1970s: A Last Goodbye
The day after Alice's death, several members of the family defy the high gas prices and make it out to Chestnut Ridge where Anna has invited them to discuss funeral arrangements. As some of the younger ones go with Carl to the horses, Josephine, Nash, Barbara, Johnny and Anna sid down in the living room.
The heatwave still is in effect when Susan comes of age and celebrate's her birthday. For this occasion the house is filled with family who make the effort to come together to celebrate her big day. Betty cannot believe she's about to have another child move out and start college, and it's a bit bitter sweet to see her daughter blow out the candles on her cake.
It's nice to have all her children at home again, though. Even Carl came, in spite of the crowds. Anna stayed at the ranch though, as Johnny is still sick and needs tending. "It doesn't look good," he admits to his father when he asks.
In fact it's rather serious. Johnny is still bedridden, but stubborn enough not to want to go to a hospital. "If the doctors say I need to ride it out, I can do that at home as well as there. I won't risk dying somewhere other than my own home," he says, as stubborn as he always has been. Anna surprisingly agrees with him. Or at least understands him, and when Carl objects she just brushes him off. "I'd do the same," she says simply.
But as much as Anna wants to be by Johnny's side, the ranch still needs tending. Carl is taking on as much responsibility as he can, caring for the horses but also learning to take care of the cops, which he has never really had an interest in before. It takes a bit of reading to understand what to do.
On Saturday, Johnny suddenly seems better. He even gets out of bed and heads downstairs for something to eat. Carl keeps him company, happy that things might be better than the doctor's thought. He doesn't think to tell Anna, who is outside in the paddock, talking to one of the horse-owners. Surely if Johnny is better there is no need and keeping the horse-owners happy is what make's the ranch go round.
By the time Anna gets back inside, Johnny has gone to bed again. Getting into bed next to him, Anna doesn't know that she's missed the last chance she had to speak to her husband. That night, she wakes up as Johnny draws his last breaths in the bed they've shared most of their nights in. Still grieving her sister deeply, Anna is now struck with another devastating loss.
But what is a supposed to be a moment of mourning, soon turns into an argument. Where is Alice going to be buried and more importantly, who should be attending. Fairly quickly the sisters agree that they should do what they can to keep it a private affair, to keep paparazzi and curious fans away. That means Del Sol Valley is out of the question for the burial. This is also something Anna has discussed with Cora, and so she suggests Chestnut Ridge.
That's the first disagreement. "But she needs to be buried next to mum and dad!" Josephine insists.
"In Willow Creek? What on earth for?"
"It's where we're buried! It's where we've always been buried! We went back with mom."
"Because it was what she wanted, because she wanted to be next to dad, because she lived her life in Willow Creek. Alice didn't. She never returned once she left, never, other than for funerals. And who would tend her grave there? Her life was here."
To this, Josephine must concede that Anna has a point, but the argument isn't over. While the sisters can agree that they should keep the funeral to family, Anna includes Cora in the definition. Josephine very much do not and when Anna rolls her eyes and asks her if she doesn't think that Johnny should be invited to her funeral, Josephine looses it. "You cannot possibly compare a friend to a husband!" she explodes.
"A friend? Seriously! They shared a life together. They've been living together-"
"Sharing a house."
"Living together for close to 50 years!"
"Are you insinuating that our sister was a, a, a-"
"Homosexual."
"You're calling our sister a deviant?!"
"No, because that term would be offensive, but yes, she and Cora were companions and it's time you stop denying that."
"No! I will not have that woman scandalising my sister's funeral. I just will not!"
That's the first disagreement. "But she needs to be buried next to mum and dad!" Josephine insists.
"In Willow Creek? What on earth for?"
"It's where we're buried! It's where we've always been buried! We went back with mom."
"Because it was what she wanted, because she wanted to be next to dad, because she lived her life in Willow Creek. Alice didn't. She never returned once she left, never, other than for funerals. And who would tend her grave there? Her life was here."
To this, Josephine must concede that Anna has a point, but the argument isn't over. While the sisters can agree that they should keep the funeral to family, Anna includes Cora in the definition. Josephine very much do not and when Anna rolls her eyes and asks her if she doesn't think that Johnny should be invited to her funeral, Josephine looses it. "You cannot possibly compare a friend to a husband!" she explodes.
"A friend? Seriously! They shared a life together. They've been living together-"
"Sharing a house."
"Living together for close to 50 years!"
"Are you insinuating that our sister was a, a, a-"
"Homosexual."
"You're calling our sister a deviant?!"
"No, because that term would be offensive, but yes, she and Cora were companions and it's time you stop denying that."
