Source Text: DOLL1.1Nora: Hide that Christmas tree away, Helen. The children mustn't see it before I've decorated it this evening. How much -- ?
Porter: A shilling.
Nora: HereUs half a crown. No, keep it.
Nora: Yes, heUs here.
Helmer: Is that my skylark twittering out there?
Nora: It is!
Helmer: Is that my squirrel rustling?
Nora: Yes!
Helmer: When did my squirrel come home?
Nora: Just now. Come out here, Torvald, and see what IUve bought.
Helmer: You mustnUt disturb me! Bought, did you say? All that? Has my little squanderbird been overspending again?
Nora: Oh, Torvald, surely we can let ourselves go a little this year! ItUs the first Christmas we donUt have to scrape.
Helmer: Well, you know, we canUt afford to be extravagant.
Nora: Oh yes, Torvald, we can be a little extravagant now. CanUt we? Just a tiny bit? YouUve got a big salary now, and youUre going to make lots and lots of money.
Helmer: Next year, yes. But my new salary doesnUt start till April.
Nora: Pooh; we can borrow till then.
Helmer: Nora! What a little spendthrift you are! Suppose I were to borrow fifty pounds today, and you spent it all over Christmas, and then on New Year's Eve a tile fell off a roof on to my head --
Nora: Oh, Torvald! Don't say such dreadful things!
Helmer: Yes, but suppose something like that did happen? What then?
Nora: If anything as frightful as that happened, it wouldn't make much difference whether I was in debt or not.
Helmer: But what about the people I'd borrowed from?
Nora: Them? Who cares about them? They're strangers.
Helmer: Oh, Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know how I feel about this. No debts! Never borrow! A home that is founded on debts can never be a place of freedom and beauty. We two have stuck it out bravely up to now; and we shall continue to do so for the short time we still have to.
Nora: Very well, Torvald. As you say.
Helmer: Now, now! My little songbird mustn't droop her wings. What's this? Is little squirrel sulking? Nora; guess what I've got here!
Nora: Money!
Helmer: Look. I know how these small expenses crop up at Christmas.
Nora: One -- two -- three -- four. Oh, thank you, Torvald, thank you! I should be able to manage with this.
Helmer: You'll have to.
Nora: Yes, yes, of course I will. But come over here, I want to show you everything I've bought. And so cheaply! Look, here are new clothes for Ivar -- and a sword. And a horse and trumpet for Bob. And a doll and a cradle for Emmy -- they're nothing much, but she'll pull them apart in a few day. And some bits of material and handkerchiefs for the maids. Old Anne-Marie ought to have had something better, really.
Helmer: And what's in that parcel?
Nora: No, Torvald, you mustn't see that before this evening!
Helmer: Very well. But now, tell me, you little spendthrift, what do you want for Christmas?
Nora: Me? Oh, pooh, I don't want anything.
Helmer: Oh, yes, you do. Now tell me, what, within reason, would you most like?
Nora: No, I really don't know. Oh, yes -- Torvald -- !
Helmer: Well?
Nora: If you really want to give me something, you could -- you could --
Helmer: Come on, out with it.
Nora: You could give me money, Torvald. Only as much as you feel you can afford; then later I'll buy something with it.
Helmer: But, Nora --
Nora: Oh yes, Torvald dear, please! Please! Then I'll wrap up the notes in pretty gold paper and hang them on the Christmas tree. Wouldn't that be fun?
Helmer: What's the name of that little bird that can never keep any money?
Nora: Yes, yes, squanderbird; I know. But let's do as I say, Torvald; then I'll have time to think about what I need most. Isn't that the best way? Mm?
Helmer: To be sure it would be, if you could keep what I give you and really buy yourself something with it. But you'll spend it on all sorts of useless things for the house, and then I'll have to put my hand in my pocket again.
Nora: Oh, but Torvald --
Helmer: You can't deny it, Nora dear. The squanderbird's a pretty little creature, but she gets through an awful lot of money. It's incredible what an expensive pet she is for a man to keep.
Nora: For shame! How can you say such a thing? I save every penny I can.
Helmer: That's quite true. Every penny you can. But you can't.
Nora: Hm. If you only knew how many expenses we larks and squirrels have, Torvald.
Helmer: You're a funny little creature. Just like your father used to be. Always on the look-out for some way to get money, but as soon as you have any it just runs through your fingers, and you never know where it's gone. Well, I suppose I must take you as you are. It's in your blood. Yes, yes, yes, these things are hereditary, Nora.
Nora: Oh, I wish I'd inherited more of Papa's qualities.
Helmer: And I wouldn't wish my darling little songbird to be any different from what she is. By the way, that reminds me. You look awfully -- how shall I put it? -- awfully guilty today.
Nora: Do I?
Helmer: Yes, you do. Look me in the eyes.
Nora: Well?
Helmer: Has my little sweet-tooth been indulging herself in town today, by any chance?
Nora: No, how can you think such a thing?
Helmer: Not a tiny little digression into a pastry shop?
Nora: No, Torvald, I promise --
Helmer: Not just a wee jam tart?
Nora: Certainly not.
Helmer: Not a little nibble at a macaroon?
Nora: No, Torvald -- I promise you, honestly --
Helmer: There, there. I was only joking.
Nora: You know I could never act against your wishes.
Helmer: Of course not. And you've given me your word -- Well, my beloved Nora, you keep your little Christmas secrets to yourself. They'll be revealed this evening, I've no doubt, once the Christmas tree has been lit.
Nora: Have you remembered to invite Dr. Rank?
Helmer: No. But there's no need; he knows he'll be dining with us. Anyway, I'll ask him when he comes this morning. I've ordered some good wine. Oh, Nora, you can't imagine how I'm looking forward to this evening.
Nora: So am I. And, Torvald, how the children will love it!
Helmer: Yes, it's a wonderful thing to know that one's position is assured and that one has ample income. Don't you agree? It's good to know that, isn't it?
Nora: Yes, it's almost like a miracle.
Helmer: Do you remember last Christmas? For three whole weeks you shut yourself away every evening to make flowers for the Christmas tree, and all those other things you were going to surprise us with. Ugh, it was the most boring time I've every had in my life.
Nora: I didn't find it boring.
Helmer: But it all came to nothing in the end, didn't it?
Nora: Oh, are you going to bring that up again? How could I help the cat getting in and tearing everything into bits?
Helmer: No, my poor little Nora, of course you couldn't. You simply wanted to make us happy, and that's all that matters. But it's good that those hard times are past.
Nora: Yes, it's wonderful.
Helmer: I don't have to sit by myself and be bored. And you don't have to tire your pretty eyes and your delicate little hands --
Nora: No, Torvald, that's true, isn't it -- I don't have to any longer? Oh, it's really all just like a miracle. Now, I'm going to tell you what I thought we might do, Torvald. As soon as Christmas is over -- Oh, there's the doorbell. Someone's coming. What a bore.
Helmer: I'm not at home to any visitors. Remember!