The Master Builder and Other Plays Read online

  In the drawing office KNUT BROVIK and his son RAGNAR are working on plans and doing calculations. At the desk in the office, KAJA FOSLI is making entries in the ledger. KNUT BROVIK is a thin old man with white hair and beard. He is clad in a rather threadbare, but well-cared-for black coat. He wears glasses and a somewhat yellowed white neckcloth. RAGNAR BROVIK is in his thirties, smartly dressed, fair-haired, with a slight stoop. KAJA FOSLI is a slightly built young woman in her early twenties, neatly attired, but of a rather sickly appearance. She wears a green eye-shade. – All three work for some time in silence.

  KNUT BROVIK [getting up suddenly from the drawing-board in some distress, breathing heavily and with difficulty as he makes for the open door]: No, I really can’t take much more of this!

  KAJA [going over to him]: You’re not at all well this evening, are you, Uncle?

  BROVIK: Oh, I feel I’m getting worse by the day.

  RAGNAR [has risen and now comes closer]: You’d best go home, Father. Try to get some sleep –

  BROVIK [impatiently]: Go to bed maybe? D’you want me to downright suffocate!

  KAJA: Well, go for a little walk then.

  RAGNAR: Yes, do that. I’ll come with you.

  BROVIK [vehemently]: I’m not leaving until he gets here! Tonight I’m going to have it out with – [with suppressed indignation] with him – the master.2

  KAJA [anxiously]: Oh no, Uncle – wait awhile with that, please!

  RAGNAR: Yes, better to wait, Father!

  BROVIK [gasping for breath]: Hah – hah –! I doubt I’ve time to wait all that long.

  KAJA [listening]: Ssh! I can hear him on the stairs!

  All three return to their work.

  A brief silence.

  HALVARD SOLNESS, the master builder, comes through the door from the hall. He is a man in late middle age, hale and hearty with close-cropped, curly hair, a dark handlebar moustache and dark, bushy eyebrows. He wears a moss-green jacket, buttoned up, with a stand-up collar and broad lapels. On his head he has a soft grey felt hat and under his arm he carries a couple of files.

  HALVARD SOLNESS [in the doorway, pointing towards the drawing office and whispering]: Have they gone?

  KAJA [softly, shaking her head]: No. [She removes her eye-shade.]

  SOLNESS crosses the room, tosses his hat on to a chair, places the files on the coffee table and approaches the desk. KAJA carries on writing, but she seems flustered and nervous.

  SOLNESS [loudly]: What’s that you’re entering in the ledger, Miss Fosli?

  KAJA [starting]: Oh, it’s just something that –

  SOLNESS: Let me see, Miss Fosli. [Bends over her, pretends to be looking at the ledger and whispers] Kaja?

  KAJA [softly, writing slowly]: Yes?

  SOLNESS: Why do you always take that eye-shade off when I come in?

  KAJA [as before]: Well, because I look so awful with it on.

  SOLNESS [smiling]: Ah, and that’s not how you want to look, Kaja?

  KAJA [glancing sidelong at him]: Not for anything in the world. Not in your eyes.

  SOLNESS [stroking her hair gently]: Poor, poor little Kaja –

  KAJA [ducking her head]: Ssh, they can hear you!

  SOLNESS wanders over to the right, turns round and stops at the drawing-office door.

  SOLNESS: Has anyone been asking for me?

  RAGNAR [getting to his feet]: Yes, the young couple who want the villa3 built out at Løvstrand.

  SOLNESS [gruffly]: Oh them? Well, they’ll have to wait. I don’t have the design quite clear in my mind yet.

  RAGNAR [closer, rather hesitantly]: But they were so very anxious to have the plans soon.

  SOLNESS [as before]: Oh, heaven help us – isn’t that what they all want!

  BROVIK [looking up]: It’s just that they long so much to have a place of their own, they said.

  SOLNESS: Yes, yes; well we’ve heard that before! And they’ll end up taking any old thing. Settling for a – a house. Just some place to live. But not a home. No, thank you very much! Let them go to someone else in that case. Tell them that next time they come.

  BROVIK [pushing his glasses up on to his brow and staring at him in astonishment]: To someone else? You’d really give the job away?

  SOLNESS [impatiently]: Yes, yes, yes, dammit!4 If that’s how it has to be, then yes –. Rather that than just build willy-nilly. [Bursting out] I mean, I scarcely know these people yet!

