adaption

Henrik Ibsen

A Doll’s House

an English-language version by

Simon Stephens

Methuen Drama

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Published by Methuen Drama

Methuen Drama, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen first published in this translation in 2012 Copyright © Simon Stephens 2012

The right of Simon Stephens to be identified as the translator of this play has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

ISBN: 9781408173336

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the text in whole or in part should be addressed to Methuen Drama. Application for performance etc. by professionals or amateurs in any medium and in any language throughout the world should be made

in writing before rehearsals begin to Casarotto Ramsay, Waverley House, 7–12 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ. No performance may be given

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No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the written permission

of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

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A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

English language version by Simon Stephens

This production opened at the Young Vic on 29 June 2012.

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A DOLL’S HOUSE

by Henrik Ibsen

English language version by Simon Stephens

The Actors (in alphabetical order)

Nils Krogstad Nick Fletcher Helene Yolanda Kettle Nora Helmer Hattie Morahan Torvald Helmer Dominic Rowan Doctor Rank Steve Toussaint Anna Lynne Verrall Kristine Linde Susannah Wise

Ivar Helmer Vincent Curson-Smith Arthur Gledhill Franks

Jon Helmer Jake Tuesley Pip Pearce

Emmy Helmer Evie Sophia Beadle-Thomas Harry Turner Dorothea MacGibbon

The Team

Direction Carrie Cracknell Design Ian MacNeil Costumes Gabrielle Dalton Light Guy Hoare Music Stuart Earl Sound David McSeveney Choreography Quinny Sacks Casting Julia Horan CDG Hair and Make-Up Design Campbell Young Voice Emma Woodvine Jerwood Assistant Direction Tom Hughes Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant

Direction Luke Literal Translation Charlotte Barslund

Lutterer

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Stage Manager Vicky Berry Deputy Stage Manager Anna Cole Assistant Stage Manager Lizzie Donaghy Rehearsal Assistant Stage Manager Nic Donithorn Costume Supervisor Zeb Lalljee Design Assistant (set) Jim Gaffney Set built by Miraculous Engineering

Catherine Goodley Ed Wirtz Nick Benjamin Rachel Mandley Rachaelle Day William Wyld

Wardrobe Assistant and Dresser Naimo Duale Hair and Make-Up Abbie Bridgman Costume Makers Pauline Parker

Debo Andrews Karen Griffths Debs Tallentire Anna Barcock

Stage Crew Nic Donithorn Tom Nutt

Chaperone Valerie Joyce Violins Everton Nelson

Patrick Kiernan Viola Vicci Wardman Cello Caroline Dale Bass Chris Laurence Flute Karen Jones Clarinet Nicholas Bucknall Harp Hugh Webb Rehearsal and Production Photographs Johan Persson Wardrobe Work Placement Antonia Mellows

A Doll’s House is generously supported by The Ulrich Family and the Young Vic Women’s Group.

Young Vic Women’s Group Rotha Bell, Marie Carli, Jane Lucas, Jill Manson, Dounia Nadar, Midge Palley, Ritax Skinner, Sandi Ulrich, Charlotte Weston

Tom Hughes is supported through the Young Vic/ Jerwood Assistant Director Programme.

Luke is supported through the Young Vic/ Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Director Programme.

Lu tterer

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Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen was born in 1828 in Skien, Norway. A founder of modernism in theatre, he is one of the most influential playwrights of the 19th century. After a series of verse plays, he wrote 12 prose masterpieces. They include The Master Builder (1892), Hedda Gabler (1890), Ghosts (1881) and A Doll’s House (1879). A Doll’s House premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1879 and immediately provoked huge controversy. Even during his lifetime, A Doll’s House was performed across the globe.

Simon Stephens

Previous plays at the Young Vic include his adaptation of Jon Fosse’s I Am The Wind (2011).

Other plays include: Three Kingdoms (No99/ Munich Playhouse/Lyric Hammersmith); Trial of Ubu (Toneelgroep Amsterdam/ Hampstead); Wastwater (Royal Court); T5 (Traverse); A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky (co-written with Robert Holman and David Eldridge, Lyric Hammersmith); Marine Parade (co-writtern with Mark Eitzel, Brighton Festival); Punk Rock (Lyric Hammersmith/ Royal Exchange Manchester); Heaven (Traverse); Seawall (Bush/ Traverse); Harper Regan (National); Pornography (Tricycle/ Birmingham Rep/ Edinburgh Festival/ Deutsches Schauspielhaus); Motortown (Royal Court); On the Shore of the Big Wide World (Royal Exchange Manchester/ National); Country Music (Royal Court); Christmas (Bush); One Minute (Crucible); Port (Royal Exchange Manchester); Herons, Bluebird (Royal Court).

Awards include: Theater Heute’s Best Foreign Playwright of the Year 2008 and 2011, Olivier Award for Best New Play for On the Shore of the Big Wide World, the Pearson Award for Best Play for Port and Theater Heute’s Best Foreign Language Play of the Year 2007 for Motortown, in 2008 for Pornography and in 2011 for Wastwater.

Carrie Cracknell Direction Carrie Cracknell is Associate Director of the Young Vic. From 2007 until January 2012 she was Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre.

At the Gate Theatre her credits included: Electra, Breathing Irregular, Hedda, Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat, The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents, I Am Falling (Gate Theatre and Sadler’s Wells - nominated for Southbank Show Award).

Other directing credits include: Elektra (Young Vic); Dolls (National Theatre of Scotland; Stacy (The Tron, Glasgow); A Mobile Thriller (National Tour and The Harbourfront, Toronto) Winner Herald Angel Award; Broken Road (British Council Showcase) Winner Fringe First Award; Death and The City (The Tron); The Hush (BAC and The Ohio Theatre, New York); Macbeth (Djanogly Theatre, Nottingham).

Carrie trained at The University of Nottingham (History), The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Directing) and The National Theatre Studio (Directing). In 2004 Carrie won The Bruce Millar Trust Award for directors.

BIOGRAPHIES

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Ian MacNeil Design For the Young Vic: Afore Night Come, Tintin (also at the Barbican and The Playhouse Theatre), Vernon God Little.

Theatre designs include : An Inspector Calls (National, West End, Broadway); Machinal (National); Ariodante (English National Opera); Festen (Almeida/West End); In Basildon, A Number, Plasticine, Far Away, Via Dolorosa (also Broadway and West End) for the Royal Court; Billy Elliot The Musical (West End, Broadway, Australia and two US tours).

Awards include two Oliviers (An Inspector Calls and Ariodante), two Critics’ Circle Awards (Machinal and An Inspector Calls), two Evening Standard Awards (A Number/Plasticine and Festen) and 2006 Olivier Award nomination for Best Set Design (Billy Elliot).

Gabrielle Dalton Costumes For the Young Vic: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.

Current and recent work: Idomeneo, Carmen (Salzburg Easter and Summer Festivals); Gotterdammerung (Nationale Reisopera, Holland); Carmen (revival: Flanders Opera).

Previously: Rusalka (Grange Park Opera); Magical Night, The Red Balloon (ROH2 and tour); Les Noces, Dido and Aeneas (Opera North); The Barber of Seville (Savoy Opera); Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried (NRO); Three Water Plays (Almeida Opera Festival); Turandot (NRO); Le nozze di Figaro (International tour); Of Thee I Sing and Let ‘em Eat Cake; Dido and Aeneas and Les Noces; Ruddigore (Opera North).

Gabrielle designs costumes for Fiddler on the Roof (2015) and Boris Godunov (2016) for Grange Park Opera.

Guy Hoare Light For the Young Vic: Going Dark, Elektra, The Story of an African Farm.

Theatre includes: In Basildon (Royal Court); Be Near Me, Serenading Louie (Donmar Warehouse); A Delicate Balance, Waste (Almeida); And No More Shall We Part (Hampstead); Electra (The Gate); Peter Pan (NTS); Future Proof (Traverse); Faith Healer (Bristol Old Vic); Macbeth (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Assassins (Sheffield Theatres).

Dance includes: The Metamorphosis (ROH2); Square Map of Q4 (Bonachela Dance Company); Frontline (Aterbaletto); Pavlova’s Dogs (Scottish Dance Theatre); Dream (NDCWales); Mischief (Theatre Rites); Made In Heaven (Mark Bruce Company); Bruise Blood (Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company).

Opera includes: Jakob Lenz (ENO); The Cunning Little Vixen (Brno); Gianni Schicchi, Il Tabarro, Katya Kabanova, Don Giovanni, Eugene Onegin (ETO).

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Stuart Earl Music Stuart has scored various feature films that have premiered at major international film festivals including My Brother The Devil (Sundance Film Festival & Berlinale 2012); Guinea Pigs (Edinburgh 2012); Babeldom (Rotterdam International Film Festival 2012); In Our Name (London Film Festival 2010) and Guilty Pleasures (London Film Festival 2010).

Television includes The Entire History of You, the third drama in Charlie Brooker’s mini series Black Mirror (Channel 4), written by Jesse Armstrong.

Stuart was selected as the first composer to be one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2012. He received the 2009 Skillset Trailblazer Award at Edinburgh Film Festival.

He is currently writing the music for Mayday, a major five part BBC1 drama for Kudos.

David McSeveney Sound David trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama completing a BA Hons. in Theatre Practice (Sound Design).

For the Young Vic: One for the Road/Victoria Station (Print Room/ Young Vic); The Girlfriend Experience (Royal Court/ Young Vic/ Theatre Royal Plymouth).

Sound designs include: Posh (West End); Stones in His Pockets (Tricycle); On The Record (iceandfire); Belong, Vera Vera Vera, Constellations, The Village Bike, Ingredient X, Posh, Disconnect, Cock, A Miracle, The Stone, Shades, 7 Jewish Children, Contractions, Fear & Misery/War & Peace (Royal Court); Clybourne Park (Royal Court/West End); The Tin Horizon (Theatre 503); Gaslight (Old Vic); Charley’s Aunt, An Hour and a Half Late (Theatre Royal Bath); A Passage to India, After Mrs Rochester, Madame Bovary (Shared Experience); Men Should Weep, Rookery Nook (Oxford Stage Company); Othello (Southwark Playhouse).

Quinny Sacks Choreography For the Young Vic: Punch & Judy (ENO/Young Vic).

Theatre includes: Hamlet, The Winters Tale (RSC); Machinal, Lady in the Dark (National); Mojo, Mouth to Mouth (Royal Court); Threepenny Opera (Donmar Warehouse); Kiss Me Like You Mean It (Soho); My Fair Lady, The Boyfriend (British Tours).

Film and television includes: Shakespeare In Love, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Singing Detective, Lipstick on my Collar, Troy, Restoration, Captain America.

Opera includes: The Voyage (Met. N.Y.); The Fairy Queen, Lady Macbeth of Mtensk, The Rakes Progress, Elixir of Love (ENO); L’Etoile, La Boheme, Playing Away (Opera North).

Quinny was a dancer with Bejart and Ballet Rambert and founded her own Dance/Theatre company Extreme Measures.

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Julia Horan CDG Casting For the Young Vic: Wild Swans, After Miss Julie, Government Inspector, My Dad’s A Birdman, Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, The Glass Menagerie, Annie Get Your Gun, In The Red & Brown Water, The Good Soul Of Szechuan.

Recent theatre includes: Absent Friends (Harold Pinter Theatre); Backbeat (Duke of York’s/ Toronto); South Downs/The Browning Version (Harold Pinter Theatre/Chichester Festival Theatre); Clybourne Park (Royal Court/Wyndhams); Wastwater, The Heretic, Get Santa, Kin, Red Bud, Tribes, Wanderlust, Spur Of The Moment, Sucker Punch, Ingredient X (Royal Court); The Golden Dragon (ATC); Children’s Children, Filumena, The Knot Of The Heart, Through A Glass Darkly, Measure For Measure, When The Rain Stops Falling, In A Dark Dark House, A Chain Play, The Homecoming (Almeida).

Campbell Young Hair and Make-Up Design For the Young Vic: Wild Swans, Hamlet, Government Inspector, Annie Get Your Gun, The Good Soul of Szechuan, Vernon God Little, Six Characters Looking for an Author.

Other theatre includes: Ghost the Musical, Private Lives, Spider-Man, La Bête, Mary Stuart, Rock ’n’ Roll, Sweeney Todd, Ghost, Betrayal, Million Dollar Quartet, The Children’s Hour, La Bête, Love Never Dies, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Priscilla, Oliver, Billy Elliot, An Inspector Calls (Broadway); Les Misérables (US tour).

Tom Hughes Jerwood Assistant Direction Tom trained with Living Pictures and is a member of the Young Vic Genesis Directors Network.

Theatre as a director includes: Transmission (Southwark Playhouse); This is Jimmy Leave a Message Alright?, The Best Men (Etcetera Theatre); The Great Irish Elk (Theatre503).

Theatre as an assistant director includes: Bronte 2011 (Shared Experience / Oxford Playhouse / UK Tour); Bronte 2010 (Shared Experience / Watermill Theatre); Wild Horses (Theatre503).

Luke Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Direction Luke is a member of the Young Vic Genesis Directors Network

Theatre includes: Only to God & History (The Rag Factory); Somewhere in Södermalm (Etcetera Theatre).

.

Lutterer

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Charlotte Barslund Literal Translation Charlotte translates Scandinavian plays and novels.

Her translation of Strindberg’s The Pelican was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. She translated Ingmar Bergman’s version of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen, which was performed at the Barbican. Her translation of the Norwegian crime novel Calling Out For You! by Karin Fossum was nominated for the 2005 Gold Dagger Award by the British Crime Writers’ Association.

Other translated novels include: Machine and The Brummstein by Peter Adolphsen and Pierced and Burned by Thomas Enger.

Nick Fletcher Nils Krogstad Theatre includes: A Woman Killed With Kindness, The White Guard, The Overwhelming, Once In A Lifetime, Playing With Fire, The UN Inspector (National); King Lear (Old Vic); Star Quality (Apollo); Twisted Tales (Lyric Hammersmith); Henry V, A Chaste Maid In Cheapside (Shakespeare’s Globe); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Regent’s Park); Thyestes (Arcola); The Way Of The World (Orange Tree); Burdalane (BAC); Love’s Labours Lost (ETT); Dial M For Murder (West Yorkshire Playhouse); All’s Well That Ends Well (Chicago Shakespeare Theater).

Television includes: Silk, Harley Street, Midsomer Murders, New Tricks, True Dare Kiss, After The War.

With special thanks to Rev Torbjørn Holt at the Norwegian Church & Seamen's Mission in Rotherhithe.

Yolanda Kettle Helene Yolanda graduated from LAMDA last summer.

Theatre includes: Seagull (Arcola).

Theatre while in training includes: The Cherry Orchard, The Mill on the Floss, Cabaret and The Merchant of Venice (NYT).

Television includes: Holby City, Doctors.

Hattie Morahan Nora Recent theatre includes: Sixty-Six Books (Bush); Plenty (Sheffield Crucible); The Real Thing (Old Vic); Time and the Conways (National); Three More Sleepless Nights (National); Family Reunion (Donmar Warehouse); ...some trace of her (National); The City (Royal Court); The Seagull (National); See How They Run (West End); Twelfth Night (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Iphigenia at Aulis (National); Singer (Tricycle); Night of the Soul, Prisoners Dilemma, Hamlet (RSC).

Television includes: Eternal Law, Outnumbered, Lewis, Money, Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye, Trial and Retribution, Sense and Sensibility, Bodies, New Tricks.

Film includes: Having You, Summer in February, The Bank Job, The Golden Compass.

Hattie won a 2007 Ian Charleson Award for her role in The Seagull.

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Dominic Rowan Torvald For the Young Vic: After Dido (Young Vic/ENO).

Recent theatre includes: The Village Bike (Royal Court); Henry VIII (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Misanthrope (West End); The Spanish Tragedy (Arcola); A New World, As You Like It (Shakespeare’s Globe); Under the Blue Sky (West End); Happy Now? (National); A Voyage Round My Father (Donmar Warehouse); Way to Heaven (Royal Court); Dream Play (National); Forty Winks (Royal Court); Iphegina at Aulis, Mourning Becomes Electra, Three Sisters, The Talking Cure (National).

Recent television includes: Henry IV, Law and Order UK, Catwalk Dogs, Baby Boom, Trial and Retribution, The Lavender List, The Family Man, Rescue Me, Lost World, Swallow.

Steve Toussaint Dr Rank Recent theatre includes: The Riots (Tricycle); Macbeth, Merchant of Venice (RSC); Twelfth Night (Nottingham Playhouse); Ruined (Almeida); Hapgood (Birmingham Rep & West Yorkshire Playhouse); Flight 5065: The Traducers (London Eye); Fix Up (National); Urban Afro-Saxons (Talawa); 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea (Theatre Royal Stratford East); A Servant to Two Masters (RSC); To Kill A Mocking Bird (Everyman Palace); Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (West End).

Recent television includes: Spooks, Doctors, Skins, New Tricks, CSI:Miami, My Dad’s the Prime Minister, Waking the Dead, Broken News.

Recent film includes: Asylum, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Times, Broken Lines, Mutant Chronicles, Flight of Fury, Shooting Dogs, The Sin Eater, Dog Eat Dog, Circus, Macbeth, I.D.

