Offred opens the chapter thinking that the night is hers to do whatever she wants, as long as she does not disturb anyone and as such she decides to explore her memories, a freedom that the republic cannot touch. She thinks of a time before this all started, lying on her bed with her friend Moira. Moira suggests that they go out for a beer but Offred can’t because she has assignments that are due. She then thinks of an older memory, a date with her mother in a park in which she remembers the presence of other women setting some books on fire as a group of onlookers cheered. Offred is handed a magazine to add to the fire and before she does, she sees that it is pornography.