The Project Gutenberg eBook of R. U. R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), by Karel Capek.

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that R. U. R. is subject to a royalty. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, the British Commonwealth, including Canada, and all other countries of the Copyright Union. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion pictures, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are strictly reserved. In its present form the play is dedicated to the reading public only.

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The play is laid on an island somewhere on our planet, and on this island is the central office of the factory of Rossum’s Universal Robots. “Robot” is a Czech word meaning “worker.” When the play opens, a few decades beyond the present day, the factory had turned out already, following a secret formula, hundreds of thousands, and even millions, of manufactured workmen, living automats, without souls, desires or feelings. They are high-powered laborers, good for nothing but work. There are two grades, the unskilled and the skilled, and especially trained workmen are furnished on request.

When Helena Glory, president of the Humanitarian League, comes to ascertain what can be done to improve the condition of those overspecialized creatures, Harry Domin, the general manager of the factory, captures her heart and hand in the speediest courting on record in our theatre. The last two acts take place ten years later. Due to the desire of Helena to have the Robots more like human beings, Dr. Gall, the head of the physiological and experimental departments, has secretly changed the formula, and while he has partially humanized only a few hundreds, there are enough to make ringleaders, and a world revolt of robots is under way. This [4] revolution is easily accomplished, as robots have long since been used when needed as soldiers and the robots far outnumber human beings.

The rest of the play is magnificent melodrama, superbly portrayed, with the handful of human beings at bay while the unseen myriads of their own robots close in on them. The final scene is like Dunsany on a mammoth scale.

Then comes the epilogue, in which Alquist, the company’s builder, is not only the only human being on the island, but also the only one left on earth. The robots have destroyed the rest of mankind. They spared his life because he was a worker. And he is spending his days unceasingly endeavoring to discover and reconstruct the lost formula. The robots are doomed. They saved the wrong man. They should have spared the company’s physicist. The robots know that their bodies will wear out in time and there will be no new multitudes of robots to replace them. But Alquist discovers two humanized robots, a young man and young woman, who have a bit of Adam and Eve in them, and the audience perceives that mankind is about to start afresh. Nature has won out, after all.

Domin. To E. M. McVicker & Co., Southampton, England. “We undertake no guarantee for goods damaged in transit. As soon as the consignment was taken on board we drew your captain’s attention to the fact that the vessel was unsuitable for the transportation of Robots; and we are therefore not responsible for spoiled freight. We beg to remain, for Rossum’s Universal Robots, yours truly.” ( Sulla types the lines. ) Ready?

Domin. Another letter. To the E. B. Huysen Agency, New York, U.S.A. “We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for five thousand Robots. As you are sending your own vessel, please dispatch as cargo equal quantities of soft and hard coal for R.U.R., the same to be credited as part payment ( BUZZER ) of the amount due us.” ( Answering phone ) Hello! This is the central office. Yes, certainly. Well, send them a wire. Good. ( Rises ) “We beg to remain, for Rossum’s Universal Robots, yours very truly.” Ready?

Domin. ( Answering small portable phone ) Hello! Yes. No. All right. ( Standing back of desk, punching plug machine and buttons ) Another letter. Freidrichswerks, Hamburg, Germany. “We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots.” ( Enter Marius R. ) Well, what is it?

Domin. ( Reading card ) Ah, from President [11] Glory. Ask her to come in— ( To Sulla . Crossing up to her desk, then back to his own ) Where did I leave off?

Sulla. “We beg to acknowledge receipt of order for fifteen thousand Robots.”

Domin. Please sit down. Sulla, you may go. ( Exit Sulla L. Sitting down L. of desk ) How can I be of service to you, Miss Glory?

Domin. To have a look at our famous works where people are manufactured. Like all visitors. Well, there is no objection.

Domin. To enter the factory? Yes, of course. Everybody comes here with someone’s visiting card, Miss Glory.

Domin. Only certain things. The manufacture of artificial people is a secret process.

Domin. Whether I could make a special exception in your case and show you our factory. Why, certainly, Miss Glory.

Domin. They all do. But we shall consider it a special honor to show you more than we do the rest.

Helena. Of course. You want to see whether I’m a spy or not—I beg your pardon.

Domin. ( Observing her with deep interest ) Why, yes. Hm—of course—We—that is—

Domin. Well, because—as— ( Sits on desk nearer her ) You will make a long stay, won’t you?

Helena. ( Backing away R. ) That depends on how much of the factory you show me.

Domin. ( Rises; crosses to her ) Oh, hang the factory. Oh, no, no, you shall see everything, Miss Glory. Indeed you shall. Won’t you sit down? ( Takes her to couch R.C. She sits. Offers her cigarette from case at end of sofa. She refuses. )

Domin. ( Crosses to L.C. near desk ) It was in the year 1920 that old Rossum, the great physiologist, who was then quite a young scientist, took himself to the distant island for the purpose of studying the ocean fauna. ( She is amused. ) On this occasion he attempted by chemical synthesis to imitate the living matter known as protoplasm until he suddenly discovered a substance which behaved exactly like living matter although its chemical composition was different. That was in the year 1932, exactly four hundred and forty years after the discovery of America. Whew—

Domin. ( Takes flowers from desk to her ) Yes. You see, physiology is not in my line. Shall I go on?

Domin. ( Center ) And then, Miss Glory, Old Rossum wrote the following among his chemical experiments: “Nature has found only one method of organizing living matter. There is, however, another method, more simple, flexible and rapid which has not yet occurred to Nature at all. This second process by which life can be developed was discovered by [14] me today.” Now imagine him, Miss Glory, writing those wonderful words over some colloidal mess that a dog wouldn’t look at. Imagine him sitting over a test tube and thinking how the whole tree of life would grow from him, how all animals would proceed from it, beginning with some sort of a beetle and ending with a man . A man of different substance from us. Miss Glory, that was a tremendous moment. ( Gets box of candy from desk and passes it to her. )

Domin. ( As she speaks his portable PHONE lights up and he answers ) Well—Hello!—Yes—no, I’m in conference. Don’t disturb me.

Domin. ( Smile ) Now, the thing was how to get the life out of the test tubes, and hasten development and form organs, bones and nerves, and so on, and find such substances as catalytics, enzymes, hormones in short—you understand?

Domin. Never mind. ( Leans over couch and fixes cushion for her back ) There! You see with the help of his tinctures he could make whatever he wanted. He could have produced a Medusa with the brain of Socrates or a worm fifty yards long— ( She laughs. He does also; leans closer on couch, then straightens up again ) —but being without a grain of humor, he took into his head to make a vertebrate or perhaps a man. This artificial living matter of his had a raging thirst for life. It didn’t mind being sown or mixed together. That couldn’t be done with natural albumen. And that’s how he set about it.

Domin. About imitating Nature. First of all he tried making an artificial dog. That took him several years and resulted in a sort of stunted calf which died in a few days. I’ll show it to you in the museum. [15] And then old Rossum started on the manufacture of man .

Helena. What a pity that it’s to be discovered in all the school books of both Europe and America. ( Both laugh. )

Domin. Yes. But do you know what isn’t in the school books? That old Rossum was mad. Seriously, Miss Glory, you must keep this to yourself. The old crank wanted to actually make people .

Domin. Approximately —Miss Glory. But old Rossum meant it literally. He wanted to become a sort of scientific substitute for God . He was a fearful materialist, and that’s why he did it all. His sole purpose was nothing more or less than to prove that God was no longer necessary. ( Crosses to end of couch ) Do you know anything about anatomy?

Domin. Neither do I. Well— ( He laughs ) —he then decided to manufacture everything as in the human body. I’ll show you in the museum the bungling attempt it took him ten years to produce. It was to have been a man , but it lived for three days only. Then up came young Rossum, an engineer. He was a wonderful fellow, Miss Glory. When he saw what a mess of it the old man was making he said: “It’s absurd to spend ten years making a man. If you can’t make him quicker than Nature, you might as well shut up shop.” Then he set about learning anatomy himself.

Domin. No. The school books are full of paid advertisements, and rubbish at that. What the school books say about the united efforts of the two great Rossums is all a fairy tale. They used to have [16] dreadful rows. The old atheist hadn’t the slightest conception of industrial matters , and the end of it was that Young Rossum shut him up in some laboratory or other and let him fritter the time away with his monstrosities while he himself started on the business from an engineer’s point of view. Old Rossum cursed him and before he died he managed to botch up two physiological horrors. Then one day they found him dead in the laboratory . And that’s his whole story.

Domin. ( Sits beside her on couch ) Well, anyone who has looked into human anatomy will have seen at once that man is too complicated, and that a good engineer could make him more simply. So young Rossum began to overhaul anatomy to see what could be left out or simplified. In short—But this isn’t boring you, Miss Glory?

Domin. ( Gets closer ) So young Rossum said to himself: “A man is something that feels happy, plays the piano, likes going for a walk, and, in fact, wants to do a whole lot of things that are really unnecessary.”

Domin. That are unnecessary when he wants— ( Takes her hand ) —let us say, to weave or count. Do you play the piano?

Domin. That’s good. ( Kisses her hand. She lowers her head. ) Oh, I beg your pardon! ( Rises ) But a working machine must not play the piano, must not feel happy, must not do a whole lot of other things. A gasoline motor must not have tassels or ornaments, Miss Glory. And to manufacture artificial workers is the same thing as the manufacture of a gasoline motor. ( She is not interested. ) The process [17] must be the simplest, and the product the best from a practical point of view. ( Sits beside her again ) What sort of worker do you think is the best from a practical point of view?

Domin. What sort of worker do you think is the best from a practical point of view?

Helena. ( Pulling herself together ) Oh! Perhaps the one who is most honest and hard-working.

