1980s: A New Decade - A New Life - A New Look
As the year nears its end, it's time for Ken to turn 25. He doesn't throw a big party, but he does invite his parents, Susan and Carl over to his apartment for pizza and hanging out. To mark the occasion he's gotten a new haircut and some new clothes that he feels more fits a grown man and the new decade.
Believing she will actually end up having her baby on the floor of the waiting room, she is finally let into the delivery room, where a much more competent doctor help her deliver a healthy baby boy.
Holding her baby boy in her arms she knows she did the right thing. Her boss might think what he want, but she can look her son in the eyes and know she did the honourable thing.
Back home, she collapses. The stress, the waiting, the delivery... there is just no energy left in her, and she finds herself tucked in bed by a worried Michael. "But Christopher..." she half heartedly protests before falling fast asleep.
She needn't have worried. Michael is more than happy to take care of the son he has so longed for. Robin's career might be rocky, and their apartment a bit too small, but for Michael none of that matters as much as the little boy in his arms. As Mount St. Helens erupts up in Washington state, raining ashes down on Evergreen Harbor where his sister lives, he is too busy looking at his son to watch the news.
Susan is a bit nervous about what Ken might have told his parents about her and Tony, but while he might not approve of her actions, he has enough decency to keep the knowledge to himself. Knowing how close he is to his mother, Susan is grateful.
Overall, it's an nice if a bit quiet celebration. David mutters a bit about the lack of proper food, and reminds his son that he could have made him something decent, but Ken doesn't seem to mind. "It's just pizza, dad. It won't kill you to eat it once." David knows enough not to offer his son cooking lessons. It's a passion Ken has never shared with him. Too much like his mother.
In San Myshuno, Beth and Cathy are getting ready for the new years celebration. Cathy, especially put a lot of thought and effort into her outfit and make-up.
The nightclub is packed with people when they arrive. The mood is high, the drinks are flowing and
Upstairs the club has put up a TV, so that the guests can follow the count down to midnight. After all, it's not every night a new decade starts.
For Cathy, a new decade deserves a new look, and so at the earliest convenience, she drags Beth and Brandon with her to the newly opened mall in the fashion district.
At first she drags them to the hairdressers.
In San Myshuno, Beth and Cathy are getting ready for the new years celebration. Cathy, especially put a lot of thought and effort into her outfit and make-up.
The nightclub is packed with people when they arrive. The mood is high, the drinks are flowing and
Upstairs the club has put up a TV, so that the guests can follow the count down to midnight. After all, it's not every night a new decade starts.
For Cathy, a new decade deserves a new look, and so at the earliest convenience, she drags Beth and Brandon with her to the newly opened mall in the fashion district.
At first she drags them to the hairdressers.
Cathy discuss different options with the hairdresser while Beth sits down and relax, waiting for her turn.
Then the session starts.
Another stylist work on Beth's hair.
"Do you really want it shorter?" she asks, as the newly permed Cathy watches on.
"Cut it!" says Beth to her sister's horror.
"You're supposed to become prettier, not lose your hair!" she objects, but Beth has made up her mind, she wants her hair short and manageable.
She's super happy with the result, even if her sister doesn't approve.
At this point Brandon has already slipped away to the Basketball court, having fun instead of changing his looks. He really doesn't see why he needs to cut his hair, or change his clothes. They're just fine. For Beth, on the other hand, the new fashion is all she dreamed about. She tries out as many outfits as she can before settling on what to buy.
Beth does not have her sister's energy or passion for clothes. But she does try on a few items, and her sister manages to persuade her to buy something.
In the end both girls are happy when they return home. Brandon is mostly happy that he got away with just shaving his beard and nothing else.
"You could have tried some clothes," Cathy pouts. "Or done something with your hair."
"My clothes and hair are fine," he retorts. "But you look good in that haircut," he adds, knowing that will distract her from his own apparent lack of style.
Style is not something that worries Steven so much. While his dorm mates are having parties and talking about music and current events, he's lost in a world of components, computing, programming and reading tech magazines for the latest news. He doesn't understand much of the social game, and wonders why people feel the need to talk so much all the time.
