A Doll’s House | Act II, Act II - Page 8

HELMER:
Not so violently, Nora!
NORA:
This is the way.
HELMER:
[stops playing]. No, no—that is not a bit right.
NORA:
[laughing and swinging the tambourine]. Didn't I tell you so?
RANK:
Let me play for her.
HELMER:
[getting up]. Yes, do. I can correct her better then.

[RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA dances more and more wildly. Helmer has taken up a position beside the stove, and during her dance gives her frequent instructions. She does not seem to hear him; her hair comes down and falls over her shoulders; she pays no attention to it, but goes on dancing. Enter MRS. LINDE.]

MRS. LINDE:
[standing as if spell-bound in the doorway]. Oh!—
NORA:
[as she dances]. Such fun, Christine!
HELMER:
My dear darling Nora, you are dancing as if your life depended on it.
NORA:
So it does.
HELMER:
Stop, Rank; this is sheer madness. Stop, I tell you! [RANK stops playing, and NORA suddenly stands still. Helmer goes up to her.] I could never have believed it. You have forgotten everything I taught you.
NORA:
[throwing away the tambourine]. There, you see.
HELMER:
You will want a lot of coaching.
NORA:
Yes, you see how much I need it. You must coach me up to the last minute. Promise me that, Torvald!
HELMER:
You can depend on me.
NORA:
You must not think of anything but me, either to-day or to-morrow; you mustn't open a single letter—not even open the letter-box—
HELMER:
Ah, you are still afraid of that fellow—
NORA:
Yes, indeed I am.
HELMER:
Nora, I can tell from your looks that there is a letter from him lying there.
NORA:
I don't know; I think there is; but you must not read anything of that kind now. Nothing horrid must come between us till this is all over.
RANK:
[whispers to Helmer]. You mustn't contradict her.
HELMER:
[taking her in his arms]. The child shall have her way. But to-morrow night, after you have danced—
NORA:
Then you will be free. [The MAID appears in the doorway to the right.]
MAID:
Dinner is served, ma'am.
NORA:
We will have champagne, Helen.
MAID:
Very good, ma'am.

[Exit.]

HELMER:
Hullo!—are we going to have a banquet?
NORA:
Yes, a champagne banquet till the small hours. [Calls out.] And a few macaroons, Helen—lots, just for once!
HELMER:
Come, come, don't be so wild and nervous. Be my own little skylark, as you used.
NORA:
Yes, dear, I will. But go in now and you too, Doctor Rank. Christine, you must help me to do up my hair.
RANK:
[whispers to Helmer as they go out]. I suppose there is nothing—she is not expecting anything?
HELMER:
Far from it, my dear fellow; it is simply nothing more than this childish nervousness I was telling you of. [They go into the right-hand room.]
NORA:
Well!
MRS. LINDE:
Gone out of town.
NORA:
I could tell from your face.
MRS. LINDE:
He is coming home to-morrow evening. I wrote a note for him.
NORA:
You should have let it alone; you must prevent nothing. After all, it is splendid to be waiting for a wonderful thing to happen.
MRS. LINDE:
What is it that you are waiting for?
NORA:
Oh, you wouldn't understand. Go in to them, I will come in a moment. [MRS. LINDE goes into the dining-room. NORA stands still for a little while, as if to compose herself. Then she looks at her watch.] Five o'clock. Seven hours till midnight; and then four-and-twenty hours till the next midnight. Then the Tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live.
HELMER:
[from the doorway on the right]. Where's my little skylark?
NORA:
[going to him with her arms outstretched]. Here she is!
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