1970s: Disillusionment, graduation and future plans
As Michael is closing in on graduation and his law degree, Carl has finally managed to persuade his parents to allow him to enlist early. After North Vietnam launches the Easter Offensive in March he is even more adamant he needs to go and no arguments for either of his parents are enough to persuade him to stay. So even though his birthday is almost six months off, Thomas and Betty finally gives in and sign his papers. The day after, Carl returns home in his new uniform.
It's an unwelcome distraction, as Michael does his best to prepare for the final exams and tries to figure out what to do after they're over. He's had offers from different law firms, and sneaking out onto the roof of the dorm, with a picknick blanket, he and Robin are discussing where to move after graduation. "I can't stay here, I need to be closer to home."
"Oasis Springs?"
"Not necessarily that close"
Robin agrees, happily, she doubts there will be too many jobs for her in the conservative desert town. But California as a whole works. They settle for looking for jobs further north. San Sequoia, possibly Copperdale in the future, if they ever choose to have kids. Or maybe even further north, to Evergreen Harbor. Ahead of them, they see a bright future. A power-couple working with the law instead of against it to change society for the better. And then they aren't discussing the future anymore, because they are other things they can do in a warm summer night with no one else around.
Having arrived in Tomarang, Carl is finding it difficult to settle in. It's a heat he's never felt in the desert, humidity so high it's hard to breathe. The mosquitoes are everywhere, as are a myrriad of other bugs he has no name for. Then there is the other soldiers. Carl was expecting to meet heroes, people who fought the enemy and had a sense of purpose, drive and conviction. What he found is a lot of young men who just want to go home, in a war that is no longer about winning, but surviving long enough to go home. No on in his unit has volunteered, and on hearing that he had some even started laughing. "Oh, you're one of the patriots." Carl has never heard the word "patriot" sound like an insult before.
But worse is the lack of disciplin. Orders are ignored, at best, right out refused, at worse. Days are spent blowing bubbles, drinking and lying around staring at the sky while too out of it to care about the world. As he tries to follow orders, march as he's been taught to keep the perimeter set, the others in his unit are wasting time doing nothing. As the first ripples of Watergate start to hit the news at home, Carl is left with a feeling of disillusionment that he does not know what to do with.
Back home, Betty and Thomas barely registers Watergate. Betty still break out in tears every so often, especially when the war is mentioned on the radio or on the news. Thomas is trying to appear strong, but he too has throws of acute sadness come over himself. How could they have been so stupid as to sign those papers? Maybe those few months would have kept him home and out of harms way?
Susan, on the other hand, is just furious at her brother for leaving, and therefore refuse to acknowledge him at all. She's a bit testier than normal, acts up more than before, and throws herself head first into the environmental movement. DDT is being banned, finally. Congress is discussing a new water bill, finally. And with her friends she can meet up in the park, plan protests and name collections, while also drinking and having fun. She's roped Ken into going with her, and he's having the time of his life with one of Susan's better friends. Meanwhile her own boyfriend, previously so engaged, is a no show. From the moment he graduated and became an "adult" he's been harder and harder to get together with. That too annoys her, but she's not about to show that she's unhappy. So instead she parties harder.
For Michael, it's finally time to graduate. In spite of constantly thinking about his brother, he did well on his exams and on the day itself the excitement is in the air and neither Michael nor Robin can believe they actually made it here.
Thomas and Betty tries to show support, but they are both heartbroken and terrified. Carl tries to comfort his mother, assuring her that he'll be fine.
Susan is less sad, more angry and has no problem telling her brother that he's being an idiot before storming off and banging the door shut behind her.
While wishing his sister could find it in herself to say goodbye properly, Carl settles for hugging his baby brother before heading off to the base for some training before shipping off. He wishes he could say goodbye to Michael as well, but knows he'll have to settle for writing.
Susan is less sad, more angry and has no problem telling her brother that he's being an idiot before storming off and banging the door shut behind her.
