Such a horrible time in modern American history. When accused of being a ‘pinko’ or just plain red you would have all links severed. Even being assosciated with a ‘pinko’ could ruin your social and vocational life. Painful times.
This is a really effective story at portraying the desperation of someone in that position.

Very nicely written. I confess that I always found the concept “unamerican” more than a little frightening, as though Americans were supposed to conform to some arbitrary ideal. (I’m not American, by the way.) Minor nitpick: should have been “nines” rather than “nine’s”.

It would be nice if we got some details to go with this story. Maybe let us know what about the movie was considered un-American, or give us some more of the two characters’ relationship. I didn’t know they were seeing each other until Pamela breaks up with him.

I love how, by the end of the first paragraph, I had already pinned down the time period of the piece. Good details.