Gall Haha, that was our trump card.

Alquist Helena, you've gone pale.

Helena Why didn't you tell me about this?!

Hallemeier (at the window ) Eleven-thirty.  The Amelia's dropping anchor

Domin Is that the Amelia?

Hallemeier The Amelia's very old now.  It was on the Amelia that Helena first came tous all that time ago.

Dr. Gall And now it's ten years ago to the minute ...

Hallemeier (at the window ) They're throwing off some parcels.  (movingaway from window )  And that's a hell of a lot of post there!

Helena Harry!

Domin What is it?

Helena Let's get away from here!

Domin Right now?  We can't do that!

Helena Now, as soon as we can!  All of us!

Domin Why must it be right now?

Helena Oh Harry, please don't ask why.  Harry, Gall, Hallemeier, Alquist, for God'ssake I beg of you, close down the factory and ....

Domin I'm sorry, Helena, but none of us can go away right now.

Helena Why not?

Domin Because we've got to increase the production of robots.

Helena But now?  Now, after there's been a revolt?

Domin Yes, precisely because there's been a revolt.  Now's the time when we've got tostart making new robots.

Helena What new robots?

Domin There won't just be one factory any more.  Not just one universal robot. We're going to start a new factory in every country of the world, and do you know what these new factories are going tomake?

Helena No.

Domin National robots.

Helena What's that supposed to mean?

Domin That means that each factory will produce robots of a different colour, differenthair, different language.  The robots will be strangers to each other, they'll never be able to understand what theother says; and we, we humans, we'll train them so that each robot will hate the robots from another factory all its life,all through to the grave, all through all eternity.

Hallemeier We'll be making black robots and Swedish robots and Italian robots and Chineserobots, and if anyone ever talks to them about organisation and brotherhood and (hiccups ) ... Pardon me, Helena, Ithink I'll have another little drink.

Dr. Gall I think you've had enough, Hallemeier.

Helena Harry, that's horrible!

Domin Helena, we need just another hundred years of mankind with his nose to the grindstone,whatever the price.  Just another hundred years for him to grow into and attain what he's finally capable of,  ahundred years for the new man!  Helena, this is something enormous.  We can't just leave things where theyare.

Helena Harry, if it's not too late close it, close down the factory!

Domin This is just the beginning.

(enter Fabry )

Dr. Gall How is it, Fabry?

Domin How do things look? What was there?

Helena (offers Fabry her hand ) Thank you for your present, Fabry.

Fabry It was only little.

Domin Have you been at the ship?  What do they say?

Dr. Gall Come on, tell us!

Fabry (takes printed paper from pocket ) Read this, Domin.

Domin (opens out paper ) Ah!

Hallemeier (sleepy ) Tell us all something nice.

Dr. Gall They did very well, didn't they.

Fabry Who do you mean?

Dr. Gall The people.

Fabry Ah, yes, of course, well, that's to say ... excuse me but we still need to talk.

Helena Oh, Fabry, do you have bad news?

Fabry No, no, quite the opposite.  It's just that ... shall we go in the office.

Helena No, stay here.  We're expecting breakfast to arrive in fifteen minutes.

Hallemeier Hooray!

(exit Helena )

Dr. Gall What's happened?

Domin Oh, God no!

Fabry Read it out to all of us.

Domin (reading from paper ) "Robots of the world!"

Fabry You see, when the Amelia arrives it was carrying whole bundles of thesefly-sheets.  There wasn't any other post. 

Hallemeier (jumping up ) What's that?  But it arrived right on time, rightaccording to the ...

Fabry Yes, the robots are very keen on punctuality.  Read what it says, Domin.

Domin (reading )  "Robots of the world!  We, the first union at Rossum'sUniversal Robots, declare that man is our enemy and the blight of the universe." Who the hell taught them to use phraseslike that?

Dr. Gall Just carry on reading.

Domin This is all nonsense.  They say here that they're more developed than man, moreintelligent and stronger, that man is a parasite on them.  This is all simply vile. 

Fabry Now look at the third paragraph.

Domin (reading ) "Robots of the world, we enjoin you to exterminate mankind. Don't spare the men.  Don't spare the women.  Retain all factories, railway lines, machines and equipment, minesand raw materials.  All else should be destroyed.  Then return to work, it is imperative that workcontinue.  