While wishing his sister could find it in herself to say goodbye properly, Carl settles for hugging his baby brother before heading off to the base for some training before shipping off. He wishes he could say goodbye to Michael as well, but knows he'll have to settle for writing.
For Michael the letter comes as a shock. Not in a million years could he have imagined that his parents would have given in, and while he knew that his brother longed to go to war, he had always expected to see him again before then. His own graduation was before his brother's birthday. He'd figured there was time to go home, speak to his brother, perhaps convince him not to enlist. And everyone was talking about ending the war anyway, perhaps... but that was useless now. "How could he be so stupid?" he asks Robin.
It's an unwelcome distraction, as Michael does his best to prepare for the final exams and tries to figure out what to do after they're over. He's had offers from different law firms, and sneaking out onto the roof of the dorm, with a picknick blanket, he and Robin are discussing where to move after graduation. "I can't stay here, I need to be closer to home."
"Oasis Springs?"
"Not necessarily that close"
Robin agrees, happily, she doubts there will be too many jobs for her in the conservative desert town. But California as a whole works. They settle for looking for jobs further north. San Sequoia, possibly Copperdale in the future, if they ever choose to have kids. Or maybe even further north, to Evergreen Harbor. Ahead of them, they see a bright future. A power-couple working with the law instead of against it to change society for the better. And then they aren't discussing the future anymore, because they are other things they can do in a warm summer night with no one else around.
Having arrived in Tomarang, Carl is finding it difficult to settle in. It's a heat he's never felt in the desert, humidity so high it's hard to breathe. The mosquitoes are everywhere, as are a myrriad of other bugs he has no name for. Then there is the other soldiers. Carl was expecting to meet heroes, people who fought the enemy and had a sense of purpose, drive and conviction. What he found is a lot of young men who just want to go home, in a war that is no longer about winning, but surviving long enough to go home. No on in his unit has volunteered, and on hearing that he had some even started laughing. "Oh, you're one of the patriots." Carl has never heard the word "patriot" sound like an insult before.
But worse is the lack of disciplin. Orders are ignored, at best, right out refused, at worse. Days are spent blowing bubbles, drinking and lying around staring at the sky while too out of it to care about the world. As he tries to follow orders, march as he's been taught to keep the perimeter set, the others in his unit are wasting time doing nothing. As the first ripples of Watergate start to hit the news at home, Carl is left with a feeling of disillusionment that he does not know what to do with.
Back home, Betty and Thomas barely registers Watergate. Betty still break out in tears every so often, especially when the war is mentioned on the radio or on the news. Thomas is trying to appear strong, but he too has throws of acute sadness come over himself. How could they have been so stupid as to sign those papers? Maybe those few months would have kept him home and out of harms way?
Susan, on the other hand, is just furious at her brother for leaving, and therefore refuse to acknowledge him at all. She's a bit testier than normal, acts up more than before, and throws herself head first into the environmental movement. DDT is being banned, finally. Congress is discussing a new water bill, finally. And with her friends she can meet up in the park, plan protests and name collections, while also drinking and having fun. She's roped Ken into going with her, and he's having the time of his life with one of Susan's better friends. Meanwhile her own boyfriend, previously so engaged, is a no show. From the moment he graduated and became an "adult" he's been harder and harder to get together with. That too annoys her, but she's not about to show that she's unhappy. So instead she parties harder.
For Michael, it's finally time to graduate. In spite of constantly thinking about his brother, he did well on his exams and on the day itself the excitement is in the air and neither Michael nor Robin can believe they actually made it here.
That night they throw the wildest keg-party so far. They've graduated, and the world is at their feet. Tomorrow they can think about the future, tonight it's time to celebrate.
The next morning, it's time to pack up. Before finding a place together, they both need to go home to see their families. Michael packs up his dorm, what has been his home for several years, and get ready for the long trip home.
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