Free Rossum´s Universal Robots by Karel Čapek Page A

lads, to sell it or destroy it? Fabry?
    Fabry Sell it.
    Domin Gall.
    Dr. Gall Sell.
    Domin Hallemeier.
    Hallemeier Well for God’s sake of course we should sell it!
    Domin Alquist.
    Alquist The will of God.
    Busman Haha, dear me, you’re all mad! Why would anyone sell the whole manuscript?
    Domin Let’s not become liars, Busman!
    Busman ( jumping up ) Nonsense! For the sake of mankind the...
    Domin It’s in the interest of mankind to be honest.
    Hallemeier I should hope so too.
    Domin Lads, this is a tremendous step we’re taking. We’ll selling the fate of mankind; whoever holds the secret of production in his hand will be the master of the world.
    Fabry Sell it!
    Domin Mankind would never be free of the robots, it would never be possible to regain control of them...
    Dr. Gall Just stop all this and sell the manuscript!
    Domin The end of human history, the end of civilisation...
    Hallemeier Damnation, just sell it!
    Domin Alright lads! I myself,.... I wouldn’t hesitate a moment; for those people who I love....
    Helena Harry, is it me you’re asking?
    Domin No, that would be too much responsibility. This isn’t something for a girl like you.
    Fabry Who’ll be the one to negotiate...?
    Domin Wait. Just wait while I get the manuscript. ( exit left )
    Helena Harry, please no, don’t go in there!
    ( pause )
    Fabry ( looking out window ) To escape from you, thousand headed death; from you, destroyed material and mindless hordes; the flood, the flood, mankind is once again to be saved on a single ship.
    Dr. Gall You needn’t worry, Helena; we’ll sail far away from here and establish a colony that will be better than any other; we can make a new beginning...
    Helena Oh, Gall, do be quiet!
    Fabry ( turning back ) Helen, life is worth living; and if it’s up to us we will... we’ll do something that we’ve so far been neglecting. Just one boat to start with, and then a little farm; Alquist can build us a house and you can be in charge over all of us. You’re so full of much love, so much life...
    Hallemeier I should say so.
    Busman Well I, for one, would certainly be happy to start all over again. Everything simple, a pastoral life just like the Old Testament. All that peace, all that fresh air...
    Fabry Our farm would give birth to a new mankind. A little island where the human race would start again, where it would gather new strength, strength of body and of soul. And God knows, as I believe myself, that after a few years we could reclaim the world.
    Alquist You’re a believer now, are you?
    Fabry I’m a believer, now. And I believe man will reclaim the world and become, once again, the lord of the land and the sea; that He will give rise to countless numbers of heroes who will lead the way out into the world with a soul that blazes with light. I believe, Alquist, that He will once again dream of conquering the planets and the suns.
    Busman Amen. So you see, Helena, the situation isn’t really all that bad.
    ( Domin throws open door and enters )
    Domin ( rasping ) Where is old Rossum’s manuscript?!
    Busman It’s in your safe. Where else would it be?
    Domin What’s happened to old Rossum’s manuscript?! Who’s... stolen it?
    Dr. Gall That’s not possible!
    Hallemeier Hell no! That’s just....
    Busman Dear Lord, that can’t be right!
    Domin Who stole it?
    Helena ( standing ) I did.
    Domin Where did you put it?
    Helena Harry, Harry, I’ll tell you everything! Oh God, please forgive me!
    Domin Where did you put it? Quickly!
    Helena I burned them. This morning. Both copies.
    Domin You burned them? Here in this fireplace?
    Helena ( throws herself down on knees ) Oh God, Harry!
    Domin ( runs to fireplace ) Burned it! ( kneels at fireplace and rakes it over with poker ) Nothing, there’s nothing here but ashes! Ah, here’s something! ( pulls out charred piece of paper, and reads ) “... and add... “
    Dr. Gall Let me see it. ( takes paper and reads ) “... and add the