Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

The setting is the Ptydepe Translation Center. Gross comes in to get his memorandum translated. Stroll introduces himself as the head of the Center, explaining in terms that refer to a new baby that the operations of the Center are still in their infancy. As they talk about the process of how a document gets translated, Stroll lights a cigarette and smokes while Gross looks for his own cigarettes and can't find any. The easily distracted Stroll also talks with Savant, who's passing through, about there being goose for lunch in the canteen, and then after Savant is gone, he talks with Gross about why an authorization for translation is necessary in order to prevent individuality from creeping into Ptydepe. Suddenly Stroll excuses himself and runs out.

As Gross again searches his pockets for cigarettes, Helena comes in, looking for someone...