Domin. No. The one that is the cheapest . The one whose requirements are the smallest . Young Rossum invented a worker with the minimum amount of requirements. He had to simplify him. He rejected everything that did not contribute directly to the progress of work. Everything that makes man more expensive. In fact he rejected man and made the Robot . My dear Miss Glory, the Robots are not people. Mechanically they are more perfect than we are; they have an enormously developed intelligence, but they have no soul. ( Leans back. )

Domin. Very neat, very simple. Really a beautiful piece of work. Not much in it, but everything in flawless order. The product of an engineer is technically at a higher pitch of perfection than a product of Nature.

Domin. All the worse. God hasn’t the slightest notion of modern engineering. Would you believe that young Rossum then proceeded to play at being God?

Domin. He began to manufacture Super-Robots. Regular giants they were. He tried to make them [18] twelve feet tall. But you wouldn’t believe what a failure they were.

Domin. Yes. For no reason at all their limbs used to keep snapping off. “Evidently our planet is too small for giants.” Now we only make Robots of normal size and of very high-class human finish.

Helena. ( Hands him flower; he puts it in button-hole ) I saw the first Robots at home. The Town Council bought them for—I mean engaged them for work.

Helena. These were employed as street-sweepers. I saw them sweeping. They were so strange and quiet.

Domin. ( Rises ) Rossum’s Universal Robot factory doesn’t produce a uniform brand of Robots. We have Robots of finer and coarser grades. The best will live about twenty years. ( Crosses to desk. Helena looks in her pocket mirror. He pushes button on desk. )

Domin. Yes, they get used up. ( Enter Marius , R. Domin crosses to C. ) Marius, bring in samples of the manual labor Robot. ( Exit Marius R.C. ) I’ll show you specimens of the two extremes. This first grade is comparatively inexpensive and is made in vast quantities. ( Marius re-enters R.C. with two manual labor Robots . Marius is L.C. , Robots R.C. , Domin at desk. Marius stands on tiptoes, touches head, feels arms, forehead of one of the Robots . They come to a mechanical standstill. ) There you are, as powerful as a small tractor. Guaranteed to have average intelligence. That will do, Marius. ( Marius exits R.C. with Robots .)

Helena. ( Looks at Domin. Rising, crosses a step to C. ) So pleased to meet you. ( Looks at Domin ) You must find it terribly dull in this out of the way spot, don’t you?

Domin. ( Crosses to Sulla ) Sulla isn’t angry. See, Miss Glory, the kind of skin we make. Feel her face. ( Touches Sulla’s face. )

Domin. ( Examining Sulla’s hand ) You wouldn’t know that she’s made of different material from us, would you? Turn ’round, Sulla. ( Sulla does so. Circles twice. )

Sulla. Please sit down. ( Helena sits on couch. ) Did you have a pleasant crossing? ( Fixes her hair. )

Sulla. Don’t go back on the Amelia , Miss Glory, [20] the barometer is falling steadily. Wait for the Pennsylvania . That’s a good powerful vessel.

Sulla. Forty knots an hour. Fifty thousand tons. One of the latest vessels, Miss Glory.

Sulla. Oui! Madame! I know four languages. I can write: “Dear Sir, Monsieur, Geehrter Herr, Cteny pane.”

Helena. ( Jumping up, crosses to Sulla ) Oh, that’s absurd! Sulla isn’t a Robot. Sulla is a girl like me. Sulla, this is outrageous—Why do you take part in such a hoax?

Helena. No, no, you are not telling the truth. ( She catches the amused expression on Domin’s face ) I know they have forced you to do it for an advertisement. Sulla, you are a girl like me, aren’t you? ( Looks at him. )

Domin. What? ( Pushes button on desk ) Well, then I must convince you. ( Enter Marius R.C. He stands just inside the door. ) Marius, take Sulla into the dissecting room, and tell them to open her up at once. ( Marius moves toward C. )

Domin. Into the dissecting room. When they’ve cut her open , you can go and have a look. ( Marius makes a start toward Sulla .)

Domin. You can’t kill machines. Sulla! ( Marius one step forward, one arm out. Sulla makes a move toward R. door. )

Helena. ( Moves a step R. ) Don’t be afraid, Sulla. I won’t let you go. Tell me, my dear— ( Takes her hand ) —are they always so cruel to you? You mustn’t put up with it, Sulla. You mustn’t.

Helena. That doesn’t matter. Robots are just as good as we are. Sulla, you wouldn’t let yourself be cut to pieces?

Domin. You see, Miss Glory, the Robots have no interest in life. They have no enjoyments. They are less than so much grass.

Domin. ( Pushes button ) Marius, Sulla, you may go. ( Marius pivots and exits R. Sulla exits L. )

Helena. How terrible! ( To C. ) It’s outrageous what you are doing. ( He takes her hand. )

Helena. ( Indignantly ) Marius and Sulla were generals and fought against each other in the year—I’ve forgotten now.

Domin. Come here. ( She goes. ) Do you see anything? ( Takes her arm. She is on his R. )

Domin. Robots. All our work people are Robots. And down there, can you see anything?

Domin. Robots! All our officials are Robots. And when you see the factory— ( Noon WHISTLE blows. She is scared; puts arm on Domin. He laughs ) If we don’t blow the whistle the Robots won’t stop working. In two hours I’ll show you the kneading trough. ( Both come down stage. Helena is L.C. and Domin is R.C. , arm in arm. )

Domin. The pestle for beating up the paste. In each one we mix the ingredients for a thousand Robots at one operation. Then there are the vats for the preparation of liver, brains, and so on. Then [23] you will see the bone factory. After that I’ll show you the spinning mill.

Domin. Yes. For weaving nerves and veins. Miles and miles of digestive tubes pass through it at a time.

Domin. Perhaps it would be better. There’s only a handful of us among a hundred thousand Robots, and not one woman . We talk nothing but the factory all day, and every day. It’s just as if we were under a curse, Miss Glory.

Domin. No, no. Come in. Miss Glory, here are Gall, Fabry, Alquist, Hallemeier. This is President Glory’s daughter. ( All move to her and shake her hand. )

Domin. Come in, Busman. This is President Glory’s daughter. This is Busman, Miss Glory.

Busman. By Jove, that’s fine. ( All click heels. He crowds in and shakes her hand ) Miss Glory, may we send a cablegram to the papers about your arrival?

Dr. Gall. Are you going to stay long? ( Men conscious of their appearance. Alquist’s trousers turned up at bottom. He turns them down. Busman polishes shoes. Others fix ties, collars, etc. )

Domin. Be quiet and let Miss Glory speak. ( Men sit erect. Domin stands at Helena’s L. )

Helena. ( To Domin ) What am I to speak to them about? ( Men look at one another. )

Helena. ( To Others. Wavering, then in desperate resolution ) Tell me, doesn’t it ever distress you the way you are treated?

Helena. Don’t you feel that you might be living a better life? ( Pause. All confused. )

Helena. I mean that it’s perfectly outrageous. It’s terrible. ( Standing up ) The whole of Europe is talking about the way you’re being treated. That’s why I came here, to see for myself, and it’s a thousand times worse than could have been imagined. How can you put up with it?

Helena. Good heavens, you are living creatures, just like us, like the whole of Europe, like the whole world. It’s disgraceful that you must live like this.

Helena. Worse than red Indians. May I—oh, may I call you— brothers ? ( Men look at each other. )

Helena. ( Looking at Domin ) Brothers, I have not come here as the President’s daughter. I have come on behalf of the Humanity League. Brothers, the Humanity League now has over two hundred thousand members. Two hundred thousand people are on your side, and offer you their help. ( Tapping back of chair. )

Fabry. I’m always telling you there’s nothing like good old Europe. You see they’ve not forgotten us. They’re offering us help.

Helena. ( Glaring at Domin ) Oh, never mind about me. I’ll stay as long as it is necessary. ( All express delight. )

Alquist. ( Rising L. ) Domin, I’m going to get the best room ready for Miss Glory.

Domin. Just a minute. I’m afraid that Miss Glory is of the opinion she has been talking to Robots.

Domin. Yes, the officials, but not the managers . Allow me, Miss Glory—this is Consul Busman, General Business Manager; this is Doctor Fabry, General Technical Manager; Doctor Hallemeier, head of the Institute for the Psychological Training of Robots; Doctor Gall, head of the Psychological and Experimental Department; and Alquist, head of the Building Department, R. U. R. ( As they are introduced they rise and come C. to kiss her hand, except Gall and Alquist , whom Domin pushes away. General babble. )

Helena. ( Seriously ) But you know I’ve come to disturb your Robots for you. ( Busman pulls chair closer. )

Domin. ( Mocking her serious tone ) My dear Miss Glory— ( Chuckle ) —we’ve had close upon a hundred saviors and prophets here. Every ship brings us some. Missionaries, Anarchists, Salvation Army, all sorts! It’s astonishing what a number of churches and idiots there are in the world.

Domin. So far we’ve let them all. Why not? The Robot remembers everything but that’s all. They don’t even laugh at what the people say. Really it’s quite incredible.

Dr. Gall. Not for anything in the world, Miss Glory. Why should we send you back?

Domin. If it would amuse you, Miss Glory, I’ll take you down to the Robot warehouse. It holds about three hundred thousand of them.

Domin. Good, and you can say whatever you like to them. You can read the Bible, recite the multiplication table, whatever you please. You can even preach to them about human rights.

Fabry. For work , Miss Glory. One Robot can replace two and a half workmen . The human machine, Miss Glory, was terribly imperfect . It had to be removed sooner or later.

Fabry. It was not effective . It no longer answers the requirements of modern engineering . Nature has no idea of keeping pace with modern labor . For example, from a technical point of view, the whole of childhood is a sheer absurdity. So much time lost. And then again—

Fabry. Pardon me. What is the real aim of your League—the—the Humanity League?

Helena. Its real purpose is to—to protect the Robots—and—and to insure good treatment for them.

Fabry. Not a bad object, either. A machine has to be treated properly. ( Leans back ) I don’t like damaged articles. Please, Miss Glory, enroll us all members of your league. (“ Yes, yes! ” from all Men .)

