Plot

Nora Helmer has years earlier committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald. Now she is being blackmailed lives in fear of her husband's finding out and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career. But when the truth comes out, Nora is shocked to learn where she really stands in her husband's esteem.—Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

Torvald and Nora Helmer have three children. The early years of their marriage have been fraught with poverty. Nora economized in order that Torvald's salary may support the household. The husband falls ill, and Nora takes him to Italy, where he fully recovers. In after years he is made manager of the bank. Torvald believes Nora has borrowed, from her father, the money spent during his illness. She has, in fact, obtained a loan from Nils Krogstad. who worked in the same bank, forging her father's name. Through eight years Nora had saved and skimped to find money to redeem the note. When Torvald is made manager he deems it his duty to discharge Krogstad, whom he knows to be an embezzler. Krogstad calls upon Nora demanding that she protect him, and threatens to expose Nora. She knows Torvald would consider her action an egregious offense. Christina Linden, lately widowed, comes to the Helmer home to visit. She had been in love with Krogstad but married for money. Nora urges Torvald to give Christina a place in his bank where the woman may support herself. This Torvald does, giving her Krogstad's place. Krogstad makes good his threat and writes a letter to Nora's husband, dropping it in a letter-box to which only the husband holds the key. Nora sees the letter and uses strategy to keep her husband from opening and reading the accusing missive. Meanwhile Krogstad has relented and written another note, recanting his charges. When Torvald reads the letter in which Krogstad accuses Nora, he is wild with rage, declaring his own reputation will be ruined. Then he reads the letter in which Krogstad recants and encloses the note Nora has given as security for the loan. Torvald tears up the note and evidences relief that his good name shall not be tarnished by his wife's sacrificial action. When he begins to lecture Nora for her conduct the wife revolts. She tells him her love had been killed by his revelations of personal selfishness, and she goes out into the dark Norway night, never to return.