  BROVIK: They’re solid enough people. Ragnar knows them. He’s a friend of the family. Extremely solid people.

  SOLNESS: Oh, solid – solid! That’s not what I mean at all. Dear God – don’t you understand me now either? [Vehemently] I won’t have anything to do with these strangers. Let them go to whoever they like, for all I care!

  BROVIK [rising]: Is that your honest opinion?

  SOLNESS [dourly]: Yes, it is. – For once. [He walks forward.]

  BROVIK exchanges a glance with RAGNAR, who raises a cautionary hand before stepping out into the back room.

  BROVIK: Might I have a word with you?

  SOLNESS: Certainly.

  BROVIK [to KAJA]: Step in there for a moment, girl.

  KAJA [anxiously]: Oh, but Uncle –

  BROVIK: Do as I say, child. And shut the door after you.

  Hesitantly, with an anxious, imploring glance at SOLNESS, KAJA goes into the drawing office and closes the door.

  BROVIK [lowering his voice]: I don’t want those poor children to know how bad things are with me.

  SOLNESS: Yes, you do look very frail these days.

  BROVIK: It’ll all be over soon for me. I’m growing weaker – with every day that passes.

  SOLNESS: Sit down a moment.

  BROVIK: Thank you – may I?

  SOLNESS [shifting the armchair slightly]: Here. There you are. – Now then?

  BROVIK [having seated himself with difficulty]: Yes, well, it’s this business with Ragnar. That’s the hardest part. What’s to become of him?

  SOLNESS: Your son can of course stay here with me as long as he wants.

  BROVIK: But that’s exactly what he doesn’t want, you see. Doesn’t feel that he can – not any more.

  SOLNESS: Oh, I would have thought he was pretty well paid. But were he to ask for more I wouldn’t be unwilling to –

  BROVIK: No, no! It’s not that at all. [Impatiently] But at some point he must have the chance to work for himself as well!

  SOLNESS [without looking at him]: D’you think Ragnar has what it takes for that?

  BROVIK: Ah, you see, that’s the awful part. That I’ve begun to doubt the lad. Because you’ve never said so much as – as a single encouraging word about him. And yet I find it hard to believe otherwise. Surely he has what it takes.

  SOLNESS: Yes, but he hasn’t really learned anything – not properly, I mean. Apart from drawing, that is.

  BROVIK [eyeing him with veiled loathing, says hoarsely]: You, sir, hadn’t learned much about the trade either, when you were in my service. But you forged ahead all the same, so you did. [Breathing heavily] And set up on your own. And stole a march on me and – and on so many others.

  SOLNESS: Yes, but you see – that was how it worked out for me.

  BROVIK: You’re right there. Everything worked out for you. But you surely can’t have the heart to let me go to my grave – without seeing what Ragnar is capable of. And I would so like to see those two married – before I’m gone.

  SOLNESS [sharply]: Is she the one who wants this?

  BROVIK: Not Kaja so much. But Ragnar talks about it every day. [Imploringly] You must – you must help him to get some work of his own now! I must get to see something the lad has done. Do you hear!

  SOLNESS [indignantly]: But I can’t pluck commissions out of thin air for him, dammit!

  BROVIK: He could get a fine commission right now. A big job.

  SOLNESS [surprised and perturbed]: He could?

  BROVIK: If you would give your consent.

  SOLNESS: What job might that
be?

  BROVIK: [somewhat hesitantly]: He could build that villa out at Løvstrand.

  SOLNESS: That! But I’m going to be building that!

  BROVIK: Ah, but you don’t really want to do it.

  SOLNESS [outraged]: Not want to! Me! Who dares to say that?

  BROVIK: You said it yourself a moment ago.

  SOLNESS: Oh, never listen to what I – say. Ragnar could build that villa?

  BROVIK: Yes. As I say, he knows the family. And – merely for his own amusement – he’s made drawings and an estimate and all –

  SOLNESS: And these drawings, they’re pleased with them? The people who’ll be living there?

  BROVIK: Yes. If you’d only take a look at them and approve them, then –

  SOLNESS: Then they would have Ragnar build their home for them?

  BROVIK: They so very much liked what he wanted to do. They felt that it was so totally new, they said.

  SOLNESS: Aha! New! Not the sort of old-fashioned rubbish that I usually build!

  BROVIK: They felt it was different.

  SOLNESS [with smouldering resentment]: So it was Ragnar they came here to see – while I was out!

