Capek / Capek R.U.R.

1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-963-524-599-4
Verlag: Booklassic
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 51 Seiten

R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) is a science fiction play in the Czech language by Karel Capek. It premiered in 1921 and is famous for having introduced and popularized the term robot.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Capek, Karel

Leseproben

Act one
(Helena’s living room. Stage left, wallpapered door to music room, right, door to bedroom. Centre, window overlooking sea and harbour. Dressing table with sundry items, table, settee and armchair, chest o’drawers, desk with standard lamp, fireplace to the right, also with standard lamp. Whole room, in detail, of modern and purely feminine character) (enter Domin, Fabry, Hallemeier from left on tiptoe carrying armfuls of plants and flowers) Fabry: Where do you think we should put them? Hallemeier: Ouf! (puts down load and gives blessing in a large cross at the door, stage right) She’s asleep, asleep! She who sleeps knows nothing. Domin: She doesn’t know a thing. Fabry: (puts flowers in vase) Let’s hope, at least, today’s not the day it happens … Hallemeier: (likewise puts flowers in vase) Oh don’t keep on about it, for God’s sake! Look at this, Harry, this cyclamen is beautiful. A new species, my latest one — Cyclamen Helenae. Domin: (looking out of window) No ships, no ships — it’s hopeless, lads, we’ve had it. Hallemeier: Quiet! What if she hears you? Domin: She doesn’t know a thing. (Yawns, as if ill) At least the Ultimus docked on time. Fabry: (leaving the flowers) Do you think it might be today when … ? Domin: I don’t know. These flowers are lovely. Hallemeier: (approaching him) This primula is one of my new ones, and this is my new jasmine. In fact I’m right on the threshold of a whole new Garden of Paradise full of new flowers. I’ve found a wonderful new way to accelerate development, and all sorts of new species! Next year I’ll be performing real miracles with flowers! Domin: (turning) Next year? Fabry: Well, let’s see what happens, anyway. Any news from Le Havre? Domin: Quiet! (Helena’s voice off, right) Nana! Domin: Everybody out! (everyone leaves on tiptoe through the wallpapered door) (enter Nana through main door, left) Nana: (tidying up) Cor, wha’ a mess! What a bunch of ‘eathens! God forgive me if I don’t … Helena: (back to stage, in doorway) Nana, come and zip me up. Nana: Alrigh’, comin, comin. (zips up Helena’s dress) God almighty, they’re a bunch of animals! Helena: The robots? Nana: Give over, I don’t even wanna say the word. Helena: What’s happened? Nana: They caught another another of them. Started smashing up all the moulds and models he did, grinding ‘is teeth and foamin at the mouth — just went crazy. Ugh! Worse than animals, they are. Helena: Which one was it they caught? Nana: That, that … Christ!, it ‘asn’even got a proper Christian name! That one in the library. Helena: Radius? Nana: Yeh, that’s the one. God, they make me sick! Not even a spider I don’t hate as much as I hate them heathens. Helena: Don’t you even feel sorry for them Nana? Nana: Well you hate them, and all. What d’you bring me right out here for anyway? And why can’t any of them even touch you? Helena: I don’t hate them, Nana, not at all, I just feel so sorry for them! Nana: You hate them. Everyone hates them, it isn’t possible not to. Even this dog hates them, won’t take a scrap of meat from them; sticks out his tail, he does, and howls as soon as he gets the smell of them. Helena: A dog doesn’t have reason. Nana: He’s better than what they are, Helena. He knows perfectly well it was God what made him and that he’s better than they are. Even the horse takes fright when he comes across one of those heathens. They don’t have children, but even a dog has children, everyone has children. Helena: Nana, do me up here, please. Nana: Alright. It’s against the will of God, that’s what I say; work of the Devil, it is, making scarecrows like that with machines. It’s blasphemy against the Creator, (raises hands) it’s an offence against the Lord who made us in His own image, Helena. And you’ve dishonoured the image of God, that’s what you’ve done. You’ll suffer a terrible punishment from God for that, you will, just you remember that, a terrible punishment. Helena: What’s that nice smell? Nana: Flowers. The master put them here. Helena: Oh, they’re lovely! Nana, come and look! What day is it today? Nana: I don’t know. Must be the Day of Judgement, I should think. (knock at door) Helena: Harry? (enter Domin) Helena: Harry, what day is it today? Domin: Guess! Helena: My name-day? No! My birthday? Domin: Better than that. Helena: I don’t know. Tell me, tell me! Domin: It was ten years ago today that you arrived here. Helena: Ten years, already? On this day? — Nana, please … Nana: Alright, I’m comin! (exit right) Helena: (kisses Domin) And you remembered it! Domin: Actually, I’m ashamed to say, I didn’t remember. Helena: But … Domin: It was them who remembered. Helena: Who? Domin: Busman, Hallemeier, all of them. Reach into my pocket, here, will you? Helena: (puts hand into his pocket) What is it? (takes out case and opens it) Pearls! A whole necklace of them! Harry, is that for me? Domin: That’s from Busman. Helena: But … we can’t accept it, can we? Domin: Course we can. Reach into my other pocket. Helena: Let me see! (takes revolver out of pocket) What’s this? Domin: Oh, sorry. (takes revolver from her and puts it away) That’s not it. Try again. Helena: Oh, Harry — why are you carrying a revolver round with you? Domin: Well, I just am, it got in there somehow Helena: You never used to carry a gun! Domin: No, you’re quite right. Here’s the pocket, look… Helena: (reaching in) A little box! (opens it) Cameos! And they’re … Harry, they’re Greek cameos! Domin: Clearly. At least that’s what Fabry says. Helena: Fabry? It’s Fabry who gave me these? Domin: Course it is. (opens door, left) And look at this, Helena, come over here and have a look! Helena: (at the door) God, that’s so beautiful! (runs on) I’ll go mad with happiness! Is that from you? Domin: (standing at door) No, that’s from Alquist. And this … Helena: From Gall! (appears in the doorway) Oh, Harry, I’m so happy I should be ashamed of myself. Domin: Come here. This is what Hallemeier got you. Helena: These lovely flowers? Domin: This one. It’s a new species, Cyclamen Helenae. He developed it in honour of you. It’s as beautiful as you are. Helena: Harry, why … why did they all … Domin: Because they’re very fond of you. And I got you … er … I’m afraid my present might be a bit … er … come and look out the window. Helena: Where? Domin: Down in the harbour. Helena: There’s … there’s a new boat down there! Domin: That’s your boat. Helena: Mine? Harry, that’s a gunboat! Domin: A gunboat? What makes you think that? It’s just a bit bigger, that’s all, a good solid boat, see? Helena: Yes, and fitted with cannons! Domin: Well, its got some cannons, course it has … you’ll travel like a queen, Helena. Helena: Why a gunboat? Is there something wrong? Domin: God forbid! Look, try these pearls on! (sits) Helena: Harry, has there been some kind of bad news? Domin: On the contrary — there hasn’t been any post at all for a week. Helena: Not even a fax? Domin: Not even a fax. Helena: And what should we make of that? Domin: Nothing. It means we’re on holiday. A wonderful time. We all just sit in the office, put our feet on the desk and do nothing. No post, no telegrams (stretching...