ACT I

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ACT I

(SCENE.--DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is
plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand
wall are two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer
to the doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door
leading to the hall, is a door leading to the other rooms
occupied by the family. In the middle of the same wall stands the
stove, and, further forward, a couch with a looking-glass hanging
over it and an oval table in front of it. On the table, a lighted
lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of the room, an open door
leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen sitting at the dining
table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a napkin tucked under
his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the table handing him
a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at the table
are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a meal
having recently been finished.)

MRS. STOCKMANN. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing,
you have to put up with cold meat.

BILLING (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you--
remarkably good.

MRS. STOCKMANN. My husband makes such a point of having his meals
punctually, you know.

BILLING. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I
enjoy a meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by
myself, and undisturbed.

MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it--. (Turns
to the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming
too.

BILLING. Very likely.

(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official
hat, and carries a stick.)

PETER STOCKMANN. Good evening, Katherine.

MRS. STOCKMANN (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good
evening--is it you? How good of you to come up and see us!

PETER STOCKMANN. I happened to be passing, and so--(looks into
the dining-room). But you have company with you, I see.

MRS. STOCKMANN (a little embarrassed). Oh, no--it was quite by
chance he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have
something, too?

PETER STOCKMANN. I! No, thank you. Good gracious--hot meat at
night! Not with my digestion,

MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh, but just once in a way--

PETER STOCKMANN. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and
bread and butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run--and
a little more economical, too.

MRS. STOCKMANN (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I
are spendthrifts.

PETER STOCKMANN. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of
you. (Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home?

MRS. STOCKMANN. No, he went out for a little turn after supper--
he and the boys.

PETER STOCKMANN. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do.
(Listens.) I fancy I hear him coming now.

MRS. STOCKMANN. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at
the door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is
you, Mr. Hovstad!

HOVSTAD. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at
the printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor.

PETER STOCKMANN (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You
have come on business, no doubt.

HOVSTAD. Partly. It's about an article for the paper.

PETER STOCKMANN. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a
prolific contributor to the "People's Messenger."

HOVSTAD. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's
Messenger" when he has any home truths to tell.

MRS. STOCKMANN, (to HOVSTAD). But won't you--? (Points to the
dining-room.)

PETER STOCKMANN. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the
least, as a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where
he will find the readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I
personally have no reason to bear any ill will to your paper, Mr.
Hovstad.

HOVSTAD. I quite agree with you.

PETER STOCKMANN. Taking one thing with another, there is an
excellent spirit of toleration in the town--an admirable
municipal spirit. And it all springs from the fact of our having
a great common interest to unite us--an interest that is in an
equally high degree the concern of every right-minded citizen

HOVSTAD. The Baths, yes.

PETER STOCKMANN. Exactly---our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my
words, Mr. Hovstad--the Baths will become the focus of our
municipal life! Not a doubt of it!

MRS. STOCKMANN. That is just what Thomas says.

PETER STOCKMANN. Think how extraordinarily the place has
developed within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in,
and there is some life and some business doing in the town.
Houses and landed property are rising in value every day.

HOVSTAD. And unemployment is diminishing,

PETER STOCKMANN. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the
poor rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the
propertied classes; and that relief will be even greater if only
we get a really good summer this year, and lots of visitors--
plenty of invalids, who will make the Baths talked about.

HOVSTAD. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear.

PETER STOCKMANN. It looks very promising. Inquiries about
apartments and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day.

HOVSTAD. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably.

PETER STOCKMANN. Has he been writing something just lately?

HOVSTAD. This is something he wrote in the winter; a
recommendation of the Baths--an account of the excellent sanitary
conditions here. But I held the article over, temporarily.

PETER STOCKMANN. Ah,--some little difficulty about it, I suppose?

HOVSTAD. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait
until the spring, because it is just at this time that people
begin to think seriously about their summer quarters.

PETER STOCKMANN. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr.
Hovstad.

HOVSTAD. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a
question of the Baths.

PETER STOCKMANN. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the
Baths.

HOVSTAD. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him.

PETER STOCKMANN. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from
time to time that some people are of that opinion. At the same
time I must say I imagined that I took a modest part in the
enterprise,

MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying.

HOVSTAD. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing
going and made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I
only meant that the idea of it came first from the doctor.