Lynne Verrall Anna Theatre includes: Sweetness (Dogstar); Mercy Fine (Clean Break); House & Garden (Northampton); The Price (Octagon); Celaine (Hampstead); Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Equus, Afore Night Come (Theatr Clwyd); Pale Horse (Royal Court); Blue Night in the Heart of the West (Plain Clothes Productions, Bush); Mill Fire (Riverside); Duet for One (Derby); Coming Up (Belt & Braces).

Television includes: Witchville, Pumpkinhead: 3 & 4 (all US Syfy); Holby City, Doctors, The Day That Britain Stopped, Auf Wiedershen Pet, Secret Life of Michael Fry, The Bill, Staying Alive, Casualty, Final Cut, Into the Fire, House of Elliot, Inspector Morse, Precious Bane, Hard Cases, Bill Brand.

Film includes: Summer in February, A Kind of Hush.

Radio includes: Party Animal, Hotel du Lac.

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Susannah Wise Kristine Linde Theatre includes: The Holy Rosenbergs, Sanctuary, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (National); The Faerie Queen (Glyndebourne); Heartbreak House (Chichester); Seven Jewish Children, Where Do We Live (Royal Court); Rabbit (The Old Red Lion/Trafalgar Studios/New York); Featuring Loretta (Hampstead); Festen (Lyric Hammersmith/West End); When Harry Met Sally (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Three Sisters (Playhouse); Life After George (Duchess).

Television includes: Secret Smile, U Be Dead, Peepshow, The Time Of Your Life, The Tennant Of Wildfell Hall, The IT Crowd, Soundproof, Secret Smile, In A Land Of Plenty, Eskimo Day, Staying Alive, Dalziel & Pascoe, EastEnders.

Film includes: An Ideal Husband, Britannic.

Vincent Curson-Smith Ivar Helmer Vincent Curson-Smith is 11 years old and appears as the Young Barnabas in Tim Burton’s recent film Dark Shadows. He has appeared in ITV’s Primeval, and in the BBC/HBO drama Pinochet in Suburbia, as well as some short films.

Arthur Gledhill Franks Ivar Helmer Arthur, aged 10, loves theatre, music and dance. He has appeared in television commercials and been a soloist in dance and musical shows in West London. He is a chorister with the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace and sang in the Diamond Choir at St Paul’s for the Queen’s Jubilee. He is doing grade exams in singing, piano, guitar and drum kit.

Jake Tuesley Jon Helmer Theatre includes: Benjamin in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (West End); Sneezy in Snow White (Chequer Mead); Peter Pan, Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Chequer Mead) and Fiddler on the Roof (The Hawth). He has also starred in a commercial for First Choice holidays.

Jake, aged 9, loves to perform which he has been doing since he was 3. He is part of his school choir and attends dance and singing lessons.

Pip Pearce Jon Helmer Pip (10) was recently directed by Nicholas Hytner for silent movie footage shown in Travelling Light at the National Theatre and broadcast to cinemas around the world.

He is an avid Hip Hop artist and enjoys choreographing his own pieces which he has performed in various shows.

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A Doll’s House

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Characters

Nora Helmer Torvald Helmer Doctor Rank Kristine Linde Nils Krogstad Ivar Helmer Jon Helmer Emmy Helmer Ann Helene

The play takes place in the Helmers’ house in a town in Norway in 1878.

a

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One

A living room. Three doors. A window. A piano. Tables. Armchairs. Sofas. A rocking chair. Engravings on the wall. A whatnot holding ornaments. A bookcase. A carpet on the floor.

The fire is lit.

It is winter. It is daytime.

A bell rings in the hall.

After a time Nora enters. She is carrying an armful of parcels. Helene, the maid who opened the door for her, follows.

Nora Hide the Christmas tree properly, Helene. I don’t want the children to see it until it’s been decorated. How much is the delivery?

Helene I think it was one seventy-five, Mrs Helmer.

Nora Here. Give him five. Tell him to keep the change.

Helene Very good Mrs Helmer. I will.

Nora Is Mr Helmer at home?

Helene I believe he’s in his study.

Nora Thank you, Helene.

Helene Not at all.

She exits. Nora stands. She smiles. She hums a little. She goes to take her coat off. She stops. She finds a bag of chocolates in her pocket. She takes out the bag. She starts eating the chocolates.

Torvald calls from his study.

Torvald Is that a little swallow out there?

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Nora It might be.

Torvald Can I hear a chaffinch fluttering around my house?

Nora You might be able to.

Torvald When did you get home?

Nora Just this second.

She finishes the chocolates. She licks her fingers clean. She puts the bag back in her coat pocket, takes the coat off and hangs it up.

Torvald, come and see what I bought.

After a brief time one of the doors opens and Torvald Helmer stands in the doorway.

Torvald I’m trying to work in here.

Nora I know. I’m sorry.

Torvald Has my little hamster been spending all of my money again?

Nora Not all of it.

Torvald Did you buy all this?

Nora Is that very bad?

Torvald It’s a little bit bad. Not terribly bad.

Nora But we can afford it, this year, can’t we?

He looks at her as he comes into the room to examine her purchases.

With the salary you’re going to get? And the lots and lots of money you’re going to earn? This is the first Christmas when we haven’t had to count every penny.

He struggles to take his eyes off her. She enjoys him watching her.

Torvald I won’t actually get paid anything for another three months.

She stands in front of him. She smiles up at him.

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Nora Well, we’re just going to have to borrow money until then aren’t we?

Torvald Nora.

She kisses him. He checks the maids are not within earshot and kisses her back.

You’re like a little girl.

He kisses her some more. Stands away. Smiles.

What would you do if I borrowed three months’ salary today and you spent every last bit of it during the Christmas holiday and then a tile fell off our roof and landed on my head on New Year’s Eve and killed me stone dead?

Nora That’s horrible.

Torvald It could happen though. What would you do?

Nora If that happened, the last people I would be worried about would be the strangers I owed money to.

Torvald I’m being serious.

Nora So am I.

He kisses her.

Torvald You know what I think about borrowing money.

Nora I do.

He kisses her again.

Torvald We’ve done so well until now.

Nora I know.

He kisses her again.

Torvald We can hold our breath for a few more months.

She smiles at him and heads away.

Are you cross with me?

Nora No.

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Torvald Are you sulking? Are you hiding your head in your wings?

He takes his wallet out. He takes forty crowns from it. He goes up behind her.

I wonder if you can guess what I’ve got behind my back.

She turns quickly.

Nora Is it money?

He gives her the money he took out from his wallet.

Torvald I do understand, you know, how expensive Christmas can be.

She counts the money he’s given her.

Nora Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I promise you I’ll make it last.

Torvald You really better had.

Nora I will. I swear.

She kisses him. Then breaks away.

But you didn’t see what I bought. Come here. Have a look. I got some new clothes for Ivar. They were from the last season so they were really rather cheap. Don’t tell him. He won’t notice. And look. I got him a sword. En garde!

She draws the sword like a musketeer. He smiles at her.

It’s not real. Don’t panic.

Torvald I wasn’t panicking.

Nora I got a horse and a trumpet for Jon.

Torvald A trumpet?

She blows into it. She passes it to him. He tries blowing into it. Can’t make a noise.

Nora And look at this. I got Emmy a house for her dolls. It’s rather little. But she’s only going to break it anyway. I got some

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fabric and scarves for Helene and Anna. Anna should have more than Helene, really.

Torvald approaches an unopened box on a table.

Torvald And what’s in that box?

She blocks his path.

Nora Don’t touch that! You’re not allowed to see that until tonight. Do you promise me?

He kisses her. She kisses him back.

Torvald And has my little skylark thought about what she’d like to find in her nest?

Nora I don’t need anything.

Torvald Yes, you do. Tell me what you’d like.

Nora I can’t think.

Torvald Try. Tell me anything. As long as it’s not completely unreasonable.

Nora Well, there is one thing.

Torvald And what’s that?

She plays with a button on his shirt without looking at him.

Nora If you really, really wanted to get me something, I mean.

Torvald What?

Nora Do you promise that you won’t be cross with me?

Torvald Nora, you are insufferable.

Nora You could give me some money.

Torvald Money?

Nora Only as much as you think you can spare.

He looks at her.

And then when I find something I like I can buy it for myself but I’ll know that the money came from you.

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Torvald No.

Nora I could wrap the money in beautiful golden paper and hang it on the Christmas tree. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Torvald It would be a very strange type of fun, Nora.

Nora It’s actually quite sensible when you think about it. It’ll give me time to think about what I really want most.

Torvald Nora, I know you.

Nora I know you do.

Torvald You’ll take all the money and you’ll spend it all on the house or you’ll waste it on things that are entirely unnecessary and not leave anything for yourself at all.

Nora I won’t, I promise.

Torvald Do you know what the defining characteristic of the swallow is?

Nora looks at him.

Torvald It looks very, very sweet. It flies terribly high. But it really is extraordinarily expensive to keep the thing shining so very brightly.

Nora I’m not entirely sure that birds do actually shine, Torvald.

Torvald You know what I’m talking about.

Nora I try my hardest to save everything I can.

Torvald I know you do. I know you try. You just don’t always succeed.

Nora Well, if you knew the expenses that we swallows have to deal with, Torvald.

Torvald You are a strange little creature, aren’t you? You’re like your father. You try so many different ways to get your hands on money and then once you’ve got it, it just runs like dust between your fingers.

Nora I wish I were more like my father sometimes.

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He looks at her.

Torvald You don’t need to be more like anybody. I wouldn’t change the slightest part of you. Not for anything in the world. But wait. Hold on just a second. I’ve noticed something about you.

Nora What?

Torvald Something in your eye.

Nora What?

Torvald You look so – so – how should I put it?

Nora What?

Torvald Devious all of a sudden?

Nora Devious?

Torvald Yes. Devious. Here. Look at me.

He kisses her.

I knew it.

Nora What?

Torvald I think somebody has been eating chocolates again.

Nora Not me.

Torvald Somebody couldn’t resist going past a certain bakery –

Nora It wasn’t me Torvald, I swear.

Torvald Somebody has been nibbling on a nobble of butter.

Nora I haven’t. What’s a ‘nobble’?

Torvald Somebody’s dipped their beak into a little bag of macaroons.

Nora Macaroons?! Torvald, I promised. I’d never break a promise I made to you.

Torvald I’m joking. Calm down.

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Don’t worry.

I believe you.

They look at each other. They smile.

Nora Did you remember to invite Jens for dinner this evening?

Torvald I’ll ask him this morning.

Nora Do.

Torvald He doesn’t really need asking anyway. He knows he dines with us. It goes without saying.

I’m rather excited about tonight.

Nora I am too.

Torvald I did take the liberty of ordering one or two rather decent bottles of wine, I’m afraid.

Nora Or three. Or four.

He smiles at her.

Nora The children are beside themselves with excitement.

Torvald It makes such a difference, you know?

Nora What does?

Torvald Securing my position.

Nora It’s just wonderful.

Torvald Do you remember last Christmas? It’s an improvement on that, I think.

Nora Of course it is.

Torvald You spent three weeks locked away every night until way after midnight making – what was it?

Nora Flowers.

Torvald That’s right, flowers for the Christmas tree. And then the cat got in and tore every last one of them to pieces.

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Nora That wasn’t my fault.

Torvald I hardly saw you for weeks. I’ve never been so bored in all my life.

He goes to her.

Nora I wasn’t bored at all.

Torvald Now I don’t have to sit here on my own being bored and you don’t have to torture your beautiful, sparkling eyes.

He kisses her eyes. She lets him.

And your delicate, fine, little hands.

He kisses her hands. She lets him. The bell rings in the hall. He pauses in his kissing. Then kisses her neck.

Nora Torvald.

He doesn’t stop.

Torvald, please. Someone’s here.

Torvald We can ignore them.

Nora We can’t.

Torvald We can pretend we’re not at home.

Nora Helene will answer the door.

Torvald It’ll be Dr Rank. He’ll go directly to my room. She can entertain him with stories of her scandalous employers.

Nora Torvald. I’m being serious.

He looks at her.

Torvald So am I.

He smiles. She smiles back. Helene enters.

Torvald Was it Dr Rank, Helene?

Helene Yes it was, sir.

Torvald And did he go directly to my room?

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Helene Yes he did, sir.

Torvald Thank you, Helene.

He exits into his study. He winks at Nora as he leaves. Nora smiles as she watches him go.

Nora Thank you, Helene.

Helene Mrs Helmer. There is a lady here. A stranger.

Nora A stranger? Good Lord, how exciting!

Helene is slightly thrown by Nora’s tone and doesn’t completely know how to respond.

Helene Should I show her in, madam?

Nora Straight away.

Helene Very good.

Helene exits. Nora is left alone for a few moments. She thinks. She is distracted when Kristine Linde enters. Kristine catches Nora by surprise.

Kristine Hello, Nora.

Nora turns and looks at her for moment.

Nora Hello.

Kristine You don’t recognise me, do you?

Nora I’m not sure. Have we – I’m so sorry.

Kristine It’s Kristine.

Nora Kristine! How could I not recognise you? I’m so sorry.

Kristine It has been ten years, Nora.

Nora It hasn’t? Oh my Lord, it has. Ten years. Have you come all this way in this weather?

Kristine I arrived this morning on the steamer.

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Nora The steamer? At Christmas time. Good God you’re brave. How lovely. Here. Take your coat off. You’re freezing. Here. Sit here. No, you sit in the armchair. I’ll sit here.

She sits Kristine by the armchair and sits on the rocking chair. She holds Kristine’s hands and gazes at her.

Nora Look at you. How could I not recognise you? Look at your skin. You’ve lost weight, it must be that.

Kristine I’ve got old.

Nora We’ve both got a little bit older, Kristine. Not much older we haven’t.

She gazes at Kristine.

Listen to me. Chattering away. I’m so sorry.

Kristine What for?

Nora Kristine, I heard about your husband.

Kristine Did you?

Nora I feel so ashamed.

Kristine Why?

Nora I meant to write to you. I honestly did. I kept putting it off. Something always got in the way.

Kristine That’s all right.

Nora And then it just felt too late.

Kristine Nora, please don’t. I understand.

Nora It was horrible of me.

Kristine It wasn’t.

Nora You went through so much.

Kristine It was three years ago.

Nora You didn’t have any children?

Kristine No.

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Nora And is it true that he really didn’t leave you anything?

Kristine Not even grief or a sense of loss to nurture.

Nora looks at her.

Kristine It happens sometimes.

She smiles at Nora and strokes her hair.

Nora It must be so hard for you.

I’ve got three children. They’re out with their nanny.

Kristine, please. Tell me everything. Tell me everything about yourself. Tell me everything that’s happened to you. Tell me everything you’ve done. I promise you today I’ll only pay attention to you and not talk about myself at all. Apart from telling you one thing.

Kristine What’s that?

Nora Did you hear?

Kristine Hear what?

Nora Torvald has been made the manager of the Savings Bank.

Kristine Torvald?

Nora My husband.

Kristine Nora!

Nora I know. He’s been working as a lawyer for all the time that I’ve known him. But the law is so unstable as a career path. Especially if you commit to only taking cases that you really, truly believe in. And Torvald never wanted to do anything else. He starts at the bank in the New Year. He gets such an increase in his salary and he gets dividends on top of what he earns. It’s going to change everything for us. We can live exactly as we’ve always wanted to. You’ve no idea how relieved I feel. You’ve no idea how much money he’s going to make.

Kristine Nora, you haven’t changed at all, have you?

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Nora What do you mean?

Kristine I remember in school you were so excited by just the idea of spending money.

Nora Torvald says I still am. But it’s not always been easy, Kristine. We’ve had a difficult few years. We’ve had to work so hard.

Kristine Both of you?

Nora Yes, both of us. I took in needlework. I did some crocheting and embroidery. I did all kinds of things. Straight after we married Torvald started working for himself. He had to; just to be able to make the money that we needed, because there was no way he was going to get any sort of promotion in the place he was working when I met him. He took on so much work, Kristine, you wouldn’t believe. He worked from the start of the morning to the middle of the night. He worked far too hard if the truth were told. He worked so hard that it got to a point that he became quite ill. He had to go to a doctor. They told us he should rest. They told us we should head south. We went to Italy.

Kristine To Italy?

Nora Yes. We spent a whole year there. It wasn’t easy, Kristine. It was just after Ivar was born. He was so little to travel. But we had no choice. It was the most wonderful time. I honestly believe that it saved Torvald’s life. It did cost an awful lot of money.

Kristine I can imagine.

Nora Nine and a half thousand.

Kristine looks at her.

Nora Are you very shocked?

Kristine Not shocked. It’s just lucky you were able to –

Nora We got the money from my father.

Kristine I see.

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Nora It was awful because he was so ill too. At the same time. He was dying, Kristine. Can you imagine how it felt to not be able to spend time with him and to not be able to go and nurse him?

Kristine You were so fond of him.

Nora I was here. It was just before Ivar was born. I couldn’t travel anywhere. And Torvald was so ill. My father! I never saw him again. It was the hardest thing that’s ever happened to me.

We left a month later. Torvald came back cured.

A brief pause. Kristine examines Nora.

Kristine Nora, wasn’t the gentleman on the stairs . . . ?

Nora The gentleman?

Kristine As I arrived. A gentleman passed me on the stairs. I thought the maid said he was a doctor.

