SCENE: _Central office of the factory of Rossum’s Universal Robots. Entrance R. down Right. The windows on the back wall look out on the endless roads of factory buildings. Door L. down Left. On the Left wall large maps showing steamship and railroad routes. On the Right wall are fastened printed placards. (“Robots cheapest Labor,” etc.) In contrast to these wall fittings, the floor is covered with splendid Turkish carpet, a couch R.C. A book shelf containing bottles of wine and spirits, instead of books._ _DOMIN is sitting at his desk at Left, dictating. SULLA is at the typewriter upstage against the wall. There is a leather couch with arms Right Center. At the extreme Right an armchair. At extreme Left a chair. There is also a chair in front of DOMIN’S desk. Two green cabinets across the upstage corners of the room complete the furniture. DOMIN’S desk is placed up and down stage facing Right._ _Seen through the windows which run to the heights of the room are rows of factory chimneys, telegraph poles and wires. There is a general passageway or hallway upstage at the Right Center which leads to the warehouse. The ROBOTS are brought into the office through this entrance._ DOMIN. (_Dictating_) Ready? SULLA. Yes. 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? SULLA. Yes. 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? SULLA. Yes. 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? MARIUS. There’s a lady, sir, asking to see you. DOMIN. A lady? Who is she? MARIUS. I don’t know, sir. She brings this card of introduction. DOMIN. (_Reading card_) Ah, from President 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. Fifteen thousand. Fifteen thousand. MARIUS. (_At door R._) Please step this way.