Work Text:
Gnossienne
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DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Nils Krogstad.
Berg Linde
Christine, his wife.
Christine’s two younger brothers.
Mrs. Gran, their mother.
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Gnossienne
ACT I
[SCENE.-- A room furnished scarcely. The lighting is gloomy. In the left corner, a bed with a bedside table and a stool. On the right is a table with two chairs. The brothers can be heard playing loudly offstage.
Mrs. GRAN is lying in the bed, immobile. CHRISTINE is sitting on the stool, dabbing her mother’s forehead. She is in indoor dress with a simple pendant hanging low on her chest. She looks disheveled. Enter KROGSTAD, in nice but casual dress, carrying a colorful bouquet of flowers. The lights follow him.]
[Mrs. GRAN shifts and grunts, then stills.]
Christine [to her mother]. Shh, sh… it shall be alright.
Krogstad [softly]. Christine? [she doesn’t acknowledge him. He approaches the bedside table slowly] Hello, dear. How is your mother faring?
Christine [looks at him]. She is… not well. Every time I must leave her she seems to grow more ill. The doctor says it would do her well to get out, but–[she looks down at her mother, then towards the right, then back at Krogstad] I can not spare the time nor the expenses if I wish to care for Sverre and Bróðir.
Krogstad. Honey–I would do anything to help you and your family. Perhaps I could escort her about the city?
Christine. Nils–
[Her brothers enter loudly from the right.]
Brother I. Christy! How’s mother?
Christine [rising]. Sverre, she–
Brother II [pushing past her and stopping in front of Krogstad]. Mr. Nils! Hello!
Krogstad [amused, reaching down to ruffle his hair]. Hello, Bróðir. [Looks up] And hello, Sverre.
Brother I. Hello, Mr. Krogstad. Are the flowers for Christy?
Christine. Sverre–
Krogstad [extending them towards him]. Yes, they are. Would you like to put them somewhere?
Brother II. Let me! Me! [He takes them from Krogstad and places them on the bedside table]
Christine. Oh, allow me to retrieve a vase–
Krogstad. There is no need. They look lovely there.
Christine. But they shall wilt–
Krogstad. They shall wilt regardless. [The children return outside]
Christine. Nils…
Krogstad. Christine. You are wearing the pendant I gifted you.
Christine. Yes, it is lovely. It would be a shame should I not display its beauty.
Krogstad [carefully taking her hand]. It fails to compare to you, dear. [They smile. After a moment, he sighs] I should be going.
Christine [quietly]. Shall I see you tonight?
Krogstad. Of course. [He releases her hand] Farewell, Christine.
Christine. Farewell, Nils.
[NILS exits left. After a pause, CHRISTINE exits right. The lights dim.
ACT II
[THE SAME SCENE.The lights return, casting a low light across the stage. Enter KROGSTAD.]
Krogstad [whispering]. Christine? [she enters cautiously, dressed in basic nighttime attire. She is not wearing the pendant from earlier. Upon seeing her, KROGSTAD rushes over. He reaches for her, then pauses and steps back] Are you alright, dear? You are not wearing your necklace.
Christine [hesitantly]. Good evening, Nils. Yes, I–I misplaced it. I missed you earlier, after you departed. I must–no. Perhaps–yes, Nils, I missed you earlier.
Krogstad You missed me, did you? What about me did you miss? [He approaches her.]
Christine [looking down] Nils, I must tell you something.
Krogstad [taking her hands into his]. What is troubling you, Christine?
Christine [tentatively]. I-I’m not sure now is the correct time.
Krogstad. Christine, dear. I only wish for your comfort. Whatever it is you must tell me, wait until you are prepared. [He pauses] Still–we are here now, we must enjoy the moment.
[Christine hesitates, then nods nervously. Krogstad releases one of her hands, and the pair begin to dance. Christine slowly relaxes into the motions. As their dance becomes more comfortable
ACT III
[THE SAME SCENE. The lights are dim, concealing the bed upstage.
Enter KROGSTAD from the right with an envelope and his coat, spotlight following him. He tosses the coat haphazardly upon one of the chairs.]
Krogstad [studying the letter]. This appears to be from Christi–Ms. Gran. [He glances around] It is my luck that nobody is here tonight. Still, I do not frequently receive written correspondence from Christine–not since our secret encounters began. I am intrigued to see what this should be about. [He opens the envelope, gently removing the letter. He unfolds it and begins to read]
[A spotlight illuminates CHRISTINE, standing left and upstage of Krogstad. She is dressed in an expensive formal dress.Throughout the following scene, the speaker transitions between KROGSTAD and CHRISTINE, with overlapping voices as indicated.]
Krogstad. Tuesday, the 13th of December, 1859. [CHRISTINE begins speaking] My dear Nils–
Christine. –it is with a heavy heart [KROGSTAD stops speaking] and great sorrow that I write you this letter. As you are aware, my mother is gravely ill and since my father’s passing it has fallen upon myself to provide for my family. I deeply want to continue our correspondence; however, I fear your ambitions could never support my needs. It is for this reason alone that I have decided to cut short our courtship. One month from today–
Krogstad. –I am to be married to Mr. Berg Linde. [He falls into his chair in shock] It has been–
Christine. –nearly a week since he asked for my hand and after careful consideration I have chosen to accept his proposal. I am in no position to refuse. My responsibility to my family must be my primary focus and Mr. Linde’s finances are better suited for my unfortunate situation. I sincerely see no other path forward for myself where I am able to assure the wellbeing of my brothers and mother. I understand that this news must be very jarring for you to receive given our affections and I am dreadfully sorry.
Krogstad. Please forgive me my sweet Nils. I crave desperately for us to continue our companionship.
Christine. You are my one light in life and it pains me deeply to no longer have you in my life. Nevertheless, I must insist that for the sake of my heart and your own, that you no longer contact me; for it would simply be far too hurtful to continue hearing from you. I fear the thought of what our future could have been would only serve to harden my heart, and I wish not to grow bitter. I pray you will understand my decision, however I would understand if you were to harbor any resentment towards me; though it does cause me some distress to imagine such thoughts in your mind.
Krogstad and Christine. For the last time,
Krogstad [shaken]. Christine Linde–formerly Gran. [The spotlight on Christine dims. Krogstad lowers the letter to his lap, and stares distantly for some time. He stands abruptly.] How could she accept such an advance from another man? And to do so during our courtship. Did I–did we–did I mean so little to her? [He raises the letter, briefly rereading it] Sverre, Bróðir. Mrs. Gran–they all mean so much to her. I could not wish them ill. Christine–this must have been such a difficult decision. I–I do not wish her further distress. I should not–I should not press her on the matter. [He moves to place the letter back in the envelope, but notices another object enclosed within. He replaces the letter on the table and removes Christine’s pendant from the envelope. He slowly lowers both objects to the table and places his head in his hands. The lights dim as he cries.]