R.U.R. Karel Čapek (story read aloud .TXT) 📖

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 Try. All our lives depend upon it. Dr. Gall Without experiments it’s impossible. Domin And with experiments? Dr. Gall It might take years. Besides, I’m not old Rossum. Busman God in Heaven! God in Heaven! Domin Up to fireplace. So then this was the greatest triumph of the human intellect. These ashes. Helena Harry, what have I done? Domin Comes to her. Why did you burn it? Helena I have destroyed you. Busman God in Heaven! Domin Sits R. of her. Helena, why did you do it, dear? Helena I wanted all of us to go away. I wanted to put an end to the factory and everything. It was so awful. Domin What was 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. Hallemeier What? Busman Five hundred and twenty millions in banknotes and checks. Half a billion in our safe. They’ll sell for half a billion⁠—for half a billion they’ll⁠—Crosses to Domin. Dr. Gall Are you mad, Busman? Busman I may not be a gentleman, but for a half a billion⁠—Crosses back to L. Domin Where are you going? Gall clutches Busman. 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— Hallemeier Looking out window. The spirit of the mob. Fabry Yes. It hovers above them like a quivering of the air. Helena Oh, God! Doctor Gall, this is ghastly! Fabry There is nothing more terrible than the mob. The one in front is their leader. Domin crosses to window. Helena Rises. Which one? Rushing to window. Hallemeier Point him out. 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. Dr. Gall Yes. Domin Radius! Radius! Hallemeier Could you get him from here, Fabry? Fabry I hope so. Hallemeier Try it, then. Fabry Good⁠—Draws his revolver and takes his aim. Helena To Fabry. Fabry, don’t shoot him. Fabry He’s their leader. Dr. Gall Fire! Standing above table L. C. Helena Fabry, I beg of you. She goes to Fabry and holds his arm. Fabry Pause. Lowering the revolver. Very well. Domin It was Radius’ life I spared. Dr. Gall Do you think that a Robot can be grateful? Pause. Fabry Busman’s going out to them. 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. He rushes to window C. Busman, have you gone mad? Fabry He’s running up to the railing. Busman. Busman. Hallemeier Yelling. Busman, come back. Fabry He’s talking to the Robots. He’s showing them the money. Hallemeier He’s pointing to us. Helena He wants to buy us off. Fabry He’d better not touch the railing. Hallemeier Now he’s waving his arms about. Domin Busman, come back! 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 begins. Dr. Gall Do you hear? Domin A roaring. Like a wind. To L. Dr. Gall Like a storm. 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. Alquist Facing lamp. Man’s power. 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.) Hallemeier The end. 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? Dr. Gall I will. Rushes out L. 2. Domin Near couch. Who on the stairs? Fabry I will. You go with her. Going out L. 2. Domin The ante room? Alquist I will. He rises and goes toward the L. 1. Domin Have you got a revolver? Alquist Yes, but I won’t shoot. Domin What will you do, then? Alquist Going out L. 1 Die. 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. (Warn Curtain) Hallemeier Confound it, go to her. Domin Goodbye. Exits R. 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