A world without prisons, slums, diseases, or wars. The population is controlled at forty million, and thanks to new drugs, people don't age. However, for a new baby to be born, an adult must volunteer to die.

Edward K. Wehling, Jr. waits alone in a hospital waiting room while his wife gives birth to triplets. A painter, 200 years old but looking thirty-five, is working on a mural depicting the hospital's history.

The hospital orderly enters, praising the painter's accuracy in portraying faces, especially that of Dr. Benjamin Hitz. The mural is titled "The Happy Garden of Life," but the painter criticizes it as not representing real life. The orderly suggests he could call 2BR02B to make an appointment to die at the Federal Bureau of Termination's gas chambers. The painter plans to commit suicide instead of letting the government decide.

Leora Duncan, a gas chamber hostess, arrives for the mural. She poses next to Dr. Hitz. He enters, joyful and handsome, and both he and Leora admire the mural, flattered to be featured together.

Dr. Hitz announces the birth of the Wehling triplets and the dilemma: the parents need three volunteers to die to save their babies. They've found only one volunteer so far. Dr. Hitz explains population control is necessary to prevent overpopulation.

Wehling becomes distressed, knowing he must choose which of his triplets lives and bring his grandfather, who volunteered to die, to a gas chamber. Dr. Hitz defends the system, empathetic yet supporting its necessity.

Wehling suddenly shoots Dr. Hitz and Leora, then himself, creating space for his children and grandfather to live. The painter witnesses this and decides to kill himself too.

He calls 2BR02B, scheduling an appointment. The hostess thanks him for his sacrifice, on behalf of the city, country, planet, and future generations.