"No! I will not have that woman scandalising my sister's funeral. I just will not!"
The two sisters are abruptly interrupted by Barbara as she stands up and reads Alice's will to them, making it plain as day that Alice didn't leave these decisions or her fortunate to either of them, but to her.
"So this is my call, mom," she states. "And I say Cora comes. Anna is right. I lived there, and they loved each other. Cora comes to the funeral, and after it's over, she goes home to her house and she stays there as long as she wants. And that's my call and my decision and since I am Alice's only heir it's my call - not yours."
"So this is my call, mom," she states. "And I say Cora comes. Anna is right. I lived there, and they loved each other. Cora comes to the funeral, and after it's over, she goes home to her house and she stays there as long as she wants. And that's my call and my decision and since I am Alice's only heir it's my call - not yours."
The funeral is held a few days after, in Chestnut Ridge church, as agreed. They start with a moment of silence, then Anna holds the eulogy, sharing her memories of the sister that was her best friend.
Later, as Alice is put into the ground, Cora weeps at her grave.
Anna comforts her.
Later, as Alice is put into the ground, Cora weeps at her grave.
Anna comforts her.
Josephine still can't accept the news of her sister, and refuses to acknowledge Cora. At least she's grateful that Cora didn't get to speak, and she cannot deny that her sister did a good job.
They return to the ranch after the funeral, sharing a dinner and memories of the woman who passed away.
Anna takes the chance to get to know Robin a little. It's the first time the two meet properly. And she's getting tired. There are too many people in the house and he needs time to grieve on her own. She's rather grateful when everyone goes home.
Autumn goes by fast and soon it's time for Thanksgiving, although this year it's a much smaller affair than normal. Barbara opts for a less traditional thanksgiving with her friends while celebrating Abby's tenth birthday surrounded by all the kids she knows. Michael simply cannot afford the gas prices to go south again so soon, especially with his sister's birthday coming up soon, and Carl who is still uncomfortable in large crowds is happy to stay at the ranch with Anna and Johnny who has taken sick lately. In the end, it's only Thomas, Betty, Susan and Steven who shares Thanksgiving dinner with Josephine and Nash.
Autumn goes by fast and soon it's time for Thanksgiving, although this year it's a much smaller affair than normal. Barbara opts for a less traditional thanksgiving with her friends while celebrating Abby's tenth birthday surrounded by all the kids she knows. Michael simply cannot afford the gas prices to go south again so soon, especially with his sister's birthday coming up soon, and Carl who is still uncomfortable in large crowds is happy to stay at the ranch with Anna and Johnny who has taken sick lately. In the end, it's only Thomas, Betty, Susan and Steven who shares Thanksgiving dinner with Josephine and Nash.
Arthur and his family as well as Grace and her family show up later, joining the others by the pool after dinner. It might be late into the fall but in Oasis Springs there is a heat wave and still swelteringly hot.
The heatwave still is in effect when Susan comes of age and celebrate's her birthday. For this occasion the house is filled with family who make the effort to come together to celebrate her big day. Betty cannot believe she's about to have another child move out and start college, and it's a bit bitter sweet to see her daughter blow out the candles on her cake.
It's nice to have all her children at home again, though. Even Carl came, in spite of the crowds. Anna stayed at the ranch though, as Johnny is still sick and needs tending. "It doesn't look good," he admits to his father when he asks.
In fact it's rather serious. Johnny is still bedridden, but stubborn enough not to want to go to a hospital. "If the doctors say I need to ride it out, I can do that at home as well as there. I won't risk dying somewhere other than my own home," he says, as stubborn as he always has been. Anna surprisingly agrees with him. Or at least understands him, and when Carl objects she just brushes him off. "I'd do the same," she says simply.
But as much as Anna wants to be by Johnny's side, the ranch still needs tending. Carl is taking on as much responsibility as he can, caring for the horses but also learning to take care of the cops, which he has never really had an interest in before. It takes a bit of reading to understand what to do.
On Saturday, Johnny suddenly seems better. He even gets out of bed and heads downstairs for something to eat. Carl keeps him company, happy that things might be better than the doctor's thought. He doesn't think to tell Anna, who is outside in the paddock, talking to one of the horse-owners. Surely if Johnny is better there is no need and keeping the horse-owners happy is what make's the ranch go round.
By the time Anna gets back inside, Johnny has gone to bed again. Getting into bed next to him, Anna doesn't know that she's missed the last chance she had to speak to her husband. That night, she wakes up as Johnny draws his last breaths in the bed they've shared most of their nights in. Still grieving her sister deeply, Anna is now struck with another devastating loss.
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