登陆注册
16237600000001

第1章 ACT I(1)

(SCENE.--A room furnished comfortably and tastefully,but not extravagantly.At the back,a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall,another to the left leads to Helmer's study.

Between the doors stands a piano.In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door,and beyond it a window.Near the window are a round table,arm-chairs and a small sofa.In the right-hand wall,at the farther end,another door;and on the same side,nearer the footlights,a stove,two easy chairs and a rocking-chair;between the stove and the door,a small table.Engravings on the walls;a cabinet with china and other small objects;a small book-case with well-bound books.The floors are carpeted,and a fire burns in the stove.It is winter.

A bell rings in the hall;shortly afterwards the door is heard to open.Enter NORA,humming a tune and in high spirits.She is in outdoor dress and carries a number of parcels;these she lays on the table to the right.She leaves the outer door open after her,and through it is seen a PORTER who is carrying a Christmas Tree and a basket,which he gives to the MAID who has opened the door.)Nora.Hide the Christmas Tree carefully,Helen.Be sure the children do not see it until this evening,when it is dressed.(To the PORTER,taking out her purse.)How much?

Porter.Sixpence.

Nora.There is a shilling.No,keep the change.(The PORTERthanks her,and goes out.NORA shuts the door.She is laughing to herself,as she takes off her hat and coat.She takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two;then goes cautiously to her husband's door and listens.)Yes,he is in.

(Still humming,she goes to the table on the right.)Helmer (calls out from his room).Is that my little lark twittering out there?

Nora (busy opening some of the parcels).Yes,it is!

Helmer.Is it my little squirrel bustling about?

Nora.Yes!

Helmer.When did my squirrel come home?

Nora.Just now.(Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.)Come in here,Torvald,and see what I have bought.

Helmer.Don't disturb me.(A little later,he opens the door and looks into the room,pen in hand.)Bought,did you say?All these things?Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?

Nora.Yes but,Torvald,this year we really can let ourselves go a little.This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economise.

Helmer.Still,you know,we can't spend money recklessly.Nora.

Yes,Torvald,we may be a wee bit more reckless now,mayn't we?

Just a tiny wee bit!You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money.

Helmer.Yes,after the New Year;but then it will be a whole quarter before the salary is due.

Nora.Pooh!we can borrow until then.

Helmer.Nora!(Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear.)The same little featherhead!Suppose,now,that I borrowed fifty pounds today,and you spent it all in the Christmas week,and then on New Year's Eve a slate fell on my head and killed me,and--Nora (putting her hands over his mouth).Oh!don't say such horrid things.

Helmer.Still,suppose that happened,--what then?

Nora.If that were to happen,I don't suppose I should care whether I owed money or not.

Helmer.Yes,but what about the people who had lent it?

Nora.They?Who would bother about them?I should not know who they were.

Helmer.That is like a woman!But seriously,Nora,you know what I think about that.No debt,no borrowing.There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt.We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far,and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need be any struggle.

Nora (moving towards the stove).As you please,Torvald.

Helmer (following her).Come,come,my little skylark must not droop her wings.What is this!Is my little squirrel out of temper?(Taking out his purse.)Nora,what do you think I have got here?

Nora (turning round quickly).Money!

Helmer.There you are.(Gives her some money.)Do you think Idon't know what a lot is wanted for housekeeping at Christmas-time?

Nora (counting).Ten shillings--a pound--two pounds!Thank you,thank you,Torvald;that will keep me going for a long time.

Helmer.Indeed it must.

Nora.Yes,yes,it will.But come here and let me show you what Ihave bought.And all so cheap!Look,here is a new suit for Ivar,and a sword;and a horse and a trumpet for Bob;and a doll and dolly's bedstead for Emmy,--they are very plain,but anyway she will soon break them in pieces.And here are dress-lengths and handkerchiefs for the maids;old Anne ought really to have something better.

Helmer.And what is in this parcel?

Nora (crying out).No,no!you mustn't see that until this evening.

Helmer.Very well.But now tell me,you extravagant little person,what would you like for yourself?

Nora.For myself?Oh,I am sure I don't want anything.

Helmer.Yes,but you must.Tell me something reasonable that you would particularly like to have.

Nora.No,I really can't think of anything--unless,Torvald--Helmer.Well?

Nora (playing with his coat buttons,and without raising her eyes to his).If you really want to give me something,you might--you might--Helmer.Well,out with it!

Nora (speaking quickly).You might give me money,Torvald.Only just as much as you can afford;and then one of these days I will buy something with it.