PETER STOCKMANN. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them
in his time--unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting
an idea into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of
different mettle. Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have
thought that in this house at least...

MRS. STOCKMANN. My dear Peter--

HOVSTAD. How can you think that--?

MRS. STOCKMANN. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad?
My husband is sure to be back directly.

HOVSTAD. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining-
room.)

PETER STOCKMANN (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious
thing that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of
tact.

MRS. STOCKMANN. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot
you and Thomas share the credit as brothers?

PETER STOCKMANN. I should have thought so; but apparently some
people are not satisfied with a share.

MRS. STOCKMANN. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally
together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and
opens the door leading to the hall.)

DR. STOCKMANN (laughing and talking outside). Look here--here is
another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in,
Captain Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't
wear an overcoat. Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street
and could hardly persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes
into the room and greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR.
STOCKMANN.) Come along in, boys. They are ravenously hungry
again, you know. Come along, Captain Horster; you must have a
slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the dining-room. EJLIF and
MORTEN go in after them.)

MRS. STOCKMANN. But, Thomas, don't you see--?

DR. STOCKMANN (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter?
(Shakes hands with him.) Now that is very delightful.

PETER STOCKMANN. Unfortunately I must go in a moment--

DR. STOCKMANN. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You
haven't forgotten the toddy, Katherine?

MRS. STOCKMANN. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes
into the dining-room.)

PETER STOCKMANN. Toddy too!

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably.

PETER STOCKMANN. Thanks, I never care about an evening's
drinking.

DR. STOCKMANN. But this isn't an evening's drinking.

PETER STOCKMANN. It seems to me--. (Looks towards the dining-
room.) It is extraordinary how they can put away all that food.

DR. STOCKMANN (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see
young people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know!
That's as it should be. Lots of food--to build up their strength!
They are the people who are going to stir up the fermenting
forces of the future, Peter.

PETER STOCKMANN. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up,"
as you put it?

DR. STOCKMANN. Ah, you must ask the young people that--when the
times comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands
to reason--two old fogies, like us.

PETER STOCKMANN. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely
odd expression to--

DR. STOCKMANN. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am
so heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an
extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all
this growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in!
It is as if a whole new world were being created around one.

PETER STOCKMANN. Do you really think so?

DR. STOCKMANN. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as
I. You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your
impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all
these years in my little corner up north, almost without ever
seeing a stranger who might bring new ideas with him--well, in
my case it has just the same effect as if I had been transported
into the middle of a crowded city.

PETER STOCKMANN. Oh, a city--!

DR. STOCKMANN. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here,
compared with many other places. But there is life here--there is
promise--there are innumerable things to work for and fight for;
and that is the main thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the
postman been here?

MRS. STOCKMANN (from the dining-room). No.

DR. STOCKMANN. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is
something one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of
starvation, as we have.

PETER STOCKMANN. Oh, surely--

DR. STOCKMANN. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very
hard put to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord!
Today, for instance, we had roast beef for dinner--and, what is
more, for supper too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or
let me show it you, at any rate? Come here--

PETER STOCKMANN. No, no--not for worlds!

DR. STOCKMANN. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have
got a table-cover?

PETER STOCKMANN. Yes, I noticed it.

DR. STOCKMANN. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All
out of Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you
think so? Just stand here for a moment--no, no, not there--just
here, that's it! Look now, when you get the light on it
altogether. I really think it looks very nice, doesn't it?

PETER STOCKMANN. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind--

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I
earn almost as much as we spend.

PETER STOCKMANN. Almost--yes!

DR. STOCKMANN. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of
style. I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a
year than I do.

PETER STOCKMANN. I daresay. A civil servant--a man in a well-paid
position...

DR. STOCKMANN. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that
position spends two or three times as much as--

PETER STOCKMANN. It just depends on circumstances.

DR. STOCKMANN. At all events I assure you I don't waste money
unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the
pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing,
you know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is
a necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious
men, men of liberal and active minds; and that describes every
one of those fellows who are enjoying their supper in there. I
wish you knew more of Hovstad.

PETER STOCKMANN. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going
to print another article of yours.

DR. STOCKMANN. An article of mine?

PETER STOCKMANN. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in
the winter.

DR. STOCKMANN. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear
just for the present.

