the father. strindberg.rtf

7/21/2019 The Father. Strindberg.rtf

1/43


2/43

PASTOR$ I .&'w that we++ e&'ugh$

CAPTAIN$ Tr3 it '& hi(, a&3wa3$

%N'e5d -'(es i&$4

CAPTAIN$ 7hat ha1e 3'u ee& u) t' &'w, N'e5d6

NOE#$ 2'd sa1e 3'u, Ca)tai&, ut I -'u+d&*t ta+. a'ut it with thePast'r here$

PASTOR$ '&*t e afraid 'f (e, (3 '3$

CAPTAIN$ Y'u had etter -'&fess 'r 3'u .&'w what wi++ ha))e&$

NOE#$ 7e++, 3'u see it was +i.e this8 we were at a da&-e at2arie+*s, a&d the&00the& Ludwig said00

CAPTAIN$ 7hat has Ludwig g't t' d' with it6 Sti-. t' the truth$

NOE#$ Yes, a&d E((a said 9Let*s g' i&t' the ar&009

CAPTAIN$ 00Oh, s' it was E((a wh' +ed 3'u astra3, was it6

NOE#$ 7e++, &'t far fr'( it$ Y'u .&'w that u&+ess the gir+ iswi++i&g &'thi&g e1er ha))e&s$

CAPTAIN$ Ne1er (i&d a++ that: Are 3'u the father 'f the -hi+d 'r&'t6

NOE#$ 7h' .&'ws6

CAPTAIN$ 7hat*s that6 '&*t 3'u .&'w6

NOE#$ 7h3 &'00that is, 3'u -a& &e1er e sure$

CAPTAIN$ 7ere&*t 3'u the '&+3 '&e6

NOE#$ Yes, that ti(e, ut 3'u -a&*t e sure f'r a++ that$

CAPTAIN$ Are 3'u tr3i&g t' )ut the +a(e '& Ludwig6 Is that what3'u are u) t'6

NOE#$ 7e++, 3'u see it is&*t eas3 t' .&'w wh' is t' +a(e$

CAPTAIN$ Yes, ut 3'u t'+d E((a 3'u w'u+d (arr3 her$

NOE#$ Oh, a fe++'w*s a+wa3s g't t' sa3 that00

CAPTAIN %t' Past'r$4 This is terri+e, is&*t it6

PASTOR$ It*s the '+d st'r3 '1er agai&$ See here, N'e5d, 3'u sure+3'ught t' .&'w whether 3'u are the father 'r &'t6

NOE#$ 7e++, 'f -'urse I was (i;ed u) with the gir+00ut 3'u .&'w


3/43

3'urse+f, Past'r, that it &eed&*t a('u&t t' a&3thi&g f'r a++ that$

PASTOR$ L''. here, (3 +ad, we are ta+.i&g a'ut 3'u &'w$ Sure+3 3'uw'&*t +ea1e the gir+ a+'&e with the -hi+d$ I su))'se we -a&*t-'()e+ 3'u t' (arr3 her, ut 3'u sh'u+d )r'1ide f'r the -hi+d00that3'u sha++ d'uires a +'&g -'urse'f trai&i&g whi-h w'u+d e e&tire+3 thr'w& awa3 if she sh'u+d(arr3$

PASTOR$ 7hat d' 3'u wa&t, the&6

CAPTAIN$ I wa&t her t' e it tea-her$ If she re(ai&s u&(arried shewi++ e a+e t' su))'rt herse+f, a&d at a&3 rate she w'u+d&*t ea&3 w'rse 'ff tha& the )''r s-h''+(asters wh' ha1e t' share theirsa+aries with a fa(i+3$ If she (arries she -a& use her .&'w+edge i&

the edu-ati'& 'f her -hi+dre&$ A( I right6

PASTOR$ ?uite right$ But, '& the 'ther ha&d, has&*t she sh'w& su-hta+e&t f'r )ai&ti&g that it w'u+d e a great )it3 t' -rush it6

