Source Text: DOLL3.2Nora: No, no, no -- not in here! I want to go back upstairs. I don't want to leave so early.
Helmer: But my dearest Nora --
Nora: Oh, please, Torvald, please! Just another hour!
Helmer: Not another minute, Nora, my sweet. You know what we agreed. Come along, now. Into the drawing-room. You'll catch cold if you stay out here.
Mrs. Linde: Good evening.
Nora: Christine!
Helmer: Oh, hullo, Mrs. Linde. You still here?
Mrs. Linde: Please forgive me. I did so want to see Nora in her costume.
Nora: Have you been sitting here waiting for me?
Mrs. Linde: Yes. I got here too late, I'm afraid. You'd already gone up. And I felt I really couldn't go back home without seeing you.
Helmer: Well, take a good look at her. She's worth looking at, don't you think? Isn't she beautiful, Mrs. Linde?
Mrs. Linde: Oh, yes, indeed --
Helmer: Isn't she unbelievably beautiful? Everyone at the party said so. But dreadfully stubborn she is, bless her pretty little heart. What's to be done about that? Would you believe it, I practically had to use force to get her away!
Nora: Oh, Torvald, you're going to regret not letting me stay -- just half an hour longer.
Helmer: Hear that, Mrs. Linde? She dances her tarantella -- makes a roaring success -- and very well deserved -- though possibly a trifle too realistic -- more so than was aesthetically necessary, strictly speaking. But never mind that. Main thing is -- she had a success -- roaring success. Was I going to let her stay on after that and spoil the impression? No, thank you. I took my beautiful little Capri signorina -- my capricious little Capricienne, what? -- under my arm -- a swift round of the ballroom, a curtsey to the company, and, as they say in novels, the beautiful apparition disappeared! And exit should always be dramatic, Mrs. Linde. But unfortunately that's just what I can't get Nora to realize. I say, it's hot in here. What's this? It's dark in here. Ah, yes, of course -- excuse me.
Nora: Well?
Mrs. Linde: I've spoken to him.
Nora: Yes?
Mrs. Linde: Nora -- you must tell your husband everything.
Nora: I knew it.
Mrs. Linde: You've nothing to fear from Krogstad. But you must tell him.
Nora: I shan't tell him anything.
Mrs. Linde: Then the letter will.
Nora: Thank you, Christine. Now I know what I must do. Ssh!
Helmer: Well, Mrs. Linde, finished admiring her?
Mrs. Linde: Yes. Now I must say good night.
Helmer: Oh, already? Does this knitting belong to you?
Mrs. Linde: Thank you, yes. I nearly forgot it.
Helmer: You knit, then?
Mrs. Linde: Why, yes.
Helmer: Know what? You ought to take up embroidery.
Mrs. Linde: Oh? Why?
Helmer: It's much prettier. Watch me, now. You hold the embroidery in your left hand, like this, and then you take the needle in your right hand and go in and out in a slow, easy movement -- like this. I am right, aren't I?
Mrs. Linde: Yes, I'm sure --
Helmer: But knitting, now -- that's an ugly business -- can't help it. Look -- arms all huddled up -- great clumsy needles going up and down -- makes you look like a damned Chinaman. I say, that really was a magnificent champagne they served us.
Mrs. Linde: Well, good night, Nora. And stop being stubborn. Remember!
Helmer: Quite right, Mrs. Linde!
Mrs. Linde: Good night, Mr. Helmer.
Helmer: Good night, good night! I hope you'll manage to get home all right? I'd gladly -- but you haven't far to go, have you? Good night, good night. Well, we've got rid of her at last. Dreadful bore that woman is!
Nora: Aren't you very tired, Torvald?
Helmer: No, not in the least.
Nora: Aren't you sleepy?
Helmer: Not a bit. On the contrary, I feel extraordinarily exhilarated. But what about you? Yes, you look very sleepy and tired.
Nora: Yes, I am very tired. Soon I shall sleep.
Helmer: You see, you see! How right I was not to let you stay longer!
Nora: Oh, you're always right, whatever you do.
Helmer: Now my little songbird's talking just like a real big human being. I say, did you notice how cheerful Rank was this evening?
Nora: Oh? Was he? I didn't have a chance to speak with him.
Helmer: I hardly did. But I haven't seen him in such a jolly mood for ages. I say, it's nice to get back to one's home again, and be all alone with you. Upon my word, you're a distractingly beautiful young woman.
Nora: Don't look at me like that, Torvald!
