Hedda Gabler and Other Plays by Henrik Ibsen

Author:Henrik Ibsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780140440164
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2008-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

ACT THREE

[Hjalmar Ekdal’s studio. It is morning. Daylight is coming in through the large window in the sloping roof. The curtain is pulled back.

Hjalmar is sitting at the table retouching a photograph, with several other portraits lying in front of him. A moment later, Gina comes in from the hall door in her hat and coat; she has a covered basket on her arm.]

HJALMAR. You back again already, Gina?

GINA. Yes. One has to get a move on. [She puts the basket down on a chair and takes off her outdoor things.]

HJALMAR. Did you look in on Gregers?

GINA. Yes, I should think I did. Nice it looks in there! He got his room in a fine state the moment he came.

HJALMAR. Oh. HOW?

GINA. Oh yes! He was going to look after himself, he said! So he must needs light the fire, and shut the damper down, so that the whole room was full of smoke. Pooh! There was a stink as if –

HJALMAR. Good Lord!

GINA. But that’s not the best of it. Because then he wanted to put it out, and so he emptied the jug of this washstand into the stove, so that the whole floor’s a swimming mess.

HJALMAR. That is a nuisance!

GINA. I’ve just got the porter’s wife to clean up after him – the pig! But the place won’t be fit to go into till this afternoon.

HJALMAR. What is he doing with himself in the meantime?

GINA. He said he was going out for a little while.

HJALMAR. I went in to see him for a moment too. After you went out.

GINA. So I heard. And you’ve asked him to lunch.

HJALMAR. Only just for a snack at lunch-time, you know. After all, it’s his first day; we can’t very well help it. You must have something in the house.

GINA. I must sec about finding something.

HJALMAR. Don’t let it be too skimpy, though. Because I think Relling and Molvik are coming up too. I ran into Relling on the stairs, you see, so I had to –

GINA. Oh, my goodness! Have we got to have those two as well?

HJALMAR. Why, gracious! A bit more or less makes no difference either way.

OLD EKDAL [opening his door and looking in]. Look here, Hjalmar, my boy – [Notices Gina.] Oh, well…

GINA. Is there anything you want, Grandfather?

EKDAL. Oh no; it doesn’t matter. Hm. [Goes in again.]

GINA [picking up the basket]. Keep an eye on him… see he doesn’t go out.

HJALMAR. Oh yes, yes. I will. Look here, Gina; a little herring salad would be rather nice; I fancy Relling and Molvik were out on the loose last night.

GINA. So long as they don’t come before I’ve had time –

HJALMAR. Of course they won’t. You take your time.

GINA. All right, then. And you can do a bit of work in the meantime.

HJALMAR. Well, I am working, aren’t I? I’m working as hard as I can.

GINA. And then you’ll have that off your hands, you see. [She goes out into the kitchen with the basket.]

[Hjalmar sits a moment working on the photograph with a brush, reluctantly and making heavy weather of it.

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