From stage right to left, the four actors and the stagemanager who reads certain stage directions are arranged as follows.

On stage right, slightly closer to the audience, sits Judge Brack. His chair is angled slightly toward stage center. His script is in a binder on his lap There is an empty chair or stool next to him.

Center stage, able to make eye contact with him stands Hedda Gabler. She may use a music stand for her script.. She picks it up and moves to Brack, sitting by him for their scene. She is the most mobile actor.

Jorge Tesman and Thea Elvsted sit at a card table stage left slightly above Hedda. Jorge is behind the table facing downstage, Thea on the offstage side facing Hedda. There are extra papers on the table.

The stage manager sits far left downstage of the action, facing onstage There's a boombox for the music and a clapper for the gunshots. These should be be hidden upstage of the stage managers chair. The actors make a few moves during the play. These are underlined. Additional stage directions may be read for emphasis. A few simple props will help the action. There should be papers on the table at the start. Other props are noted at the end of the script. Some of the emotional stage directions may be read by the actors at the director's discretion. . When the actors are in place, the stage manager begins

"Hedda Redux"; an alternate version of the climactic moments of Hendrik Ibsen's famous play. I'm _________., your stage manager. There is a parlor stove on the opposite side of the stage from me. Above that, French doors to the garden. At the back of this elegant room, velvet curtains cover the doors to the music room. There is an exit into the hall upstage behind me. It is late in the day. I'll let the characters introduce themselves.

(Center stage) You know me as Hedda Gabler. A few days ago, I returned from my honeymoon in France to this house, an estate purchased by my new husband, Jorgen Tesman, a University lecturer. (Moves up toward him .) The money came from a mortgage on the home of his maiden aunts, Julia and Irina, who raised him.

(From his chair) I hold that mortgage. They call me Judge Brack. A former suitor of Hedda Gabler, the late General's daughter, I'm rather fond of other men's wives. She however was only interested in the romantic ideals of Eilert Lovborg who left town unexpectedly. Lovborg returned here while the happy couple were abroad. Because of a recent sensational book, the wayward scholar became a rival for poor Jorge's promised position at the University -- with my support. Of course, things have changed dramatically today. Lovborg died of a gunshot wound to the gut at the establishment of a certain Mademoiselle Diana. The manuscript of his second book, which promised to make him really famous, has vanished. Actually, I suspect Mrs. Hedda may have burned it -- in this very stove.

(at the table) But Eilert Lovborg's work will survive, even though he told me he tore it to pieces and threw it into the fjord. That book was created with my help while dear Eilert was tutoring my children in our small provincial town . I'm Mrs. Thea Elvsted. I actually went the same school as Hedda; I was younger than her of course. I left my country home to follow Eilert here to the city; he inspired me so. And I brought all the original notes for his book with me.

(behind the table) Jorgen Tesman, eh. I'm very fond of research, as my wife will tell you. I've made it my mission to reconstruct Lovborg's ground-breaking book from these original papers. That will mean abandoning my research on medieval French domestic arrangements., unfortunately. I feel responsible for my wife's actions. Aunt Julia thinks she's expecting . Thea will be invaluable in this monumental task. We're all mourning my poor old Aunt 'Rina, who just died. I'll miss her, though dear Aunt Julia is still here. She made me these slippers.

I told Jorge earlier this evening that I burned Lovborg's manuscript because I couldn't bear seeing my husband overshadowed. He's very trusting. But Brack knows something he's not telling me., something about the pistol I gave Lovborg when he was here ranting this morning. (Pause) It's time all this came to an end.

Let the scene begin. Hedda moves toward the writing table .

. Well, my darling Thea, how goes Eilert Lovborg's literary monument?

Looks up at her dispiritedly,papers in hand All these notes will be so terribly hard to put in order, Mrs. Tesman.

Making piles of paper We'll manage it, eh? Arranging other people's papers is just the work for me, Hedda.

Hedda crosses down and sits by the Judge. The actress does so

What's that you said about my pistol, Judge Brack?

Lovborg must have stolen it.

Stolen one of my pistols?

Any other explanation would be unthinkable, Mrs. Hedda.

