready. What a difference. what a...

HELMER. Doesnt she look remarkably pretty. Everyone thought so at the dance. But she is terribly...

HELMER. Listen to her, Mrs Linde. She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous...

HELMER. But in the case of knitting that can never be anything but ungraceful; look here the arms...

HELMER. accompanying her to the door. Goodnight, goodnight. I hope you will get home all right. I...

HELMER. And I very little, but I have not for a long time seen him in such good form. Looks for a...

HELMER. following her. You have still got the Tarantella in your blood, I see. And it makes you...

HELMER. Yes, my own darling Nora. Do you know, when I am out at a party with you like this, why I...

HELMER. And when we are leaving, and I am putting the shawl over your beautiful young shoulders on...

HELMER. Then you must get them out of those ways. There, at last I have got it open. Takes out the...

HELMER. walking up and down. He had so grown into our lives. I cant think of him as having gone out...

HELMER. You are right, it has affected us both. Something ugly has come between us the thought of...

NORA. gropes distractedly about, seizes HELMERS domino, throws it round her, while she says in...

HELMER. walking about the room. What a horrible awakening. All these eight years she who was my joy...

HELMER. Now you have destroyed all my happiness. You have ruined all my future. It is horrible to...

HELMER. No fine speeches, please. Your father had always plenty of those ready, too. What good...

HELMER. It is so incredible that I cant take it in. But we must come to some understanding. Take...

HELMER. standing by the lamp. I scarcely have the courage to do it. It may mean ruin for both of...

HELMER. You too, of course; we are both saved, both you and I. Look, he sends you your bond back....

HELMER. And suffered agonies, and seen no way out but . No, we wont call any of the horrors to...

HELMER. You have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband. Only you had not sufficient...

HELMER. standing at the open door. Yes, do. Try and calm yourself, and make your mind easy again,...

NORA. It is perfectly true, Torvald. When I was at home with papa, he told me his opinion about...

NORA. undisturbed. I mean that I was simply transferred from papas hands into yours. You arranged...

NORA. No, only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our home has been nothing but a...

NORA. Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task. There is another task I must...

NORA. I dont believe that any longer. I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being,...

NORA. I know nothing but what the clergyman said, when I went to be confirmed. He told us that...

HELMER. This is unheard of in a girl of your age. But if religion cannot lead you aright, let me...

NORA. I assure you, Torvald, that is not an easy question to answer. I really dont know. The thing...

NORA. I have waited so patiently for eight years; for, goodness knows, I knew very well that...

NORA. You mean that I would never have accepted such a sacrifice on your part. No, of course not....