Helena. No, you don’t understand me. What we really want is to—to— liberate the Robots. ( Looks at all Others .)

Hallemeier. Perhaps they’re even to receive wages? ( Looking at other Men , amused. )

Hallemeier. That would be very nice, Miss Glory, only there’s nothing that does please the Robots. Good heavens, what are they to buy? You can feed them on pineapples, straw, whatever you like. It’s all the same to them. They’ve no appetite at all. They’ve no interest in anything. Why, hang it all, nobody’s ever yet seen a Robot smile.

Hallemeier. Confoundedly so, but they’re nothing else. They’ve no will of their own. No soul. No passion.

Hallemeier. Nothing particular. Occasionally they seem to go off their heads . Something like epilepsy, you know. It’s called “Robot’s Cramp.” They’ll suddenly sling down everything they’re holding, stand still, gnash their teeth—and then they have to go into the stamping-mill. It’s evidently some breakdown in the mechanism.

Fabry. ( Humorously ) Do you think that the soul [30] first shows itself by a gnashing of teeth? ( Men chuckle. )

Helena. Perhaps it’s just a sign that there’s a struggle within. Perhaps it’s a sort of revolt. Oh, if you could infuse them with it.

Domin. That’ll be remedied, Miss Glory. Doctor Gall is just making some experiments.

Dr. Gall. Yes, the Robots feel practically no bodily pain. You see, young Rossum provided them with too limited a nervous system. We must introduce suffering .

Dr. Gall. For industrial reasons, Miss Glory. Sometimes a Robot does damage to himself because it doesn’t hurt him. He puts his hand into the machine— ( Describes with gesture ) —breaks his finger— ( Describes with gesture ) —smashes his head. It’s all the same to him. We must provide them with pain . That’s an automatic protection against damage.

Dr. Gall. On the contrary; but they will be more perfect from a technical point of view.

Busman. That would increase the cost of production. Hang it all, my dear young lady, we turn them out at such a cheap rate—a hundred and fifty dollars each, fully dressed, and fifteen years ago they cost ten thousand. Five years ago we used to buy the clothes for them. Today we have our own weaving mill, and now we even export cloth five times cheaper than other factories. What do you pay a yard for cloth, Miss Glory?

Busman. Good gracious, and you want to found a Humanity League. ( Men chuckle. ) It only costs a third now, Miss Glory. All prices are today a third of what they were and they’ll fall still lower, lower, like that.

Busman. Why, bless you, Miss Glory, it means that the cost of labor has fallen. A Robot, food and all, costs three-quarters of a cent per hour. ( Leans forward ) That’s mighty important, you know. All factories will go pop like chestnuts if they don’t at once buy Robots to lower the cost of production.

Busman. Of course. But in the meantime we’ve dumped five hundred thousand tropical Robots down on the Argentine pampas to grow corn. Would you mind telling me how much you pay a pound for bread?

Busman. Well, I’ll tell you. It now costs two cents in good old Europe. A pound of bread for two cents, and the Humanity League — ( Designates Helena ) —knows nothing about it. ( To Men ) Miss Glory, you don’t realize that even that’s too expensive. ( All Men chuckle. ) Why, in five years’ time I’ll wager—

Busman. That the cost of everything will be a tenth of what it is today. Why, in five years we’ll be up to our ears in corn and—everything else.

Domin. ( Seriously. Rises ) Yes, Alquist, they will. Yes, Miss Glory, they will. But in ten years Rossum’s Universal Robots will produce so much corn , so much cloth , so much everything that things will be [32] practically without price. There will be no poverty. All work will be done by living machines. Everybody will be free from worry and liberated from the degradation of labor. Everybody will live only to perfect himself.

Domin. Of course. It’s bound to happen. Then the servitude of man to man and the enslavement of man to matter will cease. Nobody will get bread at the cost of life and hatred. The Robots will wash the feet of the beggar and prepare a bed for him in his house.

Alquist. Domin, Domin, what you say sounds too much like Paradise. There was something good in service and something great in humility. There was some kind of virtue in toil and weariness .

Domin. Perhaps, but we cannot reckon with what is lost when we start out to transform the world. Man shall be free and supreme; he shall have no other aim, no other labor, no other care than to perfect himself. He shall serve neither matter nor man. He will not be a machine and a device for production. He will be Lord of creation.

Hallemeier. True. ( Looking around ) Don’t you think Miss Glory might lunch with us? ( All Men rise. )

Fabry. That’s fine. ( Pause ) Miss Glory, excuse me for five minutes. ( Exits R. )

Busman. ( Whispering ) I’ll be back soon. ( Beckoning to Alquist , they exit. )

Alquist. ( Starts, stops, then to Helena , then to door ) I’ll be back in exactly five minutes. ( Exits R. )

Domin. Lunch. ( They laugh; takes her hand ) The Robots do our cooking for us and as they’ve no taste it’s not altogether— ( She laughs. ) Hallemeier is awfully good at grills and Gall can make any kind of sauce, and Busman knows all about omelets.

Domin. Alquist? Nothing. He only lays the table. And Fabry will get together a little fruit. Our cuisine is very modest, Miss Glory.

Domin. And I wanted to ask you something too—they’ll be back in five minutes. ( Looks at door R. )

Helena. Perhaps it’s silly of me, but why do you manufacture female Robots when—when—

Domin. There’s a certain demand for them, you see. Servants, saleswomen, stenographers. People are used to it.

Helena. But—but tell me, are the Robots male and female, mutually—completely without—

Domin. Completely indifferent to each other, Miss [34] Glory. There’s no sign of any affection between them.

Helena. It’s so unnatural. One doesn’t know whether to be disgusted or to hate them, or perhaps—

Domin. ( To her, looking at his watch ) Another three minutes. If you don’t marry me you’ll have to marry one of the other five.

Domin. I’m very sorry, Miss Glory. It seems they’ve fallen in love with you.

Helena. Please don’t let them. I’ll—I’ll go away at once. ( Starts R. He stops her, his arms up. )

Domin. Helena— ( She backs away to desk. He follows ) You wouldn’t be so cruel as to refuse us.

Domin. Because I didn’t lose my head. Until today—then as soon as you lifted your veil— ( Helena turns her head away. ) Another minute.

Domin. ( Laying both hands on her shoulder ) One more minute! Now you either have to look me straight in the eye and say “no” violently, and then I leave you alone—or— ( Helena looks at him. He takes hands away. She takes his hand again. )

Domin. A man has to be a bit mad, Helena. That’s the best thing about him. ( He draws her to him. )

Helena. But—but— ( He embraces her; kisses her. She embraces him. KNOCKING at R. door. )

Domin. So have we. ( He embraces her. The Men rush around them and offer congratulations. )

Hallemeier. ( Putting down his flowers on L.C. table and indicates the door R. ) Still asleep?

Hallemeier. Well, as long as she’s asleep she can’t worry about it. ( He remains at L.C. table. )

Fabry. ( Putting plant on writing desk ) I certainly hope nothing happens today.

Hallemeier. For goodness sake drop it all. Look, this is a fine cyclamen, isn’t it? A new sort, my latest—Cyclamen Helena.

Domin. ( Picks up binoculars and goes out into balcony ) No signs of the ship. Things must be pretty bad.

Domin. ( Coming into room, puts glasses on desk ) Well, anyway the Ultimus arrived just in time.

Domin. I don’t know. ( He crosses to L.C. table ) Aren’t the flowers fine?

Hallemeier. ( Fondles flowers ) These are my primroses. And this is my new jasmine. I’ve discovered a wonderful way of developing flowers quickly. Splendid varieties, too. Next year I’ll be developing marvelous ones.

Domin. Keep quiet. She’s awake. Out you go. ( All go out on tiptoe through L.2 door. Enter Nana L.1 )

Nana. I’m coming. So you’re up at last. ( Fastening Helena’s dress ) My gracious, what brutes!

Nana. If you want to turn around , then turn around, but I shan’t fasten you up.

Nana. Another of them here has caught it. He began to smash up the statues and pictures in the drawing room; gnashed his teeth; foamed at the mouth. Worse than an animal.

Nana. The one—well, he hasn’t got any Christian name. The one in charge of the library.

Nana. That’s him. My goodness, I’m scared of them. A spider doesn’t scare me as much as them.

Nana. Why, you’re scared of them too. You know you are. Why else did you bring me here?

Nana. You’re scared. Nobody could help being scared. Why, the dog’s scared of them. He won’t take a scrap of meat out of their hands. He draws in his tail and howls when he knows they’re about.

Nana. He’s better than them , and he knows it. Even the horse shies when he meets them. They don’t have any young, and a dog has young, everyone has young—

Helena. ( Turns; crosses to C. ) Oh, aren’t they lovely? Look, Nana. What’s happening today?

Nana. It ought to be the end of the world. ( Enter Domin L.2 . He crosses down front of table L.C. )

Helena. ( Crosses to him ) Oh, hello, Harry. ( Nana turns upstage to L. ) Harry, why all these flowers?

Helena. ( Takes necklace from his Left jacket pocket ) Oh! Pearls! A necklace! Harry, is this for me?

Domin. Oh, yes, we can. ( Puts necklace on table L.C. ) Put your hand in the other pocket.

Domin. No, you’re right. ( Indicates breast pocket ) There, that’s the pocket.

Domin. Of course. ( Opens the L.1 door ) And look in here. Helena, come and see this. ( Both exit L.1 .)

Helena. From Doctor Gall. ( Reappearing in L.1 doorway ) Oh, Harry, I feel embarrassed at so much kindness.

Domin. ( Enters to up R. of table L.C. ) Come here. This is what Hallemeier brought you.

Domin. Yes. It’s a new kind. Cyclamen-Helena. He grew them in honor of you . They are almost as beautiful as you.

Domin. They’re awfully fond of you. I’m afraid that my present is a little—Look out of the window. ( Crosses to window and beckons to her. )

Domin. A gunboat? What are you thinking of? It’s only a little bigger and more solid than most ships.