Nora Oh that’s Jens. Dr Rank. He’s not a doctor. Well, he is. But he’s not coming here as a doctor. He’s our closest friend. He comes to see us every day. Torvald hasn’t had a single day’s illness since we got back from Italy. And the children are well and healthy and happy and so am I. Oh, but this is terrible. I’m being awful. I’m talking on and on about myself.

She sits at Kristine’s feet and rests her arms on her knees.

Nora Don’t be cross with me.

Kristine I’m not.

Nora Kristine, is it really true that you didn’t love your husband?

Kristine smiles at Nora.

Kristine That is true, yes.

Nora Why did you marry him then?

Kristine My mother was ill. She couldn’t leave the house. She couldn’t get out of bed. She couldn’t do anything. I had to

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look after my two little brothers. He asked me. I didn’t think it was fair to anybody to say no.

Nora Was he very rich?

Kristine I think he was, yes. But when he died his business completely collapsed. There was nothing left of it at all.

Nora What did you do?

Kristine I did anything I could think of. I got a job managing a shop for a while. I got a job in a school. All I’ve done for the past three years is work. And then a short while ago my mother died. And my brothers have got positions of their own. They don’t need me any more.

Nora You must feel so relieved.

Kristine I feel empty. It’s like I have no one to live for any more.

Nora gets up.

Kristine I couldn’t stand being at home. The place started to feel so horribly remote. I thought it would be easier to find work here. I need work that will challenge me. I need something that can make me think.

Nora Oh Kristine. Are you sure? You look so tired. You’d be so much better taking some rest. You’d be so much better heading to the South.

Kristine I don’t have a father who can pay for me to do that.

A beat.

Nora Please don’t be angry with me.

Kristine No. I’m sorry. Please don’t you be angry with me. That’s the worst thing about having nothing to do. When you’ve nobody to work for you spend all your time thinking about yourself. Your mind turns bitter. You won’t believe this, but when you told me about your husband’s new position I was beside myself with happiness not because of what it meant for you but because of what it might mean for me.

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Nora Do you think he might be able to help you?

Kristine looks at Nora. Says nothing. Nora smiles.

Nora He will. Just leave it to me. I know exactly how to get my own way with him. I’ll place the idea in his mind.

Kristine Nora.

Nora Don’t thank me. I so want to help you.

Kristine You have no idea how difficult my life has been.

Nora Don’t I?

Kristine You’re still so much of a child.

Nora Is that what you think?

Everybody says that about me. They’ve no idea. If I told you some of the things that I’ve had to deal with in my life.

Kristine I’m not talking about your needlework.

Nora People shouldn’t underestimate me, Kristine. You shouldn’t underestimate me.

Kristine looks at Nora.

Kristine I don’t underestimate anybody.

Nora You must be very proud that you worked so hard for your mother.

Kristine I am.

Nora You must be very proud of everything you did for your brothers.

Kristine I don’t think there’s anything wrong about that.

Nora Well, if you knew what I had to be proud of then you wouldn’t think I was so much of a child.

Kristine What are you talking about?

Nora Keep your voice down. If Torvald heard – He must never know, Kristine. Nobody must ever know.

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Kristine Know what?

Nora Come here.

She brings Kristine to whisper to her.

Nora It was me.

Kristine What was you?

Nora I saved Torvald’s life.

Kristine What do you mean, you saved his life?

Nora If Torvald hadn’t gone to Italy he would never have survived.

Kristine You said that.

Nora My father didn’t give us a penny. I found all the money on my own.

Nobody knows. Everybody thinks it was my father. It wasn’t. It was me.

Kristine How could you possibly do that? Did you win the lottery?

Nora The lottery? Where’s the skill in winning the lottery?

Kristine Well, where did you get ten thousa – ?

Nora smiles at her. She hums a little tune.

Kristine You couldn’t borrow it.

Nora Why not?

Kristine Not without your husband’s consent?

Nora Couldn’t I? All you need is a little business sense. All you need is to be a bit clever.

Kristine ‘A bit clever’?

Nora Maybe I didn’t borrow it. There are other ways to find money, Kristine. Maybe I was given it by one of my admirers. When a woman is as attractive as I am, Kristine, you’ll find they have themselves rather a lot of –

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Kristine You’re mad.

Nora You really want to know now, don’t you?

Kristine Nora, have you done something foolish?

Nora Is it foolish to save your husband’s life?

Kristine, he wasn’t allowed to know anything. He wasn’t even allowed to know just how ill he really was. The doctors spoke to me, not him. They told me his life was in danger. They told me that the only thing that could save him was a trip away from the darkness and the cold here and down into the South. I had to discover a way of persuading him to leave without him ever knowing how ill he was. I told him how jealous I was of all the other wives who travelled abroad with their husbands. It was his job to look after me. I cried. I begged. He had to indulge me. I suggested he borrow some money. He got so angry. He told me that his only real duty as a husband was not to give in to my little whims and moods. But I needed to save him. I needed to find another way.

Kristine Did your father never –

Nora He died before he ever knew.

Kristine And you’ve never admitted anything to Torvald?

Nora How could I? He would be so embarrassed. He would be humiliated.

Kristine looks at Nora.

Some time.

Kristine Will you ever tell him, do you think?

Nora Oh, maybe one day. When I’m old. And tired and haggard. When I’m not quite as beautiful as I am now. I’m being serious. When he’s stopped enjoying watching me dance for him. And dressing for him. When he no longer cares about my little performances for him. It would be a good thing to have a little secret up my sleeve.

What am I talking about? That’ll never happen.

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Kristine looks at Nora for a while.

Well? What do you think? Do you still think I’m a little helpless child?

Kristine I don’t know what to think.

Nora It’s not been easy I have to admit. There’s something in the business world called quarterly interest. And there’s something else in the business world, which is known as repayment. It can really be so terribly difficult to get hold of. I’ve had to save wherever I could. I couldn’t take anything from the housekeeping because Torvald had to live well. I couldn’t let the children become badly dressed. Every penny he gave me for the children I spent on making their lives as happy as I possibly could. Each time Torvald gave me money for new dresses or for things like that or for anything really I saved half of it and bought the simplest, cheapest materials I could find. He never noticed. It’s just a good thing that everything looks so good on me.

But it was hard. It’s so important to be finely dressed, Kristine, don’t you think?

Last winter I managed to get a job copying. I locked myself in my room and sat and wrote every evening until the middle of the night. I got so tired. But do you know I rather enjoyed myself. Sitting there. Earning money. It was like being a man.

Kristine Nora, how much of the money have you been able to pay off ?

Nora I’m not really entirely sure. It can be terribly difficult to stay on top of everything a lot of the time. All I know is that I’ve paid everything I managed to scrape together. Sometimes I haven’t known at all what I was going to do. Sometimes I did wonder what it would be like if a fine, rich gentleman fell in love with me.

Kristine A gentleman?

Nora A gentleman in my head. And this gentleman, in my head, he died and they opened his will and it said in big black

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letters, ‘All of my money and everything I own must be paid out and given to the miraculous Mrs Nora Helmer with immediate effect. In cash.’

Kristine Nora, who are you talking about? Who is this gentleman?

Nora He’s nobody. He never existed. He was just somebody I made up. But it doesn’t matter any more. That boring old fart can get out of my head now. I don’t need to worry about him or his will any more. I’m free.

She leaps to her feet and claps her hands.

I’m free to do anything I want to do. To play with my children all day if I want to. To stroll around a beautiful and neat and elegant home. To have everything exactly the way that Torvald likes it. And soon spring will be here. And the skies will be big and blue. And maybe we can travel again. Maybe I’ll get to see that sea again. I feel so alive.

The bell goes in the hall.

Kristine You’ve got more visitors. I should leave.

Nora No. Don’t. Stay. I’m not expecting anybody. It’ll be somebody for Torvald.

Helene comes to the doorway. She looks in and examines the room a touch before she speaks.

Helene I’m so sorry, Madam. A gentleman is here who wants to talk to Mr Helmer. But I didn’t know what to do because Dr Rank is still in there with Mr Helmer and I didn’t know if I should disturb them or ask the gentleman to wait and if I did I didn’t know where to send him to. To wait.

Nora Who is he, Helene?

Krogstad calls from the hallway outside.

Krogstad It’s just me, Mrs Helmer.

Nora Thank you. I’ll deal with the gentleman.

Helene Very good.

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She goes. Krogstad comes to the doorway from the hallway. Kristine turns towards the window away from the room.

Nora What do you want to talk to my husband about?

Krogstad Oh. Just bank business. I have a small position in the Savings Bank and now that your husband is to be our manager –

Nora Are you lying to me?

Krogstad No. I’m not. Why would I lie about something like that?

Nora Well. Could you please wait outside the door to the study? You can wait in the hallway. He won’t be long, I’m sure.

She turns away from him. He leaves to wait for Helmer. Nora closes the door to the hallway behind him. Kristine turns to her. Nora turns away.

Kristine Nora. Who was that man?

Nora Oh. He’s a lawyer.

Kristine What’s his name?

Nora Mr Krogstad.

Kristine I thought it was him.

Nora looks at her.

Kristine I knew him. A few years ago. He was our local solicitor’s clerk.

Nora Of course.

Kristine He’s changed.

Nora His wife died. His marriage was very unhappy, I think. He’s been left alone with their children.

Kristine And he’s working in Torvald’s bank?

Nora It would seem so.

Kristine He’s not working as a clerk any more.

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Nora I really have no idea. I don’t really want to talk about his work. It’s far too boring.

Dr Rank enters from Torvald’s study.

Rank Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m disturbing you.

Nora You’re not. You couldn’t ever disturb me. Don’t be silly. Dr Rank, this is my friend Kristine Linde. Kristine, this is Dr Jens Rank.

Rank Ah! A name I’ve heard spoken an awful lot in this household. Did I pass you on the stairwell when I came up the stairs?

Kristine I think you did. I find stairs rather difficult at the moment.

Rank Are you not well?

Kristine I’m just tired.

Rank And you’ve decided that the best thing for tiredness is to spend your days walking round town paying visits on your friends?

Kristine I’m looking for work.

Rank Another excellent cure for debilitating exhaustion.

Kristine I need to live, Dr Rank.

Rank Yes. People nowadays seem to continue to labour under the misapprehension that that remains in some way necessary.

Nora Well, Dr Rank, I’m sure that you’re rather keen on the idea of living yourself.

Rank Oh yes, I am. Regardless of how miserable I become I still feel the need to carry on being tormented for as long a time as I can possibly get away with. All my patients feel the same way, you know? The morally sick are just as bad. We all are! There is a deeply morally sick patient in with Torvald as we speak.

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Nora Who might that be?

Rank A man by the name of Krogstad. A lawyer. Rotten to his core. But even he began his meeting with a lengthy diatribe on the enormous importance of his continued existence.

Nora What did he want to talk to Torvald about?

Rank I have absolutely no idea. He was wittering on about the Savings Bank. He appears to have what he described as a ‘position’ down there. I don’t know, Mrs Linde, if they have people like Krogstad where you come from. It’s as though morally they are decaying. Yet they spend their days rushing around breathlessly sniffing out decay in others. They get their teeth into this decay. And they never let go. The morally healthy, like the physically healthy, are somewhat ignored.

Kristine Surely it’s not a bad thing to take care of the physically sick, Dr Rank?

Rank Of course it’s not. I’m just left with the sense sometimes that our entire society is turning into something of a hospital.

Nora laughs.

Rank Don’t laugh. I’m being serious.

Nora I’m sure. I was laughing at something completely different. I was getting bored with what you were saying and my mind drifted off to something funny. You must tell me, Dr Rank. Are all of the people who work at the Savings Bank so dependent on Torvald?

Rank Is that your idea of something funny?

Nora smiles and starts humming a little.

Nora Oh, don’t you worry about that. Don’t you worry about that.

She starts to pace about the room.

I just find it rather entertaining to think about all the people that Torvald has power over.

She takes the packet of chocolates out of her pocket.

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Dr Rank. Would you like a chocolate?

Rank Chocolates! My goodness. I thought chocolates were banned in this house.

Nora Kristine brought them for me. She didn’t realise.

Kristine I – What?

Nora Don’t panic. I won’t tell Torvald. He’s banned me from having chocolates. Can you believe it? He says it’s because he’s terrified they’ll rot my teeth. I think he’s far more worried about my figure. But it doesn’t matter, just this once, does it, Dr Rank? Here.

She puts a chocolate in his mouth.

And one for you.

She puts a chocolate in Kristine’s mouth.

Nora And one for me. There. That’s better.

Sometimes I have the most terrible urges.

Rank Urges?

Nora There’s something, for example, that I have the most terrible urge to say right in front of Torvald.

Rank And why can’t you?

Nora Because it’s far too ugly.

Kristine Ugly?

Rank Well if it’s ugly you’re probably wise to avoid saying it in front of Torvald. He has a delicate sensibility at the best of times. But you can say it in front of us. Can’t she, Mrs Linde?

Nora I have a terrible urge to go right up to him and whisper in his ear: ‘Bloody hell!’

Rank The woman has gone quite mad!

Kristine Nora!

Rank Quick. He’s coming. I can hear him. I think you should say it, don’t you, Mrs Linde?

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Nora Shh.

She hides the bag of chocolates. Torvald enters with his overcoat over his arm and his hat in his hand.

Torvald What’s going on in here?

Nora Nothing.

Rank Nothing at all.

Torvald You’re all looking incredibly guilty.

Rank It was nothing, I assure you.

Nora Did you manage to get rid of your visitor?

Torvald Oh yes. He’s gone now.

Nora Torvald, I forgot. You’ve not met. This is my dear friend Kristine Linde. She arrived in town this morning.

Torvald Mrs Linde? I’m so sorry. It’s terribly rude of me. I’m not entirely sure –

Kristine I’m a childhood friend of your wife’s. We’ve known each other since we were quite small.

Nora Torvald, she has made the most remarkable journey here and all to speak to you.

Torvald To me?

Kristine Well, that’s not entirely –

Nora Kristine, you see, is a brilliant office worker. She has a great need to come under the direction of a deeply clever man and learn even more than she already knows.

Torvald How very sensible.

Nora And then she heard that you had become the manager of a bank. The news made it all the way home, Torvald, can you imagine? And as soon as she heard she came here as quickly as she could. Please. Torvald. Do you think you could find something for Kristine? She is so very dear to me.

Torvald Are you not married, Mrs Linde?

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Kristine I am widowed.

Torvald And you have a certain amount of experience in office work?

Kristine A great deal of experience.

Torvald Well. You arrived at a rather opportune moment, Mrs Linde. Let me look into it.

Kristine Thank you.

Torvald puts his coat on.

Torvald You don’t need to thank me, Mrs Linde. You do, however, need to excuse me.

Rank Wait. Torvald. I’ll walk out with you.

He fetches his fur coat from the hall.

Nora Oh Torvald, don’t stay out for too long.

Torvald An hour, Nora. No more. I promise you.

Kristine moves to get her coat and put it on.

Nora Kristine. Not you as well.

Kristine My dear Nora, I’m afraid I need to start looking for somewhere to live.

Torvald Perhaps we could walk some of the way together, Mrs Linde.

Kristine Thank you. I’d like that.

Torvald I’ll wait for you in the hall.

He leaves. Nora helps her put her coat on.

Nora It’s so boring that we have to live in such a tiny cramped little apartment. I wish you could stay with us here.

Kristine Nora. Really.

Nora It just wouldn’t be possible.

Kristine What are you thinking?

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Nora I know. I’m sorry. It’s just been so good to see you.

Kristine And it’s been lovely to see you too. Thank you Nora. For everything you’ve done for me.

Nora You must come back this evening.

Kristine This evening?

Nora I insist. And you too, Dr Rank. You are coming, aren’t you?

Rank I dare say I’ll drag myself here.

Nora Well, only if you’re not too terribly ill?

Rank I’ll wrap up warm. I’m sure I’ll be able to bear it.

Nora Do.

Rank Goodbye Nora.

He leaves.

Nora Do come.

Kristine I will.

Nora I’m so happy. To see you and that you’re here and that Torvald will find you work and that you’re coming back this evening and for everything.

Kristine Nora.

Nora I know. I’m so sorry. I’m being silly. I’ll stop. My dear Kristine.

Kristine My dear, silly Nora.

She leaves. Nora is left alone for a while. She eats the rest of her chocolates. There is a noise off. The children and Anna have arrived home. Jon, eight, runs in with his coat on.

Jon Mummy!

Nora Sweetheart!

She goes to him.

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Anna (off ) Jon. Coat. Come and take your coat off.

Jon Sorry. Coming.

Nora Hurry back.

Jon I will.

He leaves. Nora is alone again for a short time. Ivar enters. He is nine.

Ivar Mummy, I pulled both Emmy and Jon on the same sledge at the same time.

Nora You didn’t!

Ivar I did.

Nora You’re so strong.

Ivar And then I threw snowballs at them and I got Jon right in the face. But it was an accident.

Jon enters.

Jon It wasn’t.

Ivar I did say sorry.

Jon Only because Anna made you.

Nora Oh, look at you. Your cheeks are so red. They look like apples and roses.

Ivar Roses?!

Anna enters holding Emmy, who is a year old.

Nora Red roses.

Ivar My cheeks don’t look like flowers.

Nora Here. Let me take her. Beautiful little poppet.

She takes Emmy from Anna and dances with her.

Jon Can I dance with you too, Mummy?

Nora Of course you can.

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The three dance together. Nora sings a tune.

Anna Should I take her?

