Helena.
Alquist Robot? Turn round! What, are you embarrassed? ( takes her by shoulder ) Let me see you, Robot Helena.
Primus But sir, please leave her alone!
Alquist What’s this, you want to protect her?... Go outside girl.
( Helena runs out )
Primus We didn’t know you were asleep in here, sir.
Alquist When was she made?
Primus Two years ago.
Alquist By Doctor Gall?
Primus Yes, the same as me.
Alquist Well Primus, er, I’ve... er I’ve got some experiments to do on Gall’s robots. All future progress depends on it, do you see?
Primus Yes.
Alquist Good, so take that girl into the dissection room, I’m going to dissect her.
Primus Helena?
Alquist Well of course Helena, that’s what I just said. Now go and get everything ready.... Well go on then! Or should I call in somebody else to get things ready?
Primus ( picks up large stick ) If you move an inch I will smash your head in!
Alquist Alright then, smash my head in. And what will the robots do then?
Primus ( throws himself down on knees ) Please sir, take me in her place! I was made in just the same way as she was, from the same materials on the same day! Take my life, sir! ( bares his chest ) Cut here, here!
Alquist No, it’s Helena I want to dissect. Get on with it.
Primus Take me instead of her; cut into this chest of mine, I won’t even cry out, I wont’ even sigh! Take my life, a hundred times, take my...
Alquist Steady on there, lad. Don’t go on so much. How come you don’t want to live?
Primus Not without her, no. I don’t want to live without her, sir. You can’t kill Helena! What difference does it make to you to take my life instead?
Alquist ( touches his head gently ) Hm, I don’t know... listen, lad, you think about it. It’s hard to die. And, you know, it’s better to live.
Primus ( standing ) Don’t be afraid, sir, just cut. I’m stronger than she is.
Alquist ( rings ) Oh Primus, it’s so long since I was young! Don’t worry-nothing’s going to happen to Helena.
Primus ( re-covers chest ) I’m on my way, sir.
Alquist Wait.
( enter Helena )
Alquist Come here, girl, let me look at you. So you are Helena. ( strokes her hair ) Don’t be frightened, don’t run away. Do you remember Mrs. Domin? Oh Helena, she had very lovely hair! No, no, you don’t want to look at me. So, is the dissection room ready now?
Helena Yes sir.
Alquist Good, and you will be my assistant. I’ll be dissecting Primus.
Helena ( screams ) Primus?
Alquist Well yes, yes, it has to be him, you see. I did want.. really... yes it was you I was going to dissect, but Primus offered himself in your place.
Helena ( covers her face ) Primus?
Alquist Well yes, of course, what does it matter? So child, you’re capable of crying! Tell me, what’s so important about Primus?
Primus Don’t make her suffer, sir!
Alquist It’s alright Primus, it’s alright. No what are all these tears for, eh? It just means Primus won’t be here any more. You’ll have forgotten about him in a week’s time. Go on now, and be glad you’re still alive.
Helena ( quietly ) I will go.
Alquist Where will you go?
Helena You can dissect me.
Alquist You? You’re beautiful, Helena. That would be such a shame.
Helena I’m going in there. ( Primus stands in her way ) Let me go, Primus! Let me go in there.
Primus No you can’t go in there, Helena. Please get away from here, you shouldn’t be here at all!
Helena Primus, if you go in there I’ll jump out the window, I’ll jump out the window!
Primus ( holding on to her ) I won’t let go of you ( to Alquist ) You’re not going to kill anyone, old man!
Alquist Why not?
Primus Because.. because... we belong to each other.
Alquist You’re quite right ( opens door, centre ) It’s alright. Go, now.
Primus Go where?
Alquist ( whisper ) Wherever you like. Helena, take him away. ( pushes her out ) Go on your way, Adam. Go on your way, Eve. You will be his
Alquist Robot? Turn round! What, are you embarrassed? ( takes her by shoulder ) Let me see you, Robot Helena.
Primus But sir, please leave her alone!
Alquist What’s this, you want to protect her?... Go outside girl.
( Helena runs out )
Primus We didn’t know you were asleep in here, sir.
Alquist When was she made?
Primus Two years ago.
Alquist By Doctor Gall?
Primus Yes, the same as me.
Alquist Well Primus, er, I’ve... er I’ve got some experiments to do on Gall’s robots. All future progress depends on it, do you see?
Primus Yes.
Alquist Good, so take that girl into the dissection room, I’m going to dissect her.
Primus Helena?
Alquist Well of course Helena, that’s what I just said. Now go and get everything ready.... Well go on then! Or should I call in somebody else to get things ready?
Primus ( picks up large stick ) If you move an inch I will smash your head in!
Alquist Alright then, smash my head in. And what will the robots do then?
Primus ( throws himself down on knees ) Please sir, take me in her place! I was made in just the same way as she was, from the same materials on the same day! Take my life, sir! ( bares his chest ) Cut here, here!
Alquist No, it’s Helena I want to dissect. Get on with it.
Primus Take me instead of her; cut into this chest of mine, I won’t even cry out, I wont’ even sigh! Take my life, a hundred times, take my...
Alquist Steady on there, lad. Don’t go on so much. How come you don’t want to live?
Primus Not without her, no. I don’t want to live without her, sir. You can’t kill Helena! What difference does it make to you to take my life instead?
Alquist ( touches his head gently ) Hm, I don’t know... listen, lad, you think about it. It’s hard to die. And, you know, it’s better to live.
Primus ( standing ) Don’t be afraid, sir, just cut. I’m stronger than she is.
Alquist ( rings ) Oh Primus, it’s so long since I was young! Don’t worry-nothing’s going to happen to Helena.
Primus ( re-covers chest ) I’m on my way, sir.
Alquist Wait.
( enter Helena )
Alquist Come here, girl, let me look at you. So you are Helena. ( strokes her hair ) Don’t be frightened, don’t run away. Do you remember Mrs. Domin? Oh Helena, she had very lovely hair! No, no, you don’t want to look at me. So, is the dissection room ready now?
Helena Yes sir.
Alquist Good, and you will be my assistant. I’ll be dissecting Primus.
Helena ( screams ) Primus?
Alquist Well yes, yes, it has to be him, you see. I did want.. really... yes it was you I was going to dissect, but Primus offered himself in your place.
Helena ( covers her face ) Primus?
Alquist Well yes, of course, what does it matter? So child, you’re capable of crying! Tell me, what’s so important about Primus?
Primus Don’t make her suffer, sir!
Alquist It’s alright Primus, it’s alright. No what are all these tears for, eh? It just means Primus won’t be here any more. You’ll have forgotten about him in a week’s time. Go on now, and be glad you’re still alive.
Helena ( quietly ) I will go.
Alquist Where will you go?
Helena You can dissect me.
Alquist You? You’re beautiful, Helena. That would be such a shame.
Helena I’m going in there. ( Primus stands in her way ) Let me go, Primus! Let me go in there.
Primus No you can’t go in there, Helena. Please get away from here, you shouldn’t be here at all!
Helena Primus, if you go in there I’ll jump out the window, I’ll jump out the window!
Primus ( holding on to her ) I won’t let go of you ( to Alquist ) You’re not going to kill anyone, old man!
Alquist Why not?
Primus Because.. because... we belong to each other.
Alquist You’re quite right ( opens door, centre ) It’s alright. Go, now.
Primus Go where?
Alquist ( whisper ) Wherever you like. Helena, take him away. ( pushes her out ) Go on your way, Adam. Go on your way, Eve. You will be his
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