Domin. Good heavens, no. I say, try these pearls. ( Crosses to R. of table L.C. )

Domin. Holidays for us! We all sit in the office with our feet on the table and take a nap. No letters—no telegrams. Glorious!

Domin. Certainly. ( Embraces her ) That is, we will see. Do you remember ten years ago today? ( Crosses to L. of table L.C. ) Miss Glory, it’s a great honor to welcome you. ( They assume the same positions as when they first met ten years before in Domin’s office. )

Helena. ( To table ) Oh, Mr. Manager, I’m so interested in your factory. ( She sits R. of table. )

Domin. I’m sorry, Miss Glory, it’s strictly forbidden. The manufacture of artificial people is a secret.

Helena. Are you sure, Harry? ( Leaning on desk, seriously, his right hand on hers. )

Helena. Heaven forbid. She never dreamt of such a thing. But she came here intending to stir up a revolt among your Robots .

Domin. ( Laughing it off ) A revolt of the Robots , that’s a fine idea. ( Crosses to back of table. She watches him suspiciously. ) Miss Glory, it would be easier for you to cause bolts and screws to rebel than our Robots. You know, Helena, you’re wonderful. You’ve turned the hearts of us all. ( Sits on table. )

Helena. Oh, I was fearfully impressed by you all then. You were all so sure of yourselves, so strong. I seemed like a tiny little girl who had lost her way among—among—

Helena. ( Front ) Among huge trees. All my feelings were so trifling compared with your self-confidence . And in all these years I’ve never lost this anxiety. But you’ve never felt the least misgiving, not even when everything went wrong.

Helena. Your plans. You remember, Harry, when the workmen in America revolted against the Robots and smashed them up, and when the people gave the Robots firearms against the rebels. And then when the governments turned the Robots into soldiers, and there were so many wars .

Domin. ( Getting up and walking about ) We foresaw that, Helena. ( Around table to R.C. ) You see, these are only passing troubles which are bound to happen before the new conditions are established . ( Walking up and down, standing at Center. )

Helena. You were all so powerful, so overwhelming. The whole world bowed down before you. ( Rising ) Oh, Harry! ( Crosses to him. )

Helena. It’s as if something was falling on top of us, and couldn’t be stopped. Oh, take us all away from here. We’ll find a place in the world where there’s no one else. Alquist will build us a house, and then we’ll begin life all over again. ( The TELEPHONE rings. )

Domin. ( Crosses to telephone on desk up L. ) Excuse me. Hello—yes, what? I’ll be there at once. Fabry is calling me, my dear. ( Crosses L. )

Domin. Yes, when I come back. Don’t go out of the house, dear. ( Exits L.2 .)

Helena. He won’t tell me. ( Nana brings in a water carafe from L.1 .) Nana, find me the latest newspapers. Quickly. Look in Mr. Domin’s bedroom.

Nana. All right. ( Crosses R. ) He leaves them all over the place. That’s how they get crumpled up. ( Continues muttering. Exits R. )

Helena. ( Looking through binoculars at the harbor ) That’s a warship. U-l-t-i— Ultimus . They’re loading.

Nana. ( Enters R. with newspapers ) Here they are. See how they’re crumpled up.

Helena. ( Crosses down ) They’re old ones. A week old. ( Drops papers. Both at front of couch . Nana sits R. of table L.C. Puts on spectacles. Reads the newspapers. ) Something’s happening, Nana.

Nana. Very likely. It always does. ( Spelling out the words ) “W-a-r in B-a-l-k-a-n-s.” Is that far off?

Helena. Oh, don’t read it. It’s always the same. Always wars! ( Sits on couch. )

Nana. What else do you expect ? Why do you keep selling thousands and thousands of these heathens as soldiers?

Helena. I suppose it can’t be helped, Nana. We [45] can’t know—Domin can’t know what they’re to be used for. When an order comes for them he must just send them.

Nana. He shouldn’t make them. ( Reading from newspaper ) “The Robot soldiers spare no-body in the occ-up-ied terr-it-ory. They have ass-ass-ass-inat-ed ov-er sev-en hundred thous-and cit-iz-ens.” Citizens, if you please.

Helena. ( Rises and crosses and takes paper ) It can’t be. Let me see. ( Crossing to Nana ) They have assassinated over seven hundred thousand citizens, evidently at the order of their commander. ( Drops paper; crosses up C. )

Nana. ( Spelling out the words from other paper she has picked up from the floor ) “Re-bell-ion in Ma-drid a-gainst the gov-ern-ment. Rob-ot in-fant-ry fires on the crowd. Nine thou-sand killed and wounded.”

Nana. Here’s something printed in big letters. “Latest news. At Havre the first org-an-iz-a-tion of Rob-ots has been e-stab-lished. Rob-ots work-men, sail-ors and sold-iers have iss-ued a man-i-fest-o to all Rob-ots through-out the world.” I don’t understand that. That’s got no sense. Oh, good gracious, another murder.

Nana. Wait a bit. Here’s something in still bigger type. “Stat-ist-ics of pop-ul-a-tion.” What’s that?

Helena. ( Coming down to Nana ) Let me see. ( Reads ) “During the past week there has again not been a single birth recorded.”

Nana. No more people are being born. That’s a punishment, that’s a punishment.

Nana. ( Standing up ) That’s the end of the world. ( Repeat until off. Picks paper up from floor. She exits L.1 .)

Helena. ( Goes up to window ) Oh, Mr. Alquist. ( Alquist off L.2 .) Will you come here? Oh, come just as you are. You look very nice in your mason’s overalls. ( Alquist enters L.2 , his hands soiled with lime and brick dust. She goes to end of sofa and meets him C. ) Dear Mr. Alquist, it was awfully kind of you, that lovely present.

Helena. Never mind. Please sit down. ( Sits on couch. He sits on her L. ) Mr. Alquist, what’s the meaning of Ultimus ?

Helena. That’s the name of my new ship. Have you seen it? Do you think we’re off soon—on a trip?

Helena. No. Nobody will tell me anything. But I feel—Is anything the matter?

Alquist. Well, I’m an old man, you know. I’ve got [47] old-fashioned ways. And I’m afraid of all this progress, and these new-fangled ideas.

Alquist. And has it got prayers for various occasions? Against thunderstorms? Against illness? But not against progress ?

Alquist. Something like this: “Oh, Lord, I thank thee for having given me toil; enlighten Domin and all those who are astray; destroy their work, and aid mankind to return to their labors; let them not suffer harm in soul or body; deliver us from the Robots, and protect Helena. Amen.”

Helena. ( Rises. Calling ) Nana, Nana! ( Nana enters L.1 .) Is Radius still there?

Helena. At once, Nana. ( Exits Nana L.1 . Helena to telephone ) Hello, Doctor Gall, please. Oh, good day, Doctor. Yes, it’s Helena. Thanks for your lovely present. Could you come and see me right away? It’s important. Thank you. ( Enter Radius L.1 ; looks at Helena , then turns head up L. She crosses to him , L.C. ) Poor Radius, you’ve caught it too? Now they’ll send you to the stamping mill. Couldn’t you control yourself? Why did it happen? You see, Radius, you are more intelligent than the rest. Doctor Gall took such trouble to make you different. Won’t you speak?

Radius. ( Looking at her ) Send me to the stamping mill. ( Open and close fists. )

Radius. ( Two steps toward her. Opens and closes fists ) I won’t work for you. Put me into the stamping mill.

Radius. You are not as strong as the Robots. You are not as skillful as the Robots. The Robots can do everything. You only give orders. You do nothing but talk.

Helena. Radius! Doctor Gall gave you a better brain than the rest, better than ours. You are the only one of the Robots that understands perfectly. That’s why I had you put into the library, so that you could read everything, understand everything, [49] and then, oh, Radius—I wanted you to show the whole world that the Robots are our equals. That’s what I wanted of you.

Helena. I’m sure they’d put you in charge of many Robots. You would be a teacher of the Robots.

Radius. ( Head down low, crosses toward L. ; opens hands ) Then send me to the stamping mill.

Helena. ( Steps to him ) Do you think we’re afraid of you? ( Rushing to desk and writing note. )

Radius. ( Turns his head uneasily ) What are you going to do? What are you going to do? ( Starts for her. )

Helena. ( Crosses to R. of him ) Radius! ( He cowers. Body sways. ) Give this note to Mr. Domin. ( He faces her. ) It asks them not to send you to the stamping mill. I’m sorry you hate us so.

Helena. ( Backs away ) It’s about Radius, Doctor. He had an attack this morning. He smashed the statues downstairs.

Helena. Radius isn’t going to be put into the stamping mill. ( Stands to the R. of Gall .)

Dr. Gall. But I warn you. It’s dangerous. Come here to the window, my good fellow. Let’s have a look. Please give me a needle or a pin. ( Crosses up [50] R. Radius follows . Helena gets a needle from work-basket on table R. )

Dr. Gall. A test. ( Helena gives him the needle . Gall crosses up to Radius , who faces him. Sticks it into his hand and Radius gives a violent start. ) Gently, gently. ( Opens the jacket of Radius and puts his ear to his heart ) Radius, you are going into the stamping mill, do you understand? There they’ll kill you— ( Takes glasses off and cleans them ) —and grind you to powder. ( Radius opens hands and fingers. ) That’s terribly painful. It will make you scream aloud. ( Opens Radius’s eye . Radius trembles. )

Dr. Gall. No, no, Radius, I was wrong. I forgot that Madame Domin has put in a good word for you, and you’ll be left off. ( Listens to heart ) Ah, that does make a difference. ( Radius relaxes. Again listens to his heart for a reaction ) All right—you can go.

Dr. Gall. ( Speaks to her—very concerned ) Reaction of the pupils, increase of sensitiveness. It wasn’t an attack characteristic of the Robots.

Dr. Gall. ( C. ) Heaven knows. Stubbornness, anger or revolt—I don’t know. And his heart, too.

