Mr. Leonard Mead is an unmarried writer living in a futuristic city of three million people. He spends his evenings taking long, solitary walks for enjoyment, an activity that contradicts the rigid expectations of his society. He prefers the quiet outside world to the television programming that keeps his neighbors indoors. Though he identifies as a writer, he has not written in years because people no longer buy books or magazines.

The Police Car is the sole remaining law enforcement vehicle in the entire city, as low crime rates led to the police force being cut from three cars to one the previous year. Operating autonomously with punch cards and electric eyes, it patrols the empty streets at night. The car is a mechanical entity that strictly enforces social conformity, viewing any deviation from the norm as an incomprehensible problem to be solved.