R.U.R. | Page 4

it much more
simply. So he began to re-design the whole anatomy, seeing what he could leave out or
simplify. In short, Miss Glory... I'm not boring you, am I?
Helena: No, quite the opposite, this is fascinating.
Domin: So young Rossum said to himself: Man is a being that does things such as feeling
happiness, plays the violin, likes to go for a walk, and all sorts of other things which are
simply not needed.
Helena: Oh, I see!
Domin: No, wait. Which are simply not needed for activities such as weaving or
calculating. A petrol engine doesn't have any ornaments or tassels on it, and making an
artificial worker is just like making a petrol engine. The simpler you make production the

better you make the product. What sort of worker do you think is the best?
Helena: The best sort of worker? I suppose one who is honest and dedicated.
Domin: No. The best sort of worker is the cheapest worker. The one that has the least
needs. What young Rossum invented was a worker with the least needs possible. He had
to make him simpler. He threw out everything that wasn't of direct use in his work, that's
to say, he threw out the man and put in the robot. Miss Glory, robots are not people. They
are mechanically much better than we are, they have an amazing ability to understand
things, but they don't have a soul. Young Rossum created something much more
sophisticated than Nature ever did - technically at least!
Helena: They do say that man was created by God.
Domin: So much the worse for them. God had no idea about modern technology. Would
you believe that young Rossum, when he was alive, was playing at God.
Helena: How was he doing that!
Domin: He started to make super-robots. Working giants. He tried to make them four
meters tall - you wouldn't believe how those monsters kept breaking up.
Helena: Breaking up?
Domin: Yes. All of a sudden, for no reason, a leg or an arm would break. This planet just
seems too small for monsters like that. So now we just make them normal size and
normal proportions.
Helena: I saw my first robot in our village. They'd bought him so that... that's to say
they'd employed him to...
Domin: Bought it, Miss Glory. Robots are bought and sold.
Helena:... they'd obtained him to work as a road sweeper. I watched him working . He
was strange. So quiet.
Domin: Have you seen my typist?
Helena: I didn't really notice her.
Domin: (rings) You know, RUR, Ltd. has never really make individual robots, but we do
have some that are better than others. The best ones can last up to twenty years.
Helena: And then they die, do they?
Domin: Yes, they get worn out.
(enter Sulla)

Domin: Sulla, let Miss Glory have a look at you.
Helena: (stands and offers her hand) Pleased to meet you. It must be very hard for you
out here, cut off from the rest of the world.
Sulla: I do not know the rest of the world. Miss Glory please sit down.
Helena: (sits) Where are you from?
Sulla: From here, the factory.
Helena: Oh, you were born here.
Sulla: Yes I was made here.
Helena: (startled) What?
Domin: (laughing) Sulla isn't a person, Miss Glory, she's a robot.
Helena: Oh, please forgive me...
Domin: (puts his hand on Sulla's shoulder) Sulla doesn't have feelings. You can examine
her. Feel her face and see how we make the skin.
Helena: Oh, no, no!
Domin: It feels just the same as human skin. Sulla even has the sort of down on her face
that you'd expect on a blonde. Perhaps her eyes are a bit small, but look at that hair. Turn
around, Sulla.
Helena: Stop it!
Domin: Talk to our guest. We're very honoured to have her here.
Sulla: Please sit down miss. (both sit) Did you have a good crossing.
Helena: Er, yes, yes, very good thank you.
Sulla: It will be better not to go back on the Amelia Miss Glory. The barometer is
dropping fast, and has sunk to 705. Wait here for the Pennsylvania, that is a very good
and very strong ship.
Domin: How big is it?
Sulla: It is twelve thousand tonnes and can travel at twenty knots.
Domin: (laughing) That's enough now, Sulla, that's enough. Show us how well you speak
French.

Helena: You speak French?
Sulla: I speak four languages. I can write 'Dear Sir! Monsieur! Geehrter Herr! Ctný pane!'
Helena: (jumping up) This is all humbug! You're all charlatans! Sulla's not a robot, she's a
living girl just like I am. Sulla, you should be ashamed of yourself -