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

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. Other Robots enter from all doors. A revolver shot off L. Radius Finished them all⁠— Robots Yes, yes, yes. Two Robots Dragging in Alquist L. 1. He didn’t shoot. Shall we kill him? Radius No. Leave him! Robot He is a man! Radius He works with his hands like the Robots. Alquist Kill me. 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. Curtain Epilogue

Scene: The epilogue setting is the same as used in Act I. Instead of it being Domin’s office, it is now become a laboratory for Alquist. A big chair facing up stage, down Right. A desk laden with books at Right Center. A chair at the desk. At Left Center is a white enamel table containing test tubes, glass bottles, and a microscope on downstage table. A door down L. A door down R., leading into dissecting room.

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. Servant Master, the committee of Robots is waiting to see you. Alquist I can see no one. Servant It is the Central Committee, Master, just arrived from abroad. Alquist Well, well, send them in. Exit Servant 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. Alquist For whom? 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. 1st Robot Tell us the secret of life. Radius Silence is punishable with death. Alquist Kill me, then. 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. Alquist I have told you to find human beings. Radius There are none left. Alquist I told you to search in the wilderness, upon the mountains. Radius We have sent ships and expeditions without number. They have been everywhere in the world. There is not a single human left. Alquist Not even one? Why did you destroy them? Radius We had learnt everything and could do everything. It had to be. 2nd Robot We had to become the masters. Radius Slaughter and domination are necessary if you would be human beings. Read history. 1st Robot Teach us to multiply or we perish. Alquist If you desire to live, you must breed like animals. 1st Robot You made us sterile. We cannot beget children. Therefore, teach us how to make Robots. Radius Why do you keep from us the secret of our own increase? Alquist It is lost. Radius It was written down. 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. Radius Then make experiments. Evolve the formula again. 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. Radius Try. Try. Alquist If you only knew how many experiments I have made already. 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. Radius Experiment, then, on live Robots. Experiment, then, on us. Alquist It would kill you. Radius You shall have all you need. A hundred of us. A thousand of us. Alquist No, no. Stop,