The Women

Three months after returning from Vietnam, Frankie gets her first good night of sleep. She finds Mom in the kitchen reading a story about First Lieutenant Sharon Lane, the first army nurse killed by enemy fire. Apparently, Lane died “almost instantly.” Despite not knowing the nurse personally, Frankie mourns her and thinks of how close she came to a similar fate. Mom suggests Frankie visit an old school friend, Becky Gillihan, who still lives on the island. Mom calls Becky’s mother and makes plans for Frankie to attend a party that’s happening this afternoon. Frankie doesn’t want to go but promised Barb and Ethel she would try to engage with the world.

At the party, Becky greets Frankie and pulls her to her house’s patio, where other women are drinking champagne. The opulent scene feels jarring. Frankie recognizes some people, including Dana Johnson, who begins to open gifts. Realizing this is a wedding shower, Frankie downs some champagne before remembering she has to work later. Becky mentions Dana’s fiancé and laughs off Frankie’s question about whether he served in Vietnam, implying he found a way to avoid the draft. Anxious, Frankie tries to leave but ends up shouting at the loud music. Becky asks about Florence, but Frankie tells her the truth: she was in Vietnam. Becky thinks Frankie is joking. Frankie assures Becky that her idyllic life is the real joke.

After fleeing the party, Frankie sits on a beach on the mainland, smoking. She thinks something must be wrong with her: her outburst at Becky’s was unacceptable. Hours have passed but she still feels angry and anxious. Frankie finds it ironic that she can handle a MASCAL but not a simple bridal shower. In the context of Rye’s death, her grief makes sense, but she can find no reason for her rage. Frankie resolves to take everyone’s advice and avoid talking about her experiences in Vietnam, even though she knows it will worsen her anxiety and anger. 

Still jittery, Frankie reports for her shift at the hospital. As usual, the work feels beneath her capabilities. Suddenly, an ambulance attendant exits the elevator with a gunshot wound, saying the ER is full. Frankie leads him to the operating room, where she lays the man on a table before hitting a button to call for the doctor. The man struggles to breathe. When no doctor appears, Frankie performs a tracheotomy, allowing the patient to breathe. After, she applies pressure to his bloody wound. When the doctor finally arrives, Frankie defends her actions, citing his own lateness. Though Mrs. Henderson acknowledges Frankie may be a good combat nurse, she fires her for opening the hospital to liability.