Nora No. I can keep her. Please let me.

Anna She’s very tired. She rather needs a sleep.

Nora Does she?

Anna She’s not slept all morning.

Nora Hasn’t she? Oh, very well. Why don’t you take her into the nursery and you can get yourself warmed up. I want to play with my boys.

Jon Mummy, I got chased.

Nora Chased?

Jon By a huge dog.

Ivar It wasn’t that huge.

Jon It was. It was like a wolf.

Ivar It wasn’t a wolf.

Jon It was scary.

Nora It sounds it.

Ivar I wasn’t scared. I’m not scared of dogs.

Nora Not even big dogs?

Ivar No.

Nora Not even big mummy-dogs that chase and jump and tickle!

Ivar Ahh!!

The boys run off. Nora chases them. She catches them. She tickles them till they tumble on the floor.

Jon I bet if I hide you can’t find me.

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Ivar I bet I could.

Jon I didn’t say you, I said Mummy.

Ivar You’re rubbish at hiding.

Nora Ivar.

Jon Do you think you could, Mummy?

Nora I bet I could. I bet I could find both of you.

Ivar You couldn’t.

Nora I could.

Ivar You don’t know the places I know.

Nora I do, you know.

Jon Count to twenty.

Nora Twenty?!

Jon Ten then.

Nora OK, I’ll count to ten.

Ivar And close your eyes.

Nora I always close my eyes.

Ivar I know where I’m going.

Jon Me too.

Ivar You better not follow me.

Nora Are you two ready?

Ivar and Jon Yes, quick!

They run out. She closes her eyes and counts to ten. Krogstad enters and watches her as she counts.

Nora 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Coming ready or not.

She opens her eyes to see him watching her.

Krogstad I’m so sorry, Mrs Helmer. Do forgive me for intruding.

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Nora What do you want?

Krogstad The front door was left wide open. People can be so careless sometimes.

Nora My husband’s not at home, Mr Krogstad.

Krogstad No. I know that.

Nora Then what are you doing here?

Krogstad I wanted to talk to you.

Nora looks at him. She goes to her door.

Nora Anna.

Anna comes to the door holding Emmy, who is sleeping.

Nora Anna, could you go and play hide-and-seek with the boys? Mr Krogstad here needs to talk to me about a matter concerning his work.

Anna I see. Is everything all right?

Nora Perfectly, Anna, thank you. I’m afraid the boys are hiding already. They’ll have had something of a head start.

Anna I’ll find them. They always hide in the same places.

Nora Is Emmy asleep?

Anna Flat out.

She leaves.

Nora It’s not the first of the month for another week.

Krogstad No. It’s Christmas Eve. Imagine.

Nora I can’t possibly –

Krogstad You don’t need to. I’ve not come here for that. I was outside the bakery on the corner just now. I saw your husband heading into town.

Nora Yes.

Krogstad With a lady.

Nora looks at him.

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Krogstad Who was she?

Nora Why is that any of your business?

Krogstad Was it Kristine Linde?

Nora says nothing.

Krogstad When did she get here?

Nora says nothing.

Krogstad Is she a friend of yours?

Nora I don’t see what any –

Krogstad I knew her once.

Nora I heard.

Krogstad I thought you would have done. What was she talking to your husband about?

Nora Really, Mr Krogstad I refuse –

Krogstad They were talking terribly seriously. What was he saying to her?

Nora He’s offered her a job in his bank.

A pause.

Krogstad Was that your doing?

Nora If my husband knew one of his employees was talking to me in this tone of voice –

Krogstad Was that your doing, Mrs Helmer? Did you get Kristine Linde a job working for your husband?

Nora Is that so very surprising?

Krogstad No. No. No. No. Not at all. Not in any way.

Mrs Helmer. You need to use your influence for my benefit, now.

She looks at him.

You found Mrs Linde her job. Now you need to make sure I keep mine.

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Nora What do you mean ‘keep’ your job? Who’s taking –

Krogstad Don’t you play the innocent with me. Do you think I don’t know what you were planning? How very convenient to get me out of her way and out of your way and out of his way and to get a nice little position for your dear old school friend at the same time.

Nora I assure you, Mr Krogstad –

Krogstad She’s taking my job. She’s inheriting my position. You need to stop that from happening and you need to stop it now.

Nora I don’t have the slightest idea –

Krogstad You need to persuade your husband to allow me to keep my position and to prevent Kristine Linde from working in that bank.

Nora How could I possibly persuade my –

Krogstad You have your ways. Think of something.

I’ve known old Torvald from since he was a student. He’d do anything for the attention of a lady.

Nora If you say one more word about my husband I will show you the door.

Krogstad Look at you. You think you’re brave.

Nora I’m not afraid of you.

Krogstad Mrs Helmer. I will do everything I can to keep my job. I will stop at nothing.

She looks at him.

I made a mistake once too, you know. When I was younger. You probably heard about it? Did you?

She says nothing.

It never went to court. But it changed everything. From the day I was found out, from that day forward every door was

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closed to me. That’s when I started in this line of trade. I had to do something, Mrs Helmer. I don’t think I’m so bad, you know?

Nora Don’t you?

Krogstad I think there are plenty worse.

I’ve learned from it. It’s prepared me for my position in the bank rather elegantly. It’s served as a kind of apprenticeship. I can’t do it any more. My sons are growing up. I need to get my respectability back. For their sakes, not for mine. My job at the bank was the first step in that direction. If your husband gets his way I’ll end up back in the gutter.

Nora Mr Krogstad, there’s nothing I can do.

Krogstad I don’t believe you. You just don’t want to. It doesn’t matter. I can force you.

She looks at him for a time.

Nora You wouldn’t tell him that I owed you money.

Krogstad Wouldn’t I?

Nora You wouldn’t dare. It would be so humiliating.

Krogstad Humiliation? Is that what worries you?

She turns from him.

Nora Well, tell him then! Show yourself for the man you are. See what my husband makes of you then.

Krogstad Are you really just worried about the humiliation?

Nora He’ll pay you what you’re owed and that will be the end of you in that bank and in this town.

Krogstad Mrs Helmer. Have you any idea what you’ve done?

Nora What in heaven’s name are you talking about now?

A pause. Krogstad examines her.

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He smiles.

Krogstad When your husband was, shall we say ‘ill’? When your husband was a little bit ill you borrowed nearly ten thousand from me.

Nora I didn’t know anybody else.

Krogstad I got you the money on certain conditions. Maybe your husband was so ‘tired’ and ‘poorly’ that you didn’t really pay a great deal of attention to what those conditions were. You wrote me an IOU, do you remember?

Nora Of course I remember.

Krogstad Good. And in this IOU, this contract of debt, there were lines of guarantee that were signed by your father, do you remember those as well?

Jolly good.

And the date was left blank near the signature of guarantee for your father to complete – do you remember that too?

I gave you the IOU. You were to post it to your father. You did that straight away. Six days later you came back with the contract signed and the guarantee signed and dated and the amount was paid to you.

Nora And I’ve kept up with every last payment, Mr Krogstad.

Krogstad It must have been a very hard time for you, Mrs Helmer. Your father was very ill, was he not?

She says nothing.

Answer me. Your father was very ill, was he not?

Nora He died shortly afterwards.

Krogstad Yes. Tell me. Mrs Helmer. Do you remember the date of your father’s death?

Nora The twenty-ninth of September.

He takes out the contract and examines it while he talks.

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Krogstad See. I knew that. I checked it. And that’s why I have this little problem. I can’t for the life of me explain it. Because if you look – Can you see? Your father signed this guarantee on the contract three days after he died. He died, as you said, on the twenty-ninth of September. He signed the contract on the second of October.

How the devil did he manage that?

And if you look, here, have a look. The handwriting for the words ‘second of October’ – do you recognise that handwriting, Mrs Helmer? Because I do.

So.

He signed it. He forgot to date it. He died. You dated it. Not a big problem. It can happen. Perfectly common as a matter of fact.

As long as he signed it himself.

That’s all that really matters and, well, that is his signature, isn’t it, Mrs Helmer?

Isn’t it, Mrs Helmer?

Mrs Helmer, that is your father’s signature, isn’t it?

Nora No. It’s not. I signed it in his name.

Krogstad stares at her.

Nora What are you going to do about it? You’ll get your money. I’ll get the contract back. I don’t see that you can possibly do anything else about it. I don’t see what possible hold you imagine you have over me.

Krogstad Mrs Helmer, do you realise what you’ve just said?

Nora What are you talking about?

Krogstad Can I ask you, why didn’t you send the contract to your father?

Nora It was impossible. He was too ill. He would have wanted to know why I needed the money. I couldn’t have told him that my husband’s life was in danger.

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Krogstad You would have been better off giving up on your little trip to Italy.

Did it not cross your mind that you were committing an act of fraud against me?

Nora No, Mr Krogstad. It didn’t cross my mind at all. After the way you treated me when I first asked you for a loan, I frankly didn’t really think about you for a second more than was absolutely necessary.

Krogstad What you did is no less a crime than the crime that ruined me completely. Are you aware of that?

Nora I was saving my husband’s life.

Krogstad The law is not interested in motives, Mrs Helmer.

Nora Then the law is an abomination.

Krogstad Abomination or not, it is the law that will judge you when I present this contract to the court.

Nora Is it against the law for a daughter to spare her dying father from anxiety and fear? Is it against the law for a wife to save her husband’s life? I doubt that very much, Mr Krogstad. If you don’t understand the difference between what I did for my husband and what you did to your wife then, well, you must be a very bad lawyer indeed.

He smiles at her.

Krogstad That may be so. But I am a very good businessman, Mrs Helmer. And let me assure you: you can do whatever you like but if I am thrown into the gutter for a second time then I will bring you down there with me.

Have a very good day and may I take this opportunity to wish a very happy Christmas to you and your family.

He leaves.

She stands for a while watching the space he has left. She shakes her head. She laughs.

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She stops laughing. She starts folding her children’s clothes. Jon comes running in.

Jon Mummy, Anna found Ivar really quickly but she looked and looked and she couldn’t find me and in the end I got bored so I had to come out and tell her where I was hiding.

Ivar comes in.

Ivar She was pretending. Don’t you know when somebody’s pretending?

Jon She wasn’t.

Ivar Mummy, will you play?

Nora Not now, darling.

Ivar Mummy, you promised.

Nora I know. I’m sorry. I’ve just so much to do.

Jon Anna’s better anyway. She can find Ivar easily. She can’t find me at all.

He runs off calling.

Anna. I’m coming. Ready or not!

Ivar You’re always promising and then having so much to do.

Nora Ivar.

He leaves. She moves to follow him. She stops. She sits down. She stands up. She thinks. She calls.

Nora Helene.

Helene enters.

Helene Yes, ma’am.

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Nora Could you bring the tree in here?

Helene In here?

Nora Yes please, Helene. In here.

Helene Very good.

She watches Helene leave. She waits. She shakes her head.

Nora (whispering) No. No. No. No. No.

Helene comes back struggling a little with the Christmas tree.

Helene Where should I set it down?

Nora There. Right in the middle of the floor.

Helene sets it down in the middle of the floor.

Nora To the right a little bit. Your left. My right. Thank you Helene. That’s perfect.

Helene Will I fetch you anything else?

Nora No thank you, Helene. I have everything I need. That’ll be all. Thank you so much.

Helene leaves. Nora sets about taking candles and flowers from a box and decorating the tree.

Nora Nonsense. Nonsense. Nonsense.

I will sing for you. I will dance for you.

Torvald enters with a bundle of papers under his arm.

Nora You’re back?

Torvald I am. Did anybody call for me?

Nora No. Not that I’m aware of.

Torvald How strange. I saw Krogstad coming out into the street.

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Nora Oh, Krogstad. Yes. That’s true. He was here for a moment.

He looks at her.

Torvald Look at you.

Nora What about me?

Torvald It’s written all over your face.

Nora What is?

He approaches her.

Torvald He came here to ask you to put a good word in for him, didn’t he?

Nora nods.

Torvald And you had to pretend that it was all your idea. Didn’t you? He even asked you to pretend he hadn’t spoken to you at all, didn’t he?

Nora Yes. He did, but –

Torvald How could you agree to something like that? With a man like him?

Nora Torvald.

Torvald And then lie to me.

Nora Lie?

Torvald You told me nobody had been here.

Nora I’m sorry.

Torvald Your little face.

He goes to her. He touches her cheek.

My little bluebird is never to do that to me again. Is that clear? My little bluebird is going to try her very hardest to keep her little nose clean and fly ever so high in the sky and sing only sweet little pure notes from now on. Isn’t she?

He holds her. She rests her head on his chest.

It’s so nice in here. It’s so cosy.

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She smiles. She kisses him. Then backs away a touch.

Nora Torvald.

Torvald Yes.

Nora I can’t wait for the party. Fancy dress!

Torvald I can’t wait to see what you’re going to surprise me with.

He puts the papers down on the table and sits to read them.

Nora I can’t think of anything.

Torvald No?

Nora I can’t think of anything that’s going to work anyway. Everything I think of is silly and boring.

Torvald Is that right?

Nora Are you really, terribly, terribly busy Torvald?

Torvald Are you trying to distract me?

Nora No. What work have you got to do?

Torvald Bank work.

Nora Already?

Torvald I need to prepare the staffing changes for the New Year. I want it to be finished before I take up my office.

Nora Was that why Mr Krogstad needed to talk to you?

He doesn’t answer. She leans over him. She rubs his shoulders. She runs her hand upwards through the back of his hair.

If you weren’t so busy I might have asked you to do something for me, Torvald.

Torvald Might you indeed?

She kisses the back of his neck.

Nora You know how I want to look good for you at the party?

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Torvald Yes.

Nora I wondered if you wanted to help me choose my costume.

Torvald Well. I might be able to come up with one or two ideas.

Nora I’m sure you could. You’re so kind. And clever. And wise.

She goes back to tending the Christmas tree, leaving him struggling to concentrate on his work.

I think the red flowers look beautiful against the green, Torvald, don’t you?

He carries on working.

Torvald, will you tell me what Krogstad did that is so awful?

He continues to work as he talks.

Torvald He forged signatures.

Nora Did he?

Torvald Do you understand how bad that is?

Nora Maybe he had no choice.

Torvald I’m sorry?

Nora Maybe he found himself in a situation and the only thing he could do to get out of it was to forge the signatures.

Torvald Or maybe he was just reckless. And thoughtless. And stupid.

He carries on working. He looks up.

I wouldn’t be so angry if he’d confessed.

Nora Confessed?

Torvald And taken his, his, his punishment. But he didn’t confess. He tried to trick his way out of it. He tried to use cunning. It’s the trickery and the cunning that corrupts him.

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Nora Corrupts?

Torvald Can you imagine how much he lied? Can you imagine how much he pretended to everyone? The mask he would have worn over everything. Even those closest to him. Even to his wife, Nora. Even to his children. Lying to his children is the worst thing he did.

Nora Why?

Torvald To lie in a family home diseases the place. It contaminates it. The children can, they can breathe it. I saw it as a lawyer. The amount of criminals I worked with who came from criminal families. The liars I worked with came from parents who lied. The thieves had thieves for fathers. And for mothers. Actually mothers are the worst. But fathers are just as bad. Krogstad knew that. He saw it too. And yet he went home and lied in front of his own children knowing all the time that he was contaminating them and what effect it would have for the rest of their lives.

I’m sorry. It exercises me.

Nora I can tell that.

Torvald Please. Don’t try to speak up for him any more. Please don’t.

He carries on working. He looks back up.

I tell you, Nora, it would have been impossible for me to work with him. I would have felt physically sick.

Nora It’s getting quite warm in here now. Is it me or is it a bit too warm?

He starts packing up his papers. He smiles at her. He goes to her.

Torvald. I’ve got so much to do. I’ve not nearly finished the tree yet. My goodness.

Torvald I’m sorry. I can’t help myself.

He backs away from her.

I’ll work in my room. I need to read these before dinner

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anyway and the thought of imagining your new costume, well, I’m finding it frankly rather distracting. And I might also have to find a time to sneak out when no soft little eyes are peeking and put something wrapped in a little golden envelope high up in the tree where only my skylark can find it.

She turns to him. Smiles.

The things you do to me.

He leaves. She freezes quite still.

Nora It’s not true. It’s not true. It’s not true. It’s not true.

Anna enters.

Anna I’m so sorry to bother you. Jon and Ivar have been asking very sweetly if you can come and play with them.

Nora No. No. No. No. Don’t let them see me. They mustn’t see me, Anna. They simply can’t. You have to stay with them.

Anna Is something wrong?

Nora Nothing. Nothing whatsoever is wrong, Anna. I simply want you to play with the children, which I think is what you’re paid to do, is it not?

Anna Very good.

She leaves. Nora is left alone for some time.

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Two

The living room. Christmas Day. The tree has been stripped and plundered. It stands in the corner by the piano. The candles have burned down.

Nora’s coat lies on the sofa.

Nora is alone. She paces the room. She approaches the sofa. She picks up her coat.

She stops.

She thinks she hears something.

She moves towards the door. She listens.

She steps away from the door.

She thinks. She goes back to the door, opens it and looks out. She closes the door.

She thinks.

She calms down.

She tries to smile.

Anna enters.

Anna I found the box with the costumes in.

Nora Thank you, Anna.

Anna Finally.

Nora Could you put it on the table for me?

Anna They’re in an awful mess.

