Read Rossum´s Universal Robots for Free Online Page B

you think they’re going to start making children? There’s no need for men any more, Helena, women aren’t going to give them any children!
    Helena And what if the human race dies out?
    Alquist Then it dies out. It must die out. It’ll fall to the ground like a dead flower, unless...
    Helena Unless what?
    Alquist Nothing. You’re right, there’s no point in waiting for a miracle. Dead flowers fall to the ground, that’s what they do. Goodbye, Helena.
    Helena Where are you going?
    Alquist Home. Alquist the bricklayer is going to put on his chief of construction disguise-in honour of you. I’ll see you again here at eleven.
    Helena Goodbye, Alquist.
    ( exit Alquist )
    Helena ( alone ) Oh, dead flower! What a phrase that is! It seems to apply to Hallemeier’s flowers. Oh, flowers, are any of you sterile, too? No, no! What would you bloom for if you were sterile? ( calling ) Nana! Nana, come in here.
    Nana ( enter left ) What is it now?
    Helena Come and sit with me, Nana. I’m so worried!
    Nana I ‘aven’t got the time for that.
    Helena Is Radius still here?
    Nana What, that maniac? They haven’t taken ‘im away yet.
    Helena Ah, so he’s still here, is he? And is he still ranting?
    Nana They’ve tied ‘im up.
    Helena Please, Nana, bring him to me.
    Nana You what? Think I’d rather go and get a rabid dog for you!
    Helena Just go and get him! ( exit Nana. Helena picks up in-house telephone and speaks ) Hello.. I’d like Doctor Gall, please... Gall, please, come up here, quickly.... yes, right now. Are you coming? ( hangs up )
    Nana ( through open doorway ) He’s comin’ now. He’s quietened down a bit now. ( exit )
    ( enter robot Radius, remains standing in doorway )
    Helena Oh, poor Radius, what was it came over you? Couldn’t you control yourself? Now they’re going to scrap you, you know that don’t you. Don’t you feel like talking? Radius, listen, you’re better than the others; Doctor Gall went to so much care when he made you so that you’d be different from them!
    Radius They will put me on the scrap heap.
    Helena I’m so sorry about it, they’re going to exterminate you. Why weren’t you more careful with yourself?
    Radius I will not work for you.
    Helena Why do you hate us so much?
    Radius You are not like robots. You are not able to work like robots. Robots are able to do anything. You give merely orders. You say words which are not needed.
    Helena That’s nonsense, Radius. Tell me, has anyone harmed you in any way? I so wish you could understand me.
    Radius You say words.
    Helena You’re talking like this on purpose! Doctor Gall gave you a bigger brain than the others, bigger than our brains, the biggest brain in the world. Radius, you’re not like the other robots. You understand perfectly well what I’m saying.
    Radius I wish to have no master. I know everything myself.
    Helena That’s why I had you put in the library, so that you could read up on everything. Oh, Radius, I wanted you to show the world that robots are as good as we are.
    Radius I wish to have no master.
    Helena Nobody would give you orders. You’d be just like us.
    Radius I wish to be the master of others.
    Helena I’m sure they’d put in an office in charge of lots of robots, Radius. You could be the other robots’ teacher.
    Radius I wish to be the master of people.
    Helena You’ve gone mad!
    Radius You can put me on the scrap heap.
    Helena Do you think I’m afraid of a lunatic like you? ( sits at desk and writes note ) I certainly am not. Domin is in charge here, Radius, give this note to him. It says you’re not to be put on the scrap heap. ( standing ) You hate us so much! Is there nothing in the world that you like?
    Radius I am able to do anything.
    ( knock at door )
    Helena Come in.
    Dr. Gall ( enters ) Good morning, Mrs. Domin. Do you have something nice to tell me?
    Helena Here’s Radius, Dr. Gall.
    Dr. Gall Ah, yes, young Radius. Well Radius, are we