Synopsis
…The country of mountains and seas…
…The country of white-snow peaks and blue fjords…
…Of polar fairy-show and midnight sun…
…The fabulous world of frozen water-falls…
… The fabulous world of the night before Christmas…
…The decorated fur-tree, lights, gifts, the rain of garlands…
…Above the sleeping children’s heads and fallen asleep in the chair, their mother, Nora Helmer – there flies the fairy-tale about snow-white divas - beautiful elves…
…Colorful lights of the royal crown of the elves’ King have entwined with Nora’s tresses…
…Torvald Helmer surrounded by melting and flashing words-snowflakes, was carrying the wife who had fallen asleep…
- My songster-birdie, my lark…. Lean comfortably on me…. I have wide wings to cover you …. Ah, you don’t know the heart of the true husband, Nora…
…This melody is vibrating in her…. She wants to hear these words…. Waves of love are overwhelming her…
…And she will hear them… will hear when she will be plunged into despair,…when her life will be tread down by him, and the heart will be broken like a useless Christmas ball…
…But it is still far ahead …
…And meanwhile…
…the bell-ringing is accompanying the Helmers to the Christmas prime – the director of the Joint-stock bank Torvald Helmer, his wife Mrs. Nora, nanny Anne Marie with children, Dr. Rank – a close family friend and a decent couple, the Godfather of the children, master Drosselmeier with his wife Marta….
… Torvald Helmer accepts bows, congratulations from the parish passing by…
…Mrs. Nora answers happily the greetings that have fallen to her share as well… …tender words of Torvald … encouraging – of Dr. Rank… children’s laughter. She loves and believes in future well-being of her family… Believes that happiness is knocking at their door…
…And the candle-light is still burning in the house – the toy presented to Nora by master Drosselmeier on the Christmas Eve – her dream about the future beautiful comfortable house…
…And gold flares of tall candle lights are vibrating… blue shadows…
…on the snowy road leading to the house of God…
…How could it happen that she, alongside with Torvald’s tender words addressed to her, did not hear other words as well – about her drawbacks, negative traces of her character, did not notice his cupidity and unvarnished disrespect addressed to her as well – to his songster-birdie, his doll-wife?..
…The brilliance of her charm – only a decoration for his life, his house…
…Her tenderness, her love – everything as due attribute…
…And when the goodness came – the husband’s new position and financial well-being – this is not for her…
…And when the misfortune came – she was thrown to the precipice of humiliation…
-I have never been happy, - Nora would say then, - only merry…. Our entire house was like a large playroom, and I was your doll-wife…. That was what our marriage consisted of, Torvald...
… But it is still far ahead,… and now – on the merriest holiday – the Christmas day – she learns,…
…that several years ago, by her deed, she contravened the law…
…and – the blackmail, in the person of the man who helped her then – solicitor Krogstad – now an employee working under her husband …
…Now he demands the impossible of her …
- Bad is the law that gives no right to the wife to save her husband’s life and save the dying old man from worries and troubles, - she throws it into the face of this cruel man who has come from the world alien and hostile to her.
…The false promissory note that Nora once signed and the debt she took up – saved her husband’s life and saved her dying father from worries…
…Without turning a hair, working hard, depriving herself, she repaid the debt and kept it top secret!…
…And this secret made her happy!…
…The secret she was keeping like a precious casket - and, that would be one day opened by her for Torvald - and this would make their life even happier!…
…And now… now, as Krogstad says, Nora has understood - the consequences of her deed: her husband, Torvald Helmer - future Director of the Joint-Stock Bank – is threatened - on the eve of his appointment to this position…
…The suppressing fear of discovery, the search for solution, an attempt to change something were accompanied by the amazing feeling…
…waiting for a miracle – he, of course, will take up everything for himself!…
…And she…she will take her life, to save him from…
…Fabulous Christmas night… Nora’s brilliant tarantella …Waiting for the miracle…hours…minutes…and waiting for her last step she is ready for…her sacrifice…
…And close by…
…Dr. Rank who, was in love with Nora, passed away having taken her lovely image with him…
…There appear, hurt the heart and melt in the whiteout the memories of Nora’s old friend – Christine Linne when she saw the man so dear to her heart once – solicitor Krogstad …
…Fairy spreading of town lights outlines the high plateau raised above the town, covered with ice…
…Blue ice… …Silver skates…
…Young faces of Christine and Krogstad…
…The Christmas tree is dancing lit with flares of candle lights…
…Happiness... Love… Parting…
- God, how long ago it was…. And how long since I cried… – Mrs. Linne is whispering sadly.
But the Christmas night is full of miracles!
…It seemed the faded love of the two life-beaten people flared up like a new star – her friend Mrs. Linne and the one who threatened her, Krogstad…
…That was their happy star that lightened all the horror of destruction that befell on Nora, - the falseness of her marriage and the ridiculed readiness of her sacrifice…
- What’s the use for me when you are not in this world any more, as you say. Not the least…I am, as your husband, rather be suspected that I was aware of your crime. They will probably think that it was me myself behind your back…. I will have to appease him…hush up the affair…You rather stay in the house…. But you will not raise the children!
…And still the Christmas is full of miracles! And the miracle has happened!…
…The danger of disclosure has passed and the debt paper signed once by Nora, now sent by Krogstad is burning in the fireplace!
…And again, his, Torvald’s, wife – the lark, the birdie – can take her former place in the house and in his, Torvald Helmer’s, life…
…But everything has changed in Nora’s life…. She herself has changed…
…Was she happy? No.
…Was she loved? No.
…A doll, a clockwork toy. Is a plaything, a toy able to raise children?!
…The life puts new questions to her she wants to find an answer to.
…The new Nora Helmer – the Woman.
The End.