Dr. Gall. It was fluttering with nervousness like a human heart. He was all in a sweat with fear, and—do you know, I don’t believe the rascal is a Robot at all any longer.

Helena. If you knew how he hates us. Oh, Doctor, [51] are all your Robots like that? All the new ones that you began to make in a different way? ( She invites him to sit beside her. He sits. )

Dr. Gall. Well, some are more sensitive than others. They’re all more human beings than Rossum’s Robots were.

Dr. Gall. Your favorite? I kept her. She’s lovely, but stupid. No good for work.

Dr. Gall. I called her “Helena.” I wanted her to resemble you . She is a failure.

Dr. Gall. She goes about as if in a dream, remote and listless. She’s without life. I watch and wait for a miracle to happen. Sometimes I think to myself: “If you were to wake up only for a moment you would kill me for having made you.”

Dr. Gall. You see, so many Robots are being manufactured that people are becoming superfluous. Man is really a survival, but that he should die out, after a paltry thirty years of competition, that’s the awful part of it. You might almost think that Nature was offended at the manufacture of the Robots, but we still have old Rossum’s manuscript.

Dr. Gall. We go on using it and making Robots. All the universities are sending in long petitions to restrict their production. Otherwise, they say, mankind will become extinct through lack of fertility. [52] But the R. U. R. shareholders, of course, won’t hear of it. All the governments, on the other hand, are clamoring for an increase in production, to raise the standards of their armies. And all the manufacturers in the world are ordering Robots like mad.

Dr. Gall. People would stone him to death. You see, after all, it’s more convenient to get your work done by the Robots.

Helena. Yes. ( Exit Dr. Gall L.2 . She crosses to L.C. To door L.1 . With sudden resolution ) Nana! Nana! the fire, light it quickly. ( Helena exits R. )

Nana. ( She looks for Radius ) Has that mad Radius gone?—A fire in summer, what an idea? Nobody would think she’d been married ten years. She’s like a baby, no sense at all. A fire in summer. Like a baby. ( She lights the fire. )

Helena. ( Returns from R. with armful of faded papers. Back of couch to fireplace , L. of Nana ) Is it burning, Nana? All this has got to be burned.

Helena. ( Throwing the first sheet on the fire ) What would you say, Nana, if this was money and a lot of money? And if it was an invention, the greatest invention in the world?

Nana. ( R. of fireplace ) I’d say burn it. All these new-fangled things are an offense to the Lord. It’s downright wickedness. Wanting to improve the world after He has made it.

Helena. ( Drawing back ) No, no, I must do it myself. Just look at the flames. They are like hands, like tongues, like living shapes. ( Raking fire with the poker ) Lie down, lie down.

Domin. ( Opens door L.2 ) Come along and offer your congratulations. ( Enter Hallemeier and Dr. Gall .)

Hallemeier. ( Crosses to R.C. ) Madame Helena, I congratulate you on this festive day.

Hallemeier. ( Crosses to Domin . Embracing Domin ) It’s all over now. It’s all over now. ( They dance around Dr. Gall in a circle. ) It’s all over now.

Domin. ( In unison ) It’s all over now. ( They keep repeating. Keep it after Helena is on. )

Helena. ( Entering L.1 with decanter and glasses ) What’s all over now? What’s the matter with you all? ( She puts tray on L.C. table. Dr. Gall helps her to pour the drinks. )

Hallemeier. ( Crosses to back of table ) A piece of good luck. Madame Domin! ( All ad lib. ) Just ten years ago today you arrived on this island. ( Hallemeier crosses to table for drink. )

Dr. Gall. And now, ten years later to the minute— ( Crosses to L. of Hallemeier .)

Hallemeier. The same ship’s returning to us. So here’s to luck. ( Drinks. Domin with great exuberance has gone out in the balcony and looks over the harbor. )

Domin. ( Crosses down to C. Helena gives him his drink and she crosses to front of couch ) Any ship will do, as long as it arrives in time. To the ship. ( Empties his glass. )

Hallemeier. Rather. Like Robinson Crusoe. Madame Helena, best wishes. Come along, Domin, [55] out with the news. ( Gall has sat L. of L.C. table, drinking . Hallemeier back of table R.C. )

Domin. First, it’s all up. ( He puts brandy glass on L.C. table . Hallemeier sits on table, upper end. )

Domin. Give me that paper, Hallemeier. ( Hallemeier hands paper . Domin reads ) “The first National Robot organization has been founded at Havre, and has issued an appeal to the Robots throughout the world.”

Domin. ( C. ) Who started it? So would I. There was nobody in the world who could affect the Robots, no agitator, no one, and suddenly this happens, if you please.

Domin. They got possession of all firearms, telegraphs, radio stations, railways and ships.

Hallemeier. And don’t forget that these rascals outnumbered us by at least a thousand to one. A hundredth part of them would be enough to settle us.

Domin. Remember that this news was brought by the last steamer. That explains the stoppage of all communication, and the arrival of no more ships. We knocked off work a few days ago, and we’re just waiting to see when things are to start afresh .

Domin. Oh, no, my dear, I ordered that six months ago. Just to be sure I was on the safe side. [56] But, upon my soul, I was sure then that we’d be on board today.

Domin. Well, there were signs , you know. But that’s of no consequence. ( Gets glass ) To think that this week the whole of civilization has been at stake . Your health, my friends.

Dr. Gall. The boat’s coming in. The regular mail boat, exact to the minute by the timetable. It will dock punctually at eleven-thirty.

Domin. Punctuality is a fine thing, my friends. That’s what keeps the world in order. Here’s to punctuality. ( Men drink. )

Domin. ( Up C. a step ) Practically everything. I believe they’ve cut the cables and seized the radio station. But it doesn’t matter if only the timetable holds good. ( Up to window. )

Hallemeier. ( Rises ) If the timetable holds good, human laws hold good. Divine laws hold good, the laws of the universe hold good, everything holds good that ought to hold good. ( Gall applauds. ) The timetable is more significant than the gospel, more than Homer, more than the whole of Kant . Madame Helena, the timetable is the most perfect product of the human mind. Madame Helena, I’ll fill up my glass. ( Gall hands Hallemeier the decanter. )

Domin. You mustn’t be worried with such things. ( Glass on table R.C. ; crosses to back of couch. )

Domin. Because we’d be on board your Ultimus and well out at sea. Within a month, Helena, we’d be dictating our own terms to the Robots.

Domin. ( Crosses to C. toward Gall and Hallemeier ) We’d take something with us that the Robots could not exist without !

Domin. ( Turns to Hallemeier ) The secret of their manufacture. Old Rossum’s manuscript. As soon as they found out that they couldn’t make themselves they’d be on their knees to us.

Dr. Gall. ( Rises ) Madame Domin, that was our trump card. I never had the least fear the Robots would win. How could they against people like us? ( Up to window. Gall rises and goes out into the balcony. )

Helena. Why didn’t you tell me? ( She rushes up to the fireplace and sees the ashes. )

Hallemeier. Eleven-thirty to the dot. ( Rising and going onto the balcony ) The good old Amelia that brought Madame Helena to us. ( Domin goes out onto the balcony. )

Domin. Busman’s waiting for them. And Fabry will bring us the first news. You know, Helena, I’m fearfully curious to know how they— ( Crosses to C. She gets away from fire to L. of couch ) —tackled this business in Europe.

Hallemeier. ( Crosses down to table ) To think we weren’t in it, we who invented the Robots! ( Returning to the armchair. )

Helena. Please, Harry. Please, Doctor Gall, Hallemeier, please close the factory.

Domin. Yes, precisely, after the revolt. We’re just beginning the manufacture of a new kind.

Domin. Henceforward we shan’t have just one factory. There won’t be Universal Robots any more. We’ll establish a factory in every country, in every state, and do you know what these new factories will make?

Domin. I mean that each of these factories will produce Robots of a different color, a different language. They’ll be complete strangers to each other. ( Turns; takes in Hallemeier and Gall ) They’ll never be able to understand each other. Then we’ll egg them on a little in the matter of misunderstanding and the result will be that for ages to come every Robot will hate every other Robot of a different factory mark. So humanity will be safe.

Hallemeier. ( To each of them ) By Jove, we’ll make Negro Robots and Swedish Robots and Czechoslovakian Robots, and then—

Hallemeier. Madame Domin, here’s to the hundred new factories. The National Robots. ( Gall back of table L.C. )

Domin. Helena, mankind can only keep things going for another hundred years at the outside. For a hundred years man must be allowed to develop and achieve the most he can.

Domin. I tell you we are just beginning on a bigger scale than ever. ( Enter Fabry L.2 ; goes to L. of Domin .)

Fabry. Read that, Domin. ( He hands him a pink handbill. When Domin receives the handbill he sees at once that something has happened. )

Fabry. ( Falsely ) Well, everything is all right—comparatively. ( To the other Men ) On the whole, much as we expected.

Fabry. ( Hesitating ) Oh, yes, of course. That is—Excuse me, there is something we ought to discuss alone.

Fabry. Bear in mind that the Amelia brought [60] whole bales of these leaflets. No other cargo at all. ( Gall closes the door L.2 .)

Domin. ( R.C. Reads handbill ) “Robots throughout the world. We, the first International organization of Rossum’s Universal Robots, proclaim man our enemy, and an outlaw in the universe.” Good heavens, who taught them these phrases?

Domin. They say they are more highly developed than man; stronger and more intelligent. The man’s their parasite. Why, it’s absurd.

Domin. “Robots throughout the world, we command you to kill all mankind. Spare no man. Spare no woman. Save factories, railways, machinery, mines and raw materials. Destroy the rest. Then return to work. Work must not be stopped.” ( Looks at Others .)

Domin. “These orders are to be carried out as soon as received.” Then come the detailed instructions. Is this actually being done , Fabry?

Fabry. Evidently. ( Busman rushes in L.2 and collapses on couch R.C. ) By Jove, that was a sprint!