CAPTAIN$ N'< I ha1e sh'w& her s.et-hes t' a& e(i&e&t )ai&ter, a&dhe sa3s the3 are '&+3 the .i&d 'f thi&g that -a& e +ear&ed ats-h''+s$ But the& a 3'u&g f') -a(e here i& the su((er wh', 'f-'urse, u&dersta&ds the (atter (u-h etter, a&d he de-+ared thatshe had -'+'ssa+ ge&ius, a&d s' that sett+ed it t' Laura*ssatisfa-ti'&$

PASTOR$ 7as he >uite ta.e& with Bertha6

CAPTAIN$ That g'es with'ut sa3i&g$

PASTOR$ The& 2'd he+) 3'u, '+d (a&, f'r i& that -ase I see &' h')e$This is )rett3 ad00a&d, 'f -'urse, Laura has her su))'rters00i&there6

CAPTAIN$ Yes, 3'u (a3 e sure 'f that8 the wh'+e h'use is a+read3u) i& ar(s, a&d, etwee& 'urse+1es, it is &'t e;a-t+3 a &'+e-'&f+i-t that is ei&g waged fr'( that >uarter$

PASTOR$ '&*t 3'u thi&. I .&'w that6

CAPTAIN$ Y'u d'6

PASTOR$ I d'$

CAPTAIN$ But the w'rst 'f it is, it stri.es (e that Bertha*s futureis ei&g de-ided fr'( s)itefu+ ('ti1es$ The3 hi&t that (e& ettere -arefu+, e-ause w'(e& -a& d' this 'r that &'w0a0da3s$ A++ da3+'&g, i&-essa&t+3, it is a -'&f+i-t etwee& (a& a&d w'(a&$ Are 3'ug'i&g6 N', sta3 f'r su))er$ I ha1e &' s)e-ia+ i&du-e(e&ts t' 'ffer,ut d' sta3$ Y'u .&'w I a( e;)e-ti&g the &ew d'-t'r$ Ha1e 3'u see&


6/43

hi(6

PASTOR$ I -aught a g+i()se 'f hi( as I -a(e a+'&g$ He +''.ed)+easa&t, a&d re+ia+e$

CAPTAIN$ That*s g''d$ ' 3'u thi&. it )'ssi+e he (a3 e-'(e (3a++36

PASTOR$ 7h' -a& te++6 It de)e&ds '& h'w (u-h he has ee& a('&gw'(e&$

CAPTAIN$ But w'&*t 3'u rea++3 sta36

PASTOR$ N' tha&.s, (3 dear fe++'w8 I )r'(ised t' e h'(e f'rsu))er, a&d the wife gets u&eas3 if I a( +ate$

CAPTAIN$ U&eas36 A&gr3, 3'u (ea&$ 7e++, as 3'u wi++$ Let (e he+)3'u with 3'ur -'at$

PASTOR$ It*s -ertai&+3 )rett3 -'+d t'&ight$ Tha&.s$ Y'u (ust ta.e

-are 'f 3'ur hea+th, Ad'+f, 3'u see( rather &er1'us$

CAPTAIN$ Ner1'us6

PASTOR$ Yes, 3'u are &'t, rea++3 1er3 we++$

CAPTAIN$ Has Laura )ut that i&t' 3'ur head6 She has treated (e f'rthe +ast twe&t3 3ears as if I were at the )'i&t 'f death$

PASTOR$ Laura6 N', ut 3'u (a.e (e u&eas3 a'ut 3'u$ Ta.e -are 'f3'urse+f00that*s (3 ad1i-e< 2''d03e, '+d (a&8 ut did&*t 3'u wa&tt' ta+. a'ut the -'&fir(ati'&6

