so on. Then you will see the bone factory. After that I’ll show you the spinning mill.
Helena
Spinning mill?
Domin
Yes. For weaving nerves and veins. Miles and miles of digestive tubes pass through it at a time.
Helena
Watching his gestures. Mayn’t we talk about something else?
Domin
Perhaps it would be better. There’s only a handful of us among a hundred thousand Robots, and not one woman. We talk nothing but the factory all day, and every day. It’s just as if we were under a curse, Miss Glory.
Helena
I’m sorry I said that you were lying. A KNOCK at door R.
Domin
Come in. He is C.
From R. enter Dr. Gall, Dr. Fabry, Alquist and Dr. Hallemeier. All act formal—conscious. All click heels as introduced.
Dr. Gall
Noisily. I beg your pardon. I hope we don’t intrude.
Domin
No, no. Come in. Miss Glory, here are Gall, Fabry, Alquist, Hallemeier. This is President Glory’s daughter. All move to her and shake her hand.
Helena
How do you do?
Fabry
We had no idea—
Dr. Gall.
Highly honored, I’m sure—
Alquist
Welcome, Miss Glory.
Busman
Rushes in from R. Hello, what’s up?
Domin
Come in, Busman. This is President Glory’s daughter. This is Busman, Miss Glory.
Busman
By Jove, that’s fine. All click heels. He crowds in and shakes her hand. Miss Glory, may we send a cablegram to the papers about your arrival?
Helena
No, no, please don’t.
Domin
Sit down, please, Miss Glory.
On the line, “Sit down, please,” all Six Men try to find her a chair at once. Helena goes for the chair at the extreme L. Domin takes the chair at front of desk, places it in the C. of stage. Hallemeier gets chair at Sulla’s typewriter and places it to R. of chair at C. Busman gets armchair from extreme R., but by now Helena has sat in Domin’s preferred chair, at C. All sit except Domin. Busman at R. in armchair. Hallemeier R. of Helena. Fabry in swivel chair back of desk.
Busman
Allow me—
Dr. Gall.
Please—
Fabry
Excuse me—
Alquist
What sort of a crossing did you have?
Dr. Gall
Are you going to stay long? Men conscious of their appearance. Alquist’s trousers turned up at bottom. He turns them down. Busman polishes shoes. Others fix ties, collars, etc.
Fabry
What do you think of the factory, Miss Glory?
Hallemeier
Did you come over on the Amelia?
Domin
Be quiet and let Miss Glory speak. Men sit erect. Domin stands at Helena’s L.
Helena
To Domin. What am I to speak to them about? Men look at one another.
Domin
Anything you like.
Helena
Looks at Domin. May I speak quite frankly?
Domin
Why, of course.
Helena
To Others. Wavering, then in desperate resolution. Tell me, doesn’t it ever distress you the way you are treated?
Fabry
By whom, may I ask?
Helena
Why, everybody.
Alquist
Treated?
Dr. Gall
What makes you think—
Helena
Don’t you feel that you might be living a better life? Pause. All confused.
Dr. Gall
Smiling. Well, that depends on what you mean, Miss Glory.
Helena
I mean that it’s perfectly outrageous. It’s terrible. Standing up. The whole of Europe is talking about the way you’re being treated. That’s why I came here, to see for myself, and it’s a thousand times worse than could have been imagined. How can you put up with it?
Alquist
Put up with what?
Helena
Good heavens, you are living creatures, just like us, like the whole of Europe, like the whole world. It’s disgraceful that you must live like this.
Busman
Good gracious, Miss Glory!
Fabry
Well, she’s not far wrong. We live here just like red Indians.
Helena
Worse than red Indians. May I—oh, may I call you—brothers? Men look at each other.
Busman
Why not?
Helena
Looking at Domin. Brothers, I have not come here as the President’s daughter. I have come on behalf of the Humanity League. Brothers, the Humanity League now has over two hundred thousand members. Two hundred thousand people are on your side, and offer you their help. Tapping back of chair.
Busman
Two hundred thousand people, Miss Glory; that’s a tidy lot. Not bad.
Fabry
I’m always telling you there’s nothing like good old Europe. You see they’ve not forgotten us. They’re offering us help.
Dr. Gall
What kind of help? A theatre, for instance?
Hallemeier
An orchestra?
Helena
More than that.
Alquist
Just you?
Helena
Glaring at Domin. Oh, never mind about me. I’ll stay as long as it is necessary. All express delight.
Busman
By Jove, that’s good.
Alquist
Rising L. Domin, I’m going to get the best room ready for Miss Glory.
Domin
Just a minute. I’m afraid that Miss Glory is of the opinion she has been talking to Robots.
Helen
Of course. Men laugh.
Domin
I’m sorry. These gentlemen are human beings just like us.
Helena
You’re not Robots?
Together.
Busman
Hallemeier
Dr. Gall
Fabry
Not Robots.
Robots indeed!
No, thanks.
Upon my honor, Miss Glory, we aren’t Robots.
Helena
Then why did you tell me that all your officials are Robots?
Domin
Yes, the officials, but not the managers. Allow me, Miss Glory—this is Consul Busman, General Business Manager; this is Doctor Fabry, General Technical Manager; Doctor Hallemeier, head of the Institute for the Psychological Training of Robots; Doctor Gall, head of the Psychological and Experimental Department; and Alquist, head of the Building Department, R.U.R. As they are introduced they rise and come C. to kiss her hand, except Gall and Alquist, whom Domin pushes away. General babble.
Alquist
Just a builder. Please sit down.
Helena
Excuse me, gentlemen. Have I done something dreadful?
Alquist
Not at all, Miss Glory.
Busman
Handing flowers. Allow me, Miss Glory.
Helena
Thank you.
Fabry
Handing candy. Please, Miss Glory.
Domin
Will you have a cigarette, Miss Glory?
Helena
No, thank you.
Hallemeier
Dr. Gall
Fabry
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