Busman. Because it’s no good, my boy. The Robots are already on board the Ultimus .

Domin. Fabry, telephone the electrical works. ( Fabry goes to back of couch. )

Domin. ( Inspects his revolver ) Well, then, I’ll go . ( Starts L. ; stops. )

Domin. To the electrical works. There are some people still there. I’ll bring them across. ( Gets as far as L.2 door. )

Busman. Because I’m very much afraid we are surrounded. ( All rush out into the balcony. )

Dr. Gall. Surrounded? ( Runs to window ) I rather think you’re right. ( Gall rushes to balcony. )

Helena. ( Points to the manifesto of the Robots which she has in her hand ) The Robots in the kitchen!

Helena. There, gathered around the house. ( Gall , Hallemeier , Domin start down C. )

Domin. The factory whistle! ( Fabry , Gall , Hallemeier looking over C. ; then turn R. )

Domin. ( Looking at his watch. To Hallemeier ) No! That’s not noon yet. That must be—that’s— ( Front. )

Domin. ( Gets binoculars from desk; crosses up to window. To Gall ) Any more of them?

Dr. Gall. Yes. There standing like a wall, beyond the garden railing. Why are they so quiet? It’s monstrous to be besieged with silence.

Domin. ( Looking through the barred windows ) I should like to know what they are waiting for? They must make a start any minute now. If they lean against the railings it will snap like a match.

Domin. ( Puzzled ) We couldn’t hold our own for five minutes. Man alive, they overwhelm us like an avalanche. Why don’t they make a rush for it? I say. ( Turns to Gall .)

Domin. I’d like to know what will become of us in the next ten minutes. They’ve got us in a vise. We’re done for, Gall.

Dr. Gall. We made the Robots’ faces too much alike. A hundred thousand faces all alike, all facing this way. A hundred thousand expressionless bubbles. It’s like a nightmare.

Domin. ( Looks through binoculars towards the harbor ) I’d like to know what they’re unloading from the Amelia .

Fabry. ( Enters L.2 with a plug-box to which is attached a long cable or wire . Hallemeier following him . Fabry attaches the cable to an electric installation which is on the floor near the wall, down stage at L.1 entrance ) All right, Hallemeier, lay down that wire.

Hallemeier. ( Just inside the room ) That was a bit of work. What’s the news? ( Seeing Domin and Gall at the window. )

Hallemeier. ( Crosses to window ) We’ve barricaded the passages and the stairs. ( Going to window ) God, what swarms of them. I don’t like the looks of them, Domin. There’s a feeling of death about it all. Any water here?

Fabry. The electrical installation. Now we can run the current all along the garden railing. ( Up to window ) Whenever we like. If anyone touches it he’ll know it. We’ve still got some people there anyhow.

Fabry. In the electrical works. At least, I hope so. ( Goes to lamp on table L.C. and turns on lamp ) Ah, [65] they’re there, and they’re working. As long as that’ll burn we’re all right. ( To window. )

Fabry. Your barricades! I can put twelve hundred volts into that railing. ( Helena is playing Rachmaninoff’s Elegie off L.1 .)

Domin. Where’s Busman? ( Domin has left window and is walking up and down stage across front. )

Alquist. Thank God Madame Helena can still play. ( Hallemeier crosses to L.1 door, opens it slightly and listens to music. Enter Busman L.2 .)

Busman. ( Laying the books on the table L.C. ) The ledger, my boy. I’d like to wind up the accounts before—before— ( Domin crosses up to window. ) Well, this time I shan’t wait till the New Year to strike a balance. What’s up? ( Goes to window ) Absolutely quiet.

Busman. Well, what of it? How can I stop them? ( Returns to L.C. table, sits and opens ledger. )

Domin. ( Picks up telescope ) Good God! The Ultimus has trained her guns on us.

Fabry. H’m, then of course— ( Pause ) Then—then that’s the end of us. ( To R. corner of desk. )

Dr. Gall. ( Swinging around; looking into room. Pause ) That was criminal of old Europe to teach the Robots to fight. Damn them. Couldn’t they have given us a rest with their politics? It was a crime to make soldiers of them.

Domin. ( Dreamily ) Not even today, the last day of civilization. It was a colossal achievement.

Domin. ( From window ) Alquist, this is our last hour. We are already speaking half in the other world. That was not an evil dream to shatter the servitude of labor. The dreadful and humiliating labor that man had to undergo. Work was too hard. Life was too hard. And to overcome that—

Alquist. Was not what the two Rossums dreamed of. Old Rossum only thought of his Godless tricks, and the young one of his milliards. And that’s not what your R. U. R. shareholders dream of either. They dream of dividends, and their dividends are the ruin of mankind.

Domin. To Hell with your dividends. ( Crossing R. in front of couch ) Do you suppose I’d have done an hour’s work for them? It was for myself that I worked, for my own satisfaction. I wanted man to become the master. So that he shouldn’t live merely for the crust of bread. I wanted not a single soul to be broken by other people’s machinery. I wanted nothing, nothing, nothing to be left of this appalling [67] social structure. I’m revolted by poverty. I wanted a new generation. I wanted—I thought—

Domin. ( Front of couch ) I wanted to turn the whole of mankind into an aristocracy of the world. An aristocracy nourished by millions of mechanical slaves. Unrestricted, free and consummated in man. And maybe more than man.

Domin. Yes. Oh, only to have a hundred years of time. Another hundred years for the future of mankind.

Busman. ( Sotto voce ) Carried forward—four hundred and twenty millions. ( Domin sits on couch. )

Hallemeier. ( Pauses—back of couch ) What a fine thing music is. We ought to have gone in for that before.

Hallemeier. Beauty, lovely things. What a lot of lovely things there are. The world was wonderful, and we—we here—tell me, what enjoyment did we have ?

Hallemeier. Life was a good thing, life was— ( Looking out of window. Directly to Fabry ) Fabry, switch the current into that railing.

Hallemeier. They’re grabbing hold of it. ( Domin rises—straightens up . All rise. )

Hallemeier. They’re charred to cinders, my boy. Who says we must give in? ( MUSIC stops. )

Domin. ( Alquist and Gall sit. Wiping his forehead ) Perhaps we’ve been killed this hundred years and are only ghosts. It’s as if I had been through all this before, as if I’d already had a mortal wound here in the throat. ( Looking at each as he speaks ) And you, Fabry, had once been shot in the head. And you, Gall, torn limb from limb. And Hallemeier knifed.

Hallemeier. Fancy me being knifed. ( Looks at each. Then speaks ) Why are you so quiet, you fools? ( Steps down ) Speak, can’t you?

Alquist. No, it is we are to blame. You, Domin, myself—all of us. For our own selfish ends, for profit, for progress, we have destroyed mankind. Now we’ll burst with all our greatness.

Dr. Gall. No! I’m to blame for this, for everything that’s happened. ( He leaves the window and comes down to end of couch. )

Dr. Gall. I changed the character of the Robots. I changed the way of making them. Just a few details about their bodies. Chiefly—chiefly, their—their irritability.

Dr. Gall. I did it in secret. I was transforming [69] them into human beings. In certain respects they’re already above us. They’re stronger than we are.

Dr. Gall. Everything, in my opinion. They’ve ceased to be machines. They’re already aware of their superiority , and they hate us as they hate everything human.

Fabry. ( Crosses to Gall ) Be silent! Doctor Gall, you admit changing the way of making the Robots.

Domin. ( Rises ) Helena, you? ( Crosses to her ) Let’s look at you. Oh, it’s terrible to be dead. ( He rises and crushes her in his arms. )

Helena. No, dear, I won’t leave you. But I must tell them. Doctor Gall is not guilty.

Helena. No. He did it because I wanted it. Tell them, Doctor Gall—how many years ago did I ask you to—?

Helena. That’s what he said. He said that he could change only a physiological—a physiological—

Helena. I thought that if they were more like us they would understand us better. That they couldn’t hate us if they were only a little more human.

Helena. Oh, don’t speak like that, Harry. It was so terrible, this cruel strangeness between us and them. That’s why I asked Gall to change the Robots. I swear to you that he didn’t want to.

Domin. Yes, because he’s in love with you—like all of them. ( Fabry up to window. Pause. Domin takes her in his arms. )

Hallemeier. Good God, they’re sprouting up out of the earth. Why, perhaps these very walls will change into Robots.

Busman. ( Rises; crosses to Gall ) Gall, when did you actually start these tricks of yours?

Busman. Aha. And on how many Robots altogether did you carry out your improvements? ( Walking to and fro. )

Busman. Ah! That means for every million of the good old Robots there’s only one of Gall’s improved pattern. ( Back to table L.C. )

Domin. What of it? ( Crossing around L. , he stands upstage in the L.2 doorway. )

Busman. I should think so, my boy; but do you know what is to blame for this lovely mess?

Busman. The number! ( Crosses to L. of L.C. table ) Upon my soul, we might have known that some day or other the Robots would be stronger than human beings, and that this was bound to happen. And we were doing all we could to bring it about as soon as possible. You, Domin, you, Fabry, myself—

Busman. Oh, do you suppose the management controls the output? It’s the demand that controls the output.

Busman. That’s a nasty word, Madame Helena. We don’t want to perish. I don’t, anyhow. ( He sits L. of table. )

Busman. By fair means. I do everything by fair [72] means. Give me a free hand and I’ll negotiate with the Robots.

Busman. ( Rises ) Of course. For instance, I’ll say to them: “Worthy and Worshipful Robots, you have everything. You have intellect, you have power, you have firearms . But we have just one interesting screed, a dirty old yellow scrap of paper—”

Domin. Rossum’s manuscript? ( Interest from All . Gall is at C. , near couch . Hallemeier is up at window C. )

Busman. Yes. “And that,” I’ll tell them, “contains an account of your illustrious origin, the noble process of your manufacture and so on. Worthy Robots, without this scribble on that paper you will not be able to produce a single new colleague. In another twenty years there will not be the living specimen of a Robot whom you could exhibit in a menagerie. My esteemed friends, that would be a great blow to you, but if you will let all of us human beings on Rossum’s Island go on board that ship we will deliver the factory and the secret of the process to you in return. You allow us to get away, and we will allow you to manufacture yourselves. That, worthy Robots, is a fair deal. Something for something.” That’s what I’d say to them, my boys. ( Sits. )

Busman. Yes, I do. If not in a friendly way, then—either we sell it or they’ll find it. Just as you like.