CAPTAIN$ N't at a++< I assure 3'u that (atter wi++ ha1e t' ta.e its-'urse i& the 'rdi&ar3 wa3 at the -'st 'f the -+eri-a+ -'&s-ie&-ef'r I a( &either a e+ie1er &'r a (art3r$

PASTOR$ 2''d03e$ L'1e t' Laura$ %2'es$4

%The Ca)tai& ')e&s his des. a&d seats hi(se+f at it$ Ta.es u)a--'u&t ''.s$4

CAPTAIN %Figuri&g$4 Thirt30f'ur00&i&e, f'rt30three00se1e&, eight,fift30si;00

LAURA %C'(i&g i& fr'( i&&er r''($4 7i++ 3'u e .i&d e&'ugh00

CAPTAIN$ #ust a ('(e&t< Si;t30si;00se1e&t30'&e, eight30f'ur,eight30&i&e, &i&et30tw', a hu&dred$ 7hat is it6

LAURA$ A( I disturi&g 3'u6

CAPTAIN$ N't at a++$ H'use.ee)i&g ('&e3, I su))'se6

LAURA$ Yes, h'use.ee)i&g ('&e3$


7/43

CAPTAIN$ Put the a--'u&ts d'w& there a&d I wi++ g' '1er the($

LAURA$ The a--'u&ts6

CAPTAIN$ Yes$

LAURA$ A( I t' .ee) a--'u&ts &'w6

CAPTAIN$ Of -'urse 3'u are t' .ee) a--'u&ts$ Our affairs are i& a)re-ari'us -'&diti'&, a&d i& -ase 'f a +i>uidati'&, a--'u&ts are&e-essar3, 'r '&e is +ia+e t' )u&ish(e&t f'r ei&g -are+ess$

LAURA$ It*s &'t (3 fau+t that 'ur affairs are i& a )re-ari'us-'&diti'&$

CAPTAIN$ That is e;a-t+3 what the a--'u&ts wi++ de-ide$

LAURA$ It*s &'t (3 fau+t that 'ur te&a&t d'es&*t )a3$

CAPTAIN$ 7h' re-'((e&ded this te&a&t s' war(+36 Y'u< 7h3 did 3'u

re-'((e&d a00g''d0f'r0&'thi&g, we*++ -a++ hi(6

LAURA$ But wh3 did 3'u re&t t' this g''d0f'r0&'thi&g6

CAPTAIN$ Be-ause I was &'t a++'wed t' eat i& )ea-e, &'r s+ee) i&)ea-e, &'r w'r. i& )ea-e, ti++ 3'u w'(e& g't that (a& here$ Y'uwa&ted hi( s' that 3'ur r'ther (ight e rid 'f hi(, 3'ur ('therwa&ted hi( e-ause I did&*t wa&t hi(, the g'1er&ess wa&ted hi(e-ause he reads his Bi+e, a&d '+d !argret e-ause she had .&'w&his gra&d('ther fr'( -hi+dh''d$ That*s wh3 he was ta.e&, a&d if hehad&*t ee& ta.e&, I*d e i& a (adh'use 3 &'w 'r +3i&g i& (3gra1e$ H'we1er, here is the h'use.ee)i&g ('&e3 a&d 3'ur )i& ('&e3$Y'u (a3 gi1e (e the a--'u&ts +ater$

LAURA %Curtesies$4 Tha&.s s' (u-h$ ' 3'u t'' .ee) a& a--'u&t 'fwhat 3'u s)e&d esides the h'use.ee)i&g ('&e36

CAPTAIN$ That d'es&*t -'&-er& 3'u$

LAURA$ N', that*s true005ust as +itt+e as (3 -hi+d*s edu-ati'&-'&-er&s (e$ Ha1e the ge&t+e(e& -'(e t' a de-isi'& after thise1e&i&g*s -'&fere&-e6

