It Can't Happen Here

In late June of 1938, another newspaperman in Vermont is mistakenly arrested as the editor of Vermont Vigilance and sent to a concentration camp. Jessup wants to confess but is prevented from doing so by Buck Titus, Wilgus, and Sissy. Emma tells Jessup that it’s lucky that they arrested someone else instead of him; she considers his New Underground activities as a mild nagging of the government in his old age. Emma is also glad that Lorinda has left town, as she thinks her progressive beliefs are a bad influence on Jessup.

As predicted, Haik becomes Secretary of War and High Marshall of the Minute Men. Rumors start to circulate about a rift between Windrip and Sarason due to the latter’s homosexuality. Tasbrough becomes District Commissioner, and Swan becomes Provincial Commissioner. Reek is sent to the concentration camp.

The New Underground headquarters in Montreal sends out a warning that agents have been disappearing. Buck dismisses the warning, but Jessup becomes more nervous and cautious. One evening, Jessup feels that he is being followed in his car by Ledue; once he loses his tail, he goes to the cell and tells everyone they need to pack up their operation and hide the printing materials elsewhere.