The Secrets We Kept

The Agency contracted with the New York publisher Felix Morrow to prepare the proofs of Doctor Zhivago and send them off to the Netherlands for publication to cover the tracks of American involvement. However, Morrow started talking about the project and having it reviewed by Russian scholars. He also contacted the University of Michigan to have it printed in the US, too. Teddy and Henry had to visit Morrow twice with bribes and pressure to get him to stop and to cut him out of the operation. Teddy also convinces Michigan not to publish, citing danger to the author. Mouton, a Dutch publisher, already had rights from Feltrinelli to publish a Dutch version and now would do a Russian one for the CIA. Once the books are on their way to the World’s Fair in Brussels, where they’ll be handed out to Soviet citizens, Teddy and Henry go back to Washington and celebrate at a nightclub. They are unaware that women from the typing pool are sitting within earshot. Teddy is down because a distance has been growing between Irina and him. Henry informs him that Sally will be fired for being lesbian. One day, the women see Teddy drive Irina to the office, but they stay in the car for a while and appear upset. When Irina comes in, she is not wearing the engagement ring. Before the women can ask about it, she is called into Anderson’s office; then she goes home. His secretary tells them that her behavior with regards to her sexuality has been called into question and that she’d better shape up. She stays home, complaining of illness, for a week before flying to Brussels for the mission. Teddy is also out for a week. When he returns, he punches Henry in the cafeteria. After that, Henry doesn’t reappear at the Agency. After more time passes, a new secretary is hired, and the women realize that Irina isn’t coming back.

Irina is undercover in Brussels, disguised as a nun. She recalls that when she broke off her engagement to Teddy it broke her heart too because she felt she hurt a friend. Irina meets up with other agents disguised as clergy, and they go over their plan to hand out the book from the City of God, the Vatican’s pavilion at the Fair. The plan goes well, and interest builds. However, the grounds are covered with the book covers that have been ripped off because the recipients want to make the book smaller to smuggle back into the Soviet Union. When they are done, all the agents go their separate ways without a word. Irina heads to the Hague for her next assignment.

Boris receives a copy of the book, and it is an international bestseller. One day, coming back from his walk, Boris encounters some reporters, who tell him he’s won the Nobel Prize and ask whether he’ll accept it. He meets up with Olga and notices that she’s been intentionally looking drabber, perhaps to avoid notice. When he returns to his house where there are more reporters, Zinaida is upset, believing that the prize will only bring trouble. The next day, his neighbor Fedin tells him that Polikarpov of the Culture Department expects him to refuse the prize and gives him two hours to do so. Instead, Boris sends a thankful telegram to the Swedish Academy.