CAPTAIN$ I had a+read3 -'(e t' a de-isi'&, a&d theref're it '&+3re(ai&ed f'r (e t' ta+. it '1er with the '&e frie&d I a&d thefa(i+3 ha1e i& -'(('&$ Bertha is t' g' t' 'ardi&g s-h''+ i& t'w&,

a&d starts i& a f'rt&ight$

LAURA$ T' whi-h 'ardi&g s-h''+, if I (a3 1e&ture t' as.6

CAPTAIN$ Pr'fess'r Saeferg*s$

LAURA$ That free thi&.erui-.+3 tur&t' ('&'(a&ia 'r fi;ed ideas$

LAURA$ Y'u (ea& t' a1'id ar'usi&g sus)i-i'&s6

OCTOR$ E;a-t+3$ O&e -a& (a.e the i&sa&e e+ie1e a&3thi&g, 5uste-ause the3 are re-e)ti1e t' e1er3thi&g$

LAURA$ I&deed6 The& I u&dersta&d$ Yes003es$ %A e++ ri&gs withi&$4E;-use (e, (3 ('ther wishes t' s)ea. t' (e$ O&e ('(e&t00 00Ah, hereis Ad'+f$


12/43

%Ca)tai& -'(es i& thr'ugh )ri1ate d''r$4

CAPTAIN$ Oh, here a+read3, '-t'r6 Y'u are 1er3 we+-'(e$

OCTOR$ Ca)tai&< It is a 1er3 great )+easure t' (e t' (a.e thea->uai&ta&-e 'f s' -e+erated a (a& 'f s-ie&-e$

CAPTAIN$ Oh, I eg 'f 3'u$ The duties 'f ser1i-e d' &'t a++'w (e t'(a.e a&3 1er3 )r'f'u&d i&1estigati'&s, ut I e+ie1e I a( &'wrea++3 '& the tra-. 'f a dis-'1er3$

OCTOR$ I&deed6

CAPTAIN$ Y'u see, I ha1e su(itted (ete'ri- st'&es t' s)e-tru(a&a+3sis, with the resu+t that I ha1e f'u&d -ar'&, that, is t'sa3, a -+ear tra-e 'f 'rga&i- +ife$ 7hat d' 3'u sa3 t' that6

OCTOR$ Ca& 3'u see that with it (i-r's-')e6

CAPTAIN$ L'rd, &'00with the s)e-tr's-')e$

OCTOR$ The s)e-tr's-')e< Pard'&$ The& 3'u wi++ s''& e a+e t'te++ us what is ha))e&i&g '& #u)iter$

CAPTAIN$ N't what is ha))e&i&g, ut what has ha))e&ed$ If '&+3 the-'&f'u&ded ''.se++ers i& Paris w'u+d se&d (e the ''.s8 ut Ie+ie1e a++ the ''.se++ers i& the u&i1erse ha1e -'&s)ired agai&st(e$ Thi&. 'f it, f'r the +ast tw' ('&ths &'t a si&g+e '&e has e1era&swered (3 -'((u&i-ati'&s, &either +etters &'r ausi1e te+egra(s$I sha++ g' (ad '1er it, a&d I -a&*t i(agi&e what*s the (atter$

OCTOR$ Oh, I su))'se it*s the usua+ -are+ess&ess8 3'u (ust&*t +etit 1e; 3'u s'$

CAPTAIN$ But the de1i+ 'f it is I sha++ &'t get (3 treatise d'&e i&ti(e, a&d I .&'w the3 are w'r.i&g a+'&g the sa(e +i&es i& Ber+i&$But we sh'u+d&*t e ta+.i&g a'ut this00ut a'ut 3'u$ If 3'u -aret' +i1e here we ha1e r''(s f'r 3'u i& the wi&g, 'r )erha)s 3'uw'u+d rather +i1e i& the '+d >uarters6

