The Only Woman in the Room

At a party—when Hedy would much rather be home “tinkering with a few scientific creations” (175)—Hedy meets Gene Markey. He is witty and charming, and the two instantly fall for one another. She feels safe near him, a feeling she hadn’t felt since her father died. 

By July of 1939, Gene and Hedy had been married for three months. They instantly connected, but Hedy never shared her Jewish heritage or experiences with Mussolini and Hitler. This evening, Gene is ready to head to a party, while Hedy is desperate to skip it. She loves spending time with Gene, but, as a screen writer, he wants to mingle at parties to find work. Hedy doesn’t think one night at a party will make a difference for either of their careers. For the first time since meeting Gene, she wonders if they truly know each other.

Now in October, Hedy meets with her European friends while Gene attends a party. The discuss the news of Jewish businesses vandalized, Jewish children prohibited from attending school, and Jewish actresses being forced to clean toilets. As Hedy takes in the horrific stories, she understands the gravity of her silence—had she told the world of Hitler’s plans, she could have saved many.