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Ibsen Revisited: A Piece Of Foolishness
by
THE MAID.
Evidently you don’t know the new Hedda. Or the new Lovberg either. The only thing they talk about is what they call “the monogamist ideal.”
THE STRANGER.
There is some mistake. I will find out when I see her. Surely she is still interested in adventure–the free life–vine- leaves–beauty–! I will remind her of her own past–
THE MAID.
No you won’t. She won’t let you.
She will tell you that too much attention
is paid to such foolishness nowadays.
THE STRANGER.
She! who was interested in nothing else!
But then–what is she interested in, now?
THE MAID.
In “co-operation.”
THE STRANGER.
Has she then turned into a mere sociologist? Oh, you are deceiving me!
THE MAID.
If you don’t believe me
–I’ll just open the door an inch, and you can hear her talking.
THE STRANGER.
Oh, it cannot be true!
The maid quietly opens the door a little way. He listens.
A VOICE.
( heard through the aperture )
We must all learn to function socially. . . .
The maid shuts the door again.
THE MAID.
Do you believe it now?
THE STRANGER.
( sadly )
It is too true!
THE MAID.
Didn’t I tell you?
THE STRANGER.
So Hedda has become–a reformer!
THE MAID.
Yes.
THE STRANGER.
And Lovberg–what does he do?
THE MAID.
He is rewriting his book–you know, the one Hedda burned up–
for use as a text-book in the public schools. And Hedda is helping him.
THE STRANGER.
No more adventure–no more beauty–the flame . . . gone out! My God!
He staggers toward the wall,
where a pistol is hanging, and puts his hand on it.
THE MAID.
Look out! That’s Hedda’s pistol.
You never can tell when an old piece of junk like that is loaded.
THE STRANGER.
Yes–I know.
( He takes it down and aims it at his heart.)
The old Hedda is gone. I cannot bear the new. It would be too
–( The maid screams )
–too dull.
He fires, and falls.
THE MAID.
( going over and looking down at him )
But–people don’t do such things!