PETER STOCKMANN. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the
most opportune moment.

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, very likely--under normal conditions.
(Crosses the room.)

PETER STOCKMANN (following him with his eyes). Is there anything
abnormal about the present conditions?

DR. STOCKMANN (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I
can't say just at this moment--at all events not tonight. There
may be much that is very abnormal about the present conditions--
and it is possible there may be nothing abnormal about them at
all. It is quite possible it may be merely my imagination.

PETER STOCKMANN. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is
there something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I
should have imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of
the Baths--

DR. STOCKMANN. And I should have imagined that I--. Oh, come,
don't let us fly out at one another, Peter.

PETER STOCKMANN. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying
out at people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most
emphatically that all arrangements shall be made in a
businesslike manner, through the proper channels, and shall be
dealt with by the legally constituted authorities. I can allow no
going behind our backs by any roundabout means.

DR. STOCKMANN. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your
backs?

PETER STOCKMANN. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own
way, at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a
well ordered community, The individual ought undoubtedly to
acquiesce in subordinating himself to the community--or, to speak
more accurately, to the authorities who have the care of the
community's welfare.

DR. STOCKMANN. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got
to do with me?

PETER STOCKMANN. That is exactly what you never appear to be
willing to learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day
you will have to suffer for it--sooner or later. Now I have told
you. Good-bye.

DR. STOCKMANN. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on
the wrong scent altogether.

PETER STOCKMANN. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if
I-- (calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good
night, gentlemen. (Goes out.)

MRS. STOCKMANN (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone?

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, and in such a bad temper.

MRS. STOCKMANN. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him
again?

DR. STOCKMANN. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to
make my report before the proper time.

MRS. STOCKMANN. What have you got to make a report to him about?

DR. STOCKMANN. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an
extraordinary thing that the postman doesn't come.

(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come
into the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.)

BILLING (stretching himself). Ah!--one feels a new man after a
meal like that.

HOVSTAD. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then.

DR. STOCKMANN. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion.

HOVSTAD. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger"
that he couldn't digest.

MRS. STOCKMANN. I thought you came out of it pretty well with
him.

HOVSTAD. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce.

BILLING. That is just what it is! That word sums up the
situation.

DR. STOCKMANN. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor
chap. He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but
everlasting business. And all that infernal weak tea wash that he
pours into himself! Now then, my boys, bring chairs up to the
table. Aren't we going to have that toddy, Katherine?

MRS. STOCKMANN (going into the dining-room). I am just getting
it.

DR. STOCKMANN. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain
Horster. We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends.
(They sit down at the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a
spirit-lamp, glasses, bottles, etc., upon it.)

MRS. STOCKMANN. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum,
and this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves.

DR. STOCKMANN (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves
some toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where
the box is. And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go
into the room on the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif
pockets a cigar now and then!--but I take no notice of it. (Calls
out.) And my smoking-cap too, Morten. Katherine, you can tell him
where I left it. Ah, he has got it. (The boys bring the various
things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my pipe, you know. This one
has seen plenty of bad weather with me up north. (Touches glasses
with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to be sitting snug
and warm here,

MRS. STOCKMANN (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain
Horster?

HORSTER. I expect to be ready to sail next week.

MRS. STOCKMANN. I suppose you are going to America?

HORSTER. Yes, that is the plan.

MRS. STOCKMANN. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming
election?

HORSTER. Is there going to be an election?

BILLING. Didn't you know?

HORSTER. No, I don't mix myself up with those things.

BILLING. But do you not take an interest in public affairs?

HORSTER. No, I don't know anything about politics.

BILLING. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate.

HORSTER. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going
on?

BILLING. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is
like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.

HORSTER. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship
it wouldn't work.

HOVSTAD. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about
what goes on on shore.

BILLING. Very extraordinary.

DR. STOCKMANN. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel
equally at home in any latitude. And that is only an additional
reason for our being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be
anything of public interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"?

HOVSTAD. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after
tomorrow I was thinking of printing your article--

DR. STOCKMANN. Ah, devil take it--my article! Look here, that
must wait a bit.

HOVSTAD. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I
thought it was just the opportune moment--

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must
wait all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in
from the hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise
books under her arm.)

PETRA. Good evening.

