Domin, a corporate director, works with Sulla, his robot secretary, in Rossum’s Universal Robot factory. Helena, the daughter of President Glory, arrives in his office. Domin tells her about the history of creating robots, including old Rossum’s early attempts to make people by recreating all of their parts. Later, Rossum’s son decided to make labor machines by simplifying their parts, thus getting rid of their “soul” (9).

Domin introduces Helena to Sulla. Helena believes Sulla is human as they talk about the ship on which Helena arrived, the Amelia. After Sulla speaks in multiple languages, Helena calls Domin a liar. Domin offers to prove Sulla is a robot by dissecting her. Helena is horrified and refuses to allow it. Domin explains that all the factory workers are robots, and offers to show Helena the vats and mills where robot parts are made. He explains how they educate the robots, but admits he wants to talk about things other than work.

The other directors—Gall, Hallemeier, Fabry, Alquist, and Busman—enter Domin’s office. Helena believes they are robots. She admits she’s from the League of Humanity and came to improve the robots’ quality of life. Domin clarifies that the directors are not robots: Only factory workers or staff are.