Source Text: DOLL3.1Mrs. Linde: Not here yet. There's not much time left. Please God he hasn't -- ! Ah, here he is. Come in. There's no one here.
Krogstad: I found a note from you at my lodgings. What does this mean?
Mrs. Linde: I must speak with you.
Krogstad: Oh? And must our conversation take place in this house?
Mrs. Linde: We couldn't meet at my place; my room has no separate entrance. Come in. We're quite alone. The maid's asleep, and the Helmers are at the dance upstairs.
Krogstad: Well, well! So the Helmers are dancing this evening? Are they indeed?
Mrs. Linde: Yes, why not?
Krogstad: True enough. Why not?
Mrs. Linde: Well, Krogstad. You and I must have a talk together.
Krogstad: Have we two anything further to discuss?
Mrs. Linde: We have a great deal to discuss.
Krogstad: I wasn't aware of it.
Mrs. Linde: That's because you've never really understood me.
Krogstad: Was there anything to understand? It's the old story, isn't it -- a woman chucking a man because something better turns up?
Mrs. Linde: Do you really think I'm so utterly heartless? You think it was easy for me to give you up?
Krogstad: Wasn't it?
Mrs. Linde: Oh, Nils, did you really believe that?
Krogstad: Then why did you write to me the way you did?
Mrs. Linde: I had to. Since I had to break with you, I thought it my duty to destroy all the feelings you had for me.
Krogstad: So that was it. And you did this for money!
Mrs. Linde: You mustn't forget I had a helpless mother to take care of, and two little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils. It would have been so long before you'd had enough to support us.
Krogstad: Maybe. But you had no right to cast me off for someone else.
Mrs. Linde: Perhaps not. I've often asked myself that.
Krogstad: When I lost you, it was just as though all solid ground had been swept from under my feet. Look at me. Now I am a shipwrecked man, clinging to a spar.
Mrs. Linde: Help may be near at hand.
Krogstad: It was near. But then you came, and stood between it and me.
Mrs. Linde: I didn't know, Nils. No one told me till today that this job I'd found was yours.
Krogstad: I believe you, since you say so. But now you know, won't you give it up?
Mrs. Linde: No -- because it wouldn't help you even if I did.
Krogstad: Wouldn't it? I'd do it all the same.
Mrs. Linde: I've learned to look at things practically. Life and poverty have taught me that.
Krogstad: And life has taught me to distrust fine words.
Mrs. Linde: Then itUs taught you a useful lesson. But surely you still believe in actions?
Krogstad: What do you mean?
Mrs. Linde: You said you were like a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar.
Krogstad: I have good reason to say it.
Mrs. Linde: IUm in the same position as you. No one to care about, no one to care for.
Krogstad: You made your own choice.
Mrs. Linde: I had no choice -- then.
Krogstad: Well?
Mrs. Linde: Nils, suppose we two shipwrecked souls could join hands?
Krogstad: What are you saying?
Mrs. Linde: Castaways have a better chance of survival together than on their own.
Krogstad: Christine!
Mrs. Linde: Why do you suppose I came to this town?
Krogstad: You mean -- you came because of me?
Mrs. Linde: I must work if I'm to find life worth living. I've always worked, for as long as I can remember; it's been the greatest joy of my life -- my only joy. But now I'm alone in the world, and I feel so dreadfully lost and empty. There's no joy in working just for oneself. Oh, Nils, give me something -- someone -- to work for.
Krogstad: I don't believe all that. You're just being hysterical and romantic. You want to find an excuse for self-sacrifice.
Mrs. Linde: Have you ever known me be hysterical?
Krogstad: You mean you really -- ? Is it possible? Tell me -- you know all about my past?
Mrs. Linde: Yes.
Krogstad: And you know what people think of me here?
Mrs. Linde: You said just now that with me you might have become a different person.
Krogstad: I know I could have.
Mrs. Linde: Couldn't it still happen?
Krogstad: Christine -- do you really mean this? Yes -- you do -- I see it in your face. Have you really the courage -- ?
Mrs. Linde: I need someone to be a mother to; and your children need a mother. And you and I need each other. I believe in you, Nils. I am afraid of nothing -- with you.
Krogstad: Thank you, Christine -- thank you! Now I shall make the world believe in me as you do! Oh -- but I'd forgotten --
Mrs. Linde: Ssh! The tarantella! Go quickly, go!
Krogstad: Why? What is it?
Mrs. Linde: You hear that dance? As soon as it's finished, they'll be coming down.
Krogstad: All right, I'll go. It's no good, Christine. I'd forgotten -- you don't know what I've just done to the Helmers.
Mrs. Linde: Yes, Nils. I know.
Krogstad: And yet you'd still have the courage to -- ?
Mrs. Linde: I know what despair can drive a man like you to.
Krogstad: Oh, if only I could undo this!
Mrs. Linde: You can. Your letter is still lying in the box.
Krogstad: Are you sure?
Mrs. Linde: Quite sure. But --
Krogstad: Is that why you're doing this? You want to save your friend at any price? Tell me the truth. Is that the reason?
Mrs. Linde: Nils, a woman who has sold herself once for the sake of others doesn't make the same mistake again.
Krogstad: I shall demand my letter back.
Mrs. Linde: No, no.
Krogstad: Of course I shall. I shall stay here till Helmer comes down. I'll tell him he must give me back my letter -- I'll say it was only to do with my dismissal, and that I don't want him to read it --
Mrs. Linde: No, Nils, you mustn't ask for that letter back.
Krogstad: But -- tell me -- wasn't that the real reason you asked me to come here?
Mrs. Linde: Yes -- at first, when I was frightened. But a day has passed since then, and in that time I've seen incredible things happen in this house. Helmer must know the truth. This unhappy secret of Nora's must be revealed. They must come to a full understanding; there must be an end of all these shiftings and evasions.
Krogstad: Very well. If you're prepared to risk it. But one thing I can do -- and at once --
Mrs. Linde: Hurry! Go, go! The dance is over. We aren't safe here another moment.
Krogstad: I'll wait for you downstairs.
Mrs. Linde: Yes, do. You can see me home.
Krogstad: I've never been so happy in my life before!
Mrs. Linde: What a change! Oh, what a change! Someone to work for -- to live for! A home to bring joy into! I won't let this chance of happiness slip through my fingers. Oh, why don't they come? Ah, here they are. I must get my coat on.