The second Act
THE GHOST REHARSAL
My hour is almost come
when I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames
must render up myself.
Alas, poor ghost.
Pity me not,
but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold.
Speak. I am bound to hear.
So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear -
what?
I am thy father's spirit.
Doomed for a certain term to walk the night,
and for the day confined to fast in fires
till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
are burnt and purged away.
But that I am forbid to tell
the secrets of my prison house
I could a tale unfold whose lightest word
would harrow up thy soul,
freeze thy young blood,
make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres.
But this eternal blazon
must not be to ears of flesh and blood.
List, o list!
If thou didst ever thy dear father love...
o God!
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Murder!
Yes, murder!
Murder most foul, as in the best it is.
But this most foul...
strange -
- and unnatural. - Huh?
And unnatural.
Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation
or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.
Now, Hamlet, hear.
'Tis given out, that sleeping in my orchard,
a serpent stung me.
So the whole ear of Denmark
is by a forged process of my death rankly abused.
But know, thou noble youth -
the serpent that did sting thy father's life.
Huh? Did sting?
Thy father's life.
Did sting thy father's life
now wears his crown
o my prophetic soul! My uncle?
Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,
with witchcraft of his wit,
with traitorous gifts -
o wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce -
won to his shameful lust the will
of my most seeming-virtuous queen.
But soft!
Methinks I scent the morning air.
Mr. Landahl, shouldn't there be steps here?
Can somebody help Mr. Ekdahl down.
The steps were forgotten today.
Brief let me be.
Sleeping within my orchard my custom always of the afternoon
upon my secure hour thy uncle stole
with juice of cursed hebenon in a vial
and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment,
whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man
that swift as quicksilver it courses through
the natural gates and alleys of the body
and with a sudden vigour it doth possess and curd,
like eager droppings into milk, the thin and wholesome blood:
So did it mine and a most instant tetter bark'd about
most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust
all my smooth body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand...
of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatched.
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,
unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd, no reckoning made
but sent to my account with all my imperfections on my head.
Oh, horrible, most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
a couch for luxury and damned incest.
I've forgotten what I am to do.
You get up and exit upstage centre.
- Where am I? - Here... at the theatre.
Let's go home and rest.
What's happened?
You're tired, that's all.
Shall I call for the ambulance?
What am I doing here?
You were acting.
I was acting?
Why was I acting?
Come along, Oscar. Let's go home.
Am I going to die now?
Please help me.
I'll get a carriage.
He needs his overcoat.
Alexander, come along.
Come on.
Stop!
I said stop! Hey, you!
Take the cart behind you!
Come along, Alexander.
No.
We know nothing yet.
Yes, let's hope so. Thank you for calling.
- How is our dear Oscar? - We can only hope.
- How is he? - It's a matter of hours.
- Is he in pain? - He sleeps most of the time.
Go see ester and Vega for hot chocolate and sandwiches.
I was over at the Gustavssons' and I met Mr. Albrektsson.
Just imagine, children.
This letter will go all the way to a mission in china.
Mr. Albrektsson told me his poodle had four puppies.
A friend of mine has lived there for 50 years.
He wondered if you'd like a puppy.
Mama won't let us have dogs or cats.
- We could keep it here. - Really?
- Yes. - Splendid.
Otherwise it'll be sold.
When I was in china, working in the fields with my friend,
we had a dog and three cats.
- Want to play again? - You take red, then.
Mr. Albrektsson makes lots of money on his dogs,
but he wants to give this puppy away.
He's wealthy in his own right.
It's his wife's money, dear ester.
Would you two like a molasses sandwich?
Yes, please, miss Vega.
There, the letter's finished.
Come, Fanny, and I’ll let you lick the envelope.
- Would you like to borrow the flute? - No, thank you.
- You want to lick the stamp? - No, thank you.
You lick the stamp, then.
Thank you, sweetheart.
Leave me alone.
Come in.
Your mama asked me to come get you.
Let's put down the sandwiches.
Hurry up, Alexander.
Come, Alexander. Don't be afraid.
Come here, Alexander.
Come on.
I'll wait outside.
