Source Text: DOLL1.2Maid: A lady's called, madam. A stranger.
Nora: Well, ask her to come in.
Maid: And the doctor's here too, sir.
Helmer: Has he gone to my room?
Maid: Yes, sir.
Mrs. Linde: Good evening, Nora.
Nora: Good evening --
Mrs. Linde: I don't suppose you recognize me.
Nora: No, I'm afraid I -- Yes, wait a minute -- surely -- Why, Christine! Is it really you?
Mrs. Linde: Yes, it's me.
Nora: Christine! And I didn't recognize you! But how could I -- ? How you've changed, Christine!
Mrs. Linde: Yes, I know. It's been nine years -- nearly ten --
Nora: Is it so long? Yes, it must be. Oh, these last eight years have been such a happy time for me! So you've come to town? All that way in winter! How brave of you!
Mrs. Linde: I arrived by the steamer this morning.
Nora: Yes, of course -- to enjoy yourself over Christmas. Oh, how splendid! We'll have to celebrate! But take off you coat. You're not cold, are you? There! Now let's sit down here by the stove and be comfortable. No, you take the armchair. I'll sit here in the rocking-chair. Yes, now you look like your old self. It was just at first that -- you've got a little paler, though, Christine. And perhaps a bit thinner.
Mrs. Linde: And older, Nora. Much, much older.
Nora: Yes, perhaps a little older. Just a tiny bit. Not much. Oh, but how thoughtless of me to sit here and chatter away like this! Dear, sweet Christine, can you forgive me?
Mrs. Linde: What do you mean, Nora?
Nora: Poor Christine, you've become a widow.
Mrs. Linde: Yes. Three years ago.
Nora: I know, I know -- I read it in the papers. Oh, Christine, I meant to write to you so often, honestly. But I always put it off, and something else always cropped up.
Mrs. Linde: I understand, Nora dear.
Nora: No, Christine, it was beastly of me. Oh, my poor darling, what you've gone through! And he didn't leave you anything?
Mrs. Linde: No.
Nora: No children, either?
Mrs. Linde: No.
Nora: Nothing at all, then?
Mrs. Linde: Not even a feeling of loss or sorrow.
Nora: But, Christine, how is that possible?
Mrs. Linde: Oh, these things happen, Nora.
Nora: All alone. How dreadful that must be for you. I've three lovely children. I'm afraid you can't see them now, because they're out with nanny. But you must tell me everything --
Mrs. Linde: No, no, no. I want to hear about you.
Nora: No, you start. I'm not going to be selfish today, I'm just going to think about you. Oh, but there's one thing I must tell you. Have you heard of the wonderful luck we've just had?
Mrs. Linde: No. What?
Nora: Would you believe it -- my husband's just been made manager of the bank!
Mrs. Linde: Your husband? Oh, how lucky -- !
Nora: Yes, isn't it? Being a lawyer is so uncertain, you know, especially if one isn't prepared to touch any case that isn't -- well -- quite nice. And of course Torvald's been very firm about that -- and I'm absolutely with him. Oh, you can imagine how happy we are! He's joining the bank in the New Year, and he'll be getting a big salary, and lots of percentages too. From now on we'll be able to live quite differently -- we'll be able to do whatever we want. Oh, Christine, it's such a relief! I feel so happy! Well, I mean, it's lovely to have heaps of money and not to have to worry about anything. Don't you think?
Mrs. Linde: It must be lovely to have enough to cover one's needs, anyway.
Nora: Not just our needs! We're going to have heaps and heaps of money!
Mrs. Linde: Nora, Nora, haven't you grown up yet? When we were at school you were a terrible little spendthrift.
Nora: Yes, Torvald still says that. But "Nora, Nora" isn't as silly as you think. Oh, we've been in no position for me to waste money. We've both had to work.
Mrs. Linde: You too?
Nora: Yes, little things -- fancy work, crocheting, embroidery and so forth. And other things too. I suppose you know Torvald left the Ministry when we got married? There were no prospects of promotion in his department, and of course he needed more money. But the first year he overworked himself quite dreadfully. He had to take on all sorts of extra jobs, and worked day and night. But it was too much for him, and he became frightfully ill. The doctors said he'd have to go to a warmer climate.
Mrs. Linde: Yes, you spent a whole year in Italy, didn't you?
Nora: Yes. It wasn't easy for me to get away, you know. I'd just had Ivar. But of course we had to do it. Oh, it was a marvelous trip! And it saved Torvald's life. But it cost an awful lot of money, Christine.
Mrs. Linde: I can imagine.
Nora: Two hundred and fifty pounds. That's a lot of money, you know.
Mrs. Linde: How lucky you had it.