Helmer.But,Nora--Nora.Oh,do!dear Torvald;please,please do!

Then I will wrap it up in beautiful gilt paper and hang it on the Christmas Tree.Wouldn't that be fun?

Helmer.What are little people called that are always wasting money?

Nora.Spendthrifts--I know.Let us do as you suggest,Torvald,and then I shall have time to think what I am most in want of.

That is a very sensible plan,isn't it?

Helmer (smiling).Indeed it is--that is to say,if you were really to save out of the money I give you,and then really buy something for yourself.But if you spend it all on the housekeeping and any number of unnecessary things,then I merely have to pay up again.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 金箭射我心

    金箭射我心

    吕婷婷急乎乎的用钥匙打开她家‘祖宗’作家的大门,“我可求你了,交稿子吧,不交稿子我就要失业了。”一个可怜的编剧面对一个红得发紫的大作家,也是种种无语,各种不交稿子的理由,各种欺负她的理由!“大家好,这是我的收官之作,是我写的青春偶像爱情小说。”唐赫面对着可怜巴巴的小编辑说,“也是我送给吕婷婷的求婚礼物!嫁给我好吗?”
  • 剑荡尘涛

    剑荡尘涛

    武中求道天比高,风中英雄似尘涛。了悟希夷持刀剑,几番征战会今朝。梦中非梦梦惊醒,笑脸非笑笑妖娆。豪情燎燃血铺路,不负此头天下枭。
  • 蜕变风暴

    蜕变风暴

    这是一个异能世界。绝大部分生命都会拥有属于自己的异能,人类、魔兽、妖魅、指头人、梦幻之种……甚至于那些没有生命的东西,也有可能获得异能,一根羽毛、一块石头、一滴水珠……在这片浩瀚无边的神秘大陆上,异能不计其数,争奇斗艳。无用的异能“大嗓门”“头生独角”“长脚趾”……强大的异能“梦境穿梭”“神灵审判”“时空旅行”……然而即便是无用的“潮湿吹气”,也能蜕变成席卷整片大陆的“深海风暴”。没有最强的异能,只有最强的人。这是一个只有不屈之心才能蜕变成最强者的璀璨世界。
  • 邂逅相亲,此生相爱

    邂逅相亲,此生相爱

    这是剩男剩女们的时代,大龄青年孙子高回国了,面对母亲的逼迫他开始了自己的大相亲时代!
  • 龙神花都

    龙神花都

    龙天翔本是燕京豪门家族龙家第三代唯一继承人,由于被敌对家族迫害。为救自己青梅竹马的爱人甘愿跳落悬崖。本以为自己必死的他,被龙神收入到龙神戒的空间之中。遇到了即将消亡的龙神残魂,并继承了龙神九子的力量。龙神九子:长子囚牛,次子霸下三子睚眦四子嘲风五子饕餮六子狻猊七子椒图八子螭吻九子貔貅【囚牛之力天震地骇】【霸下之力翻江倒海】【睚眦之力有仇必报】【嘲风之力白浪掀天】【饕餮之力吞食天地】【狻猊之力可移五岳】【椒图之力起死回生】【螭吻之力荒火梵天】【貔貅之力祥瑞照世】八年后重回都市,看他怎么样王者归来,笑傲华夏,更是成为连各国元首都不敢招惹的存在,将所有敌人踩在脚下,创造了一段不朽龙神的传说。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 大自然里的商道:创业者必学的13种动植物

    大自然里的商道:创业者必学的13种动植物

    本书讲述了大千世界,虽看似纷繁芜杂,实则和谐而单一,任何事物的存在与发展皆遵于规律、循于法则,无论是四季轮回、日夜更替,还是物种繁衍、植物凋零统统归于“自然之道”。同样,沉浮商海间,免遭疾浪冲击、险流覆没的唯一方法便是深谙并依从“经商之道”。
  • 君似清风

    君似清风

    君生我未生,我生君已老。恨不能同生,日日与君好。
  • 血炽剑神

    血炽剑神

    上古大陆,万族林立,一剑破苍穹,一剑镇天地。修罗剑出,血溅杀伐路,染红上古星辰,舞出万世上古。以剑踏路,一柄剑,迎战上古神,魔,鬼,妖,灵,兽。修罗剑徒,修罗剑士,修罗剑师,修罗剑灵,修罗剑王,修罗剑皇,修罗剑尊,修罗剑圣,修罗剑神。
  • 佛说阿弥陀佛根本秘密神咒经

    佛说阿弥陀佛根本秘密神咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。