OCTOR$ #ust as 3'u +i.e$

CAPTAIN$ N', as 3'u +i.e$ 7hi-h is it t' e6

OCTOR$ Y'u (ust de-ide that, Ca)tai&$

CAPTAIN$ N', it*s &'t f'r (e t' de-ide$ Y'u (ust sa3 whi-h 3'u)refer$ I ha1e &' )refere&-e i& the (atter, &'&e at a++$

OCTOR$ Oh, ut I rea++3 -a&&'t de-ide$

CAPTAIN$ F'r hea1e&*s sa.e, '-t'r, sa3 whi-h 3'u )refer$ I ha1e &'-h'i-e i& the (atter, &' ')i&i'&, &' wishes$ Ha1e&*t 3'u g't-hara-ter e&'ugh t' .&'w what 3'u wa&t6 A&swer (e, 'r I sha++ e)r'1'.ed$


13/43

OCTOR$ 7e++, if it rests with (e, I )refer t' +i1e here$

CAPTAIN$ Tha&. 3'u00f'rgi1e (e, '-t'r, ut &'thi&g a&&'3s (e s't'u-h as t' see )e')+e u&de-ided a'ut a&3thi&g$ %Nurse -'(es i&$4Oh, there 3'u are, !argret$ ' 3'u ha))e& t' .&'w whether the r''(si& the wi&g are i& 'rder f'r the '-t'r6

NURSE$ Yes, sir, the3 are$

CAPTAIN$ Ver3 we++$ The& I w'&*t detai& 3'u, '-t'r8 3'u (ust etired$ 2''d 3e, a&d we+-'(e '&-e ('re$ I sha++ see 3'u t'('rr'w, Ih')e$

OCTOR$ 2''d e1e&i&g, Ca)tai&$

CAPTAIN$ I daresa3 that (3 wife e;)+ai&ed -'&diti'&s here t' 3'u a+itt+e, s' that 3'u ha1e s'(e idea h'w the +a&d +ies6

OCTOR$ Yes, 3'ur e;-e++e&t wife has gi1e& (e a few hi&ts a'utthis a&d that, su-h as were &e-essar3 t' a stra&ger$ 2''d e1e&i&g,

Ca)tai&$

CAPTAIN %T' Nurse4$ 7hat d' 3'u wa&t, 3'u '+d dear6 7hat is it6

NURSE$ N'w, +itt+e !aster Ad'+f, 5ust +iste&00

CAPTAIN$ Yes, !argret, 3'u are the '&+3 '&e I -a& +iste& t' with'utha1i&g s)as(s$

NURSE$ N'w, +iste&, !r$ Ad'+f$ '&*t 3'u thi&. 3'u sh'u+d g'ha+f0wa3 a&d -'(e t' a& agree(e&t with !istress i& this fuss '1erthe -hi+d6 #ust thi&. 'f a ('ther00

CAPTAIN$ Thi&. 'f a father, !argret$

NURSE$ There, there, there$ A father has s'(ethi&g esides his-hi+d, ut a ('ther has &'thi&g ut her -hi+d$

CAPTAIN$ #ust s', 3'u '+d dear$ She has '&+3 '&e urde&, ut I ha1ethree, a&d I ha1e her urde& t''$ '&*t 3'u thi&. that I sh'u+dh'+d a etter )'siti'& i& the w'r+d tha& that 'f a )''r s'+dier ifI had &'t had her a&d her -hi+d6

NURSE$ 7e++, that is&*t what I wa&ted t' ta+. a'ut$

CAPTAIN$ I -a& we++ e+ie1e that, f'r 3'u wa&ted t' (a.e it a))ear

that I a( i& the wr'&g$

NURSE$ '&*t 3'u e+ie1e, !r$ Ad'+f, that I wish 3'u we++6

CAPTAIN$ Yes, dear frie&d, I d' e+ie1e it8 ut 3'u d'&*t .&'w whatis f'r (3 g''d$ Y'u see it is&*t e&'ugh f'r (e t' ha1e gi1e& the-hi+d +ife, I wa&t t' gi1e her (3 s'u+, t''$

