formula from memory?
| Dr. Gall |
It’s out of the question. Even with my recent experiments, I couldn’t work without referring to the formula—At L. C. It’s extremely complicated. |
| Domin |
Try. All our lives depend upon it. |
| Dr. Gall |
Without experiments it’s impossible. |
| Domin |
And with experiments? |
| Dr. Gall |
It might take years. Besides, I’m not old Rossum. |
| Busman |
God in Heaven! God in Heaven! |
| Domin |
Up to fireplace. So then this was the greatest triumph of the human intellect. These ashes. |
| Helena |
Harry, what have I done? |
| Domin |
Comes to her. Why did you burn it? |
| Helena |
I have destroyed you. |
| Busman |
God in Heaven! |
| Domin |
Sits R. of her. Helena, why did you do it, dear? |
| Helena |
I wanted all of us to go away. I wanted to put an end to the factory and everything. It was so awful. |
| Domin |
What was awful? |
| Helena |
That children had stopped being born. Because human beings were not needed to do the work of the world. That’s why— |
| Domin |
Is that what you were thinking of? Well, perhaps in your own way you are right. |
| Busman |
Wait a bit. Rising. Good God, what a fool I am not to have thought of it before. |
| Hallemeier |
What? |
| Busman |
Five hundred and twenty millions in banknotes and checks. Half a billion in our safe. They’ll sell for half a billion—for half a billion they’ll—Crosses to Domin. |
| Dr. Gall |
Are you mad, Busman? |
| Busman |
I may not be a gentleman, but for a half a billion—Crosses back to L. |
| Domin |
Where are you going? Gall clutches Busman. |
| Busman |
Leave me alone. Leave me alone! Good God, for half a billion anything can be bought. Gall and Hallemeier after him, then stop. He rushes out L. 2. Fabry, Gall and Hallemeier to window. |
| Fabry |
They stand there as if turned to stone—waiting as if something dreadful could be wrought by their silence— |
| Hallemeier |
Looking out window. The spirit of the mob. |
| Fabry |
Yes. It hovers above them like a quivering of the air. |
| Helena |
Oh, God! Doctor Gall, this is ghastly! |
| Fabry |
There is nothing more terrible than the mob. The one in front is their leader. Domin crosses to window. |
| Helena |
Rises. Which one? Rushing to window. |
| Hallemeier |
Point him out. |
| Fabry |
L. window. The one at the edge of the dock. This morning I saw him talking to the sailors in the harbor. |
| Helena |
Doctor Gall, that’s Radius. Backing into the room, horror-stricken. |
| Dr. Gall |
Yes. |
| Domin |
Radius! Radius! |
| Hallemeier |
Could you get him from here, Fabry? |
| Fabry |
I hope so. |
| Hallemeier |
Try it, then. |
| Fabry |
Good—Draws his revolver and takes his aim. |
| Helena |
To Fabry. Fabry, don’t shoot him. |
| Fabry |
He’s their leader. |
| Dr. Gall |
Fire! Standing above table L. C. |
| Helena |
Fabry, I beg of you. She goes to Fabry and holds his arm. |
| Fabry |
Pause. Lowering the revolver. Very well. |
| Domin |
It was Radius’ life I spared. |
| Dr. Gall |
Do you think that a Robot can be grateful? Pause. |
| Fabry |
Busman’s going out to them. |
| Hallemeier |
He’s carrying something. Papers. That’s money. Bundles of money. What’s that for? |
| Domin |
Surely he doesn’t want to sell his life. He rushes to window C. Busman, have you gone mad? |
| Fabry |
He’s running up to the railing. Busman. Busman. |
| Hallemeier |
Yelling. Busman, come back. |
| Fabry |
He’s talking to the Robots. He’s showing them the money. |
| Hallemeier |
He’s pointing to us. |
| Helena |
He wants to buy us off. |
| Fabry |
He’d better not touch the railing. |
| Hallemeier |
Now he’s waving his arms about. |
| Domin |
Busman, come back! |
| Fabry |
Busman, keep away from that railing. Don’t touch it, damn you. Quick, switch off the current. Domin runs to L. Helena screams and All drop back from the window. The current has killed him. |
| Alquist |
Pause. The first one. Still in chair down R. Helena sits in chair at window. |
| Fabry |
Dead, with half a billion by his side. Crosses down to table L. C. |
| Hallemeier |
All honor to him. He wanted to buy us life. Crosses to chair L. Pause. Wind machine begins. |
| Dr. Gall |
Do you hear? |
| Domin |
A roaring. Like a wind. To L. |
| Dr. Gall |
Like a storm. |
| Fabry |
Lighting the table lamp at table L. C. The dynamo is still going—our people are still there. |
| Hallemeier |
It was a great thing to be a man. Facing lamp from up C. There was something immense about it. |
| Fabry |
Facing the lamp. From man’s thought and man’s power came this light, our last hope. Leaning over lamp. |
| Hallemeier |
Facing lamp. Man’s power! May it keep watch over us. Leaning over lamp. |
| Alquist |
Facing lamp. Man’s power. |
| Domin |
At corner of table down L. C. Facing lamp. Yes! A torch to be given from hand to hand from age to age forever! (The lamp goes out. Explosions.) |
| Hallemeier |
The end. |
| Fabry |
The electric works have fallen! Terrific Explosions outside. More Explosions. |
| Domin |
In here, Helena. He takes Helena off through door R. and re-enters. Now quickly! Who’ll be on the lower doorway? |
| Dr. Gall |
I will. Rushes out L. 2. |
| Domin |
Near couch. Who on the stairs? |
| Fabry |
I will. You go with her. Going out L. 2. |
| Domin |
The ante room? |
| Alquist |
I will. He rises and goes toward the L. 1. |
| Domin |
Have you got a revolver? |
| Alquist |
Yes, but I won’t shoot. |
| Domin |
What will you do, then? |
| Alquist |
Going out L. 1 Die. |
| Hallemeier |
I’ll stay here. Explosions. Rapid firing of machine gun from below. Go to her, Harry. |
| Domin |
Yes, in a second. Gets from fireplace and examines two Browning guns. |
|
(Warn Curtain) |
| Hallemeier |
Confound it, go to her. |
| Domin |
Goodbye. Exits R. |
| Hallemeier |
Alone. Now for a barricade quickly! Drags an armchair, sofa and table to R. door. The damned devils, they’ve got bombs. I must put up a defense. Even if—even if—Don’t give in, Gall. As he builds his barricade. I mustn’t give in—without—a—struggle. A |