A Master Builder Page #3

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to speculate about that.

Yes.

That's exactly what I thought you'd say.

Of course, it's left me

in a terrible situation.

Every day,

I have to come in here and pretend that...

It's a terrible thing to do

to this sweet little creature...

but I can't stop doing it.

'Cause if she were ever to leave me...

then Ragnar would go too.

So you've allowed your wife

to believe that you really...

Yes.

But why?

Well...

there's a sort of wonderful,

well... deserved punishment...

that I can inflict on myself...

by allowing Aline to condemn me...

when she really shouldn't.

You know, I have to admit I don't know

what you're talking about.

All right.

Look, shall we just be

very frank with each other for a moment?

What do you think?

See, I would like you

to tell me honestly...

just tell me very directly...

about some of the concerns that

you've had recently about me.

- What do you mean?

- Well, I've already seen it.

I've seen it very clearly.

- Seen... Seen what?

- I've seen you watching me.

What do you mean, watching you?

For Christ's sake!

Just tell me!

Haven't you started to think

the very same thing that Aline thinks?

What would that be?

She's begun to think that in some way...

or to some degree, I'm mentally sick.

What? Mentally sick?

She has absolutely never said a word to me

about anything like that.

It's never occurred to me either.

I've never thought for a second...

that there's anything's wrong

with you mentally.

See, I think you've always seen me

as Halvard Solness...

this terribly fortunate man...

for whom everything has gone well.

How could such a terribly fortunate man...

be mentally sick?

Well, would that be some sort

of an illusion then?

Aren't you a terribly fortunate man?

It seems to me you've experienced

good fortune...

to an almost unbelievable extent, frankly.

I know that.

What's that sound?

What sound?

Well, who... Who's doing that?

- Ingrid, what's going on?

- It's 48, weak and irregular.

Ingrid, there's a blue bottle

with a red label in my bag.

I think I left it at the nurses' station.

Please hurry.

Solness?

Are you all right?

Am I all right? Of course, I'm fine.

But you were out cold for a moment there,

just all of a sudden.

What are you talking about?

I was sitting here listening to you tell

me what a fortunate man I am.

Please continue.

- Well...

- I mean, tell me seriously...

what is it that makes you feel...

that I have been so terribly fortunate?

Well, I mean...

obviously, you've had a lot

of good luck in your life.

I mean...

first...

when that ugly old mansion burned down...

That place looked like

a thieves' castle in a fairy tale.

Please, that was Aline's family home.

Well, yes, for Aline,

it must have been a very sorrowful event.

Very painful, I'm sure.

She's never gotten over it.

It's been years and years...

and she still hasn't recovered from it.

And what happened afterwards was terrible.

Yes.

But... that fire, really...

was good luck for you.

I mean, that fire actually made everything

possible, didn't it, really?

You were just a poor boy from the country.

And now you are absolutely

the leading man in your field.

You are.

I know.

And that's exactly what's kept me...

in such an awful state

of uninterrupted anxiety.

Anxiety? Because you've had good luck?

Yes!

It starts every morning when I get up...

doesn't stop until I fall asleep at night.

'Cause I know that my luck

is going to turn around.

Everything is gonna spin out

in the opposite direction.

Now, why would you think that?

What would make that happen?

Well...

those who are younger

will begin the process.

I know that.

No. I have to say, I think that's absurd.

No. One or another

of those younger people...

is gonna ask me to step aside...

and that will be that.

You know what they say:

"The younger generation will just show up

one day and knock on the door."

Well, what if they do?

What if they do?

Well, that'll simply be the end

of Master Builder Solness.

That's all I'm saying.

It will simply be the end

of Master Builder Solness.

That's all I'm saying.

Solness!

Ingrid, I need that blue bottle!

Solness?

Solness? Solness!

Well, you know what they say:

"The younger generation will just show up

one day and knock on the door."

- Well, what if they do?

- What if they do?

Well, that will simply be the end

of Master Builder Solness.

That's all I'm saying.

Come in!

Hello.

Hello.

- I almost thought you didn't recognize me.

- No, no.

Although I have to say

that just at the moment...

Well, I certainly recognize you.

- t's you!

- Yes, it's me.

Yes, we met this summer up

at one of those hostels in the mountains.

I've always wondered

where that whole group of ladies went.

What happened to them?

They all left the hotel

for some unknown reason.

They probably weren't crazy about listening

to us having so much fun in the evenings.

No, they certainly weren't.

Now, you... you have to admit that you were

just toying with all of us, weren't you?

That's right. You were just playing games

with all of us.

Well, it was certainly more fun...

than sitting with those ladies

and knitting winter stockings.

I understand. I understand.

So now... now, let me guess.

Have you possibly

just arrived in town this evening?

I've just arrived this moment,

as a matter of fact.

And did you come entirely alone,

Miss Wangel?

Yes, I certainly did.

Wangel? Your name is Wangel?

I believe it is, if I'm not wrong.

But... could you possibly

be the daughter...

of the district doctor up at Sangerly?

Who else's daughter could I be?

Then we met each other up there...

the summer when I was staying there...

and I built the tower for the old church.

Yes.

That was when we met.

Well, that was a long time ago.

It was 10 years ago.

Ten years ago! You would have been

just a child, I imagine.

Well, I was 12 years old.

Is this the first time you've

ever been to our town, Miss Wangel?

- Yes, it certainly is.

- Then maybe you don't know anyone here.

No one but you.

- You and your wife.

- You know my wife?

I don't know her well, but yes, we were

at that spa together for a few days.

- Up there!

- Yes.

She said I should be sure to pay a visit

if I came to town.

Sort of a superfluous invitation,

wasn't it?

Well, she certainly never mentioned

anything of the sort to me.

Well, I'm going to ask if I might be

allowed to stay here tonight.

Well, I think that could be arranged.

'Cause I don't have

any clothes here at all.

I mean, apart from the ones I'm wearing.

And I have some underwear in my bag here,

but it's absolutely filthy.

Overdue for a wash.

Well, I think we could do something

about that as well.

So, I'll just do my house calls,

and then...

Yes, exactly.

Then you'll come right back.

Goddamn right! I'll come right back!

Aline!

Would you be kind enough

to come in here, please?

There's a Miss Wangel here,

whom you know, apparently.

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