Busman. Then we destroy everything—not only the manuscript but ourselves. Just as you think fit.

Domin. There are over thirty of us on this island. Are we to sell the secret? And save that many souls at the risk of enslaving mankind—

Busman. Let’s suppose this happens. When we’re on board the Ultimus I’ll stop up my ears with cotton wool, lie down somewhere in the hold, and you’ll train the guns on the factory and blow it to smithereens, and with it Rossum’s secret.

Domin. Busman, you’re no—gentleman. If we sell them it will be a straight sale.

Domin. This is a fearful decision. We are selling the destiny of mankind. Are we to sell or destroy? Fabry?

Domin. ( Stops. To her ) No, child. ( Starting R. ) Don’t you worry about it. ( He pats her shoulder. )

Helena. ( Rises ) Harry, don’t go! ( Helena sits . All look at her. Pause. )

Fabry. ( Looking out of window ) Oh, to escape you! you— matter —in revolt; oh, to preserve human life, if only upon a single vessel—

Dr. Gall. Don’t be afraid. ( Going to back of couch ) Madame Helena. We’ll sail far away from here; we’ll begin life all over again.

Fabry. ( Crosses to L. of Gall ) It isn’t too late. ( Going to L. of her chair ) It will be a little State with one ship. Alquist will build us a house and you shall rule over us.

Busman. Good! ( Crosses to L. of L.C. table ) I don’t mind beginning all over again. That suits me right down to the ground. ( Going through papers on table. )

Fabry. And this little State of ours could be the center of future life. A place of refuge where we could gather strength. Why, in a few hundred years we could conquer the world again.

Domin. ( Storms into R. To R. of couch. Hoarsely ) Where’s old Rossum’s manuscript? ( To R.C. )

Domin. Burnt them? Where—in the fireplace? ( Goes to fireplace, followed by Fabry , Hallemeier and Busman .)

Helena. ( Throwing herself on her knees. By sofa, facing upstage ) For Heaven’s sake, Harry.

Domin. ( Going to fireplace ) Nothing—nothing but ashes. Wait, what’s this? ( Picks out a charred piece of paper and reads, “By adding.” Fabry , Gall and Hallemeier move up to him. )

Dr. Gall. ( Carrying paper down and letting it fall ) Yes. ( Gall crosses to L.C. Hallemeier to R. of L.C. table ; Fabry to window ; Busman to L. of L.C. table. )

Domin. ( Takes Helena to couch. She sits. ) Gall, you couldn’t draw up Rossum’s formula from memory?

Dr. Gall. It’s out of the question. Even with my recent experiments, I couldn’t work without referring to the formula— ( At L.C. ) It’s extremely complicated.

Domin. ( Up to fireplace ) So then this was the greatest triumph of the human intellect. These ashes.

Helena. I wanted all of us to go away. I wanted to put an end to the factory and everything. It was so awful.

Helena. That children had stopped being born. Because human beings were not needed to do the work of the world. That’s why—

Domin. Is that what you were thinking of? Well, perhaps in your own way you are right.

Busman. Wait a bit. ( Rising ) Good God, what a fool I am not to have thought of it before.

Busman. Five hundred and twenty millions in bank-notes and checks. Half a billion in our safe. They’ll sell for half a billion—for half a billion they’ll— ( Crosses to Domin .)

Busman. I may not be a gentleman, but for a half a billion— ( Crosses back to L. )

Busman. Leave me alone. Leave me alone! Good God, for half a billion anything can be bought. ( Gall and Hallemeier after him, then stop. He rushes out L.2 . Fabry , Gall and Hallemeier to window. )

Fabry. They stand there as if turned to stone—waiting as if something dreadful could be wrought by their silence—

Fabry. There is nothing more terrible than the mob. The one in front is their leader. ( Domin crosses to window. )

Fabry. ( L. window ) The one at the edge of the dock. This morning I saw him talking to the sailors in the harbor.

Helena. Doctor Gall, that’s Radius. ( Backing into the room, horror-stricken. )

Hallemeier. He’s carrying something. Papers. That’s money. Bundles of money. What’s that for?

Domin. Surely he doesn’t want to sell his life. [78] ( He rushes to window C. ) Busman, have you gone mad?

Fabry. Busman, keep away from that railing. Don’t touch it, damn you. Quick, switch off the current. ( Domin runs to L. Helena screams and All drop back from the window. ) The current has killed him.

Alquist. ( Pause ) The first one. ( Still in chair down R. Helena sits in chair at window. )

Fabry. Dead, with half a billion by his side. ( Crosses down to table L.C. )

Hallemeier. All honor to him. He wanted to buy us life. ( Crosses to chair L. Pause. WIND machine begin. )

Fabry. ( Lighting the table lamp at table L.C. ) The dynamo is still going—our people are still there .

Hallemeier. It was a great thing to be a man. ( Facing lamp from up C. ) There was something immense about it.

Fabry. ( Facing the lamp ) From man’s thought and man’s power came this light, our last hope. ( Leaning over lamp. )

Hallemeier. ( Facing lamp ) Man’s power! May it keep watch over us. ( Leaning over lamp. )

Domin. ( At corner of table down L.C. Facing lamp ) Yes! A torch to be given from hand to hand from age to age forever! ( The LAMP goes out. EXPLOSIONS. )

Fabry. The electric works have fallen! ( Terrific EXPLOSIONS outside. More EXPLOSIONS. )

Domin. In here, Helena. ( He takes Helena off through door R. and re-enters ) Now quickly! Who’ll be on the lower doorway?

Hallemeier. I’ll stay here. ( EXPLOSIONS. Rapid firing of MACHINE GUN from below. ) Go to her, Harry.

Domin. Yes, in a second. ( Gets from fireplace and examines two Browning guns. )

Hallemeier. ( Alone ) Now for a barricade quickly! ( Drags an armchair, sofa and table to R. door ) The damned devils, they’ve got bombs. I must put up a defense. Even if—even if— Don’t give in, Gall. ( As he builds his barricade ) I mustn’t give in—without—a—struggle. ( A Robot enters through windows at back. The Robot jumps down from balcony and stabs Hallemeier in the back. Enter Radius from balcony. )

Robot. ( Standing up from prostrate form of Hallemeier ) Yes. [80] ( Other Robots enter from all doors. A revolver SHOT off L. )

Radius. You will work! You will build for us! You will serve us! ( Radius climbs on the balcony ) Robots of the world— ( Robots straighten up. ) the power of man has fallen. A new world has arisen, the rule of the Robots, march. ( On the line: “Robots of the world” All Robots turn quickly, automatically to attention, facing Radius , who is standing. On the words: “The rule of the Robots,” they stand there with their arms vibrating high in the air. They form in two lines, turn to audience and march mechanically to the footlights. As they are about to step over the footlights, as if into the audience, all LIGHTS go out. The Robots immediately step back from the Curtain line as the Curtain falls. )

Alquist. ( Seated at table R.C. , turning pages of book ) Oh, God, shall I never find it? Never? Gall, Hallemeier, Fabry, how were the Robots made? Why did you leave not a trace of the secret? Lord, if there are no human beings left, at least let there be Robots. At least the shadow of man. ( Turning pages ) If I could only sleep. Dare I sleep before life has been renewed? Night again. Are the stars still there? Of what use are the stars? When there are no human beings. ( Examining a test tube ) Nothing. No. No. I must find it. I must search. I must never stop, never stop—search—search— ( KNOCK at door L. ) Who is it? ( Enter a Robot Servant .)

Alquist. Well, well, send them in. ( Exit Servant [82] L. ) No time—so little done. ( Re-enter Servant with Radius and group of Robots . They stand in group L. and C. , silently waiting. ) What do you want? Be quick; I have no time.

Radius. Master, the machines will not do the work. We cannot manufacture Robots. ( Other Robots remain two abreast at L.C. , right foot forward. )

1st Robot. We have striven with all our might. We have obtained a billion tons of coal from the earth. Nine million spindles are running by day and by night. There is no longer room for all we have made. This we have accomplished in one year.

Radius. For future generations—so we thought. But we cannot make Robots to follow us. The machines produce only shapeless clods. The skin will not adhere to the flesh, nor the flesh to the bones.

2nd Robot. Eight million Robots have died this year. Within twenty years none will be left.

Radius. ( Two steps to C. , followed by Others — open hands, close when stopped ) Through me, the governments of the Robots of the world commands you to deliver up Rossum’s formula. ( Gesture of despair from Alquist .) Name your price. ( Silence ) We will give you the earth. We will give you the endless possessions of the earth. ( Silence ) Make your own conditions.

Radius. We have sent ships and expeditions without number. They have been everywhere in the world. There is not a single human left.

Radius. Slaughter and domination are necessary if you would be human beings. Read history.

1st Robot. You made us sterile. We cannot beget children. Therefore, teach us how to make Robots.

Alquist. It was— ( Rising ) burnt. ( All draw back one step in consternation. ) I am the last human being, Robots, and I do not know what the others knew. ( Sits. )

Alquist. I tell you I cannot. I am only a builder. I work with my hands. I have never been a learned man. I cannot create life.

1st Robot. Then show us what we must do. The Robots can do anything that human beings show them.

Alquist. I can show you nothing. Nothing I do will make life proceed from these test tubes.

Alquist. Am I to commit murder? See how my finger shakes. I cannot even hold the scalpel. No, no, I will not.

