lady from the sea

LYNGSTRAND (After a moment) Have you ever thought -? I mean - have you ever thought deeply and seriously about marriage, Miss Wangel?

About -? No.

LYNGSTRAND It's your mother's. She said I could use it as a walking stick. I forgot mine.

Are they still down there? Father and the others?

HILDE If Lyngstrand proposed to you, would you accept?

Are you crazy?

WANGEL Just a little. In case anyone wants some.

Alright, fine. Hilde, take father's bag to his office.

HILDE Well, I see.

BOLETTE (Interrupting) Did you see father's boat in the fjord?

LYNGSTRAND Good morning, Miss Wangel.

BOLETTE Is that you, Mr. Lyngstrand? Good morning. Excuse me a minute, - I just -

HILDE Oh, it wouldn't be that strange. Her mother went crazy. She died crazy, that much I know.

BOLETTE Yes, God only knows what you don't poke your nose into. But don't say anything about it. Be good - for Father's sake. Do you hear me, Hilde?

HILDE How can you say such a thing. (Quietly) Look, - here comes Hans crawling up the hill. Hans -. Don't you think you can tell just by looking at him that his name is Hans?

Behave yourself! I'm serious.

BALLESTED (Pointing upwards with her stick) Sehen Sie, meine Herrschaften, - dort, up there, liegt eine andere mountain. That wollen wir also besteigen and then herunter -

But, my dear, why are we running away from Lyngstrand?

ELLIDA Never ever. Only short trips in the fjord.

Oh, no, we should be grateful for dry land.

HILDE Oh, sure - go ahead and believe that, you child. Things will never work out between us. She isn't one of us. And we're not part of her. God only knows why Father brought her into our house. I wouldn't be surprised if she went crazy one day.

Crazy! How can you say something like that?

WANGEL Yes, let's do it, my girls. Let's have soda-water and juice. And a little cognac, as well.

Cognac, as well, is it?

ELLIDA You will all know shortly.

Come and look! The big English steamship is going up the fjord.

LYNGSTRAND (With his arms on the table, he silently watches Bolette working for a while) It must be difficult to do the edge like that, Miss Wangel.

Oh, no. It's not that hard.

ARNHOLM Not at all. That's entirely up to you.

Do you think so?

WANGEL (Looking at the veranda) Yes, I see, my girl. - You've made things very festive.

Don't you think we've made it look nice?

HILDE To look him right in the eye and make him tell you that it's not serious. That he's going to travel abroad and become an artist. He really believes it and he's ecstatic about it. And yet, it will never happen. Not a chance. He won't live that long. It's exciting to think about.

Exciting!

LYNGSTRAND Still, I think you could learn art.

Even though I don't have much talent?

HILDE He went so see Father this afternoon. I'd like to know what he thinks.

Father says he has a hardening of the lungs - or something like that. He won't live to be an old man, Father said.

ELLIDA I can't, my dear friend. Not now, anyway. Maybe later.

Father's coming up from his office. Shall we move to the sitting room?

HILDE Yes, I think it's exciting. I give that to myself.

Fie, Hilde, you really are a naughty girl!

HILDE No, he said that! Just think, - that's exactly what I thought.

For God's sake, you can't let him see that.

Act 1

Good morning, Mrs. Ballested.

LYNGSTRAND No, no. But I have to say goodbye to you young ladies for the time being.

Goodbye, goodbye Mr. Lyngstrand. You must excuse us for today - but another day - when you've got some free time - and the inclination - you must stop by and visit with my father - and all of us.

HILDE (Surprised) From Lyngstrand?

Has Lyngstrand been here - again?

HILDE Pish, you think I care about that!

Here comes Father.

HILDE (Under her breath) Adieu, monsieur! Say hello to old mother Jensen for me.

Hilde -! You impudent girl! Are you crazy! He might've heard you!

HILDE Here comes a gentleman. It must be your old tutor.

Him? (Laughs) It can't be! Could that middle-aged man be Professor Arnholm?

LYNGSTRAND I should have guessed. I bet it's you father's birthday today.

Hm - hm!

ARNHOLM Of who -? What -?

I mean that he and my stepmother -. (Interrupting herself) Father and Mother are enough for each other, as you might imagine.

HILDE I mean, of course, supposing he wasn't sick. That he wasn't going to die soon. Would you accept?

I think it would be better if you had him.

ELLIDA Oh, you don't understand. When he isn't with me I worry that I'll forget what he looks like. And then it's as if I've lost him. It's tremendously embarrassing.

I'll go with you. You don't know the way -

ARNHOLM How's she doing this afternoon?

I'm not exactly sure. I forgot to ask.

ARNHOLM Yes, believe me. Your future lies completely in your own hands.