HEDDA looks up at him , BRACK glances down at her.

Lovborg visited here this morning. No?

Yes.

You were alone with him here?

. Briefly.

You didn't leave this room ?

.No.

Think back. Weren't you out of the room, even--briefly?

. Perhaps for a moment. I went in to the piano. Pointing upstage

Your pistol-case was where at that time?

I keep it locked up in ---

Where, Mrs. Hedda?

The case was there on the writing-table.

Have you looked recently to see whether both your pistols are still in their case?

I haven't felt like shooting anything yet today.

I must tell you I saw the pistol taken from Lovborg's pocket. The same pistol I saw here yesterday. In this room. When you almost shot me in the garden.

You've brought it back to return it, of course?

Your pistol is in the custody of the police.

The police ? Whatever will they do with it?

Try to find its rightful owner, of course.

Do you think that's likely?

No, Hedda Gabler--as long as I say nothing.

If you do not?

Perhaps your pistol was stolen.

Death rather than that.

People say such things -- but they never do anything about them.

Suppose my pistol was not simply ... stolen. What then?

My dear Hedda--then the scandal starts!

The scandal!

Yes, scandal. That appalls you, doesn't it, Mrs. Hedda. The daughter of General Gabler will, of course, be brought before the inquest -- you and Mademoiselle Diana. She will have to explain just what happened in her rooms. Was it an accident or murder? Did your pistol go off as Lovborg was trying to get it out of his pocket, perhaps to threaten her, or whatever mad act he intended ? Did she grab for it , shoot him below the belt, perhaps by accident, and push your gun back into his pocket? That would be quite like her. She is a quick-thinking young person, our Mademoiselle Diana.

But I have nothing to do with such repulsive business. I don't know any Mademoiselle Diana.

Certainly not. But you will have to answer one question: Did you give Eilert Lovborg your pistol? What conclusions will people draw, whatever you answer?

I hadn't though of that.

My dear Hedda, you're in no danger as long as I say nothing.

So I am in your power, my dear Judge. Pause You have me at your beck and call, from this time forward.

Believe me, Mrs. Hedda, I shall not abuse my singular advantage.

None the less, I am subject to your will -- even your demands, A slave! Rises impetuously. Never!

People generally accept the inevitable.

Perhaps.

BRACK leans back in his chair .

Hedda goes back to the writing table. The actress moves to the offstage side of the table.

Well? How are you two getting on, Jorge? Mocking Eh?

Heaven knows, dear. In any case all this cross-referencing will take months.

Fancy that! Passes her hands softly through THEA's hair.

Doesn't it seem strange to you, Thea? Here you are sitting with Jorgen Tesman,
just the way you used to sit in your house with Eilert Lovborg.

Ah, if I could only inspire your husband in the same way!

. Oh, inspiration will come -- in time.

Yes, you know, Hedda, I do think I begin to feel something like that. Pats THEA's hand. But why don't you go and keep Judge Brack company again? Eh?

There's nothing I can do to help you two?

Nothing in the world. Turning his head.  I trust to you to keep our Hedda entertained, my dear Brack.

With the very greatest of pleasure.

I 'm feeling wretched after this horrible day. I will go rest in the music room.

You do that, dear--eh? Shows something to THEA

As a curious Judge Brack stirs the fire, Hedda enters the music room behind the curtains upstage. The actress crosses below the table, then moves upstage facing away from the audience. She should shift her music stand upstage placing it above center to the right Suddenly ominous piano music is heard. Piano music

Oh--heavens! Music stops

Dearest Hedda--don't play that to-night! Think of the dead! Aunt Rina - and Eilert Lovborg too.

Don't forget General Gabler. Pause I will be quiet from now on.

It's not good for her to see us at this distressing work. She and Eilert were such good friends. I have an idea, Mrs. Elvsted,--you shall take Rina's rooms at Aunt Julia's. I will come over in the evenings. We can sit and work there--eh?

Brilliant idea, Jorgen Tesman. How am I to get through my evenings alone in this mausoleum?

Oh, I daresay Judge Brack will be so kind as to look in on you now and then, even though I am out.

Every blessed evening. I will teach you chess, Mrs. Tesman! We shall get on famously together, just we two!

