R.U.R. | Page 6

What do you think of our factory, Miss Glory?
Hallemeier: Came over on the Amelia, did you?
Domin: Quiet, let Miss Glory speak.
Helena: (to Domin) What am I supposed to say to them?
Domin: (surprised) Whatever you like.
Helena: Should I... should I be open with them?
Domin: Of course you should.
Helena: (hesitant, then decided) Tell me, do you not mind the way you're treated?
Fabry: Treated by whom?
Helena: Any of these people.
(All look at each other in bewilderment)
Alquist: The way we're treated?
Dr. Gall: How do you mean?
Hallemeier: Oh my God!
Busman: But Miss Glory, dear me!
Helena: Do you not think you could have a better kind of existence?
Dr. Gall: That all depends, Miss Glory, what do you mean?
Helena: What I mean is... (in an outburst)... this is all horrible, it's vile! (standing) The whole of Europe is talking about what's going on here and the way you're treated. That's why I've come here, to see for myself, and I find it's a thousand times worse than anyone ever thought! How can you bear it?
Alquist: What is it you think we have to bear?
Helena: Your position here. You are people just like we are, for God's sake, just like anyone else in Europe, anyone else in the world! It's a scandal, the way you have to live, it isn't worthy of you!
Busman: My word, Miss Glory!!
Fabry: But I think there might be something in what Miss Glory says, lads. We really do live here like a camp of Indians.
Helena: Worse than Indians! May I, oh, may I call you 'brothers'?
Busman: Well, why on Earth not?
Helena: Brothers, I haven't come here on behalf of my father. I'm here on behalf of the League of Humanity. Brothers, the League of Humanity now has more than two thousand members. There are two thousand people who are standing up for you and want to help you.
Busman: Two thousand people! Dear me, that's quite a decent number, that's very nice indeed.
Fabry: I always say that old Europe hasn't had its day yet. Do you hear, lads, they haven't forgotten about us, they want to help us.
Dr. Gall: What sort of help do you have in mind? A theatre performance, perhaps?
Hallemeier: An orchestra?
Helena: More than that.
Alquist: Yourself?
Helena: Oh, never mind myself! I'll stay here for as long as it's needed.
Busman: Dear me, that is good news!??
Alquist: I'll go and get the best room ready for Miss Glory then, Domin.
Domin: Wait a second, Alquist, I've a feeling Miss Glory hasn't quite finished speaking yet.
Helena: No, I haven't finished, not unless you mean to shut me up by force.
Dr. Gall: Harry, how dare you!
Helena: Thank you. I knew you'd protect me.
Domin: Excuse me, Miss Glory, but are you sure you're talking to robots?
Helena: (taken aback) Who else would I be talking to?
Domin: I'm afraid these gentlemen are people, just like you are. Just like the whole of Europe.
Helena: (to the others) You aren't robots?
Busman: (laughing) God forbid!
Hallemeier: The idea's disgusting!
Dr. Gall: (laughing) Well thank you very much!
Helena: But... but that's impossible.
Fabry: On my word of honour, Miss Glory, we are not robots.?
Helena: (to Domin) Then why did you tell me that all your staff are robots?
Domin: All the staff are robots, but not the management. Let me introduce them: Mr. Fabry, general technical director, Rossum's Universal Robots. Doctor Gall, director of department for physiology and research. Doctor Hallemeier, director of the institute for robot behaviour and psychology. Mr. Busman, commercial director, and Mr. Alquist, our builder, head of construction at Rossum's Universal Robots.?
Helena: I'm sorry gentlemen. I... I... oh, that's terrible, what have I done?
Alquist: Oh, it doesn't matter, Miss Glory, please sit down.
Helena: (sitting) What a stupid girl I am. Now, now you'll send me back on the next ship.
Dr. Gall: Not for the world. Why would we want to send you back?
Helena: Because now you know... you know... you know I want to destroy your business.
Domin: But there've already been hundreds of saviours and prophets here. More of them arrive with every ship; missionaries, anarchists, the Salvation Army, everything you can think of. It's astonishing just how many churches and madmen there are in the world.
Helena: And you let them talk to the robots?
Domin: Why not? We've let them all do it so far. The robots remember everything, but that's all they do. They don't even laugh at what people tell them. It's really quite incredible. If you feel like it, I can take you down to the storeroom and you can talk to the robots there.?
Busman: Three hundred and forty-seven thousand.?
Domin: Alright then. You can lecture them on whatever you like. Read them the Bible, logarithmic tables, anything. You can even preach to them about human rights.
Helena: But I thought that... if they were just shown a little love...
Fabry: That's impossible, Miss Glory. There's nothing more different from people than a robot.
Helena: