A Robot Father
By Gwyneth Bedford
Summary
The Mad Professor just can't program enough features into his creation
for it to take the place of a real dad.
Characters
Mad Prof type - speaks with a fake german accent.
Robot
Kids.
Script
Prof: Roll up, Roll up, Ladies and gentlemen, boys und girls, catz und
dogs, und goldfish und budgies, come and see the amazing invention
of Professor E. Centric. I have designed and built the world’s finest robot
which can be programmed to meet your every need. It can be your servant,
your friend, your bodyguard - in fact anything you want him to be!
Let me demonstrate his amazing features.
(ROBOT MOVES MECHANICALLY ACROSS THE STAGE AND SHAKES HANDS WITH PROFESSOR.
TOUCHES HIS TOES AND DOES SOME OTHER ACTIONS)
Do I have a volunteer who will help me to demonstrate my invention?
Kids: Me, me, me etc.
Prof: Ok, you - small person. Vat do you vant the robot to be?
Your servant - he will keep your room tidy, or your chauffeur - he will
take you wherever you need to go, or your friend?
Kid: 1. Er, how about a Dad, make him act like a Dad.
Kids: Yeah, great idea.
Prof: OK Boyz and girlz, Vat qualities will I need to programme in?
Kid 2: He’s got to be good at hugging.
Kids: Yes, really good at hugging (JUST GENERAL AGREEMENT).
Prof: OK, hugging, let’s try that.
(PROF MEDDLES WITH ROBOT AND THEN THE ROBOT ADVANCES AWKWARDLY TOWARDS
CHILD AND HUGS THEM SO TIGHT WITH LEGS OFF THE GROUND AND THEN DROPS THEM
)
Kid 2: That was awful.
Prof: Hmm, well I can adjust that, Vat else?
Kid 3: He’s got to be fun.
Kid 4: He’s got to be kind
Kid 1: Help me with my homework.
Kid 2: Buy me lollies.
Kid 3: He’s got to love me even when I’m naughty.
Kid 4: He’s got to buy my mum flowers.
Kid 1: Good at telling stories.
Kid 2: Pick me up from school and be at all my soccer games.
Kid 3: Do funny voices.
Prof: Wait, wait, stop I can’t keep up - are you sure he has to do
ALL those things?
Kid 4: Yes, and there’s more. He’s got to be good at rough
and tumble.
Kid 1: And piggy back rides.
Kid 2: And bury my goldfish when they die.
Kid 3: He’s got to be able to fix stuff.
Kid 4: Cook Curries.
Kid 1: And do all the barbeques.
Prof: WAIT A MINUITE! I THINK IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR A ROBOT TO
DO ALL THESE THINGS. I THINK YOU ARE BEING UNREALISTIC. No one can
do all these things - no one could be so multi-talented, such
sensitivity, so many skills - Bah you have unrealistic ideas. No one could
possibly be like this.
Kids: Well my dad is! And mine. And mine etc etc
Kid 1: Come on, let’s go and find our dads and have a real hug.
Kid 2: (Pulling out broken toy) He’s going to mend this for me.
Kid 3: (pulling out dead goldfish ) He’s going to bury Goldie and buy
me a new goldfish.
Kid 4: Our Dads rock.
KIDS RUN OFF STAGE.
Prof: It’s incredible, that a human being is more effective than my
marvellous invention. (Big sigh) Oh well, it’s back to the drawing
board.
EXIT PROF AND THE ROBOT.
...............................................
© Gwyneth Bedford. August 2001, all rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies
are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In
exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified
of when and for what purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted
at: ukbedfords@xtra.co.nz