Come here, Fanny.
Tell Alexander there's nothing to be afraid of.
I'll tell him.
You needn't be afraid.
This is nothing to worry about.
I feel no pain.
I actually feel better than I have in a long time.
Don't be alarmed if I keep my eyes closed.
The light seems rather bright.
It doesn't matter if I close my eyes.
I could play the ghost now...
really well.
Nothing.
Nothing...
separates me from all of you.
Not now...
and not later.
I know that.
I see it...
quite clearly.
I'll be closer to you now...
than when I lived.
Now I’d like to look at Alexander.
Father says there's nothing to be afraid of.
Don't be childish now.
Try to be a good boy.
Take care of the theatre.
Mr. Sandblad will explain the business side.
Artistic matters you'll decide on your own...
as usual.
A simple funeral.
Don't forget.
Nothing Majestic in the cathedral...
with Chopin’s "funeral march."
Promise me that.
Everything must go on as usual.
I'll soon be dead.
Will you hold my hand?
Eternity, Emilie.
Eternity.
Fanny, wake up. You hear that?
My condolences.
Allow me to assure you
that my family and I feel the very greatest sympathy
in this difficult hour that has befallen you and your esteemed family.
It is our regiment's duty and honour,
in keeping with our proud tradition,
to be allowed to express our sympathy at the funeral service.
Allow me to kiss your hand in veneration and affection...
and venture so boldly as to offer all the support an imperfect mortal can.
Alexander, come out. The Bishop will be here any moment.
I don't give a damn!
Come out now. Don't be stupid.
My deepest sympathy.
My dear Emilie Ekdahl...
words are so inadequate.
Let's gather together.
Right foot.
It is with dismay that we gather around Oscar’s bier.
A close friend has been taken, and we're left in distress.
We actors, who daily play with life and death,
should not be so upset,
but oddly enough, our dismay is greater -
greater than others'.
The hour before he died, he was conscious.
He even laughed.
We spoke of practical things...
the children's future
and business matters.
We also spoke of our theatre.
Oscar said,
"everything must go on as usual, Emilie."
So we'll carry on as usual.
At Oscar’s request, I’ll take over management of the theatre.
We resume rehearsals tomorrow.
The premiere of Hamlet will proceed as announced.
That's everything.
We'll all do our best.
Thank you.
Dear Emilie.
Oscar will be proud.
I'm so happy for your sake, dear Emilie.
Cock, piss, shit, fart,
piss, hell, shit,
cock, fart, shit, piss,
fart, cock, cunt, damn, hell,
crap, ass, piss, cock, butt, pussy.
Siri, tell the children they may leave the table.
Yes, ma'am.
Did you hear something?
Alexander, wake up!
There's something out there.
The third Act
BREAK-UP
When that I was and a little tiny boy
with a hey, ho, the wind and the rain
a foolish thing was but a toy
for the rain it raineth every day
did you hear Emilie wants to talk to us after the performance?
Doesn't sound good.
No.
But when I came to man's estate
with hey, ho, the wind and the rain
'gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate
for the rain it raineth every day
but when I came, alas, to wive
with hey, ho, the wind and the rain
by swaggering could I never thrive
for the rain it raineth every day
Emilie, you want to speak with us afterwards?
What is it about?
But when I came unto my beds
with hey, ho, the wind and the rain
with tosspots still had drunken heads
for the rain it raineth every day
a great while ago the world begun
with hey, ho, the wind and the rain
but that's all one, our play is done
and we'll strive to please you every day
well, that's that.
Better hurry up, you old ghost.
It's all a bunch of crap.
If you'd please sit down, I’d like to talk to you.
My husband died a year ago today.
He wanted us to go on as usual,
and we have gone on as usual,
though everything has been different.
We draw the theatre over our heads like a security blanket.
Our dressing rooms are bright and warm.
The stage enfolds us in friendly shadows.
Playwrights tell us what to say and think.
We laugh, cry and rage.
People sit there in the dark, kindly disposed towards us.
They're remarkably loyal,
though we often give them stones instead of bread.
Most of the time we're simply playing.
