Part 5

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.

HALLEMEIER. Rubbish, man. Mankind can’t be wiped out so easily.

ALQUIST. It’s our fault. It’s our fault. (_Rises, coming R. of GALL._)

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._)

FABRY. You, Gall?

DR. GALL. I changed the Robots.

BUSMAN. What’s that?

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.

HALLEMEIER. Damn it, why?

BUSMAN. What did you do it for?

FABRY. Why didn’t you say anything?

DR. GALL. I did it in secret. I was transforming them into human beings. In certain respects they’re already _above_ us. They’re stronger than we are.

FABRY. And what’s that got to do with the revolt of the Robots?

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.

DOMIN. Perhaps we’re only phantoms.

FABRY. Stop, Harry. We haven’t much time, Doctor Gall.

DOMIN. Fabry, Fabry, how your forehead bleeds where the shot pierced it.

FABRY. (_Crosses to GALL_) Be silent! Doctor Gall, you admit changing the way of making the Robots.

DR. GALL. Yes.

FABRY. Were you aware of what might be the consequences of your experiment?

DR. GALL. I was bound to reckon with such a possibility.

FABRY. (_Amusing_) Why did you do it, then?

(_HELENA enters L.1._)

DR. GALL. For my own satisfaction. The experiment was my own.

HELENA. That’s not true, Doctor Gall! (_Crosses to couch._)

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. Stop, Harry.

DOMIN. No, no, Helena, don’t leave me now. You are _life_ itself.

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

FABRY. Excuse me. Gall was under certain obligations.

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

DR. GALL. I did it on my own responsibility.

HELENA. Don’t believe him. I asked him to give the Robots souls.

DOMIN. This has nothing to do with the soul.

HELENA. That’s what he said. He said that he could change only a physiological--a physiological--

HALLEMEIER. (_From up at window_) A physiological correlate?

HELENA. Yes. But it meant so much to me that he should do even that.

DOMIN. Why?

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.

DOMIN. Nobody can hate man more than man.

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. But he did it.

HELENA. Because I asked him.

DR. GALL. I did it for myself as an experiment. (_Up to window._)

HELENA. No, Doctor Gall! I know you wouldn’t refuse me.

DOMIN. Why?

HELENA. You know, Harry.

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?

DR. GALL. Three years ago.

BUSMAN. Aha. And on how many Robots altogether did you _carry out_ your improvements? (_Walking to and fro._)

DR. GALL. A few hundred of them.

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. That it’s of no consequence whatsoever.

FABRY. Busman’s right. (_HELENA sits in armchair R. of L.C. table._)

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

FABRY. What?

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--

DOMIN. Are you accusing us? (_Turning on him._)

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

HELENA. And is it for that we must perish?

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

DOMIN. No? What do you want to do?

BUSMAN. I want to get out of this, that’s all.

DOMIN. Oh, stop it, Busman.

BUSMAN. Seriously, Harry, I think we might try it.

DOMIN. How? (_To front again._)

BUSMAN. By fair means. I do everything by fair means. Give me a free hand and I’ll _negotiate_ with the Robots.

DOMIN. By fair means?

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._)

DOMIN. (_Crosses to C._) Busman, do you think we’d sell the manuscript?

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

DOMIN. Busman, we can _destroy_ Rossum’s manuscript.

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. Why, you’re mad. Who’d sell the _whole_ manuscript?

DOMIN. Busman, no cheating! (_To L.C. table._)

BUSMAN. Well then, sell, but afterwards--

DOMIN. Well?

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.

FABRY. (_Rises_) No!

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

BUSMAN. (_Rises_) It’s in the interest of humanity to--

DOMIN. It’s in the interest of humanity to keep our word--

HALLEMEIER. Oh, come, what rubbish!

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

FABRY. Sell.

DOMIN. Gall?

DR. GALL. Sell.

DOMIN. Hallemeier?

HALLEMEIER. Sell, of course.

DOMIN. Alquist?

ALQUIST. As God wills.

DOMIN. (_Starts off R._) Very well, gentlemen.

HELENA. Harry, you’re not asking _me_.

DOMIN. (_Stops. To her_) No, child. (_Starting R._) Don’t you worry about it. (_He pats her shoulder._)

FABRY. Who’ll do the negotiating?

BUSMAN. I will. (_Up to window._)

DOMIN. Wait till I bring the manuscript. (_DOMIN goes out R._)

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.

HELENA. Oh, Gall, don’t speak.

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.

HALLEMEIER. (_Crosses to L. of FABRY_) Madame Helena, Fabry’s right.

HELENA. (_Breaking down_) Oh, stop! Stop!

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.

ALQUIST. You believe that even today?

FABRY. Yes!

BUSMAN. _Amen._ You see, Madame Helena, we’re not so badly off.

DOMIN. (_Storms into R. To R. of couch. Hoarsely_) Where’s old Rossum’s manuscript? (_To R.C._)

BUSMAN. In your strong-box, of course.

DOMIN. Someone--has--stolen it!

DR. GALL. Impossible.

DOMIN. Who has stolen it?

HELENA. (_Standing up_) I did. (_Reactions from FABRY and HALLEMEIER._)

DOMIN. Where did you put it?

HELENA. Harry, I’ll tell you everything. Only forgive me.

DOMIN. Where did you put it?

HELENA. (_Pointing to fireplace_) This morning--I burnt--the two copies.

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. Let’s see. “By adding biogen to--” That’s all.

DOMIN. Is that part of it?

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._)

BUSMAN. God in Heaven! (_Sits L. of table._)

DOMIN. Then we’re done for. Get up, Helena.

HELENA. Then you’ve forgiven me?

DOMIN. Get up, child. I can’t bear--

FABRY. (_Lifting her up_) Please don’t torture us.

HELENA. Harry, what have I done?

FABRY. (_Coming to HELENA_) Don’t, Madame Helena.

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. 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 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._)

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 begin._)

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 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, stop.

RADIUS. I tell you to take live bodies. Find out how we are made.

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

RADIUS. Take live bodies, live bodies. (_Walks toward ALQUIST._)

ALQUIST. Have mercy, Robots.

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.

RADIUS. I? Why should I be chosen?

ALQUIST. So you will not.

RADIUS. I will.

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.

RADIUS. (_Off R._) Ready, begin.

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. The man has fallen asleep, Primus.