Helmer: What, not look at my most treasured possession? At all this wonderful beauty that's mine, mine alone, all mine.
Nora: You mustn't talk to me like that tonight.
Helmer: You've still the tarantella in your blood, I see. And that makes you even more desirable. Listen! Now the other guests are beginning to go. Nora -- soon the whole house will be absolutely quiet.
Nora: Yes, I hope so.
Helmer: Yes, my beloved Nora, of course you do! Do you know -- when I'm out with you among other people like we were tonight, do you know why I say so little to you, why I keep so aloof from you, and just throw you an occasional glance? Do you know why I do that? It's because I pretend to myself that you're my secret mistress, my clandestine little sweetheart, and that nobody knows there's anything at all between us.
Nora: Oh, yes, yes, yes -- I know you never think of anything but me.
Helmer: And then when we're about to go, and I wrap the shawl round your lovely young shoulders, over this wonderful curve of your neck -- then I pretend to myself that you are my young bride, that we've just come from the wedding, that I'm taking you to my house for the first time -- that, for the first time, I am alone with you -- quite along with you, as you stand there young and trembling and beautiful. All evening I've had no eyes for anyone but you. When I saw you dance the tarantella, like a huntress, a temptress, my blood grew hot, I couldn't stand it any longer! That was why I seized you and dragged you down here with me --
Nora: Leave me, Torvald! Get away from me! I don't want all this.
Helmer: What? Now, Nora, you're joking with me. Don't want, don't want -- ? Aren't I your husband -- ?
Nora: What was that?
Helmer: Who is it?
Rank: It's me. May I come in for a moment?
Helmer: Oh, what does he want now? Wait a moment. Well! Nice of you not to go by without looking in.
Rank: I thought I heard your voice, so I felt I had to say goodbye. Ah, yes -- the dear rooms, how well I know them. What a happy, peaceful home you two have.
Helmer: You seemed to be having a pretty happy time yourself upstairs.
Rank: Indeed I did. Why not? Why shouldn't one make the most of this world? As much as one can, and for as long as one can. The wine was excellent --
Helmer: Especially the champagne.
Rank: You noticed that too? It's almost incredible how much I managed to get down.
Nora: Torvald drank a lot of champagne too, this evening.
Rank: Oh?
Nora: Yes. It always makes him merry afterwards.
Rank: Well, why shouldn't a man have a merry evening after a well-spent day?
Helmer: Well-spent? Oh, I don't know that I can claim that.
Rank: I can, though, my dear fellow!
Nora: Yes, of course, Dr. Rank -- you've been carrying out a scientific experiment today, haven't you?
Rank: Exactly.
Helmer: Scientific experiment! Those are big words for my little Nora to use!
Nora: And may I congratulate you on the finding?
Rank: You may indeed.
Nora: It was good, then?
Rank: The best possible finding -- both for the doctor and the patient. Certainty.
Nora: Certainty?
Rank: Absolute certainty. So aren't I entitled to have a merry evening after that?
Nora: Yes, Dr. Rank. You were quite right to.
Helmer: I agree. Provided you don't have to regret it tomorrow.
Rank: Well, you never get anything in this life without paying for it.
Nora: Dr. Rank -- you like masquerades, don't you?
Rank: Yes, if the disguises are sufficiently amusing.
Nora: Tell me. What shall we two wear at the next masquerade?
Helmer: You little gadabout! Are you thinking about the next one already?
Rank: We two? Yes, I'll tell you. You must go as the Spirit of Happiness --
Helmer: You try to think of a costume that'll convey that.
Rank: Your wife need only appear as her normal, everyday self --
Helmer: Quite right! Well said! But what are you going to be? Have you decided that?
Rank: Yes, my dear friend. I have decided that.
Helmer: Well?
Rank: At the next masquerade, I shall be invisible.
Helmer: Well, that's a funny idea.
Rank: There's a big, black hat -- haven't you heard of the invisible hat? Once it's over your head, no one can see you any more.
Helmer: Ah yes, of course.
Rank: But I'm forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me a cigar. One of your black Havanas.
Helmer: With the greatest pleasure.
Rank: Thank you.
Nora: Let me give you a light.
Rank: Thank you. And now -- goodbye.
Helmer: Goodbye, my dear chap, goodbye.
Nora: Sleep well, Dr. Rank.
Rank: Thank you for that kind wish.
Nora: Wish me the same.
Rank: You? Very well -- since you ask. Sleep well. And thank you for the light.
Helmer: He's been drinking too much.