Radius. Live bodies. ( Right hand up over Alquist . All Robots’ left arms still back. )

Alquist. ( Rising ) You will have it. Into the dissecting with you, then ( Hits Radius on the chest. Radius draws back. ) Ah, you are afraid of death.

Alquist. Strip him. Lay him on the table. ( Radius goes off R. , both fists closed. Other Robots follow, then Alquist ) God, give me strength. God, give me strength. If only this murder is not in vain.

Alquist. ( Off R. ) God, give me strength. ( Comes on, horrified ) No, no. I will not. I cannot. ( Sits R.C. )

1st Robot. ( Appearing in door ) The Robots are stronger than you. ( Exits R. )

Alquist. Oh, Lord, let not mankind perish from the earth. ( Falls asleep, and after the count of ten, Primus and Helena , hand in hand, enter L. and go to R.C. ; look at Alquist .)

Helena. Look, Primus, what are all these figures? ( Turns a page in book on table. )

Primus. ( Examining the book ) That is the book the old man is always reading. ( SUNRISE. )

Primus. ( Still reading ) I believe this is the most important thing in the world, Helena. This is the secret of life.

Helena. Oh, Primus, don’t bother with the secret of life. What does it matter to you? Come and look quick.

Helena. See how beautiful the sun is rising. I feel so strange today. It’s as if I was in a dream. I feel an aching in my body, in my heart, all over me. Primus, perhaps I’m going to die.

Primus. Do you not sometimes feel that it would be better to die? You know, perhaps even now we are only sleeping. Last night in my sleep I again spoke to you.

Primus. I did not understand it myself, and yet I know I have never said anything more beautiful. And when I touched you I could have died. Even the place was different from any other place in the world.

Helena. I, too, have found a place, Primus. It is very strange. Human beings dwelt there once, but now it is overgrown with weeds.

Helena. A cottage and a garden and two dogs. They licked my hands, Primus, and their puppies. [86] Oh, Primus, take them in your arms and fondle them and think of nothing and care for nothing else all day long, and when I am there in the garden I feel there may be something— What am I for, Primus?

Helena. Am I beautiful? Of what use is it to be beautiful? Look, your head is different from mine. So are your shoulders—and your lips. Oh, your hair is mussed. I will smooth it. ( Keeps her hand on his head ) No one else feels to my touch as you do.

Primus. ( Embarrassing her ) Do you not sometimes feel your heart beating suddenly, Helena, and think how something must happen?

Alquist. ( Awakes ) Laughter? Laughter, human beings. ( Getting up ) Who has returned? Who are you?

Alquist. What? You are timid, shy? ( Starts to touch her ) Let me see you, Robotess.

Alquist. What, you would protect her? Laughter—timidity—protection—I must test you further. Take the girl into the dissecting room.

Alquist. Of course. Don’t you hear me? Or must I call someone else to take her in?

Primus. Sir, take me. I am made on the same day as she is. Take my life, sir. ( Step to Alquist .)

Helena. Primus. Primus. ( She bursts into tears and moves R. Alquist stops her. )

Alquist. Child, child, you can weep. Tears. What is Primus to you? One Primus more or less in the world—what does it matter?

Helena. ( Crosses to R. ) Yes. In there—to be cut. ( Primus stops her from going. ) Let me pass, Primus, let me pass.

Furniture :
1 Desk.
1 Hat rack.
1 Swivel chair.
4 Plain office chairs—high back.
2 Low back chairs.
1 Typewriter table.
1 Couch.
Cushions on all seats.
2 Cabinets.

Properties on Domin’s desk :
Flowers.
Box candy.
1 Pad and blotter.
1 Letter opener.
1 Cigarette box.
1 Inkwell stand.
1 Practical buzzer (6 buttons).
1 Television.
1 Rubber stamp.
1 Pad of scrap paper.
Typewritten letters.
Telephone.

Off R. :
1 Silver card tray ( Marius ).
1 Apron ( Busman ).
1 Napkin ( Alquist ).

Off L. :
1 Fountain pen (for Busman ).
1 Telephone buzzer.
1 Siren whistle.

Furniture :
1 Desk table.
1 Reading table.
1 Small oval table.
1 Table back of couch.
1 Blue armchair.
1 Armchair.
2 Straight chairs.
1 Fireplace.
1 Couch.
4 Pillows.
Lace curtains on windows.

On Desk :
1 Pair binoculars.
1 Turquoise lamp (shade).
1 Telephone (same as Act I.)
1 China double inkwell.
[90] 1 Pen.
Writing paper and envelopes.
5 French Reviews .
2 London Times .
1 Bystander .
5 English magazines.

On Table L.C. :
2 Book ends (wooden).
5 French novels.
1 Lamp (wooden) with shade.

On Table R.C. :
1 Brass match box (containing matches).

At Fireplace :
1 Burnt paper in fireplace (tacked).
Small Robot doll.
2 Browning guns.
1 Poker.

Off L. :
1 Brass tray (with handles).
On tray:
1 Glass decanter with “Cognac.”
4 Brandy glasses.
3 Pots of flowers (for Domin , Fabry , Hallemeier ).
2 Manifesto (for Fabry and Helena ).
1 Fountain pen ( Busman ).
1 Box with pearls (for Domin ).
1 Box with cameo (for Domin ).
1 Pair of glasses for Nana .
1 Revolver.
Electric card and switch box ( Fabry ).
Rope and stick to bind Radius .
1 Large ledger for Busman .
2 Knives for Robots .
1 Piano.

Off R. :
Bundle of old papers (manuscripts).
3 Newspapers.
1 Loaded revolver.

In Cellar :
1 Pad—shots.
2 Cannons (loaded).
1 Wind machine.
1 Shot gun (loaded).
1 Tin Whistle.

Furniture :
1 Plain table.
1 Small table.
3 Chairs (1 same as armchair in 2nd and 3rd Acts).
Same furniture as Act I.
1 Wall cabinet.

On Plain Table R.C. :
3 Books.
2 Anatomy books.
Papers.
1 Pencil.
1 Student lamp.
1 Microscope with glass plate.
8 Test tubes in wooden stand.

On Small Table L.C. :
4 Drug bottles.
2 Large glass test bottles.
1 Scalpel.

The foots consist of two sections numbering from Left to Right, 1 and 2 amber, blue and white. The first border consists of eleven 250-watt baby spots, placed about one and a half feet apart and numbered from 7 to 17.

Overhead X-rays consist of three sections containing the mediums: Blue, steel-blue, and frost.

Back stage illumination consists of 5 1000-watt bunch lights hanging blue, and 5 1000-watt bunch lights hanging frost.

Back stage on floor are 2 1000 bunch floor lamps of 1000-watt each to illuminate the back drop.

In Epilogue a Linnebach lamp (arc with glass slide) to throw silhouette of factory on back drop.

Act II. Fireplace on when Nana strikes match. Off when Nana says “There, that’s the end of them.”

Act III. (one) table lamp and #17 off at start of Act, on at cue from Fabry : “Ah, they are there.” Off on “And they are working.”

(Two) Table lamp and #17 spot on at cue “Our people are still there”—off on cue “A torch to be handed from age to age, from hand to hand forever.”

(Three) Dim first-border spots #9, 10, and back stage hanging bunches on cue “Anything can be bought for half a billion.”

(Four) The table “lamp-out” second time works simultaneous with the black out on cue: “A torch to be handed from hand to hand, from age to age.” Everything is pulled out except #18 and 20 (deep blue).

(Five) With explosions in cellar the 2 1500-watt floor lamps at back (red) and brought up quickly to full and worked up and down quickly on dimmer until Radius enters, when they remain on full to end of Act.

A frost 1000-watt spot (frost) on stand off stage are lighted and blinded at rise. The blinds are [94] opened when Radius exits. The light floods the room through door at R. The blinds are closed when the Robot exits on cue: “The Robots are stronger than you.”

With entrance of Helena and Primus the sunrise effect begins. Floor lamp and stand lamp up stage at Right, both amber.

With sunrise effect bring up #24 pink and #21 rose-pink. Foots up to 1/2 and overhead Xray (pink, frost, and steel-blue) full up.

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Harry Domin , General Manager of Rossum’s Universal Robots	Basil Sydney
Sulla , a Robotess	Mary Bonestell
Marius , a Robot	Myrtland LaVarre
Helena Glory	Kathlene MacDonell
Dr. Gall , head of the Physiological and Experimental Department of R. U. R.	William Devereaux
Mr. Fabry , Engineer General, Technical Controller of R. U. R.	John Anthony
Dr. Hallemeier , head of the Institute for Psychological Training of Robots	Moffat Johnston
Mr. Alquist , Architect, head of the Works Department of R. U. R.	Louis Calvert
Consul Busman , General Manager of R. U. R.	Henry Travers
Nana	Helen Westly
Radius , a Robot	John Rutherford
Helena , a Robotess	Mary Hone
Primus , a Robot	John Roche
A Servant	Frederick Mark
First Robot	Domis Plugge
Second Robot	Richard Coolidge
Third Robot	Bernard Savage

Busman. Not Robots.		( All together )
Hallemeier. Robots indeed!
Dr. Gall. No, thanks.
Fabry. Upon my honor, Miss Glory, we aren’t Robots.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)

R. U. R.
(ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

R. U. R.
STORY OF THE PLAY

R. U. R.
(ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

ACT THREE

EPILOGUE

R. U. R.
PROPERTY LIST

R. U. R.
LIGHT PLOT

R. U. R.
LIGHT CUES

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)

R. U. R. (ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

R. U. R. STORY OF THE PLAY

R. U. R. (ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

ACT THREE

EPILOGUE

R. U. R. PROPERTY LIST

R. U. R. LIGHT PLOT

R. U. R. LIGHT CUES

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

R. U. R.
(ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

R. U. R.
STORY OF THE PLAY

R. U. R.
(ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS)

R. U. R.
PROPERTY LIST

R. U. R.
LIGHT PLOT

R. U. R.
LIGHT CUES