The Plot Against America

It is not between Charles A. Lindbergh

and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is between Lindbergh and war.

I think I might've found someone.

Who then?

Rabbi Bengelsdorf.

Bengelsdorf. Evelyn.

Lindbergh is not an anti-Semite.

Like hell he's not.

I have an offer

that I'd like for you to consider.

Come work with me.

What if Lindbergh does win? To most people in this country,

there's never been a bigger hero in their lifetime.

Levin, you here to fight for King and country?

I'm here to kill Nazis.

The 33rd president of the United States...

Charles Augustus Lindbergh.

The city of Newark is maintaining its commitment

to the safety and the security of all of its citizens.

I wouldn't be standing here if that wasn't true.

What steps are you taking?

Well, there... Now, listen. There are...

There's been no danger, no threats.

Nothing has actually been identified.

- None at all. - Thank you.

However, the city is providing police resources anyway, in an effort to...

At least they showed up this time.

Yeah, that they did... For what it's worth.

You'd think with all the vandalism

in the last few months, police might put a man on.

How many Jews on the Newark Police Force, you figure?

That shouldn't be the point.

Look, look, look.

Yeah, well, I'll work with anybody who knows who's responsible for this.

In my opinion, it's probably a rowdy group of kids.

You know, hooligans. Boys cutting class.

- There is no indication... - Thinking about leaving.

Leaving?

Canada.

Boys will be boys.

I got boys, 'kay? This is what they're like.

This is really nothing out of the ordinary.

I'm not lettin' them run me off.

Nah, this is my country.

Jew haters want a country, they got plenty to choose from.

This one, they're not getting.

Fellow congregants,

I'd like to take a moment and thank you all for your...

unwavering support as I embark on a new journey

on behalf of our community,

our people, and our country.

As you are all aware, I was of some...

modest service to President Lindbergh

during the recent political campaign,

and that I expressed real support

for his heroic commitment

to keeping our country out of any European war.

The president has now offered me a new and unique opportunity,

and one that I know will reflect well on all of us,

here at Temple B'nai Moshe.

I have been asked to initiate a new program,

which will further and better assimilate our people

into the fabric of America.

The program, which is one of my own conception and design

is called Just Folks.

- Truce! - Another, Billy Boy?

Ah, Jesus wept, Gloria. I give up.

What is this swill?

- It's Appleton's. - It tastes like your tea

- after we tossed it in the Boston Harbor. - Yeah!

Oh, go on. Blame the taste when it's clear she can drink

both of you colonials under this table.

June, we're Americans.

Dear boy, you swore to protect king and country,

so at worst, you're both technically Canadians.

Come on, let's exercise that hollow leg of yours.

Whee!

Wait, we're going again?

Woo-hoo!

Come on. Let's get another round.

How 'bout some fresh air?

- How 'bout a canoodle? - Canoodle?

Mm-hm.

You people don't talk right.

- Rabbi. - Yes.

Such a kawved for you and the shul. Oh, thank you.

To think of the president calling on you.

Well, he's a wonderful man and very gracious to me, so...

I thank him. This is my friend...

I don't care how long he's been here,

- this is an embarrassment. - Lower your voice.

Pompous ass thinks he's gonna use Charles Lindbergh

to be a big man, but we're the ones getting used.

Come on, Henry, keep up.

Do you have trouble going to sleep?

No.

So, staying asleep is the problem?

- Uh-huh. - Mm-hm.

Is it usually the same nightmare,

always with the Nazis?

- Okay, kiddo. - Get dressed.

Fit as a fiddle, physically.

- But these dreams... - Since the election,

all my Jewish kids are having fight or flight dreams.

They're anxious.

It's because of us, isn't it?

What do you mean?

We're upset, and they feel it.

They're kids. They miss nothing,

but are we wrong to feel this way?

And are they?

You don't want to be going down there. Farrier Street's safe. Go. Go.

Any word yet about a mission?

No, I think soon.

- I hope not. - Hey... Come on.

- It's what I signed up for. - I know, but still.

You started your hand-to-hand combat training?

- Last week. - Splendid.

Come on, love. Down the tube.

Sometimes, you can be alone in a crowd.

Hey. Ma.

Hey, Ma.

You want I should fix us some tea?

Where did you go?

I was at work with the rabbi.

The rabbi?

Yeah, Rabbi Bengelsdorf.

There's a rabbi?

Yeah, you met him. I'm his assistant.

We're seeing each other. Remember?

What does Herman say?

- Herman... - Bess, does your husband know

you're with another man?

No, Ma... Ma, Bess isn't here. I'm Evelyn.

Evelyn. Ev.

Yeah.

Bess?

Ma.

I'm Evelyn. I'm Evelyn.

Evelyn?

Evelyn is out with a boy.

He's a rabbi.

Your sister here yet?

She's outside with Sandy.

Phillip's in his room with his stamps.

Mm.

Ev says Mom's getting worse.

I'm sorry.

How was the doctor with Phillip?

Not surprised.

He's seeing it with all the Jewish kids.

It's that bastard Lindbergh.

Herman.

We have to be careful not to show the boys too much.

Phillip, especially, is aware of everything we say and do,

and he carries it around.

This is the world now.

He's gonna hear about it

from his friends, from everywhere.

We have to try.

I like what you've done with the place.

I've been busy living.

Before the war, every day was the same, wasn't it?

Now, it's like we're living on the edge of a knife.

It's crazy.

It's wonderful.

You think it's wrong to be caught up in the thrill of the war?

Helluva thing.

Spittin' at death.

That's it, isn't it?

You spit at death, and you make life worth living.

Yeah, maybe.

So, uh, what exactly do you do at the Admiralty?

You never said.

Oh, really?

So, you're one of these hush-hush types

running this whole war?

You're looking at a signatory of the Official Secrets Act.

Though I suppose I could tell a Yank a bit.

Why? You heard Lindbergh was strictly neutral.

Well, you aren't. You're over here.

It's different for me. I'm a Jew.

You didn't know?

From your name, sure.

I guess I just didn't think about it very much.

You don't seem so different.