Almost always.
We play because we enjoy it.
And if we don't enjoy it, we sulk and blame the circumstances...
never ourselves.
That's how it is.
So I pass my life in wonderful self-deception,
with a keen eye for others' faults while glossing over my own.
I don't know what I really am,
as I never cared to find out the truth about myself.
But I do care about myself,
which is something different.
And I don't care about reality, either.
It's drab and uninteresting.
It doesn't concern me,
unless, in one way or another, it concerns the part I’m playing.
Are you tired of the theatre?
I think so.
- You want to quit? - Perhaps, and for good.
What will happen to us if you quit?
Even if I quit, everything will go on as before.
Who will be our manager?
We'll all decide that together when the day comes,
if it comes.
I haven't yet made up my mind.
Now I suggest we say good night.
Good night.
Come children. Let's change.
I need a drink and a sandwich.
Anyone care to join me?
I've received an offer from the Lindberg troupe,
so it's all the same to me.
What did I tell you?
I think there's something behind this.
- Haven't you heard? - You mean it's true?
Well, I’ll be damned.
If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting -
come, Alexander. Stop fooling around.
Come on.
Good day, Alexander.
Please give my regards to your mother.
- You're gonna be sorry. - What do you mean?
You'll soon find out.
Hi.
What's wrong?
Someone wishes to talk to you.
The hot chocolate will have to wait.
- What have I done? - You know quite well.
- Good day, Alexander. - Good day.
We met once before.
Under sadder circumstances, when I officiated at your father's funeral.
Since then, your mother has turned to me with her worries, as is only natural.
I am a close friend of your grandmother.
I'm the spiritual guide of the parish.
The Bishop has been very good to me during this difficult time.
We've also spoken of you, my son.
I've told the Bishop how proud I am of my well-behaved children.
You and your sister are doing well at school, I’m told.
Diligent and attentive, and earning good grades.
Isn't that so, Alexander?
Don't be afraid. I'm your friend and wish you well.
You believe me, don't you?
But diligence and good grades are not everything in this world.
Blow your nose, Alexander.
That's filthy! Didn't Maj give you a clean handkerchief?
Yes.
Goddamn it all!
As I said, diligence and good grades aren't everything in this world.
Listen to the Bishop, Alexander.
I'm sure he is.
Isn't that so, Alexander?
You're anxious to know what I’m going to say.
You're a big boy now.
So I’ll talk to you man to man.
Can you tell me -
can you explain to me
what a lie is
and what the truth is?
You think that was a stupid question, and it probably was.
I was just kidding with you.
Of course you know what a lie is and what the truth is, don't you?
Splendid.
Splendid, my boy.
You also know why one lies.
Why does one lie?
Can you explain to me why one lies?
Because you don't want to tell the truth.
A very sly answer, my young friend.
But you won't get off so easily.
I asked you...
why does one not tell the truth?
I don't know.
We have plenty of time, Alexander,
and I’m so interested in your answer
that I’m prepared to wait indefinitely.
You may not believe that, but it's true.
One lies to gain an advantage.
Good answer, my boy.
Good and concise.
Forgive me if I ask another question, a bit more personal this time.
Can you explain to your mother and me why you lied at school?
What?
Your teacher has written to me,
saying that you've been spreading the most incredible lies.
Like what?
Sold to a circus!
Do you deny that you told your classmates
that I sold you to a travelling circus,
and that at the end of the semester
they're coming to get you?
You are to train as an acrobat and circus rider,
together with a gypsy your age named Tamara.
Your mother was both terrified and upset when she read the letter.
She didn't know what to do.
So I suggested I come over
and discuss these unpleasant problems with you.
And here I am.
You should be grateful to the Bishop for taking the time.
Do you understand, Alexander?
We've agreed that he who lies does so to gain an advantage.
So I ask, quite logically,
what advantage did you gain by stating your mother had sold you to a circus?
I don't know.
I think you do know...
but you're ashamed to answer.
You're ashamed, aren't you?
That's good, my son. Very good.
It shows you'll be on your guard
against further fabrications in the future.
