1950s: The start of a new decade
While Betty and Thomas has been wrapped up in their own family life, Grace is finding her way in the world. At her job she has now been promoted to secretary, which is about as high as one can expect to go as a woman at this time.
Of course her earnings are still not high enough that she can afford a place of her own, so she still shares her tiny flat with Donna.
They do get along well, so it works, even if Grace wishes she could afford a bigger place.
"You will once you and David are married," her mother assures her, but the thing is, while they have spoken about it and David is now invited to all their family dinners, he still hasn't formally proposed. And it's certainly not because of a lack of passion in their relationship.
For Grace it's a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, she is glad to be free to make her own decisions and create her own life, but on the other this is a state of limbo that she cannot get out of. Is she engaged or not? Should she date others, or are does David mean business? Is she even ready to get married? But what would she otherwise do? She's almost 25 years old!
Meanwhile her sister has her own problems. Having been married now for a few years, she is acutely feeling the longing for children of her own, and her sister-in-laws pregnancy and birth only made that longing more intense. What is worse is that she knows why she's not getting pregnant, she knows that Warren is keeping it from happening by those awful things she refuse to name but he insists on using when they are together. But breaching the subject with him gets her no-where, when she confronts him he bites back. It's not the right time, his position at the law firm is not stable enough, kids are a hassle and complication they don't need. In the end there is nothing that Hazel can do, as Warren's hate for children bars her own wish for one. Instead of a child for Christmas, Warren gave her a maid. Whatever she will do with the extra time when she doesn't have any children to take care of.
Troubles or not, New Years eve is worth celebrating. Grace and Donna has been eagerly await this break from routines. Donna has her new years resolution ready well before new years - she wants to find a new boyfriend. Preferably someone who won't go off and propose to someone else this time. "You're not inviting your brother, are you?" she asks Grace.
"The married one, no, the single one, yes - even if he's a bit young"
But you cannot plan a party without getting the right look, so Donna and Grace head to the strip mall to get their new dresses and to get their hair done before the party. It seems the rest of Oasis Springs had the same idea, the place is packed with people.
Nevertheless, both girls walk away with a new dress and freshly done hair. "If he doesn't propose to you wearing that, he never will," Donna says as she looks at Grace. "And if that'st he case you need to get a better man."
"Well, I can't see any man who wouldn't want to get to know you better wearing that."
The party itself is a huge success, it's held at the newly opened Solar Flare Nightclub. A fantastic place according to Donna and Hazel, who thinks the wood paneling gives it a really classy look. Everyone seems to be having a great time. There is dancing, drinking, toasting and flirting and at midnight - fireworks outside.
And finally, when Grace had thought the moment past, David gets down on his knees and proposes for real.
Maybe seeing Grace all dressed up was the push he needed, or maybe it had more to do with the motel room he rented before the party, or maybe he truly had planned this all along. Either way Grace happily says yes this time, to both ring and motel room.
After all, if he has proposed there is no real risk, is there? And this part she has wanted to try for a Very Long Time!
Of course her earnings are still not high enough that she can afford a place of her own, so she still shares her tiny flat with Donna.
They do get along well, so it works, even if Grace wishes she could afford a bigger place.
"You will once you and David are married," her mother assures her, but the thing is, while they have spoken about it and David is now invited to all their family dinners, he still hasn't formally proposed. And it's certainly not because of a lack of passion in their relationship.
For Grace it's a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, she is glad to be free to make her own decisions and create her own life, but on the other this is a state of limbo that she cannot get out of. Is she engaged or not? Should she date others, or are does David mean business? Is she even ready to get married? But what would she otherwise do? She's almost 25 years old!
Meanwhile her sister has her own problems. Having been married now for a few years, she is acutely feeling the longing for children of her own, and her sister-in-laws pregnancy and birth only made that longing more intense. What is worse is that she knows why she's not getting pregnant, she knows that Warren is keeping it from happening by those awful things she refuse to name but he insists on using when they are together. But breaching the subject with him gets her no-where, when she confronts him he bites back. It's not the right time, his position at the law firm is not stable enough, kids are a hassle and complication they don't need. In the end there is nothing that Hazel can do, as Warren's hate for children bars her own wish for one. Instead of a child for Christmas, Warren gave her a maid. Whatever she will do with the extra time when she doesn't have any children to take care of.
Troubles or not, New Years eve is worth celebrating. Grace and Donna has been eagerly await this break from routines. Donna has her new years resolution ready well before new years - she wants to find a new boyfriend. Preferably someone who won't go off and propose to someone else this time. "You're not inviting your brother, are you?" she asks Grace.
"The married one, no, the single one, yes - even if he's a bit young"
But you cannot plan a party without getting the right look, so Donna and Grace head to the strip mall to get their new dresses and to get their hair done before the party. It seems the rest of Oasis Springs had the same idea, the place is packed with people.
Nevertheless, both girls walk away with a new dress and freshly done hair. "If he doesn't propose to you wearing that, he never will," Donna says as she looks at Grace. "And if that'st he case you need to get a better man."
"Well, I can't see any man who wouldn't want to get to know you better wearing that."
The party itself is a huge success, it's held at the newly opened Solar Flare Nightclub. A fantastic place according to Donna and Hazel, who thinks the wood paneling gives it a really classy look. Everyone seems to be having a great time. There is dancing, drinking, toasting and flirting and at midnight - fireworks outside.
And finally, when Grace had thought the moment past, David gets down on his knees and proposes for real.
Maybe seeing Grace all dressed up was the push he needed, or maybe it had more to do with the motel room he rented before the party, or maybe he truly had planned this all along. Either way Grace happily says yes this time, to both ring and motel room.
After all, if he has proposed there is no real risk, is there? And this part she has wanted to try for a Very Long Time!
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