Forbidden Thoughts
In the 1925 Soviet Union, thoughts can subconsciously become words, so lovers Elena and Petr carefully confide solely in each other. They discover messages hidden in a wall from Alexandra, a woman...
Episode 1
Elena unpacked handkerchiefs and underwear and placed them in a beat up chest-of-drawers. Hearing a knock on the door, she felt a fox in her stomach. She opened the door less than two centimeters.
“Petr! Come in! How did you find me?”
“When you work for the Party, you find ways of locating people.” Petr took off his coat.
“So you got a position as a lawyer! The best I could find is a job at the factory here.”
“Your grades were higher than mine.”
Elena shrugs, takes his coat and hangs it on a peg next to her coat. “I guess our government does not believe in women as much as it says it does,” she whispers.
“There’s more graduates with law degrees than lawyer positions right now, but maybe things will change.”
“Maybe. How about some tea? I just made some.”
“Certainly. It will warm me up. Could you put another log on the fire?”
“I’ll have to buy another.” Elena poured the tea.
“So this is your living room, bedroom and kitchen all together? Any apartment mates?”
“Not yet. I assume there will be.” They skoaled with the tea glasses.
Petr smiled at Elena. “To romance.”
“Romance? After the revolution!”
“Why not? I want you for my lady. Let’s sit down on this dilapidated couch.”
They sat. “But you are a lawyer, and I’m a factory worker.”
“Social classes no longer exist. Haven’t you heard? We’re all proletariats.” Petr smiled.
“You’re serious? Here I am dressed in overalls, exhausted from a week’s work…”
“Yes, Elena. I wanted you for a girlfriend when we were at the university, but you were always busy studying.”
Elena looks down. “I felt the same way toward you, but I didn’t think you wanted me the same way.”
“What have you been eating lately?”
“Potatoes mostly. Other vegetables when I can get them. Sometimes the Party sends a basket of fresh bread. It goes quickly.”
“Let me take you out to dinner. There’s a restaurant nearby, owned by the Party of course, but the food is good.”
“I haven’t been to a restaurant in years! See those dresses hung on pegs? Should I wear one of them?”
Petr laughs. “I guess they’re also gifts from the Party.”
“Afraid so. Guess we need to keep the Party happy.”
“Put one on. I’ll avert my eyes while you change. Too bad we both had to join the Party in order to graduate.” Petr turned around and laughed again. “For all the Party’s criticism of the capitalistic Flappers in the United States! The Party hired their own dress designers, who design Flapper dresses, only uglier!”
“I agree. Again, we need to make the Party happy.”Elena pauses, struggling with her zipper. “Oh no. I’m afraid I’m having trouble with the zipper.”
“I’ll assist you. We’re not Dutch or American Puritans, are we?” He zipped her up.
“Puritans no. But Americans, yes. Someone slipped me the Declaration of Independence when I was at the University. I read it and hated having to burn it afterwards.” Elena turned around and slipped on her stockings and boots.
“Someone slipped me a copy too. Perhaps the same person. Imagine Freedom of Speech.” Petr helped Elena into her coat.
Petr slipped on his own coat. “Now remember the restaurant belongs to the Party. The waiters are paid extra to spy. Let’s zip up our mouths.” He made a zipping gesture across his mouth.
Elena tied her babushka and imitated Petr’s gesture.
“I’m so glad you aren’t wearing lipstick. It makes it easy to kiss you. Elena, give me your lips.”
“I’ve never had a boyfriend before.”
They kissed.