Go to your mother and ask her forgiveness
for all the sorrow and worry you've caused her.
Go to your mother and ask her to forgive you.
You hear what I say, don't you?
I ask mother's forgiveness for lying, and I promise never to do it again.
Good, Alexander.
The matter is resolved and need never be mentioned again.
Imagination is a splendid thing,
a mighty force, a gift from God.
It's held in trust for us by the great artists,
writers and musicians.
I'll get Fanny.
Come, Alexander.
I have something important to tell you.
Edvard has asked if I will marry him.
I've accepted with gratitude and joy.
I've been alone for a long time,
and my children need a firm hand.
A father.
Of course, a great deal will be -
may God in his mercy take care of our little family.
Let us kneel down and unite in a heartfelt prayer.
May God our father in his mercy take care of our little family
and bless us and keep us from evil all the days of our life.
God give me strength
to be a guardian and a worthy example to these little fatherless ones.
Give me strength as well to be a support
to this lonely young woman.
In the 15th century, when this house was built,
they didn't bother much about comfort.
My predecessors kept it all as it was, and I follow the tradition.
These old rooms have an imperishable beauty.
We should be grateful that we may live in an atmosphere of purity and austerity.
Ah, here come my mother and sister.
You're already here.
Welcome, Mrs. Ekdahl.
Thank you.
This is my sister Henrietta.
- Welcome to the Bishop's palace. - Thank you.
Come and say hello, children.
This is Mrs. Tander, our capable cook,
who's been with our family for 30 years.
This is my future wife, Mrs. Emilie Ekdahl.
Good day, Mrs. Ekdahl. Welcome.
These are our capable helpers: Karna, Selma and little Justina.
Now we'll go see my aunt, who, alas, is sick and bedridden.
How are you today, aunt Elsa?
We have a visitor.
Don't be afraid, children. Come and say hello.
My future wife, Mrs. Emilie Ekdahl, the famous actress.
Hello, miss Bergius.
The children have fallen asleep.
It's late and we must go home.
- Not yet. - What is it, Edvard?
I have a wish.
A single wish, but an important one.
You may change your mind if you find it impossible.
Tell me your wish.
I want you to come to my house without possessions.
What do you mean?
I want you to leave your home...
your clothes, jewels, furniture...
your valuables...
your friends, habits and thoughts.
I want you to leave your former life entirely.
Am I to come naked?
I'm serious, my dear.
I want you to come to your new life as if newly born.
- And the children? - The children also.
- Their toys, dolls, books - - nothing.
- I must talk to them. - It's your decision.
I can decide for myself, but not for the children.
I must ask them.
They must sacrifice something for their mother's happiness.
You're angry.
Kiss me.
I'm not angry, not in the least.
I'll win them over.
Think it over, Emilie.
I've already thought it over.
For me it's not hard to grant your wish.
I've never cared for anything very seriously.
I've sometimes wondered
if there wasn't something very wrong with my feelings.
I couldn't understand why nothing really hurt...
why I never felt really happy.
I know now that the crucial moment has come.
I know that we'll hurt each other,
but I’m not afraid.
I also know that we will make each other happy.
And I sometimes weep from fear, because time is so short,
the days pass so quickly, and nothing lasts forever.
You say your God is the God of love.
It sounds so beautiful...
and I wish I could believe as you do.
Perhaps one day I will.
My God is so different, Edvard.
He's like myself,
amorphous and intangible.
I'm an actress. I'm used to wearing masks.
My God wears a thousand masks.
He's never shown me his real face,
just as I can't show you or him my real face.
Through you I’ll come to know God's true nature.
Kiss me, now,
and hold me in your arms, as only you can.
I, Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus...
take thee, Elisabet Emilie Josefin Ekdahl...
to be my wedded wife...
to love you for better and for worse...
and as a symbol of this love I give you this ring.
I, Elisabet Emilie Josefin Ekdahl...
take thee, Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus,
to be my wedded husband...
to love you for better and for worse...
and as a symbol of this love I take this ring.
In the name of God the father, son and holy ghost.
Amen.
For as much as you have consented in holy wedlock
and have witnessed the same before God and this Christian gathering,
I hereby confirm, as Christ’s servant,
this holy union.
