that will be a beginning.  And any beginning is better than nothing.  In a thousand years they'll have caught up with us again, and then go on further than we ever did ...

Domin ... and fulfill the dreams we've only ever talked about.

Busman Wait - how silly of me!  Dear me, why didn't I think of this before?

Hallemeier What is it?

Busman Five hundred and twenty million in cash and in cheques!  Half a billion in the till!  For half a billion they'll sell ... they'll sell ...

Dr. Gall Have you gone mad, Busman?

Busman I'm not a gentleman.  But for half a billion (blunders left )

Domin Where are you going?

Busman Leave it, leave it!  Mother of God, for half a billion you can buy anything !(exit )

Helena What does Busman want?  Why can't he stay here with us?

(pause )

Hallemeier Oh, it's hot.  It's starting, the ...

Dr. Gall The agony.

Fabry (looking out of window ) They're standing there like statues.  It's as if they were waiting for something to descend on them, or as if they thought their very silence would give rise to something terrible ...

Dr. Gall Crowd mentality.

Fabry Maybe.  It's like a cloud all around them, they seem to quiver with it.

Helena (goes to window ) Oh God!  Fabry, it's horrible!

Fabry There's nothing more terrible than the crowd.  That one in front - he's their leader. 

Helena Which one?

Hallemeier (goes to window ) Point him out to me.

Fabry The one that's looking down.  He was giving the orders at the harbour this morning.

Hallemeier Ah, the one with the big bonce, you mean.  He's looking up now, see?

Helena Gall, that's Radius!

Dr. Gall (goes to window ) Yes.

Hallemeier (opens window ) I don't like the look of him.  Fabry, think you could hit a barn door at a hundred paces?

Fabry I should hope so.

Hallemeier Give it a try then!

Fabry Alright.  (takes out revolver and takes aim )

Helena Oh God, no!  Fabry, don't shoot him ...

Fabry He's their leader.

Helena Stop it!  He's even looking at us!

Dr. Gall Shoot him!

Helena Fabry, please ...

Fabry (lowers revolver ) As you say.

Hallemeier (shaking fist ) You bastard!

(pause )

Fabry (leaning out of window ) There goes Busman.  For God's sake, what's Busman doing there out in front of the house?

Dr. Gall (leaning out of window ) He's got some kind of bundles with him, paper or something.

Hallemeier That's money!  Bundles of banknotes!  What is he up to?  Hey, Busman!

Domin He's not trying to buy them off is he, to save his own life?  (calling)  Busman, have you gone mad?

Dr., Gall He's pretending he can't hear you, running over to the fence.

Fabry Busman!

Hallemeier (yelling ) Bus-ma-n! Come back!

Dr. Gall He's talking to the robots, showing them the money, pointing up at us ...

Helena He wants to buy them off to save our lives.

Fabry As long as he doesn't touch the fence ...

Dr. Gall Ha, look at him throwing his arms about!

Fabry (shouting ) For Heaven's sake, Busman, get away from the fence!  Don't touch it!  (turning )  Quick, turn it off!

Dr. Gall Ohhh!

Hallemeier Jesus Christ!

Helena Oh God, what's happened to him?

Domin (pulling Helena away from window ) Don't look!

Helena Why is he dead?

Fabry He was killed by the current.

Dr. Gall Dead.

Alquist (standing )  The first one.

(pause )

Fabry There he lies ... with half a billion on his heart ... our financial genius.

Domin He was ... lads, in his own way he was a hero.  A great ... self-sacrificing ...friend ... Cry, Helena.

Dr. Gall (at the window )  Look at him.  No king ever had a costlier monument than you, Busman.  Half a billion lying there on your heart ... And now it's no more than a pile of dried up leaves over a dead squirrel.  Poor old Busman. 

Hallemeier Well I say ... all honour to him ... he was trying to buy our lives for us!

Alquist (hands together ) Amen.

(pause )

Dr. Gall Do you hear?

Domin Some kind of howling, like the wind.

Dr. Gall Like a storm in the distance.

Fabry (switches on light above fireplace )  Shine, you light of man!  The generator's still working, there are still some people there.  Hold on in there, generator men!

Hallemeier It was great, being human.  Something boundless.  There's a million consciousnesses buzzing inside me like bees in a hive, millions of souls coming together inside me.  My friends -Humanity was great!

Fabry Ingenious light, you're still aglow, and still your shining brightness shows the thought that lasts forever! Give us science of the sciences, and beauty in the work of man, whose spark will give the spirit flame!

Alquist Eternal lamp of God, and fiery chariot of light, holy flame of faith and prayer for what is right!  Altar of sacrifice ...

Dr. Gall Primaeval flame, you branch that flares to light our cave!  Campfire flame that sets the border where we safely come together!

Fabry You're still on watch, you star of man, steady glow and perfect flame, bright clear sprite of man's invention.   Every beam brings thought and greatness ...

Domin Torch that passes hand to hand, age to age, and ever onward.

Helena That evening lamp in the family home.  Children, children now it's time for sleep.

(lamp goes out )

Fabry That's the end.

Hallemeier What's happened?

Fabry The generator room's gone down.  We're next.

(door opens, left, in it appears Nana )

Nana On your knees!  The Day of Judgement's here!

Hallemeier Hell, you're still alive?

Nana Repent, you unbelievers!  It's the end of the world!  Pray to God! (runs out )  The Day of Judgement ....

Helena Goodbye everyone, Gall, Alquist, Fabry ...

Domin (opens door right ) Helena, come here!  Close the door behind her. Now, quickly!  Who'll be at the gate?

Dr. Gall I will.  (noises off ) Ah, now it's getting started.  Good luck, lads!  (runs off, right, through wallpapered door )

Domin The stairs?

Fabry Me.  You stay with Helena.  (takes flower from the bunch and exits)

Domin Hallway?

Alquist Me.

Domin Have you got a gun?

Alquist No thanks, I won't be doing any shooting.

Domin What are you going to do?

Alquist (exiting ) Die.

Hallemeier I'll stay in here.

(rapid gunfire from below )

Hallemeier Oho, Gall's already started playing.  Go on, Harry!

Domin I'll be right there. (inspects two Browning guns )

Hallemeier For God's sake, go and join her!

Domin Goodbye.  (exit right, following Helena )

Hallemeier (alone )  Now, barricades, quick! (takes off coat and pulls settee, armchairs, tables to door, right )

(very loud explosion )

Hallemeier (leaving work )  Damn them, they've got bombs, the swine!

(more gunfire )

Hallemeier (resuming work ) We've got to defend ourselves, even if ... even if ...Don't give up, Gall!

(explosion )

Hallemeier (stands erect and listens )  What was that?  (puts arms around heavy chest o' drawers and heaves it to barricade )

(behind him, a robot appears on a ladder at the window.  Gunshots right )

Hallemeier (struggles with chest o' drawers )  Just a bit more! Last defence.. We should ... never ...