NURSE$ Su-h thi&gs I d'&*t u&dersta&d$ But I d' thi&. that 3'u'ught t' e a+e t' agree$


14/43

CAPTAIN$ Y'u are &'t (3 frie&d, !argret$

NURSE$ I6 Oh, L'rd, what are 3'u sa3i&g, !r$ Ad'+f6 ' 3'u thi&. I-a& f'rget that 3'u were (3 -hi+d whe& 3'u were +itt+e6

CAPTAIN$ 7e++, 3'u dear, ha1e I f'rg'tte& it6 Y'u ha1e ee& +i.e a('ther t' (e, a&d a+wa3s ha1e st''d 3 (e whe& I had e1er3'd3agai&st (e, ut &'w, whe& I rea++3 &eed 3'u, 3'u desert (e a&d g''1er t' the e&e(3$

NURSE$ The e&e(3uesti'& 'f her future has t' e de-ided$

CAPTAIN$ The -hi+d -a& hard+3 ha1e a&3 we++0gr'u&ded ')i&i'& a'utwhat a 3'u&g gir+*s +ife is +i.e+3 t' e, whi+e we, '& the-'&trar3, -a& ('re easi+3 esti(ate what it (a3 e, as we ha1e see&s' (a&3 3'u&g gir+s gr'w u)$

LAURA$ But as we are 'f differe&t ')i&i'&s Bertha (ust e the '&et' de-ide$

CAPTAIN$ N', I +et &' '&e usur) (3 rights, &either w'(e& &'r-hi+dre&$ Bertha, +ea1e us$

%Bertha g'es 'ut$4

LAURA$ Y'u were afraid 'f heari&g her ')i&i'&, e-ause 3'u th'ughtit w'u+d e t' (3 ad1a&tage$

CAPTAIN$ I .&'w that she wishes t' g' awa3 fr'( h'(e, ut I .&'wa+s' that 3'u )'ssess the )'wer 'f -ha&gi&g her (i&d t' suit 3'ur

)+easure$

LAURA$ Oh, a( I rea++3 s' )'werfu+6

CAPTAIN$ Yes, 3'u ha1e a fie&dish )'wer 'f getti&g 3'ur 'w& wa38ut s' has a&3'&e wh' d'es &'t s-ru)+e a'ut, the wa3 it isa--'()+ished$ H'w did 3'u get '-t'r N'r+i&g awa3, f'r i&sta&-e,a&d h'w did 3'u get this &ew d'-t'r here6

LAURA$ Yes, h'w did I (a&age that6

CAPTAIN$ Y'u i&su+ted the 'ther '&e s' (u-h that he +eft, a&d (ade3'ur r'ther re-'((e&d this fe++'w$

LAURA$ 7e++, that was >uite si()+e a&d +egiti(ate$ Is Bertha t'+ea1e h'(e &'w6

CAPTAIN$ Yes, she is t' start i& a f'rt&ight$

LAURA$ That is 3'ur de-isi'&6

CAPTAIN$ Yes$

LAURA$ The& I (ust tr3 t' )re1e&t it$

CAPTAIN$ Y'u -a&&'t$

LAURA$ Ca&*t I6 ' 3'u rea++3 thi&. I w'u+d trust (3 daughter t'wi-.ed )e')+e t' ha1e her taught that e1er3thi&g her ('ther hasi()+a&ted i& her -hi+d is (ere f''+ish&ess6 7h3, afterward, shew'u+d des)ise (e a++ the rest 'f her +ifeue&-es 'f su-h a& a-t$ If he dis-'1ers 3'ur se-reti&terfere&-e i& his affairs, he wi++ ha1e gr'u&ds f'r sus)i-i'&s,a&d the3 wi++ gr'w +i.e a& a1a+a&-he$ A&d esides, i& d'i&g this3'u ha1e thwarted his wi++ a&d irritated hi( sti++ ('re$ Y'u (ustha1e fe+t 3'urse+f h'w the (i&d ree+s whe& '&e*s dee)est desiresare thwarted a&d '&e*s wi++ is -r'ssed$

