9. Algor’s chamber

(AVON is seated in a hard wooden chair, guarded by two ROBOTS. In his wheelchair, ALGOR circles AVON.)

ALGOR: You have angered me. But, as you can see, I am in control. I remain calm. You have wantonly destroyed a large part of my work – in as many minutes, you have eradicated two years of my life. Now, for you, it is the end of the Universe. You will be killed.

(SERVALAN steps forward.)

SERVALAN: Algor – I know this man...

ALGOR: You have “known” many men! It makes no difference. You forget, Servalan, that I rule here. Your word counts for nothing. This man will die... slowly...

SERVALAN: He is an expert with computers!

ALGOR: Ah. A field of interest not entirely divorced from my own. (to AVON) What do you know about robotic engineering?

AVON: I know that, at one time, you were considered a genius.

ALGOR: I am a genius!

AVON: An evil genius?

ALGOR: That must, surely, depend upon your point of view?

AVON: Quite.

SERVALAN: He may be of use to you, Algor.

ALGOR: In what way?

SERVALAN: That would be for you to decide.

ALGOR: (losing his temper) I have decided! He is of no use to me whatsoever! You underestimate me, Servalan. You claim you are here to bargain? I suspect that you are afraid you might get a little more than you are bargaining for! Here with me and my ‘children’, you are nothing... but you are certainly devious. Perhaps you wish to preserve this man as an ally against me?

SERVALAN: Why should I need an ally against you? I am here to claim your greatest invention, an invention that will allow me to dominate the Universe.

ALGOR: (unimpressed) Throughout all history, you will always find someone who wishes to dominate the Universe. Do you know what I have produced? The greatest weapon ever imagined by man. The greatest weapon – beyond the imagination of man. I have produced Gabor!

AVON: (politely) Yes, I know. That is why I came.

ALGOR: (pleased) You must see Gabor.

(ALGOR flicks a switch on the console. After a moment, the screen flickers on, to reveal the magnificent human/robot GABOR, standing on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea.)

ALGOR: Gabor – the indestructible warrior! A humanoid robot, unstoppable, unbeatable! (to AVON) You came here to destroy him?

SERVALAN: No, Algor. He came here to destroy you!

ALGOR: (amazed) You came to kill me?

AVON: Since you ask – yes.

ALGOR: But – that is immoral! Barbaric! My intelligence is indispensable to the human race! It is perfectly understandable that you might wish to destroy Gabor, the ultimate weapon, but why me? It is as if you are prepared to destroy anyone who should happen to invent or discover anything of which you do not approve. You would kill Copernicus because you do not like the telescope? I suspect, that if a man’s leg should be gangrenous, your remedy would be to cut off his head! (shouts) You are an imbecile!

AVON: (calm) What will it profit you to kill an imbecile?

ALGOR: (laughing) Very amusing! But it won’t do you any good, I’m afraid; you will not live to see another day.

You have not answered my question: why kill me?

AVON: You are living death. Even Servalan is shocked by your excesses; your vile experiments on humans. No-one can expect the promise of life from you – you are only familiar with degradation and death. I will still kill you, if I can.

ALGOR: I can’t fail to admire your single mindedness. Simple mindedness, perhaps I should say? I promised Servalan that you would feel pain before you die. I am a man of my word. Take him away!

(The ROBOTS haul AVON out of the chamber. ALGOR turns to SERVALAN.)

ALGOR: (suavely) Now, my dear, we have much to discuss. It has taken me six years of exile in which to produce my masterpiece, Gabor. You tell me that you have resources that can produce a hundred Gabors in six months?

SERVALAN: Yes.

ALGOR: Remarkable! But you will need, as it were, my guiding hand. My guiding hand will prove expensive. What have you to offer?