If only that was true -! Maybe you could put in a good word for me with Father?

ELLIDA Out there is the sea.

Isn't it beautiful up here?

ELLIDA Oh, I'm extremely well! I feel so inexpressibly happy! So safe! So safe -. (Looking to the right) What's that big steamship coming into the harbor?

It must be that big English steamship.

WANGEL Hm, - yes. But are you -

Just pretend that it's all for Professor Arnholm's sake. When such a good friend comes to visit for the first time in -

ARNHOLM What books have you got there?

Oh, one is about botany. And the other one is about geography.

HILDE Your professor, my dear!

Mine -?

ARNHOLM And what is it, really? What is it that you long for?

Mostly, to get away.

ARNHOLM No, unfortunately, you're right there. But have you ever tried talking with him about it? Talking about it seriously and honestly?

No, I haven't.

ARNHOLM Doesn't your mother - your stepmother - help with things like that?

No, it's my responsibility. I took care of things for the two years that Father was alone. And it's been that way ever since.

HILDE You'll have to call really loudly.

No, it's not worth it. You'll just tire yourself out again.

LYNGSTRAND Then it's not really an art, after all.

No, it's really more of a - handicraft.

ARNHOLM Nonsense. I'll find him -

No, no, I'm worried. I'm afraid he may be on the steamship.

LYNGSTRAND Not otherwise?

No, not otherwise.

WANGEL Then, you haven't seen him yet?

No. But he's bound to come by this morning.

ARNHOLM Is your mother in the garden?

No. She's gone off with father somewhere, no doubt.

ELLIDA (Interrupting) Come on, girls! Let's put my flowers in water with the others.

Oh, she really is a kind person.

ARNHOLM When I was your tutor, your father always used to say that you should be allowed to continue your studies.

Oh, yes, poor Father, - he says a lot of things. But when it comes down to the crunch, well - Father doesn't really make much progress.

LYNGSTRAND It's almost like a kind of art. Do you do the design, too?

Oh, yes, when I have something to copy.

ARNHOLM My dear Bolette, don't say that.

Oh, yes. It seems to me that we're just like those old carp down there in the pond. The fjord is so close, where the big schools of fish swim in and out. But the poor, tame pond fish don't know anything about it.

ARNHOLM Yes, I'd like that very much. Is there a path that leads up there, too?

Oh, yes. There's a nice wide path.

ELLIDA (With a half smile) Yes. He brought these. In honor of my birthday, you understand.

Oh -!

ARNHOLM (Sitting beside her) Tell me, my dear Bolette, - is it everything in general - or is there something more specific that you long for?

Oh yes, it could be.

ARNHOLM (Approaching Bolette) Are you sitting here all alone, Bolette?

Oh yes, it's what I usually do.

HILDE Do you like dancing?

Oh, Hilde, - let Mr. Lyngstrand catch his breath.

ARNHOLM But you know that you should. Before it's too late, Bolette. Why don't you?

Oh, I suppose it's because I don't make much progress either. I definitely take after my father in that respect.

WANGEL See, here I am again my little girls!

Oh, I'm so glad that you've come!

HILDE Imagine, - his hair is beginning to fall out - here on the top.

Oh, baloney! I'm sure that's not true.

HILDE Because I can't stand going up the hill so slowly. Look, - look, how he's creeping up behind us.

Oh, but you know he hasn't been feeling well.

ARNHOLM My dear Bolette, - we should talk more about this.

Oh, it doesn't make any difference. I guess I was born to live here in this carp-pond.

ARNHOLM Hm, - don't you think you're being a little bit hard on yourself?

Oh, no, unfortunately. Besides, Father doesn't have much time for thinking about me or my future. He doesn't have much interest in it either. He's so busy taking care of Ellida -

ARNHOLM It's mooring at the pier. Does it usually stop here?

Only for half an hour. Then it sails further up the fjord.

ARNHOLM Hm, - I think I see what you mean.

Poor Father, - he's weak in a lot of ways. He doesn't have enough work to fill up his time and she is completely unable to sustain him. - Some of that's his own fault, no doubt.

HILDE Yes, downhill, yes. (She watches him.) Now he's jumping! He never remembers that he'll have to come back up.

Poor man -.

LYNGSTRAND I see, - your mother's.

Really, Hilde -!

HILDE Yes, she's gone to -

She's gone for a swim.

ARHOLM Oh, it's nothing. Here, amid these surroundings -

Should I bring some soda-water and juice into the Gardenroom? It's going to be too hot out here, soon enough.

LYNGSTRAND Yes, I thought I saw a sailboat heading for the shore.

That must be father. He was visiting patients out on the islands.

HILDE No, not me. He doesn't have a penny. He doesn't even have enough to take care of himself.

Then why do you go around with him so much?