LAURA$ Ha1e&*t I fe+t thatuesti'& '&e 'f the (e& a'ut su))'rti&g a -hi+d, a&d whe& I triedt' defe&d the gir+, he grew e;-ited a&d said &' '&e -'u+d te++ wh'was the father 'f a -hi+d$ 2'd .&'ws I did e1er3thi&g t' -a+( hi(,ut &'w I e+ie1e there is &' he+) f'r hi($ %Cries$4

OCTOR$ But this -a&&'t g' '&$ S'(ethi&g (ust e d'&e here with'ut,'f -'urse, ar'usi&g his sus)i-i'&s$ Te++ (e, has the Ca)tai& e1erhad su-h de+usi'&s ef're6

LAURA$ Si; 3ears ag' thi&gs were i& the sa(e state, a&d the& he,

hi(se+f, -'&fessed i& his 'w& +etter t' the d'-t'r that he fearedf'r his reas'&$

OCTOR$ Yes, 3es, 3es, this is a st'r3 that has dee) r''ts a&d thesa&-tit3 'f the fa(i+3 +ife00a&d s' '&00'f -'urse I -a&&'t as.a'ut e1er3thi&g, ut (ust +i(it (3se+f t' a))eara&-es$ 7hat isd'&e -a&*t e u&d'&e, ('re*s the )it3, 3et the re(ed3 sh'u+d eased u)'& a++ the )ast$007here d' 3'u thi&. he is &'w6

LAURA$ I ha1e &' idea, he has su-h wi+d strea.s$

OCTOR$ 7'u+d 3'u +i.e t' ha1e (e sta3 u&ti+ he retur&s6 T' a1'idsus)i-i'&, I -'u+d sa3 that I had -'(e t' see 3'ur ('ther wh' is

&'t we++$

LAURA$ Yes, that wi++ d' 1er3 &i-e+3$ '&*t +ea1e us, '-t'r8 if3'u '&+3 .&ew h'w tr'u+ed I a(< But w'u+d&*t it e etter t' te++hi( 'utright what 3'u thi&. 'f his -'&diti'&$

OCTOR$ 7e &e1er d' that u&+ess the )atie&t (e&ti'&s the su5e-thi(se+f, a&d 1er3 se+d'( e1e& the&$ It de)e&ds e&tire+3 '& the-ase$ But we (ust&*t sit here8 )erha)s I had etter g' i&t' the&e;t r''(8 it wi++ +''. ('re &atura+$


22/43

LAURA$ Yes, that wi++ e etter, a&d !argret -a& sit here$ Shea+wa3s waits u) whe& he is 'ut, a&d she is the '&+3 '&e wh' has a&3)'wer '1er hi($ %2'es t' the d''r +eft4 !argret, !argretue&-e 'f whi-h is that the +'ss 'f ti(e has its g''d asdestr'3ed the resu+t I e;)e-ted fr'( (3 w'r.$

LAURA$ It was a& a-t 'f .i&d&ess '& (3 )art, as 3'u &eg+e-ted theser1i-e f'r this 'ther w'r.$

CAPTAIN$ It was hard+3 .i&d&ess, f'r 3'u were >uite sure that s'(eda3 I sh'u+d wi& ('re h'&'r fr'( that, tha& fr'( the ser1i-e8 ut3'u were )arti-u+ar+3 a&;i'us that I sh'u+d &'t wi& su-h h'&'rs,

f'r fear 3'ur 'w& i&sig&ifi-a&-e w'u+d e e()hasi/ed 3 it$ I&-'&se>ue&-e 'f a++ this I ha1e i&ter-e)ted +etters addressed t'3'u$

