R.U.R.

Helena plays piano offstage while Domin, Gall, and Alquist talk in her sitting room. They discuss the robots that have gathered outside. Fabry and Hallemeier join the other directors. After Fabry attaches wires to the lamp’s electric cord, he says the fence is electrified. Busman takes out financial books to balance the factory’s accounts. Domin sees the robots turn the cannons on his gunboat, the Ultimus, on the directors.

The humans debate if teaching robots to fight or if simply making robots was morally wrong. Domin argues that robots gave humans the freedom to become aristocrats because they no longer have to work. However, this was not the dream of the original Rossums. As Busman calculates figures, Hallemeier declares hedonism is the answer, inspired by Helena playing the piano. Robots touch the fence and Fabry electrifies it, killing five robots. Domin decides the directors are ghosts, and talks about how they all died years ago.

Alquist asks who is responsible for the end of humanity. Hallemeier blames the robots. Alquist blames science, technology, and all of them. Gall says he’s responsible because he made the robots into people. This caused the robots to realize they are superior to and hate humans.