Lovers in the Demagogue's Shadow

Ella and Marion are African American attorneys representing clients called before McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952. In the midst of the red scare, they fall in love. Ella represents Dr. Edward Barsky who created a field hospital to treat the injured fighters from the Loyalist Spanish Monarchy in the 1933 Spanish Civil War. General Franco led the rebel forces who were backed by fascist Germany and Italy. They only international support the Loyalist Monarchy could secure was from Russia. McCarthy saw Dr. Barsky as a Communist person of interest for his investigative committee.