The Master Builder | Page 9

materials. Further back than the folding door, a
stove. In the right- hand corner, a sofa, a table, and one or two chairs.
On the table a water-bottle and glass. A smaller table, with a
rocking-chair and arm-chair, in front on the right. Lighted lamps, with
shades, on the table in the draughtmen's office, on the table in the
corner, and on the desk.
In the draughtsmen's office sit KNUT BROVIK and his son RAGNAR,
occupied with plans and calculations. At the desk in the outer office
stands KAIA FOSLI, writing in the ledger. KNUT BROVICK is a
spare old man with white hair and beard. He wears a rather threadbare
but well-brushed black coat, with spectacles, and a somewhat
discoloured white neckcloth. RAGNAR BROVIK is a well-dressed,

light-haired man in his thirties, with a slight stoop. KAIA FOSLI is a
slightly built girl, a little over twenty, carefully dressed, and
delicate-looking. She has a green shade over her eyes.--All three go on
working for some time in silence.
KNUT BROVIK.
[Rises suddenly, as if in distress, from the table; breathes heavily and
laboriously as he comes forward into the doorway.] No, I can't bear it
much longer!
KAIA.
[Going up to him.] You are feeling very ill this evening, are you not,
Uncle?
BROVIK.
Oh, I seem to get worse every day.
RAGNAR.
[Has risen and advances.] You ought to go home, father. Try to get a
little sleep---
BROVIK.
[Impatiently.] Go to bed, I suppose? Would you have me stifled
outright?
KAIA.
Then take a little walk.
RAGNAR.
Yes, do. I will come with you.
BROVIK.
[With warmth.] I will not go till he comes! I and determined to have it
out this evening with--[in a tone of suppressed bitterness]--with
him--with the chief.
KAIA.
[Anxiously.] Oh no, uncle,--do wait awhile before doing that!
RAGNAR.
Yes, better wait, father!
BROVIK.
[Draws is breath laboriously.] Ha--ha--! I haven't much time for
waiting.
KAIA.
[Listening.] Hush! I hear him on the stairs. [All three go back to their
work. A short silence.

HALVARD SOLNESS comes in through the hall door. He is a man no
longer young, but healthy and vigorous, with close-cut curly hair, dark
moustache and dark thick eyebrows. He wears a greyish-green buttoned
jacket with an upstanding collar and broad lappels. On his head he
wears a soft grey felt hat, and he has one or two light portfolios under
his arm.
SOLNESS.
[Near the door, points towards the draughtsmen's office, and asks in a
whisper:] Are they gone?
KAIA.
[Softly, shaking her] No. [She takes the shade off her eyes. SOLNESS
crosses the room, throws his hat on a chair, places the portfolios on the
table by the sofa, and approaches the desk again. KAIA goes on writing
without intermission, but seems nervous and uneasy.
SOLNESS.
[Aloud.] What is that you are entering, Miss Fosli?
KAIA.
[Starts.] Oh, it is only something that---
SOLNESS.
Let me look at it, Miss Fosli. [Bends over her, pretends to be looking
into the ledger, and whispers:] Kaia!
KAIA.
[Softly, still writing.] Well?
SOLNESS.
Why do you always take that shade off when I come?
KAIA.
[As before.] I look so ugly with it on.
SOLNESS.
[Smiling.] Then you don't like to look ugly, Kaia?
KAIA.
[Half glancing up at him.] Not for all the world. Not in your eyes.
SOLNESS.
[Strokes her hair gently.] Poor, poor little Kaia---
KAIA.
[Bending her head.] Hush--they can hear you! [SOLNESS strolls across
the room to the right, turns and pauses at the door of the draughtsmen's
office.

SOLNESS.
Has any one been here for me?
RAGNAR.
[Rising.] Yes, the young couple who want a villa built, out at
Lovstrand.
SOLNESS.
[Growling.] Oh, those two! They must wait. I am not quite clear about
the plans yet.
RAGNAR.
[Advancing, with some hesitation.] They were very anxious to have the
drawings at once.
SOLNESS.
[As before.] Yes, of course--so they all are.
BROVIK.
[Looks up.] They say they are longing so to get into a house of their
own.
SOLNESS.
Yes, yes--we know all that! And so they are content to take whatever is
offered them. They get a--a roof over their heads--an address-- but
nothing to call a home. No thank you! In that case, let them apply to
somebody else. Tell them that, the next time they call.
BROVIK.
[Pushes his glasses up on to his forehead and looks in astonishment at
him.] To somebody else? Are you prepared to give up the commission?
SOLNESS.
[Impatiently.] Yes, yes, yes, devil take it! If that is to be the way of it---.
Rather that, than build away at random. [Vehemently.] Besides, I know
very little about these people as yet.
BROVIK.
The people are safe enough. Ragnar knows them. He is a friend of the
family.
SOLNESS.