Nora If I had my way, Anna, I’d tear every last one of them up into a hundred thousand pieces.

Anna looks at her.

Anna I think they can be mended.

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Nora I’m sure.

Anna A bit of patience.

Nora I’ll ask Mrs Linde to help me.

Anna Are you going out again? It’s so horrible out there. You’ll get ill.

Nora Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

How are the children?

Anna They’re playing with their presents.

Nora They’re not still asking after me, are they?

Anna They’re used to having you around.

Nora Yes. Well. I’m afraid they’re going to have to get used to not having me around quite so often any more.

Anna looks at her.

Anna They’re little. Little children get used to all sorts of things very quickly.

Nora Do you think so?

Anna I rather know so.

Nora Do you think they’d forget me if I disappeared for ever?

Anna I’m sorry, Mrs Helmer?

Nora Can you tell me something, Anna? There’s something I’ve often wondered about. How did you cope when you gave your baby away?

Anna I didn’t have much choice. I was going to go and work as a nanny for my little Nora.

Nora But you wanted to do that, didn’t you?

Anna After what her father did to me? And then him leaving me with nothing?

Nora thinks.

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Nora Has she forgotten you, do you think?

Anna No. I don’t think she has. She wrote to me to tell me she was about to be confirmed. She wrote to me again after she was married.

Nora Anna, you were such a good mother to me.

Anna You were so little. You didn’t have anybody else, my dear.

Nora And if Ivar and Jon and Emmy, if they had nobody else I know that you would – Listen to me. I’m being stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

She goes to the costume box.

Will you go to them, Anna. I have to start –

Tomorrow you will see how beautiful I can be.

Anna You will be the most beautiful woman there, Nora.

She leaves.

Nora unpacks the box. She takes out several costumes. She looks at them. She tries tearing one, it won’t tear. She throws them back in the box.

If only – If only – If only – Stupid. No one. Don’t think about it. Forget it.

She closes her eyes.

One, two, three, four, five, six.

She hears something. She starts. She goes towards the door. She stands there. She listens.

Kristine enters.

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Nora Kristine. It’s you.

Kristine You came round while I was out.

Nora Is there anybody else out there?

Kristine Anybody else? No. Not that I know of.

Nora You need to help me.

Kristine To help you?

Nora Let’s sit down. Look. Kristine.

Kristine looks at her, waits.

Nora There is a fancy dress party on tomorrow evening upstairs at the Stenborgs’. Torvald told me that he wanted very much for me to dress as a gypsy. A ‘Romany dancing girl’ were his exact words. He wants me to dance the tarantella. Did you know that I could dance the tarantella? I don’t imagine that you did, did you? I learnt it in Capri.

Kristine I see.

Nora Torvald wants me to give a, a, a performance. I found the costume. He had it made for me when we were there. But look at it. It’s torn to pieces. I just don’t know how –

Kristine The trimmings have come undone. I can fix that. That’s easy. Have you got a needle and some black thread?

Nora fetches her a needle and thread.

Kristine That’s perfect.

Nora Thank you, Kristine. That’s so kind of you.

Kristine starts sewing. Nora watches her.

Kristine You’re going to be so dressed up, Nora.

She carries on sewing. Nora watches her. Smiles.

Kristine I’ll have to come over and have a look at you in your costume.

She carries on sewing. Nora watches her.

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Kristine I had such a lovely evening last night. Thank you.

Nora Did you think so?

Kristine I’m so grateful.

Nora It’s funny, because it’s usually much more lovely than that, I think. You should have got here sooner, Kristine.

Kristine carries on sewing. Nora watches her.

Nora Torvald certainly knows how to make his home very fine and pleasant.

Kristine And you do too, I think. It’s your father in you.

She carries on sewing. Nora watches her.

Kristine Nora, tell me. Is Dr Rank always as depressed as he was yesterday?

Nora No. Yesterday he was quite bad. But. The shame is that he has rather a horrible illness. His spine is wasting away. His father was – His father kept mistresses. Dr Rank inherited his father’s illness at birth, I’m afraid.

Kristine puts the sewing down.

Kristine Nora. How do you know about something like that?

Nora I’ve had three children, Kristine. When you’ve had children, like I have then, well – you are sometimes visited by, let us say by ladies who have a certain knowledge of medicine. They tell all kinds of stories.

Kristine carries on sewing. Silence for a time.

Kristine Does Dr Rank visit every day?

Nora Every day. He’s Torvald’s oldest friend. He’s my friend too. It’s like he belongs here.

Kristine Can I ask you, Nora, is he an honest man? Is he not something of a flatterer?

Nora No. Quite the opposite. Why on earth do you ask that?

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Kristine Yesterday. When you introduced me to him he told me that he had often heard my name mentioned. But Torvald didn’t seem to have the slightest idea who I was.

Nora That’s Torvald. He’s so unthinkably fond of me that he wants to keep me all to himself. He used to be quite jealous if I even mentioned the names of anybody from back home. So I stopped mentioning them. But I’ve always spoken to Dr Rank about things like that because he rather likes to hear about them.

Kristine pauses in her sewing and looks at Nora.

Kristine Nora. I’m going to say something to you. I’m a little bit older than you.

Nora Not really much older.

Kristine I’ve a touch more experience. I think you should get out of your relationship with Dr Rank.

Nora What do you mean, ‘my relationship’?

Kristine I mean everything. Yesterday you talked about your rich admirer who would give you money to –

Nora A made-up rich admirer, who exists only in my head.

Kristine Is Dr Rank rich?

Nora Yes, he is.

Kristine And with no family. No obligations. No one to provide for?

Nora No, no one.

Kristine And he comes here every day?

Nora I told you that.

Kristine How can such a fine man be so crude?

Nora I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about.

Kristine Nora, don’t pretend I haven’t guessed who lent you the money.

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Nora Have you gone mad?

Kristine pauses in her sewing. She looks up at Nora.

Nora How could you think I’d ever do something like that? He’s our best friend.

Kristine It wasn’t him?

Nora No, it wasn’t. I would never have dreamt – He didn’t have the money in those days anyway. He inherited it a long time after –

Kristine Well I think that’s a relief, for you Nora. I really do.

Nora A relief ? I would never have asked Jens.

Kristine carries on sewing. Nora watches her.

Nora Although I have to say I’m fairly sure that if I did ask him –

Kristine You mustn’t.

Nora I won’t. But I know that if I did speak to him –

Kristine Behind Torvald’s back?

Nora I’m playing out this whole horrible mess behind Torvald’s back. I don’t see how that’s different to talking to Dr Rank.

Kristine Nora. I just want you to be careful.

Nora A man can manage these things much better than a woman – is that what you’re saying?

That’s not true.

That’s complete rubbish.

Kristine stares at her.

Nora When you pay off a debt your contract of debt is returned to you, in law, is it not?

Kristine Yes, it is.

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Nora And then if you want you can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces and burn it, can’t you? If that’s what you want to do?

Kristine You’re hiding something from me.

Nora Hiding something from you? What do you mean? How can you tell?

Kristine Something’s happened. What is it?

Nora Kristine.

She hears something.

Shhh. It’s Torvald. He’s home.

Kristine Nora?

Nora Please. Can you, can you, can you go and see the children for a while?

Torvald hates seeing sewing left lying around the house. He hates it. Let Anna help you.

Kristine Anna?

Nora Please, Kristine. Please don’t ask anything more. Please go and see the children. Please take the sewing to Anna. If he sees the sewing left just lying there he’ll – Sewing!

Kristine Nora. Please. I will go and see the children. Of course I will. I will take the sewing away with me. I’ll clear it away completely. But I’m not leaving until we’ve finished this conversation.

Kristine exits. Nora prepares herself. Torvald enters from the hall.

Torvald Was that the dressmaker?

Nora No. It was Kristine. She’s helping me mend my costume. You’re lucky I like indulging you so much.

He takes her chin in his hand.

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Torvald Lucky? I’m your husband. It’s your job to indulge me. You funny little creature.

He kisses her.

I won’t disturb you. You probably need to try that costume of yours on or something, have a little practice or what-not, don’t you?

Nora And you probably need to go and do more work.

He shows her his papers.

Torvald I’ve been in the bank all morning.

He heads to his study.

Nora Torvald.

Torvald Nora.

Nora If your little swallow were to swoop down from up in the sky and ask you to do something for her in her prettiest voice would you do it?

Torvald It depends on what it was.

Nora Your swallow would get ever so excited if you did.

Torvald It still depends on what it was.

Nora She would sing and sing and sing for you.

Torvald You sing for me all day anyway.

Nora She’d turn into a little fairy. She’d dance for you in the moonlight.

Torvald Nora – this isn’t about what we talked about this morning, is it?

Nora Torvald, please.

Torvald I can’t believe you’ve got the nerve to even think about asking me again.

Nora Torvald, you must listen to me. Krogstad –

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Torvald Nora. Don’t. I told you.

And anyway.

It’s his job I’ve given to Mrs Linde.

Nora Then get rid of somebody else.

Torvald Nora, just because you made some stupid little promise to a man like him doesn’t mean for one second that I would even think about –

Nora I’m not thinking about the promise. I’m thinking about you. I’m thinking about what he could do to you. He could tell people all manner of things about you. He could write to the papers about you. He could really harm you. I’m terrified of him.

He looks at her.

Torvald Ah. I see. I see what’s happening here.

Nora What?

Torvald He reminds you of what happened to your father.

Nora People were so vicious. They slandered him, Torvald. He would have been sacked if it hadn’t been you who’d been sent to investigate him. You were so kind.

Torvald Nora. There is such a difference between your father and I.

Nora I know that.

Torvald I think in comparison to your father, my reputation as a public figure is unimpeachable. I’m fairly determined to keep it that way.

Nora You have no idea how evil people can be.

Torvald, I’m begging you.

Torvald It’s too late. Everybody knows I’m dismissing him. If word got round that I changed my mind just because my wife begged me –

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Nora What would happen?

Torvald I’d be a laughing stock. People would think I was weak. That can never happen. And anyway –

Nora What?

Torvald I might be able to overlook his immorality in a time of emergency.

Nora I think you really could.

Torvald And I gather he can be skilled at his work. But he is a friend from my youth. I should never have made his acquaintance, of course, but I was young. Honestly Nora, we were on first-name terms. And he’s so tactless. He doesn’t even pretend to hide it. He strolls around talking about me as though I’m his closest friend. ‘Torvald does this. Torvald thinks that.’ It’s embarrassing. He would make my life and my work completely intolerable.

Nora You don’t mean that.

Torvald What do you mean, ‘I don’t mean it’?

Nora Those reasons are petty.

Torvald Nora, did you just say that I was ‘petty’?

Nora No. I said the reasons are petty. That’s different. It’s precisely because you’re not petty that the reasons make no sense coming out of your mouth.

Torvald I never thought I’d hear you say something like that about me.

This ends. Right now.

He goes to the door and shouts.

Helene.

Nora Torvald.

Then he takes out some papers and writes a note, puts it in an envelope and addresses it.

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Torvald Helene.

Nora What are you doing?

Torvald I’m making a decision.

Nora Torvald, please.

Torvald Helene, for heaven’s sake.

Helene enters.

Torvald Helene. Take this letter. Go downstairs right now. Have it delivered immediately.

Helene Yes, sir.

Torvald Straight away, Helene. I mean it.

Helene Yes, sir. I’m going, sir.

She leaves. Nora stares at him.

Torvald There. All done.

Nora stares at him.

Nora What was in that letter?

Torvald Krogstad’s dismissal.

Nora No. No. No. Call it back. It’s not too late. Torvald, please. For me. For, for, for your own sake. For the children. You have no idea what this could do to us.

Torvald It’s too late, Nora.

Nora It can’t be.

Torvald It is.

I forgive you, you know?

Nora Forgive me?

Torvald Your fear. Is actually rather insulting. Isn’t it? To think that I should worry about the wittering of a depraved clerk. But I do. I forgive you. You must love me so much.

He takes her in his arms.

Which is exactly how it should be.

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He kisses her.

Let’s see what happens shall we?

Let me tell you, though, when the real crises come I will prove to you that I have both the strength and courage to face them. You’ll see what kind of man I can be then.

Nora What do you mean?

Torvald I mean exactly what I say.

Nora You don’t have to prove anything to me.

Torvald No?

Nora Of course you don’t.

Torvald We’ll face it together then, should we? As man and wife.

He caresses her face.

Shhh. Calm down. Your little eyes! You look like a frightened little dove. All these thoughts inside your head.

He rests his finger on her lips.

Now. Isn’t it time for you to do some practising? Don’t you think it’s time to go and practise the tarantella? You need to be ready by tomorrow night. I’ll close my door. I won’t hear a thing. You can make as much noise as you want.

He leaves her. He stops at his doorway.

When Rank gets here, he knows where he can find me.

He goes into his office. She is left alone. She stands completely still. As though nailed to the floor.

Nora Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. He will do it.

Never.

Before everything. Whatever happens.

The bell rings.

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She hears it. She wipes her face. She goes to the door. Rank is hanging up his coat in the hallway.

As they talk it begins to get dark.

Nora I knew it was you. I recognised the way you rang the bell.

Rank enters.

Nora Torvald asked me to ask you if you could wait for a short while. He is finishing some business for the bank.

Rank Terribly important business, I have no doubt. And what about you, Nora? Are you dreadfully busy as well?

She closes the door behind him.

Nora I always have time for you, Dr Rank. You know that.

Rank I’m glad. I’ll make sure I take advantage of that for as long as I can.

Nora What do you mean, for as long as you can?

Rank My dear Nora, you sound rather frightened by the idea.

Nora Well it was rather a strange expression, Doctor. ‘For as long as I can.’

Rank It may not be as long as I’d hoped for, Nora. It seems that something I’ve been preparing myself for, for rather a long time, may actually be starting to happen.

She goes to him. She clasps his arm.

Nora What’s happened?

Rank Everything’s downhill from here on in, I’m afraid. There is, it seems, nothing to be done.

Nora You must tell me –

Rank I am the most miserable of all my patients, Mrs Helmer. Over the past few days I’ve been totting up my internal accounts. I find them to be bankrupt. Within the next

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month, Nora my dear, I could well be rotting away in some churchyard or other.

Nora Don’t talk like that. That’s horrible.

Rank Well, it’s something of a horrible situation I’m afraid. And the worst thing is that it will only get far more horrible. There is just one examination left for me to undergo. When that’s done I’ll have a pretty good idea when the end will start. When the disintegration will begin.

There is something I want to tell you. Helmer has such a delicate sensibility. He has such a fine nature. He has an aversion against everything ugly. I don’t want him to be there –

She stops him. She squeezes his arm.

I will lock my door to him. As soon as I know for certain I will send a visiting card to you. I will draw a black cross on it. Then you will know.

Nora You’re just being – This is unreasonable.

Rank Am I demonstrating a lack of reason as I face my own death? Oh, how miserably inconsiderate of me!

Nora I really rather need you to be in a good mood today.

Rank What is happening to me is not in any way fair.

He looks at her. He looks away. He smiles.

Maybe it’s the same for everybody, Nora. Maybe all parents leave a curse for their children to inherit. Maybe it’s unavoidable. Certainly it’s merciless.

Nora That’s nonsense. You just need to cheer yourself up.

He looks at her for some time.

Rank Do you think so?

Maybe you’re right. Maybe the only choice one has in such circumstances is to laugh. My poor, innocent spine it seems must pay the price for my father’s rather jolly days in the army.

Ha!

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Nora He was rather partial to asparagus and pâté de foie gras, was he not?

Rank Absolutely, he was. And truffles.

Nora Yes. Truffles. And oysters too, I believe?

Rank Oh God yes, oysters. He was deeply partial to the occasional oyster was my father.

Nora And then there’s all the port and the champagne. Why is it, Dr Rank, that the most delicious things affect the spine so very badly?

Rank Especially a poor unhappy spine like mine that never had the opportunity to sample all those delicious things for itself.

Nora Yes. That is the saddest thing of all.

He smiles at her.

Rank Hm.

Nora What are you smiling at?

Rank I’m not smiling. You’re smiling.

Nora No, you are.

Rank You’re a mischief-maker, Mrs Helmer. You’re a bigger mischief-maker than even I realised.

Nora I’m in a bit of a mad mood today.

Rank I can tell that.

She goes to him. She rests her hands on his shoulders.

Nora My beautiful, dear, own Dr Rank. You’re not going to go and die on me and Torvald.

Rank You’ll recover from it, Nora. Fairly quickly I would have thought. Once gone, soon forgotten. As it were.

She looks at him, says nothing.

People do recover from these things, you know? They make new friends. They build new relationships.

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Nora Who builds new relationships?

Rank You will. You and Torvald will. After I’ve gone. You’ve started already of course, so it would seem. What on earth was this so-called Mrs Linde doing here last night?

Nora Are you jealous of poor Kristine?

Rank Yes, I am. She will succeed me in this house. When I’ve died I have no doubt that that woman –

Nora Ssshh. Keep your voice down. She’s in there.

Rank Is she indeed? Back again. You see what I mean?

Nora She’s mending my costume for tomorrow night. You’re impossible, you really are.

Please be nice to me.

You just wait until tomorrow. You’ll see how beautifully I can dance. I’ll dance and you can imagine that I’m dancing just for you.

And Torvald. Of course. That goes without saying.

She takes some things out of the costume box.

