1970s: One Life Begins as Another Reaches its End.
For Anna and Johnny, Carls presence is a welcome help. Farm hands are good, but having a family member you trust is better. Suddenly the two find themselves having the time to sit down in their rocking chairs just talking to each other.
For Carl, the change of pace is welcome. The hard physical labour and time with the horses helps him forget - at least for the moment. Yes he still has nightmares at times, and is filled with guilt about leaving Chi behind, but as long as he keeps busy, lets his muscle work until they ache, he can push the dark thoughts to the back of his mind.
And being around Anna and Johnny, sharing dinner outdoors after a full day of work and hearing them share stories from their own life, is its own reward as he tries to wrap his head around what he's been through. When he left solders that went to Vietnam were called baby-killers, spat on and abused. Now people tied yellow ribbons around trees and called for the return of POWs. What he cannot understand, is how public perception can change so quickly, from heroes to murderers and back to heroes in less than a decade. Maybe it's not so strange that when it's time for Chi to give birth, Carl has moved on and no longer misses her. That he has a daughter isn't something he knows, and now no longer something he thinks all that much about.
For Chi, forgetting isn't so easy, not with a new baby on her hip. She names her daughter Lan, meaning Orchid, hoping the traditional name will protect her, and prays to the gods that her daughter will grow up to look more like her and less like her father. She has no hope to completely hide her daughter's origin, as her own husband died some time ago and she has no connections to fake the papers. Instead she has to use her own family name, and so little Lan is named Phan Thi Lan, instead of Nguyen Thi Lan which Chi would have preferred. Currently, the best Chi can hope for is to convince people that she's the child of a Vietnamese soldier who died before their wedding, rather than an American who left without one. If only her skin wasn't so light. Still she keeps her daughter. Many do not and orphanages are filled with Amerasian children. That, however, is something Chi cannot do, even as her mother urge her too. For that, her family oriented trait runs too deep. This is her daughter and her responsibility. As long as she can stand, she will try to provide for both her girls, and her mother, to the best of her ability.
Back in Oasis Springs, where Susan is now joined by Steven as she heads to school, things are returning to normal. Susan, now on her last year, is trying to balance her school work with her activism. It's not always easy, especially when the principal thinks activism is a sign of her "not growing up". She's starting to get rather relaxed in his office while she waits for him to type up the latest report. The principle does not approve, and threaten her with detention if she doesn't shape up and mouth off less. Susan rolls her eyes but promises to behave. Seriously, as if a little detention would scare her off.
For Carl, the change of pace is welcome. The hard physical labour and time with the horses helps him forget - at least for the moment. Yes he still has nightmares at times, and is filled with guilt about leaving Chi behind, but as long as he keeps busy, lets his muscle work until they ache, he can push the dark thoughts to the back of his mind.
And being around Anna and Johnny, sharing dinner outdoors after a full day of work and hearing them share stories from their own life, is its own reward as he tries to wrap his head around what he's been through. When he left solders that went to Vietnam were called baby-killers, spat on and abused. Now people tied yellow ribbons around trees and called for the return of POWs. What he cannot understand, is how public perception can change so quickly, from heroes to murderers and back to heroes in less than a decade. Maybe it's not so strange that when it's time for Chi to give birth, Carl has moved on and no longer misses her. That he has a daughter isn't something he knows, and now no longer something he thinks all that much about.
For Chi, forgetting isn't so easy, not with a new baby on her hip. She names her daughter Lan, meaning Orchid, hoping the traditional name will protect her, and prays to the gods that her daughter will grow up to look more like her and less like her father. She has no hope to completely hide her daughter's origin, as her own husband died some time ago and she has no connections to fake the papers. Instead she has to use her own family name, and so little Lan is named Phan Thi Lan, instead of Nguyen Thi Lan which Chi would have preferred. Currently, the best Chi can hope for is to convince people that she's the child of a Vietnamese soldier who died before their wedding, rather than an American who left without one. If only her skin wasn't so light. Still she keeps her daughter. Many do not and orphanages are filled with Amerasian children. That, however, is something Chi cannot do, even as her mother urge her too. For that, her family oriented trait runs too deep. This is her daughter and her responsibility. As long as she can stand, she will try to provide for both her girls, and her mother, to the best of her ability.
Back in Oasis Springs, where Susan is now joined by Steven as she heads to school, things are returning to normal. Susan, now on her last year, is trying to balance her school work with her activism. It's not always easy, especially when the principal thinks activism is a sign of her "not growing up". She's starting to get rather relaxed in his office while she waits for him to type up the latest report. The principle does not approve, and threaten her with detention if she doesn't shape up and mouth off less. Susan rolls her eyes but promises to behave. Seriously, as if a little detention would scare her off.
What is far scarier, is the fact that prom is soon coming and no one has asked her to it yet! Its not that she really want a boyfriend, not seriously, but she definitely does not want to go to her own prom as a looser without a date! If she knows one thing, is that this prom has to be better than the last one. That this is her prom, not someone else's and it simply must be the better of the two. She has gotten a brand new dress, not at all in the same peasant style (even if that is still hugely popular and what most is wearing) but a really thin, lightweight dress straps so thin she hasn't dared to show it to her dad yet. The date is the only thing missing!
And if no one will ask her, she will have to do the asking. It's scary, but luckily, she still knows how to charm a guy (granted it's the third try, but no one needs to know that).
A little kiss doesn't hurt when he says yes.