DR. STOCKMANN. Good evening, Petra; come along.

(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down
on a chair by the door.)

PETRA. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves,
while I have been out slaving!

DR. STOCKMANN. Well, come and enjoy yourself too!

BILLING. May I mix a glass for you?

PETRA (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you
always mix it too strong. But I forgot, father--I have a letter
for you. (Goes to the chair where she has laid her things.)

DR. STOCKMANN. A letter? From whom?

PETRA (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me
just as I was going out.

DR. STOCKMANN (getting up and going to her). And you only give to
me now!

PETRA. I really had not time to run up again. There it is!

DR. STOCKMANN (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child!
(Looks at the address.) Yes, that's all right!

MRS. STOCKMANN. Is it the one you have been expecting go
anxiously, Thomas?

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and-- Where
shall I get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room
again?

MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk.

DR. STOCKMANN. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment--, (Goes into
his study.)

PETRA. What do you suppose it is, mother?

MRS. STOCKMANN. I don't know; for the last day or two he has
always been asking if the postman has not been,

BILLING. Probably some country patient.

PETRA. Poor old dad!--he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a
glass for herself.) There, that will taste good!

HOVSTAD. Have you been teaching in the evening school again
today?

PETRA (sipping from her glass). Two hours.

BILLING. And four hours of school in the morning?

PETRA. Five hours.

MRS. STOCKMANN. And you have still got exercises to correct, I
see.

PETRA. A whole heap, yes.

HORSTER. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me.

PETRA. Yes--but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after
it.

BILLING. Do you like that?

PETRA. Yes, because one sleeps so well then.

MORTEN. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra.

PETRA. Wicked?

MORTEN. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a
punishment for our sins.

EJLIF. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like
that!

MRS. STOCKMANN. Come, come, Ejlif!

BILLING (laughing). That's capital!

HOVSTAD. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten?

MORTEN. No, indeed I don't.

HOVSTAD. What do you want to be, then?

MORTEN. I should like best to be a Viking,

EJLIF. You would have to be a pagan then.

MORTEN. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I?

BILLING. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly.

MRS. STOCKMANN (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true,
Mr. Billing.

BILLING. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it.
Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans.

MORTEN. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like?

BILLING. Well, you'll see, Morten.

MRS. STOCKMANN. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you
have some lessons to learn for tomorrow.

EJLIF. I should like so much to stay a little longer--

MRS. STOCKMANN. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say
good night and go into the room on the left.)

HOVSTAD. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear
such things?

MRS. STOCKMANN. I don't know; but I don't like it.

PETRA. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about
it.

MRS. STOCKMANN. Maybe, but I don't like it--not in our own home.

PETRA. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At
home one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell
lies to the children.

HORSTER. Tell lies?

PETRA. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of
things that we don't believe?

BILLING. That is perfectly true.

PETRA. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own;
and it would be conducted on very different lines.

BILLING. Oh, bother the means--!

HORSTER. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I
shall be delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great
big old house my father left me is standing almost empty; there
is an immense dining-room downstairs--

PETRA (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing
will come of it.

HOVSTAD. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to
journalism, I expect. By the way, have you had time to do
anything with that English story you promised to translate for
us?

PETRA. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time.

(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his
hand.)

DR. STOCKMANN (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have
something new to talk about, I can tell you!

BILLING. Something new?

MRS. STOCKMANN. What is this?

DR. STOCKMANN. A great discovery, Katherine.

HOVSTAD. Really?

MRS. STOCKMANN. A discovery of yours?

DR. STOCKMANN. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let
them come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy
man's imagination! But they will be careful what they say this
time, I can tell you!

PETRA. But, father, tell us what it is.

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, yes--only give me time, and you shall know
all about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we
men can go about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as
blind as any moles--

HOVSTAD. What are you driving at, Doctor?

DR. STOCKMANN (standing still by the table). Isn't it the
universal opinion that our town is a healthy spot?

HOVSTAD. Certainly.

DR. STOCKMANN. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact--a place
that deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner
either for invalids or for people who are well--

MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, but my dear Thomas--

DR. STOCKMANN. And we have been recommending it and praising it--
I have written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in
pamphlets...

HOVSTAD. Well, what then?

DR. STOCKMANN. And the Baths--we have called them the "main
artery of the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town,"
and the devil knows what else--

BILLING. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once
used on an important occasion.

