Henrik Ibsen - Doll's House

MRS. LINDE

( Looking at her watch .) Not yet—and the time is nearly up. If only he does not. . . . ( Listens again .) Ah, there he is. ( Goes into the hall and opens the outer door carefully. Light footsteps are heard on the stairs. She whispers .) Come in. There is no one here.

KROGSTAD

( In the doorway .) I found a note from you at home. What does this mean?

MRS. LINDE

It is absolutely necessary that I should have a talk with you.

KROGSTAD

Really? And is it absolutely necessary that it should be here?

MRS. LINDE

It is impossible where I live; there is no private entrance to my rooms. Come in; we are quite alone. The maid is asleep, and the Helmers are at the dance upstairs.

KROGSTAD

( Coming into the room .) Are the Helmers really at a dance tonight?

MRS. LINDE

Yes, why not?

KROGSTAD

Certainly—why not?

MRS. LINDE

Now, Nils, let us have a talk.

KROGSTAD

Can we two have anything to talk about?

MRS. LINDE

We have a great deal to talk about.

KROGSTAD

I shouldn’t have thought so.

MRS. LINDE

No, you have never properly understood me.

KROGSTAD

Was there anything else to understand except what was obvious to all the world—a heartless woman jilts a man when a more lucrative chance turns up?

MRS. LINDE

Do you believe I am as absolutely heartless as all that? And do you believe that I did it with a light heart?

KROGSTAD

Didn’t you?

MRS. LINDE

Nils, did you really think that?

KROGSTAD

If it were as you say, why did you write to me as you did at the time?

MRS. LINDE

I could do nothing else. As I had to break with you, it was my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me.

KROGSTAD

( Wringing his hands .) So that was it. And all this—only for the sake of money!

MRS. LINDE

You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We couldn’t wait for you, Nils; your prospects seemed hopeless then.

KROGSTAD

That may be so, but you had no right to throw me over for anyone else’s sake.

MRS. LINDE

Indeed, I don’t know. Many a time did I ask myself if I had the right to do it.

KROGSTAD

( More gently .) When I lost you, it was as if all the solid ground went from under my feet. Look at me now—I am a shipwrecked man clinging to a bit of wreckage.

MRS. LINDE

But help may be near.

KROGSTAD

It was near; but then you came and stood in my way.

MRS. LINDE

Unintentionally, Nils. It was only today that I learned it was your place I was going to take in the Bank.

KROGSTAD

I believe you, if you say so. But now that you know it, are you not going to give it up to me?

MRS. LINDE

No, because that would not benefit you in the least.

KROGSTAD

Oh, benefit, benefit—I would have done it whether or no.

MRS. LINDE

I have learned to act prudently. Life, and hard, bitter necessity have taught me that.

KROGSTAD

And life has taught me not to believe in fine speeches.

MRS. LINDE

Then life has taught you something very reasonable. But deeds you must believe in?

KROGSTAD

What do you mean by that?

MRS. LINDE

You said you were like a shipwrecked man clinging to some wreckage.

KROGSTAD

I had good reason to say so.

MRS. LINDE

Well, I am like a shipwrecked woman clinging to some wreckage—no one to mourn for, no one to care for.

KROGSTAD

It was your own choice.

MRS. LINDE

There was no other choice—then.

KROGSTAD

Well, what now?

MRS. LINDE

Nils, how would it be if we two shipwrecked people could join forces?

KROGSTAD

What are you saying?

MRS. LINDE

Two on the same piece of wreckage would stand a better chance than each on their own.

KROGSTAD

Christine I . . .

MRS. LINDE

What do you suppose brought me to town?

KROGSTAD

Do you mean that you gave me a thought?

MRS. LINDE

I could not endure life without work. All my life, as long as I can remember, I have worked, and it has been my greatest and only pleasure. But now I am quite alone in the world—my life is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for one’s self. Nils, give me someone and something to work for.

KROGSTAD

I don’t trust that. It is nothing but a woman’s overstrained sense of generosity that prompts you to make such an offer of yourself.

MRS. LINDE

Have you ever noticed anything of the sort in me?

KROGSTAD

Could you really do it? Tell me—do you know all about my past life?

MRS. LINDE

Yes.

KROGSTAD

And do you know what they think of me here?

MRS. LINDE

You seemed to me to imply that with me you might have been quite another man.

KROGSTAD

I am certain of it.

MRS. LINDE

Is it too late now?

KROGSTAD

Christine, are you saying this deliberately? Yes, I am sure you are. I see it in your face. Have you really the courage, then—?

MRS. LINDE

I want to be a mother to someone, and your children need a mother. We two need each other. Nils, I have faith in your real character—I can dare anything together with you.

KROGSTAD

( Grasps her hands .) Thanks, thanks, Christine! Now I shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world. Ah, but I forgot—

MRS. LINDE

( Listening .) Hush! The Tarantella! Go, go!

KROGSTAD

Why? What is it?

MRS. LINDE

Do you hear them up there? When that is over, we may expect them back.

KROGSTAD

Yes, yes—I will go. But it is all no use. Of course you are not aware what steps I have taken in the matter of the Helmers.

MRS. LINDE

Yes, I know all about that.

KROGSTAD

And in spite of that have you the courage to—?

MRS. LINDE

I understand very well to what lengths a man like you might be driven by despair.

KROGSTAD

If I could only undo what I have done!

MRS. LINDE

You cannot. Your letter is lying in the letter box now.

KROGSTAD

Are you sure of that?

MRS. LINDE

Quite sure, but—

KROGSTAD

( With a searching look at her .) Is that what it all means?—that you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me frankly. Is that it?

MRS. LINDE

Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another’s sake, doesn’t do it a second time.

KROGSTAD

I will ask for my letter back.

MRS. LINDE

No, no.

KROGSTAD

Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back—that it only concerns my dismissal—that he is not to read it—

MRS. LINDE

No, Nils, you must not recall your letter.

KROGSTAD

But, tell me, wasn’t it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here?

MRS. LINDE

In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.

KROGSTAD

Very well, if you will take the responsibility. But there is one thing I can do in any case, and I shall do it at once.

MRS. LINDE

( Listening .) You must be quick and go! The dance is over; we are not safe a moment longer.

KROGSTAD

I will wait for you below.

MRS. LINDE

Yes, do. You must see me back to my door . . .