Luckily, Larissa seems to be of the same disposition. The two of them have no problems sitting quietly next to each other while doing their homework. Now if that would only be enough to signal to others that they are not really up for conversation, but somehow other students seem intent on talking to them anyway. Telling them meaningless stories about their extracurricular activities when they could be focusing on their studies.
Even in the computer lab people comes up with distractions. Although sometimes, even Steven has to admit it's a pleasant surprise. Such as when his aunt and uncle show up.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, never too tactful.
It turns out Claudia is getting bored. With the twins off living their own lives, and Cindy growing up only too fast, she feels unchallenged at home.
"So I've decided to take a few courses," she says.
Steven has to admit he's impressed, and can't help but to think his aunt is fairly hot. It's a bit confusing, she's old, but he cannot deny the attraction. He sort of envies his uncle his hot wife. Arthur on the other hand is more thorn. On the one hand he is proud of Claudia for addressing her lack of formal education, and he wants to be supportive of his wife. On the other he worries things will change at home. He likes things the way they are, and doesn't much like changes.
Back home he studies the pictures of their family, longing for a time when the girls were young and still at home.
"Cut it!" says Beth to her sister's horror.
"You're supposed to become prettier, not lose your hair!" she objects, but Beth has made up her mind, she wants her hair short and manageable.
She's super happy with the result, even if her sister doesn't approve.
At this point Brandon has already slipped away to the Basketball court, having fun instead of changing his looks. He really doesn't see why he needs to cut his hair, or change his clothes. They're just fine. For Beth, on the other hand, the new fashion is all she dreamed about. She tries out as many outfits as she can before settling on what to buy.
Beth does not have her sister's energy or passion for clothes. But she does try on a few items, and her sister manages to persuade her to buy something.
In the end both girls are happy when they return home. Brandon is mostly happy that he got away with just shaving his beard and nothing else.
"You could have tried some clothes," Cathy pouts. "Or done something with your hair."
"My clothes and hair are fine," he retorts. "But you look good in that haircut," he adds, knowing that will distract her from his own apparent lack of style.
Style is not something that worries Steven so much. While his dorm mates are having parties and talking about music and current events, he's lost in a world of components, computing, programming and reading tech magazines for the latest news. He doesn't understand much of the social game, and wonders why people feel the need to talk so much all the time.
Luckily, Larissa seems to be of the same disposition. The two of them have no problems sitting quietly next to each other while doing their homework. Now if that would only be enough to signal to others that they are not really up for conversation, but somehow other students seem intent on talking to them anyway. Telling them meaningless stories about their extracurricular activities when they could be focusing on their studies.
Even in the computer lab people comes up with distractions. Although sometimes, even Steven has to admit it's a pleasant surprise. Such as when his aunt and uncle show up.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, never too tactful.
It turns out Claudia is getting bored. With the twins off living their own lives, and Cindy growing up only too fast, she feels unchallenged at home.
"So I've decided to take a few courses," she says.
Steven has to admit he's impressed, and can't help but to think his aunt is fairly hot. It's a bit confusing, she's old, but he cannot deny the attraction. He sort of envies his uncle his hot wife. Arthur on the other hand is more thorn. On the one hand he is proud of Claudia for addressing her lack of formal education, and he wants to be supportive of his wife. On the other he worries things will change at home. He likes things the way they are, and doesn't much like changes.
Back home he studies the pictures of their family, longing for a time when the girls were young and still at home.
In the kitchen, Claudia doesn't notice. She's busy with her first piece of homework. She has only taken two courses right now, as that is what she thinks she can manage and still stay on top of things at home, but she is eager to learn the things she was never allowed to learn as young, and intends to get high marks on her courses. Perhaps one day she might even have a career of her own.
Cindy is also hesitant to mum's new endeavor. It's not that she minds her mum going to uni or even one day having a job. After all, being a housewife is so 1960s and she has no intention of being one herself. Yet for all that, she can't deny that she hates coming home to an empty house.
Both Cindy and Arthur has to get used to it, however, because Claudia has no intention of stopping. Inspired by her younger classmates, she cuts her hair, updates her wardrobe and doubles down on her studies. Perhaps she too can become a modern woman like her daughters.
