In the narrative, a character is approached by a woman with a peculiar request: she wants him to steal a corpse from the morgue. This strange proposition sets the tone for a dialogue filled with dark humor and absurdity. The protagonist, feeling unenthusiastic about the idea, wittily suggests that if the payment were substantial, he would bring her the corpse of Abraham Lincoln along with a morning newspaper.

The woman counters with an offer of a thousand dollars, which the protagonist finds amusingly inadequate. He humorously responds that for that amount, he could acquire an entire cemetery instead. This exchange illustrates a blend of existential themes and comical elements throughout Richard Brautigan's "In the Dream of Babylon."