Sit down. I want to show you something.

He sits down.

Rank What is it?

Nora Here.

Rank Silk stockings.

Nora Aren’t they lovely? It’s getting dark. You can’t see properly in here. Wait until tomorrow night. You’ll see them then. No. No. No you won’t. You’re only allowed to see my feet. Well. I’ll let you look a little bit higher.

What? Why are you looking like that?

Don’t you think they’ll fit me?

Rank There is no way I could possibly tell that from here.

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Nora does a little fake gasp.

Nora Dr Rank!

She hits him playfully on the ear with the stockings.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Rank And what other little treats will I get tomorrow night?

Nora None. No more treats. You’re being too naughty.

She hums a little tune. She searches among the costumes in the box. He watches her for some time.

Rank Sometimes, Nora. When I look at you. When I sit with you. As closely as this. I just can’t understand, I can’t possibly imagine what my life would have been if I’d never come into this house.

She smiles at him.

And the idea of having to leave it all –

Nora You don’t have to leave it.

Rank – without having left any mark or trace, without having left any proof of having even been here. Not even as a sign of gratitude. I’ll leave nothing but an empty space. That can be filled in by anybody.

She looks at him. Some time.

Nora What if I were to ask you – ?

Rank What?

Nora No, I couldn’t.

Rank What couldn’t you ask? Tell me.

Nora For a proof of your friendship. No. I don’t mean that.

Rank If I could do anything for you, you know how happy that would make me.

Nora You have no idea what I’m going to ask you, yet.

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Rank It doesn’t matter. Say it.

Nora I can’t. It would be too much. I need your advice. I need your help. I need you to do something for me.

Rank I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. You need to be a touch more explicit. Nora, don’t you trust me?

Nora I trust you more than anybody else I know. You are my most faithful friend. You are my truest friend. You know that.

Dr Rank; I need you to help me stop something from happening. You know how much Torvald loves me. There is not a moment when he wouldn’t give up his whole life for my sake.

Rank Nora. Do you imagine for a second that he is the only man who would do that for you?

Nora What do you mean?

Rank Nora I swore to myself that I would tell you before I left you. I’m telling you now.

Do you imagine that Torvald Helmer is the only man who would die for you because I can assure you, most vehemently, that he is not.

So.

Now you know.

And now you know you can confide in me more than anybody else in the world.

She stands up.

Nora Can you let me pass please.

Rank Nora.

Nora I need to get past.

He lets her past.

Helene. Helene, could you bring the lamp please.

That was awful. You shouldn’t have said that.

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Rank I have loved you as much as anybody else in the world. I don’t see why that is anything to be ashamed of.

Nora You shouldn’t have told me. You didn’t even need to tell me.

Rank Did you know?

Helene enters. She has a lamp. She notices the atmosphere in the room. She tries her hardest to be invisible which makes her more visible than ever. She puts the lamp down. She leaves.

Rank I asked you, did you know how I felt about you?

Nora I’ve no idea any more. I’ve no idea how – how do people know what they know and what they don’t know? I can’t believe you could be so stupid, Dr Rank.

Rank No.

Nora When everything was going so well.

Rank At least you know you can trust me completely. At least there’s that. Now maybe you can tell me what you were going to say.

Nora Not any more.

Rank Nora, I’m begging you.

Nora I’m not telling you anything now.

Rank Please don’t punish me. I would do anything for you that is humanly possible.

Nora It’s too late. You can’t do anything for me now. I don’t need help really anyway. It was just something I made up. It wasn’t even real. It was all in my head.

She looks at him in the light. She smiles.

Look at you. All lit up like that. Do you feel a bit silly now?

Rank No.

Nora Do you feel terribly ashamed of yourself ?

Rank No, I don’t. I think I’m going to go.

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Nora Come back soon.

Rank I rather think I might not.

Nora Yes, you will. You always do. You must, anyway. You know Torvald can’t live without you.

Rank What about you?

Nora Oh, I always have such tremendous fun when you come round.

Rank I think I’ve been rather misled. I’m afraid I was under the illusion that you enjoyed being with me as much as you enjoyed being with your husband.

Nora But that’s true. I do. That’s not an illusion at all. Don’t you find that’s true of life, though, Dr Rank? In life we have the people we are fond of and the people we enjoy being with.

It’s like when I lived at home I was so deeply fond of my father. But I always thought it was much more fun sneaking down to the maids. They never told me what to do. They always had such fun together.

Rank I’ve taken the place of the maids. I see that now.

Nora That’s not what I meant.

Please. Dr Rank. Don’t be cross with me.

You can see what I mean about Torvald being like my father, though, can’t you.

Rank smiles at her. Helene enters.

Helene Madam.

Rank and Nora look at her.

Helene whispers to her. She hands her a business card. Nora puts it in her pocket.

Nora Thank you.

Helene Not at all.

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She leaves.

Rank Is there something wrong?

Nora No. No. No. It’s just something – It’s my new costume.

Rank I thought Mrs Linde in there was mending your costume.

Nora Yes, she is. My old one. I bought a new one. Shhh. Don’t tell Torvald.

Rank So. Another big secret from your husband. How exciting.

Nora Isn’t it? Dr Rank. You must distract him for me. Will you? Go to him. He should be ready for you now. He’s in his study. Keep him in there for a while. Don’t let him suspect anything.

Rank Don’t worry. He’ll get nothing out of me. I promise you.

Nora –

Nora Quick. Hurry. Before he comes out.

He smiles at her.

Rank Yes. Of course.

He leaves. A beat.

Nora Helene.

She enters.

Is he still in the kitchen?

Helene He came up through the –

Nora Did you tell him I had a visitor?

Helene I tried. It made no difference.

Nora Won’t he leave?

Helene Not until he’s spoken to you, he said.

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Nora Then bring him in. Tell him he must be quiet. And Helene, you can’t tell anybody. Not even Anna. I, I, I’m planning a surprise for my husband.

Helene Very good. I understand completely.

She smiles. She gets excited by the idea of keeping a secret. She leaves. Nora is alone. She locks the door to her husband’s study as quietly as she can. She waits. Krogstad enters. He is dressed for a cold day outside.

Nora You have to be quiet. My husband’s in his office.

Krogstad That doesn’t matter to me at all.

Nora What do you want?

Krogstad I need to find out something.

Nora What?

Krogstad smiles.

Nora Hurry up. What do you want to find out?

Krogstad I suppose you know that I’ve been dismissed from the bank.

Nora I couldn’t prevent it. I did everything I could.

Krogstad He must think very little of you, your husband. He knows what I can do to you and he doesn’t seem to –

Nora What makes you think he knows anything?

Krogstad No. Of course he doesn’t. I should have realised. If he knew he’d never dare stand up to me like this. Not Old Torvald Helmer.

Nora Mr Krogstad, don’t you dare speak like that about my husband.

Krogstad I do beg your pardon. Am I right in presuming, therefore, since you’ve kept everything so hidden from him, that you’ve started to realise exactly how much trouble you might actually be in?

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Nora What is it you want from me?

Krogstad I just wanted to see how you were, Mrs Helmer. I’ve been worrying about you all day. Even a grubby little moneylender like me, an inept, idiotic lawyer, even I have a heart, Mrs Helmer.

Nora Then maybe you could show it.

Think of my children.

Krogstad Have you for one second ever thought about mine? Has your husband?

No. Don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter. I just wanted to tell you that you don’t need to worry too much for now. I thought I’d pop by and reassure you that I’m not going to do anything at all about this for the time being.

Nora Is that right?

Krogstad I think this whole business could be dealt with quite quietly. Just between the three of us. Nobody else needs to know.

Nora My husband is never going to find out anything about any of this.

Krogstad No? How the devil are you going to stop that from happening? Are you going to pay off the rest of the debt?

Nora Not immediately.

Krogstad It wouldn’t change anything anyway, you know. Even if you had all my money in cash right there in your hand I wouldn’t give you your IOU back.

I want to keep it. I like having it around my person. Nobody else will ever find out anything about it. In case you were thinking about doing something desperate.

She says nothing.

In case you were thinking of running away.

She says nothing.

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Or doing something a little bit more, what? Drastic, than that?

She says nothing.

Don’t.

Nora How did you know –

Krogstad Everybody thinks about it at first, you know. When they realise they’ve been cornered. It’s perfectly natural. I thought about it for a while. I couldn’t do it. I got too scared.

She says nothing.

You couldn’t either, could you? It would be such a stupid thing to do. Once the shock’s passed everything will blow over. He’ll calm down once he’s got his head around everything. I’ve written him a letter. I’ve got it here. It’s in my pocket. It explains everything as simply and as – what? Sensitively? As ‘sensitively’ as I could manage.

Nora Please don’t give it to him. Tear it up. Tear it into a thousand pieces. I’ll find you your money.

Krogstad I’m sorry? I thought you just said –

Nora I’m not talking about my debt. Let me know how much you want from my husband and I will get that for you.

Krogstad I don’t want any money from him.

Nora Then what do you want?

Krogstad I want to get back on my feet, Mrs Helmer. I want to get back to the top again. Your husband has to help me. I’ve not done anything wrong now for two years. In all that time I have lived in the hardest circumstances you could imagine. I didn’t mind. It didn’t bother me. I was working my way up, step by step. And now I’ve been kicked back down in the most savage way I have ever known. I want a lot more than forgiveness this time, Mrs Helmer. I want to go back to the bank. I want your husband to create a post for me. I want a higher position than I’ve ever had before.

Nora He’ll never give you that.

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Krogstad He will. I know him. He’ll be too scared to do anything else. And when he does, you just watch me. I’ll be his right-hand man in less than a year. And not long after that I’ll be running the Savings Bank myself.

Nora I’ll never live to let that happen.

Krogstad Mrs Helmer, you’re not suggesting –

Nora You have no idea what I am capable of doing.

Krogstad Oh, I think I do. A delicate, spoilt, little lady like you –

Nora I’ll show you.

Krogstad Will you?

How would you do it, Mrs Helmer? Down under the ice? Would you drown yourself in the cold, black water? Float up in the springtime all bloated and ugly.

Nora You don’t scare me.

Krogstad No. And I’m afraid to tell you that you don’t scare me a great deal either. People don’t do things like that, Mrs Helmer. What would be the point, anyway? I have him completely under my thumb.

Nora You couldn’t do anything to him after I’d –

Krogstad Couldn’t I? Have you forgotten? I control the very way he would remember you.

So. There.

Don’t do anything stupid, will you? I’ll get this letter to Mr Helmer. I look forward to getting his reply.

Don’t forget, Mrs Helmer, this is all his fault. He forced me to do what I’m doing to you. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to forgive him for that.

Good day, Mrs Helmer.

He leaves. She goes to the door.

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She listens. She hears him drop the letter in the post box. She winces as though stung. She contracts her body up into a knot. Kristine enters with the costume.

Kristine There. I’ve finished. I’ve mended every last stitch. It’s perfect. It looks –

She sees Nora.

Kristine What’s happened? You look awful.

Nora Come here.

Kristine approaches her.

Nora Can you look outside into the hall for me?

Kristine Whatever’s the matter?

Nora Can you? Please, Kristine?

Kristine opens the door and peers down the hall.

Nora There. Can you see the post box? Can you look through the glass in the post box?

Kristine Yes. Yes. I see it.

Nora Is there a letter in there?

Kristine Yes. I can see it from here.

Nora The letter’s from Krogstad.

Kristine looks at her.

Kristine Krogstad?

Nora Yes. Now Torvald will find out everything.

Kristine’s face falls. She realises.

Kristine It was Krogstad who –

Oh, believe me, Nora. In the end it will be better for both of you. I promise you.

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Nora It won’t.

Kristine It doesn’t seem like that now but, Nora –

Nora I forged a signature.

Kristine stares at her.

Nora I need to tell you something. I need you to be my, my, my, my witness. I need you to be my witness.

Kristine Witness to what?

Nora In case I go out of my mind.

Kristine Nora!

Nora Or in case anything else happens to me that means I can’t be around here any more.

Kristine Nora, what are you talking about?

Nora If anybody else tries to take the blame for what I’ve done then you need to be my witness that it isn’t true, Kristine. I’m not mad in any way. I can see things perfectly clearly. I tell you. Nobody else knew anything about what I did. I did everything on my own.

Kristine I don’t understand.

Nora How could you? Kristine, the most wonderful thing is about to happen.

Kristine The most wonderful thing?

Nora Yes. But it’s so terrible, Kristine. It can’t happen. Not for anything in the world.

Kristine I’m going to talk to Krogstad now.

Nora Don’t. Don’t go near him! He could really harm you.

Kristine There was a time when he would have done anything for me.

Nora looks at her.

Kristine Where does he live?

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Nora reaches into her pocket. She finds Krogstad’s card. She gives it to Kristine.

Nora Here. But the letter, the letter!

Torvald knocks on his office door.

Torvald (off ) Nora! Nora!

Nora What is it? What do you want?

Torvald (off ) Don’t be so scared little mouse. We can’t get in.

She stares at the door.

You’ve locked the door Nora.

She stares at the door.

Are you trying on your costume, in there?

Nora Yes! Yes! I am! I’m trying on my costume. It looks – I look– I’m going to look beautiful, Torvald.

Kristine He lives just round the corner.

Nora It doesn’t matter. The letter’s in the box.

Kristine And Torvald has the key?

Nora Of course he does.

Kristine Krogstad must demand the letter back unread. He needs to think of an excuse as to why he –

Nora But this is the time when Torvald checks his –

Kristine Then stop him. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

She exits.

Nora goes to Torvald’s study. She unlocks the door.

Nora Torvald?

Torvald So. Is a man finally allowed to slip back into his own drawing room? That’s good. Come on, Dr Rank. Let’s have a look at her.

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He comes to the doorway.

What’s going on?

Nora What do you mean, Torvald?

Torvald Dr Rank promised me a grand show.

Rank It appears I was wrong.

Nora Yes. You were. Nobody will get to see me in all my finery until tomorrow evening.

Torvald Nora, darling. You look exhausted. Have you been overdoing the practising a little?

Nora No. I’ve not done any yet.

Torvald You’re going to have to.

Nora I tried, Torvald. But I can’t do anything without you. I’ve forgotten everything.

Torvald Oh, we’ll soon sort that out.

Nora You’re going to have to take care of me, Torvald. I’m so anxious. The party’s tomorrow. You must sacrifice yourself completely for me. You can’t do any work tonight. I don’t even want to see a pen in your hand. Do you promise me?

Torvald Yes. I promise you; tonight I will be completely at your service.

He goes towards the doorway.

Nora Where are you going?

Torvald I just want to check if any letters have arrived.

Nora No. No. Don’t. Torvald.

Torvald What’s the matter?

Nora Torvald, I beg you. There’s nothing out there.

Torvald I just need to check.

He goes to leave. Nora goes to the piano.

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She plays the first bars of the tarantella. Torvald stops. He turns to her. He smiles.

Nora I won’t be able to dance at all tomorrow if I don’t practise with you first.

Torvald goes to her.

Torvald You’re so frightened!

Nora I’m terrified. I want to practise now. Can I? There’s still a bit of time before dinner. Come on. Will you sit down and play for me, Torvald? You can correct my mistakes. You can guide me.

Torvald If you want me to, Nora, it would be a pleasure.

Nora takes a tambourine from the box and a long, multicoloured shawl which she drapes about herself. She springs on to the floor. She shouts.

Nora Play for me! Now! I want to dance!

Torvald plays. Nora dances. Rank stands by the piano behind Torvald and watches her.

Torvald Slow down. A little slower.

Nora I can’t go any slower.

Torvald Don’t be so violent, Nora.

Nora I can’t help myself. I have to be violent.

Torvald stops playing.

Torvald No. No. That’s just – It’s not right at all.

Nora laughs and swings the tambourine.

Nora I told you I couldn’t do it.

Rank I could play.

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Torvald Good idea. You play. Then I can guide her better.

Rank sits at the piano and plays. Nora dances. Her dancing gets more and more wild. Torvald watches her dance. He tries to correct her as she dances.

Torvald A touch slower, Nora. Listen to the music. With the music. You’re not listening.

She does not appear to hear a word he’s saying. Her hair comes loose and falls over her shoulders. She doesn’t notice. Kristine enters. She stands at the doorway.

Nora Look, Kristine, this is such fun.

Torvald My dear darling. You’re dancing as though your life depends upon it.

Nora It does.

Torvald Rank. Thank you. Stop playing. This is madness. Stop. Dr Rank.

Rank stops playing. Nora stops suddenly. Torvald goes to Nora.

Torvald I can’t believe it. It’s like you’ve forgotten everything.

Nora I told you I had.

Torvald You need a huge amount of work and help and instruction.

Nora I know. I really do. You have to teach me everything again, Torvald. Every last move. Will you? Do you promise me?

Torvald Completely.

Nora You’re not allowed to think of anything else or anybody else but me. Not for the rest of the day. Not all day tomorrow. You’re not allowed to do any work. Or open any letters or do anything. You’re not even allowed to open the post box.

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Torvald Ah.

Nora What?

Torvald You’re still frightened of him.

She looks at him.

Has he written a letter to me? I can see it in your face.

Nora I don’t know. He might have done. I didn’t see. But you’re not allowed to read it. Nothing ugly can come between us until after the party and everything is over.

Rank I wouldn’t contradict her if I were you, Mr Helmer.