HILDE (She looks down the path to the left.) They're coming up the path.

They don't know where to turn off. No, they're going the wrong way.

ARNHOLM You can't really say that you live so far away from the rest of the world. Not in the summertime anyway. Right now it's like a meeting place for the world.

What good does it do us that the big, strange world passes through on their way to see the midnight sun? We don't get to be a part of it. We never get to see the midnight sun. Oh no, we live our pretty little lives here in our carp-pond.

ARNHOLM Why's that, do you think?

Well, Father always likes to have happy faces around him. He says, there should be sunshine and happiness in the house. He leaves her to take care of herself, which isn't good for her in the long run.

HILDE Oh, I only do that because he's sick. I think it's so fascinating.

What is?

ELLIDA Yes, terror. A terror so horrible such as only the sea can know. For now I'll tell you, Wangel -

What, are you two still wandering around up here?

HILDE That's what I want to be. Out of spite! (She looks down the path.) Finally! Arnholm doesn't like climbing up-hill. (She turns around.) Oh, and guess what - you know what I noticed about Arnholm at the dinner table?

What?

HILDE (Pointing) Don't you see - it's right there. And look there! God almighty, there's another one! (Looking through the trees) Ugh, - here he comes to scare them away!

Who?

WANGEL Alright, then I'll stay with you. The girls can show Arnholm the way.

Would you like to go with us, Mr. Arnholm?

HILDE Do you think it's serious?

Yes, I absolutely do.

ARNHOLM You really think that.

Yes, I can't help but think it. She can be really strange sometimes. (Vehemently) Don't you think it's unfair that I should have to stay here at home! It doesn't make any difference to Father. And I have a responsibility to myself, I think.

ARNHOLM But, my dear Bolette, you'll have to do that sometime. And it seems to me, the sooner the better -

Yes, I guess there's no other way. I've got to think of myself, too. Find some kind of work. Once Father's gone there will be nothing to hold on to. - But poor Father, - I dread the thought of leaving him.

ARNHOLM But you still love to read.

Yes, I read all the helpful books I can find. I want to know more about the world. We live so far away from the rest of the world here.

WANGEL Wait a second, my dear. I think it might be him! - Yes, that's definitely the Professor!

Yes, I think it might be -!

ARNHOLM So much the better for you to be able to leave here.

Yes, but I don't think I have the right to do that. To abandon Father.

HILDE Yes. And he has wrinkles around his eyes. Good God, Bolette, how could you have been so in love with him when he was your teacher!

Yes, can you believe that? I remember I cried my eyes out when he said he thought Bolette was an ugly name

LYNGSTRAND (Stepping up on to the stairs of the veranda) My, how everything is decorated with flowers -!

Yes, doesn't it look nice?

ARNHOLM Dread -?

Yes, for his sake.

WANGEL Oh, no, I have to go to my office for a little while. - Tell me, - did Arnholm come?

Yes, he arrived last night. We've asked and he's at the hotel.

ARNHOLM Afraid?

Yes, he usually goes on board to see if he has any friends. And there's a bar on the ship -

ARNHOLM But, good Lord, what about your stepmother? She'll be with him.

Yes, that's true. But she doesn't know how to do all the things that Mother used to do so well. There are so many things that she doesn't see. Or maybe she doesn't want to see, - or doesn't care to see.

Good morning, Miss Wangel. - Do you mind if I ask - are you expecting visitors today?

Yes, we're expecting Professor Arnholm this morning. He arrived in town last night.

ARNHOLM Do you like reading those kinds of thing?

Yes, when I can find the time, -. But, housekeeping has to come first.

ARNHOLM (Joking) Is that so, little Miss Hilde? (To Bolette) Shall we see if she's telling the truth?

Yes, yes. Let's do that.

ARNHOLM That most of all?

Yes. And then to learn more. To know as much as possible about everything.

BALLESTED Arnholm? Wait - wasn't Arnholm the man who used to be the tutor here a few years ago?

Yes. That's the one.

HILDE Yes, think of that! (She looks down again.) Now, will you look at that! The "Lady from the Sea" is talking with him. Not with Father. - I wonder if they're flirting with each other.

You should be ashamed of yourself. How can you stand there and say such things about her? Now, when everything is going so well between us -

ELLIDA Oh, no, that's not true. That joy - it's like the joy that we feel on a long summer's day. It comes with the knowledge that darkness will follow. This knowledge casts a shadow over people's joy the way clouds cast a shadow over the fjord. There it is, shining and blue. When all of a sudden -

You shouldn't think such sad things. Just a minute ago you were so happy and so lively.

LYNGSTRAND Absolutely. If you spent time with a real, true artist -

You think that I could learn from him?

BALLESTED I see, I see. He's returned to the area.

yes