R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama in Three Acts and an EpilogueČapek, Karel
Science
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama in Three Acts and an Epilogue
Čapek, Karel
Czech drama -- Translations into English; Robots -- Drama; Science fiction plays
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. They make me feel so strange.
DOMIN. (_Crosses to desk. Rings_) Did you see my new typist?
HELENA. I didn’t notice her.
(_Enter SULLA L. She crosses and stands C., facing HELENA, who is
still sitting in the couch._)
DOMIN. Sulla, let Miss Glory see you.
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?
SULLA. I don’t know, Miss Glory.
HELENA. Where do you come from?
SULLA. From the factory.
HELENA. Oh, were you born there?
SULLA. I was _made_ there.
HELENA. What? (_Looks first at SULLA, then at DOMIN._)
DOMIN. (_To SULLA, laughing_) Sulla is a Robot, best grade.
HELENA. Oh, I beg your pardon.
DOMIN. (_Crosses to SULLA_) Sulla isn’t angry. See, Miss Glory, the
kind of skin we make. Feel her face. (_Touches SULLA’S face._)
HELENA. Oh, no, no.
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._)
HELENA. Oh, stop, stop.
DOMIN. Talk to Miss Glory, Sulla. (_Examines hair of SULLA._)
SULLA. Please sit down. (_HELENA sits on couch._) Did you have a
pleasant crossing? (_Fixes her hair._)
HELENA. Oh, yes, certainly.
SULLA. Don’t go back on the _Amelia_, Miss Glory, the barometer is
falling steadily. Wait for the _Pennsylvania_. That’s a good powerful
vessel.
DOMIN. What’s its speed?
SULLA. Forty knots an hour. Fifty thousand tons. One of the latest
vessels, Miss Glory.
HELENA. Thank you.
SULLA. A crew of fifteen hundred, Captain Harpy, eight boilers--
DOMIN. That’ll do, Sulla. Now show us your knowledge of French.
HELENA. You know French?
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?
SULLA. I am a Robot.
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. I’m sorry, Miss Glory. _Sulla is a Robot._
HELENA. It’s a lie!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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