  BROVIK: They came here to meet you. And to ask if you’d be willing to withdraw –

  SOLNESS [incensed]: Withdraw! Me!

  BROVIK: If you felt that Ragnar’s drawings –

  SOLNESS: Me! Withdraw in favour of your son!

  BROVIK: Withdraw from the commission, is what they meant.

  SOLNESS: Oh, it comes to the same thing. [Laughing bitterly] So that’s it! Halvard Solness – he’s to start withdrawing now! Make room for the younger ones. For the very youngest, perhaps! Simply make room! Room! Room!

  BROVIK: Heavens above, there must be plenty of room here for more than just one –

  SOLNESS: Oh – there’s not all that much room around here, you know. Yes, well, be that as it may. But I’ll never withdraw! Never stand aside for anyone! Never willingly! Never in the world will I do that!

  BROVIK [rising with difficulty]: Am I then to depart this life with no peace of mind? With no joy? With no faith or trust in Ragnar? Without having seen a single work by him? Am I?

  SOLNESS [turning a little to one side and muttering]: Hm – ask me no more now.

  BROVIK: Yes, answer me that. Am I to depart this life so poor?

  SOLNESS [appears to be struggling with himself; at length he says quietly but firmly]: You’ll have to depart this life as best you can.

  BROVIK: Well, so be it. [He walks away.]

  SOLNESS [going after him, almost despairingly]: But I can’t do otherwise, you see! I am the way I am, after all! And I can hardly change my nature, can I?

  BROVIK: No, no – I don’t suppose you can. [Staggers and pauses next to the coffee table] Might I take a glass of water?

  SOLNESS: But of course. [Fills the glass and hands it to him.]

  BROVIK: Thank you. [Drinks and puts the glass down.]

  SOLNESS walks over to the drawing-office door and opens it.

  SOLNESS: Ragnar – you’d better come and take your father home.

  RAGNAR jumps up. He and KAJA come into the office.

  RAGNAR: What’s the matter, Father?

  BROVIK: Take my arm. We’re leaving.

  RAGNAR: All right. Kaja, you get your coat too.

  SOLNESS: Miss Fosli will have to stay behind. Just for a moment. I’ve a letter that needs to be written.

  BROVIK [looking at SOLNESS]: Goodnight. Sleep well – if you can.

  SOLNESS: Goodnight.

  BROVIK and RAGNAR leave through the hall door. KAJA walks over to the desk. SOLNESS stands to the right of the armchair with his head bowed.

  KAJA [uncertainly]: Is there a letter –?

  SOLNESS [brusquely]: No, of course there isn’t, no. [Regarding her sternly]: Kaja!

  KAJA [nervously, softly]: Yes?

  SOLNESS [pointing peremptorily to a spot on the floor]: Come here! This instant!

  KAJA [hesitantly]: Yes.

  SOLNESS [as before]: Closer.

  KAJA [obeying]: What do you want of me?

  SOLNESS [considers her for a moment]: Is it you I have to thank for this?

  KAJA: No, no, please don’t think that!

  SOLNESS: But now you mean to marry – isn’t that right?

  KAJA [softly]: Ragnar and I have been engaged for four – five – years, and so –

  SOLNESS: And so you feel that’s long enough. Isn’t that it?

  KAJA: Ragnar and Uncle say I must. And so I suppose I have to go along with that.

  SOLNESS [more gently]: But Kaja, you do also care a little bit for Ragnar, don’t you?

  KAJA: I used to care very much for Ragnar. – Before I came here, to you.

  SOLNESS: But no longer? Not at all?

  KAJA [ardently, with clasped hands raised to him]: Oh, you know there’s only one person I care for now! And no one else in all the world! I’ll never care for anyone else!

  SOLNESS: Ah, so you say. And yet you mean to leave me anyway. Leave me here to cope with everything alone.

  KAJA: But couldn’t I still stay on with you, even if Ragnar –?

  SOLNESS [dismissively]: No, no, that’s quite out of the question. If Ragnar goes off and sets up his own business then he’ll have need of you himself.

  KAJA [wringing her hands]: Oh, I don’t see how I can be parted from you! I simply don’t see how I ever could!

  SOLNESS: Then see if you can’t talk Ragnar out of these stupid notions of his. Marry him as much as you like –. [Changing his tone] No, what I mean is – make him stay on in the good position he has here with me. Because then I can keep you as well, dear Kaja.