Nora: Well, actually, we got it from my father.
Mrs. Linde: Oh, I see. Didn't he die just about that time?
Nora: Yes, Christine, just about then. Wasn't it dreadful, I couldn't go and look after him. I was expecting little Ivar any day. And then I had my poor Torvald to care for -- we really didn't think he'd live. Dear, kind Papa! I never saw him again, Christine. Oh, it's the saddest thing that's happened to me since I got married.
Mrs. Linde: I know you were very fond of him. But you went to Italy -- ?
Nora: Yes. Well, we had the money, you see, and the doctors said we mustn't delay. So we went the month after Papa died.
Mrs. Linde: And your husband came back completely cured?
Nora: Fit as a fiddle!
Mrs. Linde: But -- the doctor?
Nora: How do you mean?
Mrs. Linde: I thought the maid said that the gentleman who arrived with me was the doctor.
Nora: Oh yes, that's Doctor Rank, but he doesn't come because anyone's ill. He's our best friend, and he looks us up at least once every day. No, Torvald hasn't had a moment's illness since we went away. And the children are fit and healthy and so am I. Oh God, oh God, Christine, isn't it a wonderful thing to be alive and happy! Oh, but how beastly of me! I'm only talking about myself. Oh, please don't be angry with me! Tell me, is it really true you didn't love your husband? Why did you marry him, then?
Mrs. Linde: Well, my mother was still alive; and she was helpless and bedridden. And I had my two little brothers to take care of. I didn't feel I could say no.
Nora: Yes, well, perhaps you're right. He was rich then, was he?
Mrs. Linde: Quite comfortably off, I believe. But his business was unsound, you see, Nora. When he died it went bankrupt, and there was nothing left.
Nora: What did you do?
Mrs. Linde: Well, I had to try to make ends meet somehow, so I started a little shop, and a little school, and anything else I could turn my hand to. These last three years have been just one endless slog for me, without a moment's rest. But now it's over, Nora. My poor dear mother doesn't need me any more; she's passed away. And the boys don't need me either; they've got jobs now and can look after themselves.
Nora: How relieved you must feel --
Mrs. Linde: No, Nora. Just unspeakably empty. No one to live for any more. That's why I couldn't bear to stay out there any longer, cut off from the world. I thought it'd be easier to fine some work here that will exercise and occupy my mind. If only I could get a regular job -- office work of some kind --
Nora: Oh but, Christine, that's dreadfully exhausting; and you look practically finished already. It'd be much better for you if you could go away somewhere.
Mrs. Linde: I have no Papa to pay for my holidays, Nora.
Nora: Oh, please don't be angry with me.
Mrs. Linde: My dear Nora, it's I who should ask you not to be angry. That's the worst thing about this kind of situation -- it makes one so bitter. One has no one to work for; and yet one has to be continually sponging for jobs. One has to live; and so one becomes completely egocentric. When you told me about this luck you've just had with Torvald's new job -- can you imagine? -- I was happy not so much on your account, as on my own.
Nora: How do you mean? Oh, I understand. You mean Torvald might be able to do something for you?
Mrs. Linde: Yes, I was thinking that.
Nora: He will too, Christine. Just you leave it to me. I'll lead up to it so delicately, so delicately; I'll get him in the right mood. Oh, Christine, I do so want to help you.
Mrs. Linde: It's sweet of you to bother so much about me, Nora. Especially since you know so little of the worries and hardships of life.
Nora: I? You say I know little of -- ?
Mrs. Linde: Well, good heavens -- those bits of fancy work of yours -- well, really -- ! You're a child, Nora.
Nora: You shouldn't say that so patronisingly.
Mrs. Linde: Oh?
Nora: You're like the rest. You all think I'm incapable of getting down to anything serious --
Mrs. Linde: My dear --
Nora: You think I've never had any worries like the rest of you.
Mrs. Linde: Nora dear, you've just told me about all your difficulties --
Nora: Pooh -- that! I haven't told you about the big thing.
Mrs. Linde: What big thing? What do you mean?
Nora: You patronise me, Christine; but you shouldn't. You're proud that you've worked so long and so hard for your mother.
Mrs. Linde: I don't patronise anyone, Nora. But you're right -- I am both proud and happy that I was able to make my mother's last months on earth comparatively easy.
Nora: And you're also proud of what you've done for your brothers.
Mrs. Linde: I think I have a right to be.
Nora: I think so too. But let me tell you something, Christine. I too have done something to be proud and happy about.
Mrs. Linde: I don't doubt it. But -- how do you mean?
Nora: Speak quietly! Suppose Torvald should hear! He mustn't, at any price -- no one must know, Christine -- no one but you.
Mrs. Linde: But what is this?