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ACT ONE
A large, elegant drawing room. A sofa, round table, chairs, an armchair and footstool by a large stove, an upright piano, carpets. A smaller room beyond, a portrait of a handsome military man on its wall. Flowers in vases and bouquets on tables everywhere. Autumn-morning light through the French doors. AUNT JULLE enters, wearing a hat and carrying a parasol, followed by BERTE, the maid, carrying another bunch of flowers.
AUNT JULLE. Are they up yet?
BERTE. No.
AUNT JULLE. Well, thatās no surprise, I supposeā¦
BERTE. Mm.
AUNT JULLE.ā¦given how late they got in.
BERTE. Thatās true.
AUNT JULLE.ā¦you know?
BERTE. And then with all the things she had to have unpacked before bed.
AUNT JULLE. Oh, is that right?
BERTE. Sure we were up at least another hour after we arrived.
AUNT JULLE. Oh, poor Berte! (Beat.) Well, letās let some light in anyway, will we?
She goes to the French doors and opens them.
BERTE (looking around). Thereās nowhere to put the flowers.
AUNT JULLE. Hm? (Looking around.) Put them on the piano.
BERTE. Ah.
She does. Pause.
AUNT JULLE. So.
BERTE. Mm.
AUNT JULLE. A new mistress.
BERTE. Yes.
AUNT JULLE. A new house. I must say, Berte, Miss Rina and I will miss you.
BERTE. And how do you think Iāll feel?
AUNT JULLE. I know, but weāll all just have to adapt, I suppose. If Jorge needs you here with him, then thatās what he needs. At least youāre used to his ways.
BERTE. Thatās true. But I still canāt help worrying about her.
AUNT JULLE. Miss Rina?
BERTE. Yes.
AUNT JULLE. Sheāll be all right.
BERTE. Sheās so helpless, though. And that new girlā¦
AUNT JULLE. The new girlās completely competent, Berte, and you know it. Now, please stop worrying, yes?
BERTE. Iā¦
AUNT JULLE.ā¦all right? My sister and I will manage perfectly well without you.
BERTE. Mm.
Pause.
AUNT JULLE. What is it? (Pause.) Berte.
BERTE. Nothing. Sheās just so particular.
AUNT JULLE. Who, the new girl?
BERTE. No, Miss Hedda.
AUNT JULLE. And why on earth wouldnāt she be, her being a generalās child?
BERTE. I suppose.
AUNT JULLE. With that type of upbringing?
BERTE. Only child.
AUNT JULLE. Hm?
BERTE. A generalās only child.
AUNT JULLE. Well, thatās what Iām saying. God, remember we used to see them out riding together, and her in that skirtā¦
BERTE. The longā¦ the black one.
AUNT JULLE. Yes.
BERTE. I do.
AUNT JULLE.ā¦and that giant feather in her hat. The poise she had!
BERTE. I know.
AUNT JULLE.ā¦The authority!
BERTE. Itās hard to believe that Jorge would have ended up with a woman like that.
AUNT JULLE. Doctor Jorge.
BERTE. Oh, yes. She already corrected me.
AUNT JULLE. And me.
BERTE. You didnāt know either?
AUNT JULLE. No, sure he only earned the title when they were abroad.
BERTE. Heās so clever, though, isnāt he?
AUNT JULLE. Jorge? Oh, yes. Extremely. Do you know, I often think that if my brother, Lord rest him, could see whatās become of his little boy, heādā¦ (Beat.) Why have you taken the covers off the chairs?
BERTE. She told me to.
AUNT JULLE. Miss Hedda?
BERTE. Yes.
AUNT JULLE. So, thisāll be their living room, then?!
BERTE. I would imagine so.
AUNT JULLE. I see. Jorge!
JORGE TESMAN enters through the inner room. He is wearing comfortable indoor clothes and carries an empty, open suitcase.
TESMAN. Aunt Julle! Youāre here already!
AUNT JULLE (as they embrace). Well, I had to come and see how youād settled in.
TESMAN. But you must have hardly gotten any sleep.
AUNT JULLE. I got enough.
TESMAN. And Berte! (To AUNT JULLE.) You got home all right from the quay last night?
AUNT JULLE. Judge Brack took me right to my door.
TESMAN. Oh, good. Iām sorry we couldnāt take you with us, Auntie. But you saw theā¦
AUNT JULLE...
