Cristian is considering giving his secret notebook to Mr. Van Dorn. He avoids telling Liliana any details but feels guilty for his secrecy. The next day, Cristian visits the American Library with Dan. When he stops at the Van Dorn home to pick him up, Mr. Van Dorn briefly shows Cristian an American magazine. Cristian interprets this as a signal that Mr. Van Dorn can be trusted.

Cristian is uneasy in the American Library. However, he is enthralled by the books in English. He peruses an album containing photos of Ceauşescu with foreign leaders and is stunned to realize that many important nations have been convinced of Ceauşescu’s magnanimity. That he can travel the world freely angers Cristian, whose family is forced to live without many necessities. Cristian then locates a recent copy of Time magazine that Mr. Van Dorn advised him to read. He is shocked to learn that communism just ended in Hungary.

Cristian reads the article quickly, hoping to share details with Bunu. He rejoins Dan, who asks Cristian about his interests in music and girls. Dan tears a photo of Bruce Springsteen from a magazine when Cristian tells him that