LAURA$ That was a &'+e a-t$

CAPTAIN$ Y'u see, 3'u ha1e, as 3'u (ight sa3, a high ')i&i'& 'f (e$It a))ears fr'( these +etters that, f'r s'(e ti(e )ast 3'u ha1eee& arra3i&g (3 '+d frie&ds agai&st (e 3 s)readi&g re)'rts a'ut(3 (e&ta+ -'&diti'&$ A&d 3'u a1e su--eeded i& 3'ur eff'rts, f'r


27/43

&'w &'t ('re tha& '&e )ers'& e;ists fr'( the C'+'&e+ d'w& t' the-''., wh' e+ie1es that I a( sa&e$ N'w these are the fa-ts a'ut (3i++&ess8 (3 (i&d is s'u&d, as 3'u .&'w, s' that I -a& ta.e -are 'f(3 duties i& the ser1i-e as we++ its (3 res)'&sii+ities as afather8 (3 fee+i&gs are ('re 'r +ess u&der (3 -'&tr'+, as (3 wi++has &'t ee& -'()+ete+3 u&der(i&ed8 ut 3'u ha1e g&awed a&d &i+edat it s' that it wi++ s''& s+i) the -'gs, a&d the& the wh'+e(e-ha&is( wi++ s+i) a&d g' t' s(ash$ I wi++ &'t a))ea+ t' 3'urfee+i&gs, f'r 3'u ha1e &'&e8 that is 3'ur stre&gth8 ut I wi++a))ea+ t' 3'ur i&terests$

LAURA$ Let (e hear$

CAPTAIN$ Y'u ha1e su--eeded i& ar'usi&g (3 sus)i-i'&s t' su-h a&e;te&t that (3 5udg(e&t is &' +'&ger -+ear, a&d (3 th'ughts egi&t' wa&der$ This is the a))r'a-hi&g i&sa&it3 that 3'u are waiti&gf'r, whi-h (a3 -'(e at a&3 ti(e &'w$ S' 3'u are fa-e t' fa-e withthe >uesti'& whether it is ('re t' 3'ur i&terest that I sh'u+d esa&e 'r i&sa&e$ C'&sider$ If I g' u&der I sha++ +'se the ser1i-e,a&d where wi++ 3'u e the&6 If I die, (3 +ife i&sura&-e wi++ fa++

t' 3'u$ But if I ta.e (3 'w& +ife, 3'u wi++ get &'thi&g$C'&se>ue&t+3, it is t' 3'ur i&terest that I sh'u+d +i1e 'ut (3+ife$

LAURA$ Is this a tra)6

CAPTAIN$ T' e sure$ But it rests with 3'u whether 3'u wi++ ru&ar'u&d it 'r sti-. 3'ur head i&t' it$

LAURA$ Y'u sa3 that 3'u wi++ .i++ 3'urse+f< Y'u w'&*t d' thatue&t+3 I was 'r&with'ut a wi++$ I th'ught I was -'()+eti&g (3se+f whe& 3'u a&d Ie-a(e '&e, a&d theref're 3'u were a++'wed t' ru+e, a&d I, the-'((a&der at the arra-.s a&d ef're the tr'')s, e-a(e 'edie&t t'3'u, grew thr'ugh 3'u, +''.ed u) t' 3'u as t' it ('re high+30giftedei&g, +iste&ed t' 3'u as if I had ee& 3'ur u&de1e+')ed -hi+d$

LAURA$ Yes, that*s the wa3 it was, a&d theref're I +'1ed 3'u as (3-hi+d$ But 3'u .&'w, 3'u (ust ha1e see&, whe& the &ature 'f 3'urfee+i&gs -ha&ged a&d 3'u a))eared as (3 +'1er that I +ushed, a&d3'ur e(ra-es were 5'3 that was f'++'wed 3 a re('rsefu+ -'&s-ie&-eas if (3 +''d were asha(ed$ The ('ther e-a(e the (istress$ Ugh

the father. strindberg.rtf

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