  KAJA: Oh, yes, how wonderful it would be if things turned out that way!

  SOLNESS [taking her head in his hands and whispering]: Because I cannot do without you, you see. Need to have you here with me every single day.

  KAJA [in tremulous ecstasy]: Oh, God! Oh, God!

  SOLNESS [kissing her hair]: Kaja – Kaja!

  KAJA [sinking to her knees]: Oh, how kind you are to me! How indescribably kind you are!

  SOLNESS [sharply]: Get up! Get up, for –! I think I hear someone. [He helps her up. She staggers over to the desk.]

  MRS SOLNESS enters through the door on the right. She looks thin and haggard, though still showing traces of former beauty. Blonde ringlets.5 Elegantly dressed all in black. Speaks rather slowly and querulously.

  MRS SOLNESS [from the doorway]: Halvard!

  SOLNESS [turning]: Oh, you’re there are you, dear –?

  MRS SOLNESS [with a glance at KAJA]: I’ve come at an inconvenient moment, I see.

  SOLNESS: Not at all. Miss Fosli just has one little letter to write.

  MRS SOLNESS: Yes, I see that.

  SOLNESS: What was it you wanted with me, Aline?

  MRS SOLNESS: I only wanted to say that Dr Herdal is in the parlour. Might you perhaps join us, Halvard?

  SOLNESS [eyeing her dubiously]: Hm – does the doctor really need to speak to me, dear?

  MRS SOLNESS: No, he doesn’t really need to. He popped in to see me. And he would so like to say hello to you while he’s here.

  SOLNESS [laughing quietly]: Yes, I’m sure he would. Well, you’ll have to ask him to wait a bit.

  MRS SOLNESS: So you’ll look in on him later?

  SOLNESS: I might. Later – later, dear. Shortly.

  MRS SOLNESS [with another glance at KAJA]: Yes, well don’t forget now, Halvard. [Withdraws, closing the door behind her.]

  KAJA [softly]: Oh, God, oh, God – the mistress thinks badly of me, I’m sure!

  SOLNESS: Not at all. Not any more than usual at any rate. But it’s best that you go now anyway, Kaja.

  KAJA: Yes, yes, now I must go.

  SOLNESS [sternly]: And you’ll straighten out that other matter for me. Do you hear?

  KAJA: Oh, if only it truly was up to me, then –

  SOLNESS: I will have it straightened out, I tell you! And that
by tomorrow!

  KAJA [anxiously]: If all else fails then I’ll gladly break it off with him.

  SOLNESS [flaring up]: Break it off! Have you gone quite mad! You would break it off?

  KAJA [desperately]: Yes, rather that. Because I must – I must stay here with you! Can’t leave you. Simply couldn’t ever – never ever!

  SOLNESS [bursts out]: But, dammit all – what about Ragnar! Ragnar’s the one I –

  KAJA [staring at him with startled eyes]: Is it mainly because of Ragnar – that you –?

  SOLNESS [collecting himself]: Oh no, of course not, no! You simply don’t understand. [Softly and tenderly] It’s you I want, of course. You, above all, Kaja. But that’s exactly why you have to persuade Ragnar to stay on here as well. There, there – go home now.

  KAJA: Yes, well, goodnight then.

  SOLNESS: Goodnight. [As she turns to leave] Oh, just a moment! Are Ragnar’s drawings in there?

  KAJA: Yes, I didn’t see him take them with him.

  SOLNESS: Well, go on in and find them for me. Maybe I could have a look at them after all.

  KAJA [happily]: Oh yes, please do!

  SOLNESS: For your sake, dear Kaja. Well, hurry up and fetch them for me, d’you hear!

  KAJA hurries into the drawing office, rummages frantically in the desk drawer, takes out a portfolio and brings it to him.

  KAJA: Here are all the drawings.

  SOLNESS: Good. Leave them over there on the desk.

  KAJA [putting down the portfolio]: Goodnight then. [Beseechingly] And think well and kindly of me.

  SOLNESS: Ah, I always do. Goodnight, dear little Kaja. [Glancing to the right] Off with you, now!

  MRS SOLNESS and DR HERDAL enter through the door on the right. He is a stout, elderly gentleman with a round, contented face, clean-shaven;6 he has pale, wispy hair and wears gold-rimmed glasses.

  MRS SOLNESS [still in the doorway]: Halvard, I can’t keep the doctor waiting any longer.