DR. STOCKMANN. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are,
these great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much
money--do you know what they are?

HOVSTAD. No, what are they?

MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, what are they?

DR. STOCKMANN. The whole place is a pest-house!

PETRA. The Baths, father?

MRS. STOCKMANN (at the same time), Our Baths?

HOVSTAD. But, Doctor--

BILLING. Absolutely incredible!

DR. STOCKMANN. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned
sepulchre, I tell you--the gravest possible danger to the public
health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking
filth, is infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the
reservoir; and the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the
shore too--

HORSTER. Where the bathing-place is?

DR. STOCKMANN. Just there.

HOVSTAD. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor?

DR. STOCKMANN. I have investigated the matter most
conscientiously. For a long time past I have suspected something
of the kind. Last year we had some very strange cases of illness
among the visitors--typhoid cases, and cases of gastric fever--

MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, that is quite true.

DR. STOCKMANN. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been
infected before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began
to have a different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the
water, as well as I could.

MRS. STOCKMANN. Then that is what you have been so busy with?

DR. STOCKMANN. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had
none of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples,
both of the drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the
University, to have an accurate analysis made by a chemist.

HOVSTAD. And have you got that?

DR. STOCKMANN (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the
presence of decomposing organic matter in the water--it is full
of infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either
internally or externally.

MRS. STOCKMANN. What a mercy you discovered it in time.

DR. STOCKMANN. You may well say so.

HOVSTAD. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor?

DR. STOCKMANN. To see the matter put right, naturally.

HOVSTAD. Can that be done?

DR. STOCKMANN. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be
absolutely useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I
have a very clear idea what we shall have to do.

MRS. STOCKMANN. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear?

DR. STOCKMANN. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town
gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I
am not such a fool.

PETRA. Still, you might have told us--

DR. STOCKMANN. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around
to the old Badger--

MRS. STOCKMANN. Oh, Thomas! Thomas!

DR. STOCKMANN. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will
have something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am
cracked--and there are lots of other people who think so too, I have
noticed. But now these good folks shall see--they shall just see!
(Walks about, rubbing his hands.) There will be a nice upset
in the town, Katherine; you can't imagine what it will be. All
the conduit-pipes will have to be relaid.

HOVSTAD (getting up). All the conduit-pipes--?

DR. STOCKMANN. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it
will have to be lifted to a position much higher up.

PETRA. Then you were right after all.

DR. STOCKMANN. Ah, you remember, Petra--I wrote opposing the
plans before the work was begun. But at that time no one would
listen to me. Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of
course I have prepared a report for the Baths Committee; I have
had it ready for a week, and was only waiting for this to come.
(Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off at once. (Goes into his
room and comes back with some papers.) Look at that! Four closely
written sheets!--and the letter shall go with them. Give me a bit
of paper, Katherine--something to wrap them up in. That will do!
Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)--what the deuce is her name?
--give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the
Mayor.

(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining-
room.)

PETRA. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father?

DR. STOCKMANN. What is there for him to say? I should think he
would be very glad that such an important truth has been brought
to light.

HOVSTAD. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery
in the "Messenger?"

DR. STOCKMANN. I shall be very much obliged if you will.

HOVSTAD. It is very desirable that the public should be informed
of it without delay.

DR. STOCKMANN. Certainly.

MRS. STOCKMANN (coming back). She has just gone with it.

BILLING. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost
man in the town!

DR. STOCKMANN (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of
fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a
lucky find--that's all. Still, all the same...

BILLING. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr.
Stockmann some sort of testimonial?

HOVSTAD. I will suggest it, anyway.

BILLING. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it.

DR. STOCKMANN. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that
nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths
Committee should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will
not accept it. Do you hear, Katherine?--I won't accept it.

MRS. STOCKMANN. You are quite right, Thomas.

PETRA (lifting her glass). Your health, father!

HOVSTAD and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health!

HORSTER (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will
bring you nothing but good luck.

DR. STOCKMANN. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel
tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able
to feel that he has done a service to his native town and to his
fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her
and whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing
cries. They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR.
The boys put their heads in at the door to see what is going on.)

Content of ACT I [Henrik Ibsen's play/drama: An Enemy of the People]

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