The transporter sits on a stage and comprises two booths, each resembling an icebox with antennae; the scientist calls his first volunteer, a man dressed in purple.
The inventor explains that if the original were not destroyed, the world would become overpopulated with copies of each person who used the teleporter; the lady contends that the destruction is immoral.
After the main character again refuses to ride, she asks the scientist to do so; he offers that he has done so many times, but she persists and he agrees, even with the lady's stipulation that he leave the doors of the booths open.
The lady then recommends the scientist ride the device but this time delaying, for five minutes, the destruction of the original; he agrees and again enters the machine.
Lady and inventor are overcome with guilt and the latter, exiting in tears, no longer asks his questioner to ride inside the machine.
As the relieved lady trips merrily away, we hear her hymn to her innocence: "...Bluebird sitting on my head, Aren't you glad my old one's dead?