Over in San Sequoia, a nursery has been prepared. Robin is pleased with the room, the creme carpet, the light colors that suits both boys and girls. She is trying to tell herself that they don't actually need an office, that they can work from the kitchen table if needed, but she cannot convince herself entirely that she doesn't miss it.
Michael, on the other hand, doesn't. He's nothing but excited for the baby to come. "You'll be a great mother," he tells Robin when she is uncertain, and she appreciate the sentiment, even if she's not so sure he's right.
Even in her last trimester, she is still working as hard as ever. "If I ever want to become a judge, I cannot slack off, pregnant or not," she tells her mother who complains about her work schedule. For Robin any sacrifice will be worth it, until she finds evidence that one of her former colleages, now a judge and someone who has promised to pave the way for her has been corrupted. What should she do? Pretend not to know and reap the benefits? Or stay clean, fight corruption as her aspiration has always been but potentially miss a chance to reach her dream?
Almost to her own surprise Robin chooses her conscience over her career, exposing the now former friend, at the risk of her own career. Still, the scope of the attention surprises her. Suddenly her name is on the news, in the papers, and she's recognised by strangers in the streets. But at the same time, her employer demotes her, her colleagues distance themselves from her and she finds herself standing more alone at her job than ever before.
The stress is enough to push her into labour. Unfortunately being seen in the news does not in any way help her when standing in line at the hospital. The orderly is just as incompetent as always.
Cindy is also hesitant to mum's new endeavor. It's not that she minds her mum going to uni or even one day having a job. After all, being a housewife is so 1960s and she has no intention of being one herself. Yet for all that, she can't deny that she hates coming home to an empty house.
Both Cindy and Arthur has to get used to it, however, because Claudia has no intention of stopping. Inspired by her younger classmates, she cuts her hair, updates her wardrobe and doubles down on her studies. Perhaps she too can become a modern woman like her daughters.
Over in San Sequoia, a nursery has been prepared. Robin is pleased with the room, the creme carpet, the light colors that suits both boys and girls. She is trying to tell herself that they don't actually need an office, that they can work from the kitchen table if needed, but she cannot convince herself entirely that she doesn't miss it.
Michael, on the other hand, doesn't. He's nothing but excited for the baby to come. "You'll be a great mother," he tells Robin when she is uncertain, and she appreciate the sentiment, even if she's not so sure he's right.
Even in her last trimester, she is still working as hard as ever. "If I ever want to become a judge, I cannot slack off, pregnant or not," she tells her mother who complains about her work schedule. For Robin any sacrifice will be worth it, until she finds evidence that one of her former colleages, now a judge and someone who has promised to pave the way for her has been corrupted. What should she do? Pretend not to know and reap the benefits? Or stay clean, fight corruption as her aspiration has always been but potentially miss a chance to reach her dream?
Almost to her own surprise Robin chooses her conscience over her career, exposing the now former friend, at the risk of her own career. Still, the scope of the attention surprises her. Suddenly her name is on the news, in the papers, and she's recognised by strangers in the streets. But at the same time, her employer demotes her, her colleagues distance themselves from her and she finds herself standing more alone at her job than ever before.
The stress is enough to push her into labour. Unfortunately being seen in the news does not in any way help her when standing in line at the hospital. The orderly is just as incompetent as always.
Believing she will actually end up having her baby on the floor of the waiting room, she is finally let into the delivery room, where a much more competent doctor help her deliver a healthy baby boy.
Holding her baby boy in her arms she knows she did the right thing. Her boss might think what he want, but she can look her son in the eyes and know she did the honourable thing.
Back home, she collapses. The stress, the waiting, the delivery... there is just no energy left in her, and she finds herself tucked in bed by a worried Michael. "But Christopher..." she half heartedly protests before falling fast asleep.
She needn't have worried. Michael is more than happy to take care of the son he has so longed for. Robin's career might be rocky, and their apartment a bit too small, but for Michael none of that matters as much as the little boy in his arms. As Mount St. Helens erupts up in Washington state, raining ashes down on Evergreen Harbor where his sister lives, he is too busy looking at his son to watch the news.
Family tree 1980:
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