John Gabriel Borkman Part 29

MRS. BORKMAN.

And your own son! Have you used your power--have you lived and laboured--to make him happy?

BORKMAN.

I do not know him.

MRS. BORKMAN.

No, that is true. You do not even know him.

BORKMAN.

[Harshly.] You, his mother, have taken care of that!

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Looking at him with a lofty air.] Oh, you do not know what I have taken care of!

BORKMAN.

You?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes, I. I alone.

BORKMAN.

Then tell me.

MRS. BORKMAN.

I have taken care of your memory.

BORKMAN.

[With a short dry laugh.] My memory? Oh, indeed! It sounds almost as if I were dead already.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[With emphasis.] And so you are.

BORKMAN.

[Slowly.] Yes, perhaps you are right. [Firing up.] But no, no! Not yet! I have been close to the verge of death. But now I have awakened. I have come to myself. A whole life lies before me yet. I can see it awaiting me, radiant and quickening. And you--you shall see it too.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Raising her hand.] Never dream of life again! Lie quiet where you are.

ELLA RENTHEIM.

[Shocked.] Gunhild! Gunhild, how can you----!

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Not listening to her.] I will raise the monument over your grave.

BORKMAN.

The pillar of shame, I suppose you mean?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[With increasing excitement.] Oh, no, it shall be no pillar of metal or stone. And no one shall be suffered to carve any scornful legend on the monument I shall raise. There shall be, as it were, a quickset hedge of trees and bushes, close, close around your tomb. They shall hide away all the darkness that has been. The eyes of men and the thoughts of men shall no longer dwell on John Gabriel Borkman!

BORKMAN.

[Hoa.r.s.ely and cuttingly.] And this labour of love you will perform?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Not by my own strength. I cannot think of that. But I have brought up one to help me, who shall live for this alone. His life shall be so pure and high and bright, that your burrowing in the dark shall be as though it had never been!

BORKMAN.

[Darkly and threateningly.] If it is Erhart you mean, say so at once!

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Looking him straight in the eyes.] Yes, it is Erhart; my son; he whom you are ready to renounce in atonement for your own acts.

BORKMAN.

[With a look towards ELLA.] In atonement for my blackest sin.

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Repelling the idea.] A sin towards a stranger only. Remember the sin towards me! [Looking triumphantly at them both.] But he will not obey you! When I cry out to him in my need, he will come to me! It is with me that he will remain! With me, and never with any one else. [Suddenly listens, and cries.] I hear him!

He is here, he is here! Erhart!

[ERHART BORKMAN hastily tears open the hall door, and enters the room. He is wearing an overcoat and has his hat on.

ERHART.

[Pale and anxious.] Mother! What in Heaven's name----! [Seeing BORKMAN, who is standing beside the doorway leading into the garden-room, he starts and takes off his hat. After a moment's silence, he asks:] What do you want with me, mother? What has happened?

MRS. BORKMAN.

[Stretching her arms towards him.] I want to see you, Erhart!

I want to have you with me, always!

ERHART.

[Stammering.] Have me----? Always? What do you mean by that?

MRS. BORKMAN.

I will have you, I say! There is some one who wants to take you away from me!

ERHART.

[Recoiling a step.] Ah--so you know?

MRS. BORKMAN.

Yes. Do you know it, too?

ERHART.

[Surprised, looking at her.] Do _I_ know it? Yes, of course.

MRS. BORKMAN.

Aha, so you have planned it all out! Behind my back! Erhart!

Erhart!

ERHART.

[Quickly.] Mother, tell me what it is you know!