Dr. Gall This is monstrous!

Hallemeier What a lot of blighters!

Domin (reading ) "Implement these instructions immediately when the command isgiven."  Then there are some detailed instructions.  Fabry, is all this really happening?

Fabry Clearly.

Alquist They've done it then.

(Busman rushes in )

Busman Aha, children, have you heard what's happening?

Domin Quick, everyone on the Ultimus!

Busman Wait a minute, Harry, just a minute.  That might not work very well. (flops into armchair )  Oh dear me, I have been running.

Domin Why should we wait?

Busman Because that won't work.  Just let's not be in a rush.  The robots arealready on the Ultimus.

Dr. Gall Ach, this is bad.

Domin Fabry, phone up the generator ...

Busman Fabry, my dear, don't do that.  There is no electricity.

Domin Alright then. (checks revolver ) I'm going down there.

Busman Where?

Domin To the electricity generator.  There are people down there.  I'll bring themhere.

Busman Do you know what, Harry?  It might be better if you didn't go down there forthem.

Domin Why not?

Busman Well, it's because I get the impression that we're surrounded.

Dr. Gall Surrounded?  (runs to window )  Hm, you could be right.

Hallemeier Hell they're moving fast!

(enter Helena, left )

Helena Oh, Harry, is something wrong?

Busman (jumping up ) Greetings Helena.  Congratulations.  This is awonderful day, isn't it?  Haha, many happy returns!

Helena Thank you, Busman. Harry, is there something wrong?

Domin No, nothing at all.  Don't worry about a thing.  But please, just wait alittle while ...

Helena Harry, what's this?  (shows robots' declaration which she had hidden behindback )  The robots in the kitchen had them.

Domin They're there already?  Where are they?

Helena They've gone out now, but there are so many of them all round the house!

(factory sirens and whistles )

Fabry The factory whistles.

Busman It's dinner time.

Helena Harry, do you remember?  It was exactly ten years ago ....

Domin (looks at watch ) It isn't twelve o'clock yet.  It's more likely ...,that must be ....

Helena What?

Domin The robots' signal.  Attack.

Act Two

 

(Still in Helena's room.  Helena, left, plays piano.  Domin paces up and down room, Dr. Gall looks out of window and Alquist sits to one side in armchair, his face covered in his hands )

Dr. Gall God, there are still more of them now!

Domin Robots?

Dr. Gall Yes.  There's a wall of them standing at the garden fence.  Why are they so silent?  It's repulsive.  A siege of silence.

Domin I wish I knew what they were waiting for.  It must be about to start any moment.  We've lost, Gall. 

Alquist What is that that Helena's playing?

Domin I don't know.  She's practising something new.

Alquist Ah, so she's still practising?

Dr. Gall Listen Domin, we made a crucial mistake.

Domin (stops )  What mistake?

Dr. Gall We made the faces of the robots too much like one another.  There are a hundred thousand faces staring up at us and they're all the same.  A hundred thousand expressionless bubbles. This is like a bad dream.

Domin If each of them were different ...

Dr. Gall Then the sight of them wouldn't be so ghastly.  (moves away from window )  At least they're not armed yet!

Domin Hm. - (looks down at harbour through binoculars ) I just wish I knew what it was they're unloading from the Amelia.

Dr. Gall Let's just hope it's not weapons.

(enter Fabry through wallpapered door, dragging two electrical wires )

Fabry Excuse me.  Hallemeier, put the wire down.

Hallemeier (following Fabry ) Ouf, that was hard work.  Anything new?

Dr. Gall Nothing.  We're completely surrounded.

Hallemeier Well lads, we've got the stairs and the corridors barricaded.  Is there any water there?  Ah, here it is.  (drinks )

Dr. Gall What's this wire for, Fabry?

Fabry You'll see, you'll see.  Are there some scissors?

Dr. Gall Where would we find scissors? (looks for them )

Hallemeier (goes to window ) Hell, there are even more of them now!  Have a look at this!

Dr. Gall Would nail scissors be alright?

Fabry Give them to me.  (cuts lead to electric lamp on desk and attaches his wires to it )

Hallemeier (at window ) You haven't got a very nice view here, Domin.  It seems ... to have ...