I wonder if this is a good thing.
You saw how happy she was.
- I'm thinking of the children. - They'll get used to it, dear mama.
He's a devil of a lady killer, the Bishop is.
You don't know that for sure, Carl.
I don't know why I just want to cry.
They should have taken a honeymoon.
I invited them to our house in Provence, but Emilie refused.
That's not so strange.
She has great respect for her new husband.
He's a handsome man, whatever you say.
- I expect he has false teeth. - Petra, don't be silly.
His mother was nice.
They say the sister's a bitch.
I've a feeling we'll have Emilie back...
quite soon.
Closed
the children don't appear to have an appetite.
Everything's new and strange to them. You must understand, Henrietta.
Perhaps they're turning up their noses at the food.
Let's be happy on our first evening together.
I have no desire to spoil it,
but in the future -
yes, I might as well mention it now.
In the future no one may leave the table without having eaten up -
dearest Henrietta, I’ll tell my children what to do.
There's a basic rule in this house which no one must break,
not even you, dear Emilie,
and that is respect for the temporal gifts.
I think you've misunderstood an essential point, dearest Henrietta.
But I suggest we postpone this discussion to a more suitable time.
Forgive me, dear Emilie. I am forgetting myself.
I'm sure you're a more capable housewife than I.
I'll ask your advice in all things.
Edvard has admonished me a hundred times.
It's not easy to realize
one has become superfluous!
That will do, Henrietta.
Perhaps I may be allowed to share
that we are early risers in this house, both weekdays and Sundays.
At 6:00 we gather for morning prayers in Edvard's study.
I'd also like to mention that we make our own beds and tidy our rooms.
In this house, punctuality, cleanliness and order are the rule.
Don't be alarmed, children.
My daughter makes it sound worse than it actually is.
We'll start out very gently.
I'm not sure I understand.
If you mean to apply a new method of upbringing -
not at all, dear Emilie.
I'm convinced that the children will soon realize
how fun it is to perform one's duties conscientiously.
It's all to be like a game.
My children don't care for that sort of game,
and neither do I.
Time will tell, dear Emilie.
Let us bring our hands together and thank God for this meal.
Thank you, dear lord, for what we have received,
and may we with generous hearts share our abundance
with those who hunger and thirst. Amen.
Justina, please show Fanny and Alexander to the nursery.
It's late and high time for young people to go to rest.
They're coming now. Into bed, both of you!
Now we'll say our prayers.
Thank you, God, for this day. Please make me good.
May your angel stay by me through the night.
God bless papa and mama and grandpapa and grand -
and uncle Edvard.
And uncle Edvard,
myself and my brothers and sisters and cousins, uncles and aunts,
Vega, ester, Maj, Siri, Berta, Alida, Lisen,
and uncle Isak and everybody else. Amen.
Good night, Alexander.
Justina, I’d like to speak to you about tomorrow.
What's that book you're reading, Alexander?
Good night, my boy.
Good night, my child. God bless you.
Good night, uncle Edvard.
My dearest wish is for us to live at peace with one another.
Love cannot be commanded,
but we can show respect and consideration.
You go ahead, my dear. I'll come later.
Whose doll house is this?
Fifteen years ago, two little girls lived in this room.
They drowned in the river with their mother.
- Perhaps the house is haunted. - There are no such things as ghosts.
- Did they live in this room? - I think this was the nursery.
Good night. Sleep well.
I think we've got a terrible stepfather.
And the sister is crazy.
And that tub of lard that has to be fed.
I don't want to live here.
You have to give me time.
Much has to be changed.
Some things will go quickly, others will take time.
The main thing is not to lose heart.
Why did you marry the Bishop?
Because I love him.
Now let us sleep. Things will seem better when we're not so tired.
Don't play Hamlet, my son.
I'm not queen Gertrude,
your kind stepfather isn't the king of Denmark,
and this is not Ellsinore castle,
even if it does look rather gloomy.
Hell and damnation.
Come, Fanny. I'll show you something.
The windows are barred.
They can't be opened.