Torvald Very well. But tomorrow night. After you’ve danced.

Nora Then you’re free.

Helene enters.

Helene Dinner is served.

Nora Helene, can you open a bottle of champagne?

Helene Certainly, ma’am.

She exits.

Torvald So. We’re having a party now, are we?

Nora Yes. We are. A champagne party. We’re going to drink champagne until the morning rises.

She shouts into the hall.

And get some chocolates, Helene. Huge amounts of chocolates, for everybody. Just tonight.

Torvald goes to Nora. He clasps her hands.

Torvald Calm down. You’re getting yourself wound up. I want my skylark back.

Nora Oh, she will come back. I promise you, Torvald. Now. You two gentlemen go and sit down for our champagne dinner. Kristine needs to help me with my hair.

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Rank Torvald, is she expecting?

Torvald My dear Dr Rank, far from it. She’s just being childish. And frightened.

They leave. Nora looks to Kristine.

Kristine He’s gone away. He’s gone to the countryside.

Nora I could tell. I could see it in your face.

Kristine He’ll be back tomorrow evening. I left him a note.

Nora You shouldn’t have done that. I’m not going to try to prevent anything any more. I’m just going to wait. Something wonderful is going to happen.

Kristine What are you talking about?

Nora You wouldn’t understand. Even if I told you. You should go in. I’ll just be a moment.

Kristine exits. Nora gathers herself. She looks at her watch. She calculates how long it will be until the tarantella is over. She thinks. She smiles. She closes her eyes. She counts to ten. Torvald comes in.

Torvald What are you doing? Where’s my little hamster?

Nora She’s here. She’s ready.

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Three

The drawing room. The table and chairs have been moved to the middle of the floor. The lamp has been lit. The door to the hall is open. Dance music can be heard from above.

Kristine sits at the table. She tries to read a book. She can’t concentrate. She listens. She hears something. She stands up. She listens again. She goes to the door.

Kristine Come in here. There’s no one around.

Krogstad I got your note. I’m not entirely sure I understood it, I have to confess.

They try to control the volume of their speech throughout.

Kristine I need to speak to you.

Krogstad You said. Why here?

Kristine I can’t meet you at my place. You can come in. We’re completely alone. The maid is asleep. The Helmers are at a party upstairs.

Krogstad A party? Tonight? How lovely for them.

Kristine We need to talk.

Krogstad Do we? I can’t imagine what more we could possibly have to say to one another.

Kristine Nils, don’t.

Krogstad A woman with no heart left a man who loved her when a more financially secure position was offered to her. What more needs to be said about that?

Kristine looks at him for a time.

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Kristine Do you really think I have no heart?

Krogstad None that I’ve seen.

Kristine Do you really think it was that easy for me?

Krogstad Wasn’t it?

Kristine I had no choice.

Krogstad That wasn’t what your letter said.

Kristine I couldn’t write anything else. The kindest thing I could do to you after the decisions I’d made was to kill off every feeling you ever felt for me.

Krogstad Yes. Well. You achieved that. And then you got your money.

Kristine I had to look after my mother and my brothers. They were desperate.

Krogstad They may well have been. But you had no right to do that to me.

Kristine Do you think I didn’t know that? Do you think I’ve ever thought of anything else since?

He looks at her.

Krogstad When you left, the earth crumbled away from beneath my feet. Look at me. I’m shipwrecked.

Kristine I could help you.

Krogstad There was a time I thought you could. You rather let me down.

She looks at him. Some time.

Kristine I had no idea I was taking your job at the bank.

Krogstad I’m sure you didn’t. Are you going to resign then?

Kristine No. It wouldn’t help you anyway, even if I did.

Krogstad I’d do it for you, if you asked me to.

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Kristine Well, that would be stupid of you. Life’s hard, Nils. Life’s bitter. There is no room for sentiment. I’ve learned that from experience.

Krogstad Do you want to know what I’ve learned from experience, Kristine? Never believe a word anybody tells you.

Krogstad looks at her.

Kristine You said you were shipwrecked.

Krogstad I am.

Kristine I am too. I have nobody left in the world.

Krogstad You should have thought about that.

Kristine If two shipwrecked people can reach out for each other –

Krogstad Don’t.

Kristine It would be so much better.

Krogstad Don’t do this.

Kristine It would be so much safer for them.

Krogstad Kristine.

Kristine Why do you think I even came here?

Krogstad Please don’t.

Kristine I was looking for you. Nils, I need to work. If I’m going to survive I need to work. I’ve worked my whole life. It’s been the one thing that has made me most happy. But I’m so alone. I’m empty, Nils. I can’t work just for myself any more. I need somebody to work for.

Krogstad You’re lying.

Kristine I’m not.

Krogstad You’re being hysterical.

Kristine When have you ever known me to be hysterical?

Krogstad Have you any idea how I’ve been living? Have you any idea of the things that I have done?

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She nods.

Have you got the slightest idea what people say about me?

Kristine That doesn’t matter. People can change. People can make each other better than they are.

Krogstad What if it’s too late for that?

Kristine It’s not.

He looks at her. She goes to him. She touches his face. It is like it’s the first time anybody has touched his face for years and years.

I need to be somebody’s mother. Your children need a mother. I know you so well. I know your core.

She kisses him. He kisses her back. The music upstairs stops. She hears it.

Wait. Shhh. Listen. The music’s stopped. You have to go.

Krogstad Why? What’s wrong?

Kristine The dance has finished. The party’s over. They’ll be coming down.

Krogstad You have no idea what I’ve done to them.

Kristine I do.

Krogstad Then how can you –

Kristine I know what despair does to people. Believe me.

Krogstad I wish I could go back in time and not have done it.

Kristine You could.

Krogstad What?

Kristine Your letter is still in the box.

Krogstad How do you know that?

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She looks at him.

Are you doing this for her? Is this all for her benefit, Kristine? Tell me.

Kristine I sold myself for the sake of other people once before. I’m never going to do it again.

Krogstad I’ll ask for my letter back.

Kristine No. Don’t.

Krogstad I’ll wait here until Torvald comes down and I will tell him he has to give me back my letter. I’ll tell him that in my anger at my dismissal I wrote him a letter that I regret ever writing and that for the sake of my dignity he mustn’t read it.

Kristine You can’t. You would not believe the things that I have seen happen here since last night. This secret is horrible. It’s killing them. Torvald needs to be told everything.

He looks at her.

Hurry. You have to go.

Krogstad I’ll wait for you downstairs.

Kristine Will you?

Krogstad Of course I will.

Kristine You could walk me back to my lodgings.

Krogstad I can’t quite believe this is happening to me.

He leaves. She watches him go. She thinks. She smiles deeply. She tidies up a little. She picks up her outdoor clothes. She listens. She puts on her hat and coat. Torvald and Nora come into the hall from the outside. Nora is dressed in her gypsy costume. Torvald is wearing a dinner jacket.

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Nora No. No. No. I’m not coming. I’m not, Torvald. I’m going back upstairs. It’s too early.

Torvald Nora.

Nora Oh please, Torvald. Don’t be boring. I’ll ask in my nicest voice. I’ll sing for you. I’ll do anything you want me to do, Torvald. Just one more hour.

Torvald Not one more minute. My beautiful, sweet Nora. We made a deal. You promised me. Now. Go into the drawing room. You’ll catch a cold standing out here.

He leads her into the drawing room.

Kristine Good evening.

Nora Kristine!

Torvald Mrs Linde. What on earth are you doing here?

Kristine I’m so sorry Mr Helmer. I so wanted to see Nora’s costume.

Nora Have you been sitting here all this time waiting for me?

Kristine I have, I’m afraid. I was rather late. You’d gone by the time I got here but I didn’t think I could leave until I’d seen you.

Torvald takes Nora’s shawl off her shoulders.

Torvald You were right to wait, Mrs Linde. Doesn’t she look breathtaking?

Kristine Yes. I think she –

Torvald Doesn’t she look absolutely breathtaking? Everybody said so. At the party. But she is, I have to tell you, Mrs Linde, terribly strong willed. This creature. What should we do with her? Do you know, I almost had to force her to leave?

Nora Well, Torvald. You’ll regret you didn’t let me stay.

Torvald Mrs Linde, can you hear the way she speaks to me? She dances the tarantella. She’s a triumph. Although her performance was a little too natural, for my taste. A little bit

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too free with the strictures of the art form, you understand. But we can forgive that! The point is: she’s a triumph. A real triumph. Now. Should I let her loiter after that? That would diminish the effect, Mrs Linde, don’t you agree? No, thank you very much. I took the arm of my beautiful gypsy girl from Capri; capricious Capri you could say couldn’t you? My little capricious Capri. One swift round through the room. And my beautiful girl, as they say in the novels, disappeared into thin air.

I always think an exit should be dramatic. Don’t you, Mrs Linde? But Nora here just doesn’t get that. She doesn’t understand it at all. Good Lord, it’s hot in here.

He throws his dinner jacket on to a chair and opens the door to his study.

My God. It’s pitch black in there. Oh yes. Silly me. Excuse me.

He goes into his office to light some of the candles. Nora looks to Kristine.

Kristine I’ve spoken to him.

Nora What did he say?

Kristine Nora, you must tell Torvald everything.

Nora’s face falls.

Kristine You have nothing to be afraid of. Not from Krogstad. But you have to tell him. He’s your husband.

Nora I’m not saying a word.

Kristine Before he reads the letter.

Beat. Nora looks at Kristine.

Nora Yes. Thank you, Kristine. I know what I need to do. Shhh.

Torvald comes back.

Torvald So. Mrs Linde. Have you had a chance to admire her in all her glory?

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Kristine I have, Mr Helmer, thank you. And now I must say good night.

Torvald So soon? Is this your knitting?

Kristine Yes. Thank you. I almost forgot it.

Torvald So. You knit do you? A bit of a knitter?

Kristine Yes. I’m afraid I am.

Torvald You should do embroidery instead really.

Kristine And why’s that?

Torvald It’s just. It’s far more beautiful, don’t you think? Look. I’ll show you. You hold, when you do embroidery, when you’re embroidering, you, you, you hold the embroidery here with your left hand. Like this. And then you guide the needle through with your right hand like this. In. Out. In. Out.

He pauses to check the women are watching him. Then carries on.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Little light movements. It’s good, isn’t it?

Kristine Yes. I suppose it is.

Torvald But knitting. It’s just bloody ugly. Look. Your arms are all squashed up. The knitting needles going up and down. Up and down. There’s something Chinese about it.

God, that was good champagne.

Kristine Well. Goodnight. Goodnight, Nora. And really, Mr Helmer is right. You shouldn’t be so wilful any more.

Torvald Thank you, Mrs Linde. Well said, that woman!

Kristine Goodnight.

He accompanies her into the hall and out of the apartment.

Torvald Goodnight. Goodnight, my dear. Will you get home safely? I’d offer to walk you home but it’s not far really, is it?

Kristine Not at all. Goodnight.

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Torvald Goodnight. Goodnight then.

She leaves the apartment.

Off you go.

He comes back in.

God, she’s boring. I thought she’d never leave.

Nora Are you a little bit tired, my love?

Torvald Not in any way.

Nora Not just a little bit sleepy?

Torvald Not in the least. Quite the contrary. I feel incredibly awake. Don’t you?

Nora yawns. Tries to cover it.

Nora I’m sorry.

Torvald You see. I was right to take you home with me.

Nora You’re always right. You always know what’s best for me.

She goes to him. She rests herself against him.

Torvald My swallow’s back.

He tries to kiss her. She lets him kiss her head. Then she backs away from him.

Did you notice?

Nora What?

Torvald How cheerful Dr Rank was this evening?

Nora I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him.

Torvald No. I didn’t either really. But I was watching him. I’ve not seen him in such a good mood for a very long time. He was positively jolly.

He looks at her for a while. He moves to her.

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It’s so good to be home. With you. Alone. My beautiful, precious –

Nora Don’t.

Torvald ?

Nora Look at me like that.

Torvald I’m sorry?

Nora Please, Torvald I’m –

Torvald Why not? You’re my most treasured possession. You’re so beautiful. You’re mine.

She moves away from him.

Nora Don’t, Torvald.

He follows her.

Torvald Don’t what?

He holds her.

You still have the tarantella coursing through your blood. Don’t you? I can sense it. It makes me want you even more. God, you smell so good. Shhh. Listen. All the guests are starting to leave. Soon this whole place will be silent.

Nora I hope so.

Torvald It’ll be as though we’ve got the whole building to ourselves. When I’m at a party with you. Do you know why I hardly speak to you? Do you know why I keep myself so far away from you? I just glance at you? I steal glances. From time to time. Do you know why I do that? It’s because, in my head, I’m imagining that you are my secret lover. My young, secret lover and nobody knows that there is anything between us at all.

Nora smiles at him.

Torvald And then, when it’s time to go. And I wrap your shawl around your beautiful, young shoulders, around the wonderful curve of your neck. Then. I imagine that you are my young bride and we have only just been married that night

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and I am taking you to my home for the first time. That I will be alone with you for the first time. Quite alone. With you and your young – Trembling. When I saw you chase and tempt in the tarantella. I was on fire. I could hardly stand it. That was why I had to take you home with me.

Nora Get off me. Torvald, I don’t want this.

Torvald What?

Are you teasing me? Are you playing with me, little one? I’m your husband.

A knock is heard on the front door. They stare at one another.

Torvald calls.

Torvald Who is it?

Rank It’s only me. Can I come in, just for a moment?

Torvald sits on his fury.

Torvald Just coming.

He goes to let him in.

Rank I thought I heard your voices as I was passing, and I thought I would pop in. I was quite sure you wouldn’t want me to just walk past your door and leave you alone for a peaceful evening without being pestered by your friends.

Torvald Absolutely not, of course we wouldn’t, my dear Doctor.

Rank comes into the room.

Rank It’s so warm in here. And cosy. And jolly.

Torvald You’ve been having a jolly night all night really, haven’t you, Dr Rank?

Rank You’re right. I have. And why not? One should try everything in this world. At least once. I thought I’d see what jollity felt like.

The wine, tonight, was just splendid –

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Torvald The champagne especially.

Rank Beautifully dry. Méthode champenoise. It is almost incredible how much of it I managed to wash down.

Nora Almost as much as Torvald, I’m sure.

Rank Is that right?

Nora And now he’s really a little bit drunk.

Rank Well, why not? Why shouldn’t a man enjoy himself after a hard day’s work?

Torvald I wish I had that excuse, Dr Rank!

Rank Don’t you?

Torvald Not today.

Rank slaps his back.

Rank I do!

Nora Dr Rank. I believe you have carried out a scientific experiment today.

Rank I have. Precisely. I have.

Torvald Listen to her! ‘Scientific experiments!’

Nora And would I be right to congratulate you on the result?

Rank I dare say you could.

Nora Was it what you hoped it would be?

Rank It was the best possible result. For doctor and patient alike. Certainty.

Nora Certainty?

Rank Absolute certainty. So. I think I deserve a jolly evening, a little celebration, after a result like that, don’t you?

Nora Of course you do, Dr Rank.

Torvald Just so long as you don’t suffer too much tomorrow.

Rank There is no such thing as an action without consequence in this life, Mr Helmer old chap.

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Nora Dr Rank, I believe you are keen on these fancy dress parties, are you not?

Rank Oh, indeed I am. As long as there are plenty of wonderful fanciful costumes and lots of –

Nora What shall we two dress as at the next one?

Torvald You cheeky little playful little – are you already thinking about –

Rank Us two?

Nora Yes. Us two.

Rank Well. I’ll tell you. You shall be the child of fortune.

Torvald Well, that’s a brilliant idea. Good luck finding a costume for that!

Rank Oh, Torvald. She would only need to appear exactly as she is. She could walk through the party exactly as she walks through this world.

Torvald Ha! Very good! Very clever!

Nora And do you know what you’re going to be?

Rank Yes. Do you know, Nora, I am absolutely sure of it.

Torvald Oh yes?

Rank At the next costume ball I shall be invisible.

Torvald What an odd idea.

Rank There is a big, black hat, have you never heard of it? Have you never heard of the big, black hat of invisibility? What you do with this hat is, you put it on and then no one can see you at all.

Torvald That sounds extraordinary.

Rank But I’m completely forgetting what I came here for. Helmer. Give me a cigar. One of the dark Havanas.

Torvald With pleasure.

He offers him the box.

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Rank takes one and cuts the end off it.

Rank Thank you. It’s all I came for, really.

He goes to light it but before he can do so Nora strikes a light.

Nora Let me light it.

Rank Thank you Nora.

He bends to her. She lights his cigar.

So.

He smokes.

Goodbye, Mr and Mrs Helmer.

Torvald Goodbye, my friend.

Nora Sleep well, Dr Rank.

Rank Thank you. I will, Nora. Thank you for that.

Nora Wish me the same.

Rank You? Oh. If I must. Sleep well, Nora. And thank you. For the cigar. And for the light.

He nods to them both. He leaves.

Torvald takes out his keys and goes to the hall.

Nora Where are you going?

Torvald (off ) I have to empty the post box. It’s completely full up. There won’t be room for the papers tomorrow.

Nora Are you working tonight?

Torvald (off ) I don’t want to. You know very well I don’t want to.

Someone’s been at the lock.

Nora The lock?

Torvald (off ) Somebody’s been trying to open it. There’s a, a, a broken hairpin lodged in it. It’s one of yours.