Don't you flatter yourself, my dear judge.

(Slap shot sound effect) A shot rings out. Everyone leaps to their feet  Actors rise

She 's playing with the General's old pistols again. Move upstage  And she's locked this door. We'll go around to the hallway. Tesman and Thea should leave the stage if possible. Brack approaches Hedda

She turns, reveals a gun in her hand.

The hall door's locked too.

Good God!--people don't do such things.

Perform this action if possible, otherwise describe ; BRACK crumples on his side facing upstage stage center. .

HEDDA kneels, puts pistol in his hand, then backs away above him.

Hedda, Hedda!  TESMAN , THEA return; stop above table

What this, eh? THEA screams, runs out 

Eh? Tesman stands there,

Standing on the same line as Tesman; the Judge on the floor between them

Sit down. Your friend the Judge has just shot himself. He couldn't face the scandal.

Scandal?

At Mademoiselle Diana's. She is a - friend of his. It was Brack who gave my other pistol to Eilert Lovborg, his protege. That's what we two were talking about so quietly earlier.

I heard a shot.

The General had a derringer. Totally inaccurate. It's on the piano. I thought it would get your attention.

Hedda removes something from the Judge's breast pocket

 Actress may do so, or produce it from her script

Holding up a document I knew he'd have this with him. Aunt Julia's mortgage. (To herself) In case he needed to threaten me with her house too. Looking through it  The only witness was Aunt Rina. Not very clever for a judge.

I don't understand.

You don't need to, Jorge. Thea will be back with the police eventually, if she doesn't fall in the fjord. Just remember your place at the University is now assured--with Lovborg and Brack out of the picture.

Perhaps I better go after Thea, eh?

And leave the mother of your child alone with a corpse!

You're not  ---

Aunt Julia has a keen eye.

Hedda goes to the stove, sits on the hearth stool, tears and burns the mortgage.

Now as for Mrs.Thea Elvsted -- you understand that a respectable member of the university faculty can't be seen associating with a woman who's left her husband and children for a man who's just committed suicide in a brothel.

But Lovborg's wonderful book...

Turns on stool. I'll help with that -- God knows I heard Eilert prattle on about his advanced ideas for years.

Hedda reaches under the easy chair and produces a large untidy manuscript. (A page of her script may be attached)

We will have to rewrite this opus completely.

But you burned...

Rises cradling the papers  An embarrassing catalog concerning medieval French domestic habits. Even the scenery was boring, dear. After the baby comes, we'll take a proper trip.

I...

Crossing to him Will be famous for uniting the late Eilert Lovborg's philosophic fantasies with sound scholarship. Just think of the fun you'll have, Jorge, finding historical instances. And you can cross-reference all that original material.

Eh ---

Paris! The Opera. Pause The Bibliotechque Nationale. TESMAN sits  Aunt Julia can mind the baby back here. Just let me do the talking.

Hedda puts manuscript back under the chair

We'll hide that until Thea's gone. Pity Mrs. Elvsted has to stay around for Brack's inquest. She'll really want to leave after that kind of experience.

This is what happened. I came back out here while you and Mrs. Elvsted were going around to the hall door. Judge Brack had already taken my other pistol from his pocket.  He must have made off with the pair of them when he was here - as usual - this morning. I asked him "Are you going to shoot me too?" I said "You'll really need a better story than the one about Lovborg,. Mademoiselle Diana wouldn't be here to back you up -- and I'll be dead. " Then I asked him - as a joke - " Why don't you just shoot yourself like poor Eilert instead.?" And he did. But I won't go into the details.

We'll just say I found him like this when I came out after I heard the second shot. The authorities will be eager to cover up the whole scandal. Looking down at TESMAN seated stunned at the table. You have to admit your dear Judge had been acting strangely since we've come back -- always coming around here --sponsoring Eilert Lovborg at the University. When men reach a certain age without finding a partner ---

Hedda walks over and looks down at the pistol. The actress may

I'm going to miss General Gabler's old pistols. I think I'll replace them with a nice pair of Colt revolvers - soon.

Jorge starts gathering up the papers nervously as lights fade. The actor should

PLAYS