HELENA. What have they all gone off for?

DOMIN. To cook, Miss Glory.

HELENA. To cook what?

DOMIN Lunch. The Robots do our cooking for us and as they've no taste it's not altogether-- Hallemeier is awfully good at grills, and Gall can make a kind of sauce, and Busman knows all about omelets.

HELENA. What a feast! And what's the specialty of Mr.--your builder?

DOMIN. Alquist? Nothing. He only lays the table. And Fabry will get together a little fruit. Our cuisine is very modest, Miss Glory.

HELENA. I wanted to ask you something--

DOMIN. And I wanted to ask you something, too. (Looking at watch.) Five minutes

HELENA. What did you want to ask me?

DOMIN. Excuse me, you ask first.

HELENA. Perhaps it's silly of me, but why do you manufacture female Robots when-- when--

DOMIN. When sex means nothing to them?

HELENA. Yes.

DOMIN. There's a certain demand for them, you see. Servants, saleswomen, stenographers. People are used to it.

HELENA. But-- but, tell me, are the Robots male and female mutually-- completely without--

DOMIN. Completely indifferent to each other, Miss Glory. There's no sign of any affection between them.

HELENA. Oh, that's terrible.

DOMIN. Why?

HELENA. It's so unnatural. One doesn't know whether to be disgusted or to hate them, or perhaps--

DOMIN. To pity them?

HELENA. That's more like it. What did you want to ask me about?

DOMIN. I should like to ask you, Miss Helena, whether you will marry me?

HELENA. What?

DOMIN. Will you be my wife?

HELENA. No! The idea!

DOMIN (looking at his watch). Another three minutes. If you won't marry me you'll have to marry one of the other five.

HELENA. But why should I?

DOMIN. Because they're all going to ask you in turn.

HELENA. How could they dare to do such a thing?

DOMIN. I'm very sorry, Miss Glory. It seems they've all fallen in love with you.

HELENA. Please don't let them. I'll-- I'll go away at once.

DOMIN. Helena, you wouldn't be so cruel as to refuse us.

HELENA. But, but-- I can't marry all six.

DOMIN. No, but one anyhow. If you don't want me, marry Fabry.

HELENA. I won't.

DOMIN. Dr. Gall.

HELENA. I don't want any of you.

DOMIN (again looking at his watch). Another two minutes.

HELENA. I think you'd marry any woman who came here.

DOMIN. Plenty of them have come, Helena.

HELENA. Young?

DOMIN. Yes.

HELENA. Why didn't you marry one of them?

DOMIN. Because I didn't lose my head. Until today. Then, as soon as you lifted your veil-- (HELENA turns her head away.) Another minute.

HELENA. But I don't want you, I tell you.

DOMIN (laying both hands on her shoulders). One more minute! Now you either have to look me straight in the eye and say "No," violently, and then I'll leave you alone-- or-- (HELENA looks at him.)

HELENA (turning away). You're mad!

DOMIN. A man has to be a bit mad, Helena. That's the best thing about him.

HELENA. You are-- you are--

DOMIN. Well?

HELENA. Don't, you're hurting me.

DOMIN. The last chance, Helena. Now, or never--

HELENA. But-- but, Harry-- (He embraces and kisses her. Knocking at the door.)

DOMIN (releasing her). Come in.

[Enter BUSMAN, DR. GALL, and HALLEMEIER in kitchen aprons. FABRY with a bouquet and ALQUIST with a napkin over his arm.]

Have you finished your job?

BUSMAN. Yes.

DOMIN. So have we.

To be continued on Thursday, May 16^th
only here at RevolutionSF!