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Nora It must have been one of the children.

Torvald (off ) You really must tell them not to do that again.

Hm. Hm. Got it.

Helene! Put the light out in the hall. For goodness’ sake. That girl.

He enters. He has a pile of letters in his hand.

Look. Two days’ post. It’s ridiculous.

He leafs through the pile. He stops.

What’s this?

Nora heads to the window. She can barely watch.

Torvald Two visiting cards.

Nora turns.

Nora From Doctor Rank?

Torvald Rank. Doctor of Medicine. They were on the top of the pile. He must have posted them as he was leaving.

Nora Do they say anything?

Torvald Nothing. There’s a black cross over his name. Here, look. What a horrible idea. It’s like he’s announcing his own death.

Nora He is.

Torvald What do you mean, he is? What are you talking about, ‘he is’?

She looks at him. Holds his gaze.

What has he told you?

Nora He said that when he leaves two calling cards marked with a black cross in our post box then that is his way of saying goodbye to us both. His illness has become incurable. He’s decided to shut himself away and die.

It takes Torvald a time to make sense of this.

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Torvald My poor friend. I knew I wouldn’t get to keep him long. But so soon – To hide himself away like a wounded animal.

Nora Maybe it’s better that these things happen without words, Torvald.

Torvald He can’t just – He’s part of us, Nora. I can’t imagine him not being here. With his grumpiness and his suffering and his loneliness.

He smokes.

Maybe it’s better this way. For him. Maybe for us too, Nora.

Now we are quite dependent on one another.

He goes to her. He holds her.

My beautiful, beloved wife. Sometimes I don’t think I can possibly hold you tight enough. Can I confess something to you, Nora? Sometimes I have fantasies about you being threatened by a terrible danger just so that I can risk my life and everything, risk everything for your sake.

She breaks free of him.

Nora Read your letters, Torvald.

Torvald No. Not tonight. Tonight I want to be with you, my beautiful, beloved wife.

Nora While we think of your friend, dying?

Torvald Yes. You’re right. It’s upset everything hasn’t it? Ugliness has appeared. Thoughts of death and of destruction. We have to shake them out of our heads. Maybe we should go to our own rooms?

She puts her arms around his neck.

Nora I think I need to, Torvald. I’m so sorry.

Torvald You mustn’t be.

Nora I know. It’s just – I’m so tired.

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He kisses her forehead.

Torvald Goodnight. Little bird. Sleep well. My love. My Nora. You go to sleep. I’ll read my letters. I will see you in the morning.

He kisses her. He takes the letters into his study.

She stumbles. She sits down. She fumbles around. She finds his jacket. She throws it around herself. She waits. Torvald opens his study door. He has an open letter in his hand.

Nora.

She gasps. Cowers away from him.

You know. Don’t you? What’s written in this letter.

Nora Let me go. Let me go, please.

Torvald Where are you going?

Nora Please don’t try and stop me. Please let me go, Torvald.

Torvald Is it true, what he’s written?

Nora I have loved you more than anything in the world.

Torvald Is that meant to be some kind of excuse?

You miserable –

Nora Let me go. Let me out.

Torvald Shut up. You’re not going anywhere.

He locks the door.

Do you realise what you’ve done?

Answer me.

Do you realise what you’ve done?

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Nora I think I do. I think I’m starting to.

Torvald Horrible.

After all these years.

She was. I really thought she was. Do you know? I thought she was my pride and joy?

Hyprocrite. Liar.

She stares at him.

I should have known. Her father’s daughter.

Be quiet!

No religion. No morality. No sense of duty. Everything he lacked she lacks too! Everything he did she does too. Of course she does.

Everything I did for him I did for your sake and this is how you reward me?

Nora Yes. It is.

Torvald You have ruined my happiness. You have ruined my future.

Terrible.

He can do whatever he wants with me now. He can ask whatever he wants.

Nora When I’m dead he won’t be able to do a –

Torvald Oh, don’t be so pathetic. You sound exactly like your father. How would it help me if you were dead? What difference would that make? None. Everybody will think that it was my idea. They’ll think I encouraged you. Do you have the slightest idea what you’ve done to me?

Nora Yes. I do.

Torvald Take off my jacket. Take it off.

I’ll contact him. I’ll give him what he wants.

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You’re going nowhere. You’re staying here in my house. Everything is staying exactly as it was before. You’re never seeing the children again. I can’t trust you with them. That goes without saying.

I loved you so much. That stops. From this moment on I am simply concerned with saving the remains. The pieces.

The doorbell goes.

Is this him? Has he – ? Get out. Go and hide. You’re sick. We’ll tell him that’s where you are.

She doesn’t move. Helene enters. She is dressed for bed with a coat over her night things. She is very tired.

Helene A letter arrived for you, ma’am.

Torvald Give it to me. Now go.

Helene goes.

Torvald You’re not having it. It’s from him.

He opens the letter. He holds it to a light. He reads it. He looks at an enclosed piece of paper. Nora watches him. He gasps for breath. She goes to take the letter. He won’t give it to her.

Torvald I need to read it again.

He reads it again. He looks at her. He smiles.

Nora What does it say?

He looks at her. His smile turns into a laugh.

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He passes her the letter. He laughs loudly and almost hysterically. At times it is like he is laughing in her face.

Torvald I’m saved. And you. Of course. Both of us. We’re saved. ‘I am returning your contract of debt with immediate effect. I regret and repent all of the misery I have caused you since Christmas Eve.’ How does it go? ‘A’ – a what? – ‘A fortunate event in my life –’ A what? A fortunate event in his life?! We are saved, Nora. By a fortunate event in his life. Here. Give it to me.

He takes the letter and the contract and tears them into hundreds of pieces and throws them on the fire. He is still laughing. He’s maniacal.

Since Christmas Eve? You must have had a terrible few days, Nora?!

Nora It’s been horrible.

Torvald You must have, you must have, have, have tortured yourself. I bet you couldn’t see any other way out other than to – No. Let’s not think about that. It’s over. It’s over. It’s over. It’s over. It’s over.

What’s the matter?

Nora, what’s the matter? Your face. You look frozen.

Oh. I see. You can’t believe that I’ve forgiven you everything.

I have.

I have, you know. Everything you did, you did out of love for me.

Nora That’s true.

Torvald And you were right to. You were right to, Nora. You just didn’t quite understand what it actually involved. Did you? Do you think I love you any less because you don’t have the slightest idea how to act on your own?

No. Nora. You can always rely on me. You can always lean on me. I will always advise you.

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Can I confess something to you? I actually find your lack of insight and lack of understanding and lack of ability to know what to do rather attractive. It makes me realise that I am a man and you are a woman.

Are you cross with me? Are you cross with me because of the things that I said? Don’t be. I promise you, Nora. I’ve forgiven you.

Nora Thank you.

She goes to head back to her room.

Torvald Where are you going?

Nora To take my costume off.

Torvald Yes. Do that. Calm yourself down. Get your thoughts together. My frightened little skylark. I’ll watch over you. You’re a hunted dove I have saved from the hawk’s claws.

She leaves into her room.

Keep your door open. I want to talk to you.

She does.

It will happen, Nora.

Tomorrow everything will look quite different to you. Soon I won’t even have to tell you any more that I’ve forgiven you. You’ll feel it. It will feel so certain.

Can I confess something else to you? It feels so sweet. It feels so satisfying to forgive my wife. It’s like you have become mine all over again. Only twice as strongly as before. In a way it’s like I’ve given you a new life. In a way it’s a little bit like you’re my wife and you’ve also now become my child. That’s how it is. From this point on.

You don’t need to be afraid of anything any more.

She comes back out. She is in her day clothes.

What are you doing? I thought you were going to sleep. Have you not got changed?

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Nora I am changed, Torvald.

Torvald What are you talking about, it’s late, Nora.

Nora I’m not going to sleep tonight.

Torvald What do you mean, you’re not –

Nora It’s not that late.

Sit down, Torvald.

She sits at one side of the table.

Torvald Why are you looking at me like that?

Nora You should sit down, Torvald. There’s rather a lot I want to say.

He looks at her for a time. He sits down.

Torvald I’m not sure I understand what you’re –

Nora No. You don’t. You don’t understand me at all. And I don’t think I’ve ever understood you. Until now. Until tonight. Don’t interrupt me.

Just. Listen.

Do you notice anything odd about the way we’re sitting?

Torvald The way we’re –

Nora The way we’re sitting here.

Torvald I’m not sure. What do you –

Nora We’ve been married for nine years. This is the first time that you and I have had a serious discussion.

Torvald What do you mean, ‘serious’?

Nora Even before we got married. We’ve never exchanged a serious word about anything.

He looks at her for a time.

Torvald I’m rather confused, Nora, I have to confess. Are you refusing to sleep tonight because you’ve suddenly realised

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that you always wanted me to share all my worries with you? I’m afraid I don’t really see the point of that. You couldn’t have helped me deal with any of them –

Nora Not worries. I’m not talking about sharing worries. I’m talking about sitting down and seriously trying to make sense of things. To understand things.

Torvald Nora, are you saying that you would have preferred it if we did that?

Nora You don’t understand, do you? You never have. I’ve been terribly treated, Torvald. First by my father and then by you.

Torvald What?

A very long pause. He struggles to understand this idea.

We are the two people who loved you more than –

Nora You didn’t. You never loved me. You just enjoyed the idea of being in love with me.

What? It’s true.

When I was growing up my father told me all his opinions and so I inherited those opinions and if I ever had any other opinions then I hid them from him because they would have made him furious. He called me his doll. He played with me like I used to play with my dolls. Then I was taken to your house.

Torvald What kind of expression is that?

Nora An accurate one. You took me from my father’s house to yours. And the same thing happened here. You furnished according to your taste. So I developed the same taste as you. Or I pretended to. I’m not sure. Maybe it was both. I’ve lived my whole marriage like a beggar. Like a street entertainer. I survive by performing tricks for you. That’s how you like it. It’s your fault and my father’s fault that I’ve never made anything of myself.

A long pause.

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He laughs a bit. Then stops.

Torvald Are you trying to tell me that you’ve never been happy here?

Nora Never. Not happy.

Torvald You ungrateful, unreasonable –

Nora I’ve been cheerful. That’s not the same. You’ve always been very kind to me. But none of this was real, you know? This wasn’t really a house. It was a playroom. I’ve been your doll. Just as I was my father’s doll when I was a little girl. And the children have become my dolls. I thought it was fun when you played with me. They thought it was fun when I played with them. None of it was real in any way.

Torvald So maybe it should be different now. Is that what you’re suggesting? Maybe playtime’s over now. Maybe now it’s time for learning.

Nora Who needs to learn, Torvald? Me or the children?

Torvald Both you and the children.

Nora Oh my love. You can’t teach me anything.

Torvald I could –

Nora I can’t teach the children anything either. You said so yourself. You couldn’t trust me with them.

Torvald I was angry.

Nora You were right. There’s something I need to do before I try and teach anybody anything.

She looks at him for a time.

I need to teach myself. You can’t do it. I’ve got to do it on my own. That’s why I’m leaving you.

Torvald You’re what?

Nora I can’t live with you any longer.

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Torvald Nora.

Nora I have to stand up on my own.

Kristine can put me up for the night.

Torvald This is mad. I won’t let you.

Nora You can’t stop me. I’ll take all my things. I won’t take anything from you. Either now or later.

Torvald You’re insane.

Nora Tomorrow I’ll go back home. To where I came from. It will be easier for me to find something to do there.

Torvald You have no idea what would happen to you.

Nora No. Of course I don’t. I can’t possibly have any idea until I’ve done it.

Torvald This is your home. You can’t leave your husband. You can’t leave your children.

Nora Why not?

Torvald What will people say about you?

Nora I don’t care about that.

Torvald This is monstrous. You have responsibilities. You can’t just abandon –

Nora What responsibilities?

Torvald Responsibilities to your husband. Responsibilities to your children.

Nora What about my responsibilities to myself ?

Torvald You are a wife and a mother. Before anything else.

Nora I think I’m a human being before anything else. I don’t care what other people say. I don’t care what people write in books. I need to think for myself.

Torvald What you’re suggesting goes against every religious tenet –

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Nora I don’t even know what religion really is any more.

All I remember is what Pastor Hansen told me when I was confirmed. He said that religion meant this. And that religion meant that. He said Jesus meant this and that Jesus meant that. I need to get away from here and be on my own for a while so I can see with clarity if what he said was right.

Torvald What you’re suggesting is immoral. Can’t you feel that? In your, in your, in your soul.

Nora I don’t know. I don’t even know if I have a soul or if anybody has a soul or if there’s any such thing as a soul. There has to be doesn’t there? I just don’t know if there is. All I know is that I have a different opinion on this matter than you do. I thought I knew what the law was. I was wrong. I didn’t realise that it was against the law for a woman to spare her old, dying father or to save her husband’s life. I didn’t realise that.

Torvald You’re talking like a child. You don’t understand, do you? You don’t understand religion or morality or responsibility or society. You don’t understand the society you live in.

Nora I don’t even really know what society is. I don’t know if there’s any such thing.

Torvald You’re ill. You’re going out of your mind.

Nora I’m not. I’ve never felt so clear. I’ve never felt so certain.

Torvald You’re going to leave your husband? You’re going to leave your children?

Nora nods.

Torvald So.

Nora What?

Torvald You don’t love me any more.

Nora No. I don’t think I do.

Torvald How can you say that to me?

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Nora I don’t know. It hurts me to say it. You’ve always been so kind to me. But I can’t help it. I don’t love you any more. I can’t live here any more.

Torvald I don’t understand. Can you explain to me? How did this happen? What did I do wrong?

Nora It was tonight. I was waiting for a miracle to happen. It didn’t. That’s when I realised. You’re not the man I hoped you were.

Torvald I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Nora I’ve been waiting for it for so long. I know that miracles don’t happen every day. I waited for nine years for mine. And then after Christmas Eve, since Krogstad first told me what he’d figured out, I knew then, I was completely certain, that it was time for my miracle to happen. And then his letter was out there. And I never thought for a second you would do what he told you. I was so certain you would stand up to him. I was certain you would tell him to go and reveal everything to the world. And then –

Torvald Yes, what would you do then? After I’d exposed you to shame and humiliation?

Nora Then I thought with unshakeable faith and certainty that you would step forward and take the blame and tell the world that it was you. That you were guilty.

Torvald Nora –

Nora I would have denied it, of course. Nobody would have believed me. That was the miracle I was waiting for. I was ready to end my life to stop you from doing it.

Torvald I would have done anything for you. I would have worked day and night. I would have put up with anything for you. But no man would sacrifice his, his, his honour. Even for the person he loves.

Nora Thousands and thousands and thousands of women have done.

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Torvald You’re not thinking. You’re talking like a child.

Nora Maybe. But you’re not talking or thinking like a man I can spend my life with. When you calmed down, when you realised you were no longer in danger you seemed to think that nothing had happened. You thought I could be your skylark again. Your doll. You thought I was weak. You thought I was fragile. You told me I was your child. I knew then that for nine years I had lived with a stranger and that I had had three children with – Oh. I can’t bear to think about it. I could tear myself to pieces.

Torvald I can see that. I understand. I’ve done something I never intended to do. And because of what I did there is a gulf between us. But Nora, can’t we close it?

Nora Not any more. I am not your wife any more.

Torvald I can change. I can find the strength to become another man.

Nora Maybe. If your doll is taken away from you.

Torvald I can’t imagine being apart from you.

Nora That’s exactly why I need to go.

She stands. She goes to her room. She returns with her coat and a small bag. She puts the bag down on the chair by the table.

Torvald Nora. Not now. Wait until tomorrow.

She puts her coat on.

Nora I can’t. I can’t spend the night in a stranger’s house.

Torvald Can’t we? Can’t we? Can’t we live here? Like brother and sister?

Nora You know that wouldn’t last long. It couldn’t.

She wraps the shawl about herself.

I won’t see the little ones. They’re in better hands than mine. The way I am now. I would be nothing to them.

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Torvald Maybe not now. But one day –

Nora I don’t know. I don’t even know what will happen to me.

Torvald You’re my wife. You always will be.

Nora Torvald. When a wife leave’s a husband’s house. According to all law he is released from any obligations towards her. I release you of all obligations to me. You’re bound by nothing. There is total freedom on both sides.

She takes her ring off.

Look.

She puts it on the table in front of him.

Here is your ring. Give me mine.

Torvald Your ring?

She nods. He takes his ring off. He gives it to her.

Nora There. Now. It’s over. I will leave my keys here. Helene knows more about the house than I do. Anna knows more about the children. Tomorrow Kristine will come here to pack the things that I brought with me from home. She can send them to me.

I will think of you often, Torvald. And of the children. And of this house. You must never write to me. You must send me nothing. I can’t take any help from you. People shouldn’t take help from strangers.

Torvald Nora. Can I never be more than a stranger to you?

Nora The most wonderful thing would have to happen first. A miracle.

Torvald What miracle?

Nora You and I would both have to change so much that –

Torvald, I don’t believe in miracles any more.

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Torvald But I do. Tell me. We’d have to change so much that – ?

She smiles at him.

Nora Goodbye, Torvald.

She exits through the hall. Torvald listens. She closes the front door. He waits. He sits. He buries his face in his hands. He thinks he hears her.

Torvald Nora.

He looks up. He goes to the door. The door to the street is slammed downstairs.

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