New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-14
Hedda Gabler
A Scene From Ibsen's pl,,
Revived by Nazim.
OVa

Gabler for the purpose of snuftinp ~.
his life beautifully" The scene hs.s
presented is the last in the play:
HEDDA (whispers): What did 70,
about the pistol?
JUDGE BRACK (softly): That no NM.
have stolen it,.
HEDDA: Why stolen it?
BRACK: Because every other expanat;o,
ought to be impossible, Mrs Hedda.
HEDDA: Indeed?
BRACK (glances at herr: Of CONF.
Ebert Lovborg was here this morning. Was
he not?
+ HEDDA: Yes.
BRACK: We're you alone with him?
HEDDA: Part Of the time.
BRACK: Did you not leave the rom
whilst he was here?
HEDDA: No.
BRACK: Try to recollect. Were Won M.
out of the room a moment?
HEDDA: Yes, perhaps just moment
out in the hall.
BRACK: And where was your pistol case
during that time?
HEDDA: had it locked up in
BRACK: WE'LL Mrs. Hedda?
HEDDA: The case stood there on III.
writing table.
BRACK: Have you looked since to see
whether both the pistols are there?
HEDDA: No.
BRACk: Well, you need not. | saw ths
pistol found in Lovborg's pocket and knew
it at once as the one had seen YESTERDAY
and before, too.
HEDDA: Have you it with you?
BRACK: No, the police have it.
HEDDA: What will the police do with It,
BRACK: Search till they find the owner.
HEDDA: Do you think they will succeed?
BRACK (bends over her and whispers);
No, Hedda Gabler-not so long as I RAY
nothing.
HEDDA Clocks frightened at himy: And
if you do not say nothing-what then?
BRACK (shrugs his shoulders): There is
always the possibility that the pistol was
stolen.
HEDDA (frmly): Death rather than that.
BRACK (smiling): People say such
things-but they don't do them.
HEDDA (without replying) And suppos.
ing the pistol was not stolen, and the
owner is discovered? What then?
BRACK: Well, Hedda-then comes the
scandal.
HEDDA: The scandal!
BRACK: Yes, the scandal-of which YOU
are so mortally afraid You will, of course.
be brought before the court-both YOU and
Mademoisele Diana. She will have to ey.
plain how the thing happened-wheth it
was an accidental shot or murder Did the
pistol go off as he was trying to take it
out of his pocket to threaten her with?
HEDDA: But 1 have nothing to do with
all this repulsive business.
BRACk: No, but you will have to answer
the question:: Why did you give Ebert Low
borg the pistol? And what conclusions
will people draw from the fact that you
did give it to him?
HEDDA Qets her head sink: That is :
true. / did not think of that
BRACK: Well, fortunately there is no
danger so long as | say nothing
HEDDA: So l am in your power, Judge
Brack. You have me at your beck and call
from this time forward
BRACK whispers softly: Dearest Hedda
believe mel shall not abuse my advan-
tage.
HEDDA: I am in your power none the
less. Subject to your will and your de-
mands slave, a slave, then. Rises i'm
petuously.) No, cannot endure the thought
of that! Never.
BRACK Cooking half mockingly at herr:
People generally get used to the inevitable.
HEDDA (returns his look): Yes, per
haps. (She crosses to the writing table.
SURPRISING an involuntary smile, she imi-
tates Tesman's intonations) Well? Are
you getting on, George? En-?
TESMAN: Heaven knows, dear In any
case it will be the work of months.
HEDDA Gas bcfore): Fancy that! passes
her hands softly through Mrs. Elvsteds
hair) Don't it seem strange to you, Thea
Here you are sitting with Tesman-just as
you used to sit with Ebert Lovborg!
MRS. ELVSTED: All, if I could only in
spire your husband in the same way!
HEDDA: Oh, that will come, too,-in time
TESMAN: Yes, do you know, HeddaI
really think / begin to feel something Of
the sort. But won't you 60 and sit with
Brack again?
HEDDA: Is there nothing I can do to
help you two?
IESMAN: No, nothing in the world
turning his head.) I trust to you to keep
Hedda company, my dear Brack.
bRACK with glance at Hedda): With
the very greatest of pleasure.
HEDDA: Thanks. But / am tired this
evening. | VIII go in and lie down little
on the sofa.
TESMAN: Yes. do dear-eho
tHedda goes into the back room and
draws the curtains. short pause. Sud-
denly she is heard playing a wild dance on
the piano.
MRS. ELVSTED (starts from her chair)
Oh-what is that?
IESMAN (runs to the doorway: Why
my dearest Hedda-dont play dance music
tonight Just think of Aunt Rine, And o.
Ebert, too,
HEDDA (puts her head out between the
curtains: And of Aunt Julia. And Of all
Inc rest OF them. After this Will be quiet
CLOSES the curtains AGAIN.
ltsMAN Cat the writing table,: It's MOI
GOOD Tor her to see us at this distressing
work. III tell you what Mrs Elvsted-you
snail take the empty room at Aunt Julias.
ana 'hen viii come over in the evenings
ana we can sit and work there-eh2
tlEDOA ON the in ne1. rno,nl. I hear Mhat