Othello (New York 1975 Version)

It is the year 1975 in the midst of the Cold War. Nicholi, a Crimean Tatar has relocated to the United States in order to avoid persecution in the Soviet Union. To put food on the table, Nicholi recently became a baker in the Little Russia district of New York City. Nicholi is very poor and has been living paycheck to paycheck for the last three months. He is currently rooming with his Ukrainian friend Joseph in order to save up some cash. Life has been rough and bleak for the two friends because they are considered outcasts in the eyes of the American people. Both friends are under constant surveillance by the United States Government because there has been speculation that they are spies for the Communist Regime. Life, however, begins to look up for Nicholi when he meets the love of his life Deja.

Deja, like Nicholi, is also a recent immigrant to the United States. She is African American and calls Jamaica her home.  Deja is a phone operator who calls the Little Jamaica District of New York City her new home. Two months ago, Deja and Nicholi meet at a Colombian bar known as Coca Cabana. The couple has hit it off from the start and they see each other nearly every day. Deja is the sun in Nicholi’s life that keeps him living day to day. Nicholi truly believes that Deja is the one for him and is planning on asking Deja to live with him in Miami Beach, Florida.

Joseph is distressed by Nicholi’s plans on relocating to Florida because Nicholi is the only friend that Joseph has ever known. In order to foil Nicholi’s plans, Joseph comes up with a lie that Deja has been sleeping around with gang leader OG Bobby Johnson. After hearing the news from Joseph, Nicholi become enraged and storms off to Little Jamaica to confront Deja about Joseph’s accusations. Deja is distraught by the horrific accusations that Nicholi has presented her with. Deja pleads with Nicholi for hours on end that she is faithful to Nicholi and has not been sleeping around with OG Bobby Johnson. Nicholi, now torn between his best friend and the love of his life does not know what to do. Nicholi goes into a depressed state for two weeks until Deja comes to him pleading for her man back. She points out that OG Bobby Johnson has been on the run from the law for the past month. Nicholi realizes that this means that Deja has been faithful to him and that his best friend has been lying to him. Disgusted his revelation, Nicholi moves to Miami Beach with Deja.