So on the night in question, Susan has it all. A date (cute, malleable, sort of a good kisser, but not someone she's seriously in love with), a perfect dress, and a mind to make this the best night of her life so far. She spends hours getting ready in her room until she looks just right.
She happily shows off her dress to her date when he arrives. He seems to approve more than Thomas does, but at least her dad is good enough not to say anything.
Betty has them line up for the camera. It's an okay picture, a bit off in color:
But the main event is the party! This time, Susan knows the drill, and she intends to make the most of everything. She dances, she talks to people, she eats and have a drink. And when no one is looking, she mess around with her date in the photo booth. After all, it was the one thing she never got around to last time. And it's fun. And so what if she's not in love, it feels good!
Betty is waiting for her when she comes home, and Susan can't wait to share: “It was such a blast, Mom!” Before they both head to bed, she tells her mother about the decorations, the dancing, the food... but not so much the boy.
In San Sequoia, Michael and Robin are settling into their apartment. Their neat new stereo plays all the right tracks, Robin cooks all the popular dishes and the two generally have a good time.
But even if they're life is good, Robin can't help but to feel pangs of jealousy at times anyway. Having never been insecure before, she now needs Michaels reassurance often. It's a bit annoying, but Michael knows he only has himself to blame, and reassures her each and every time.
By now they would have expected more of the family coming to visit, but with the OPEC Oil Embargo and the Arab nations cutting off oil to U.S. gasoline prices has skyrocketed, and that is if you can even get gas. Long lines snake out from gas stations as people try their best to get what they can. Michael's grandmother Lauren lives closer, however, and one night she pays the new couple a visit. It's a bit unusual, Michael is not used to surprise visits from her, as she's always been the one living far away (unlike grandma Josephine who has always come and gone in the house). They show her the apartment and invites her to stay for dinner.
But life is stopped in its tracks when the news that Alice has passed away reach the family. Being just about to turn 80, Alice wasn't all that old, but that did not stop the grim from claiming her.
Cora is, of course, heartbroken, and cannot stop crying, yet she knows she'll has to be the one to notify the family.
She starts with what feels most natural. Anna, then Barbara, both of whom are devastated by the news. "Come here," Anna says immediately. "That house, that town, it will be madness when the press finds out. You'll be better off here with us." But Cora refuses.
"This is my home, I will not run away."
"Will you at least help me organise things?" Anna asks. "And let us bury her here, away from the crowds and a public funeral?"
That, Cora can agree to, partly because she is too much in grief to deal with funeral preparations, and partly because she knows - without it having to be said - that when it comes to those, there is little she can do anyway. Anything and everything legal will be up to Alice's family by blood. To the law, a lifetime spent together means nothing unless you are husband and wife.
And if no one will ask her, she will have to do the asking. It's scary, but luckily, she still knows how to charm a guy (granted it's the third try, but no one needs to know that).
A little kiss doesn't hurt when he says yes.
So on the night in question, Susan has it all. A date (cute, malleable, sort of a good kisser, but not someone she's seriously in love with), a perfect dress, and a mind to make this the best night of her life so far. She spends hours getting ready in her room until she looks just right.
She happily shows off her dress to her date when he arrives. He seems to approve more than Thomas does, but at least her dad is good enough not to say anything.
Betty has them line up for the camera. It's an okay picture, a bit off in color:
But the main event is the party! This time, Susan knows the drill, and she intends to make the most of everything. She dances, she talks to people, she eats and have a drink. And when no one is looking, she mess around with her date in the photo booth. After all, it was the one thing she never got around to last time. And it's fun. And so what if she's not in love, it feels good!
Betty is waiting for her when she comes home, and Susan can't wait to share: “It was such a blast, Mom!” Before they both head to bed, she tells her mother about the decorations, the dancing, the food... but not so much the boy.
In San Sequoia, Michael and Robin are settling into their apartment. Their neat new stereo plays all the right tracks, Robin cooks all the popular dishes and the two generally have a good time.
But even if they're life is good, Robin can't help but to feel pangs of jealousy at times anyway. Having never been insecure before, she now needs Michaels reassurance often. It's a bit annoying, but Michael knows he only has himself to blame, and reassures her each and every time.
By now they would have expected more of the family coming to visit, but with the OPEC Oil Embargo and the Arab nations cutting off oil to U.S. gasoline prices has skyrocketed, and that is if you can even get gas. Long lines snake out from gas stations as people try their best to get what they can. Michael's grandmother Lauren lives closer, however, and one night she pays the new couple a visit. It's a bit unusual, Michael is not used to surprise visits from her, as she's always been the one living far away (unlike grandma Josephine who has always come and gone in the house). They show her the apartment and invites her to stay for dinner.
But life is stopped in its tracks when the news that Alice has passed away reach the family. Being just about to turn 80, Alice wasn't all that old, but that did not stop the grim from claiming her.
Cora is, of course, heartbroken, and cannot stop crying, yet she knows she'll has to be the one to notify the family.
She starts with what feels most natural. Anna, then Barbara, both of whom are devastated by the news. "Come here," Anna says immediately. "That house, that town, it will be madness when the press finds out. You'll be better off here with us." But Cora refuses.
"This is my home, I will not run away."
"Will you at least help me organise things?" Anna asks. "And let us bury her here, away from the crowds and a public funeral?"
That, Cora can agree to, partly because she is too much in grief to deal with funeral preparations, and partly because she knows - without it having to be said - that when it comes to those, there is little she can do anyway. Anything and everything legal will be up to Alice's family by blood. To the law, a lifetime spent together means nothing unless you are husband and wife.
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