I wrote this play for school. If you have never read "A Dolls House" you might not know the characters but this is a story to istself. A girl goes to new york in the 1890's ish time period. This is a rouph draft. A Dolls House Act 4 #1 Narrator: On a ship to the United States, Nora spots the statue of liberty in the distance. Nora: ah the land of the free. What better place to find oneself, After breaking the bonds of captivity. Narrator: At the Immigration center. Charter: What’s a beautiful lady like yourself doing traveling all alone to a new country? Nora: Well it is quite a long story must we get into it? Charter: Its common procedure lady, you’ll have to answer my questions and proceed through medical Exams. Now have you any money, relatives or occupation in the united states? Nora: Sadly no, all these things I hope to find in your great country sir. Charter: Yes very well, continue on. Narrator: So much for the roads of gold thought Nora as she scurried down the streets of New York, as the sun went down. Someone: Hey lady you look like you could use a place to stay tonight? Nora: Oh I just knew it! My name is Nora. I’ve heard what they said of America but I never dreamed its citizens could be so helpful. Someone: That’s what I’m talking about, so how much? Nora: Thank you very much sir but I don’t accept things from strangers. Someone: Strangers? I think were on different wave lengths honey. You don’t know what this is? Ha-ha Welcome to New York, your gonna die. Narrator: Nora runs away frightened. 2 days later: raining Narrator: Searching for a familiar face. Someone yells from across the street. Someone: Good heavens women, it appears you haven’t been able to get your feet in the door? Nora: Just who I was looking for, what luck! If I could just stay with you one or two nights, surely I could find my purpose in this place. Someone: I thought you didn’t accept things from strangers? Nora: Luckily for me where not strangers anymore. Someone: Well Nora, My name is Pete Viremen and I think I can do you one better. You can stay at my place tonight and I will even get you started on making some money. Nora: Thank heavens I’ve been wandering around this dreadful place for days. Narrator: Nora goes home with Pete Viremen. #2 Narrator: The next morning. Pete Viremen: Good morning Nora. How did you sleep? Nora: I’ve never slept so soundly in my life. I am a bit sore though… Pete Viremen: I would imagine so, Luckily for you I’ve got just the thing. Nora: Painkillers? I usually don’t take anything not prescribed by Dr. Rank… oh never mind that I am my own person and everyone from my past life is dead now. Lets look to the future. Pete Viremen: That’s more like it, you only live once. Just take 2 of these they’ll make all your pain disappear. Narrator: Swallows pills. Nora: I must be on my way now I plan to get a job at the market downtown. Pete Viremen: I wouldn’t recommend you leaving quite yet in your condition, why don’t you stay awhile? Nora: My condition? I’m well enough. Thank you, you are to kind. I mustn’t hesitate though if I’m to find my purpose. Narrator: Walks out the door and down the street. Viremen calls after her. Pete Viremen: I think you’ll find more than your purpose today! Narrator: As Nora walks down the road, the buildings begin to melt as they become one with the earth. The sun shines on grassy fields full of tulips and daisies. A warm sensation befalls Nora. A women approaches from behind. Mrs. Linde: Nora! How beautiful you look! Nora: Christine, it can’t be! Have you come all this way just for me? Mrs. Linde: No no, you came this far for me… Nora: Whatever do you mean? Mrs. Linde: Do you see those flowers over there? Nora: Yes, their quite large. Mrs. Linde: Bigger than yourself Nora, and the buildings? Nora: Nonexistent. Mrs. Linde: There are no walls in your mind, you are free. Nora: No dolls either? Mrs. Linde: or doll houses. Nora: Free! How wonderful! Policeman: Hey! You their! You can’t sleep their get off the streets! Narrator: Nora wakes up. Very shaken. Nora: What? Free? Where am I? Policeman: Are you alright lady? You look terrible. Narrator: Nora looks around and sees she is in New York. Nora: Free? Policeman: You wont be for long if you don’t tell me why you were lying on the side of the road. Nora: It’s just so hot out here. I must have fainted. I’m alright now I should go home and rest. Policeman: Alright then, be sure to drink lots of water. #3 Narrator: Nora walks to Viremen’s house. Pete Viremen: I thought I might be seeing you again. Nora: You didn’t think I was just going to run away did you? Pete Viremen: I suppose not. How did the interview go? Nora: It was very fine. The store owner said he would be happy to have me working for him. He said I can start as early as tomorrow morning. Pete Viremen: I bet he did, a fine girl like yourself. Will you be staying the night again? Nora: If you allow it. Pete Viremen: It would be my pleasure of course. Nora: It most certainly will be. Can I have just a few more of those pills, I’m feeling quite bad again. Pete Viremen: We’ll see if you deserve them tomorrow morning. Shall we sleep on it? Narrator: They go to SLEEP. Narrator: The alleyway rises and the light grows stronger as Nora walks past the tiny forested village. She recognizes one of the distorted characters walking the streets as her father. Nora: Papa! Is that really you? Papa: My daughter! I never imagined I’d see you so soon. Under these strange circumstances. Nora: but Papa I thought you were dead and that must mean… No it can’t be what happened!? Papa: You aren’t dead. Nora: I must be dying then. Papa: What are you doing so far from your home? Nora: I came to find a better life, a self fulfilling purpose even. Papa: More fulfilling than a husband and children. Nora: yes! Papa: The people and places you lived with defines who you are. You cant hide from yourself. Nora: besides I could never go back there. Do you really think Torvald would take me back after running away Papa: On a trip to New York? #4 Narrator: A comfortably, tastefully, and expensively furnished room. A winter day. Helmer: When did my squirrel come home? Nora: Just now. Come out here Torvald, and see what I’ve bought. Helmer: Bought did you say? Nora: I bought you a white ivory piano for the apartment, and a diamond necklace for myself. Isn’t it wonderful you’ve got your job at the bank and we can be extravagant! Helmer: Oh yes. it’s been so nice since you’ve came back from your trip. My little skylark needed a vacation from all the commotion that was all. Nora: Oh of course. I was just being melodramatic in a moment of excitement. Helmer: You say it was Christine who convinced you to come back home? Nora: Yes, she had moved to the states with Krogstad. Helmer: What did your vacation hold for you Nora. Nora: It was simply a warmer climate, you know how much the seasons can matter in saving a persons life. Helmer: Your quite right Nora. Now go take off your fancy dress and well go to bed its been a long day. Narrator: Nora turns out the light and kisses Pete Viremen, as the icy black water rushes over her head and pulls her down the bottomless pit of insanity.
This strikes me as interesting, a sort of post-modern response to Ibsen's Doll's House. What I liked about it was the message that dreams and aspirations of freedom can be as false and fleeting as the pseudo-idyllic world presented in Ibsen's dolls house, that freedom comes with its own struggles. That "going away to find yourself" can be a false journey, just another form of self-deception. Though I have to admit, the positive end-note of Ibsen's play was probably the only bit I really liked about it And you killed it! But good work,
Puzzling. There seems to be an attempt by Viremen to seduce the lady using drugs, but the nature of the drug (if any) is not spelled out. Does she get seduced and abandoned? Probably, in the next chapter. The 'Charter' person appears to be a customs officer. If that is so, he should be named as such. Their conversation is stilted. The relations between Nora, Torvald Helmer and Pete Viremen are spelled out partially, but the reader has to read it and re-read it to figure out their relationships. The reader should not be made to play guessing games to find out what is going on. The author should spend a sentence or two explicitly stating the relationships involved.
