The Women

The war continues into 1972. Frankie cries watching the news reports of American atrocities and casualties, which increase the public’s disgust toward veterans. Even in Coronado, no one believes America is winning. Frankie finds another nursing job, comforted by routine. On July 4, Mom and Dad host their first party since Mom’s stroke. Frankie doesn’t want to attend but knows she must. The neighborhood is buzzing with celebration. Her parents’ backyard is full of people drinking, eating, and discussing the war. Frankie orders a drink. Mom and Dad thank everyone in attendance, particularly those who supported Mom through her recovery. Dad singles out a Lieutenant Commander who’s recently returned from Vietnam, thanking “the men who serve.” Frankie suppresses her anger.

Wondering when she can leave, Frankie runs into Henry Acevedo. Mom invited Henry, who is a hospital board member for an addiction clinic for which Mom raised funds. Henry, with his long hair, doesn’t look like a board member to Frankie. Hearing an explosion, she screams and falls to the ground, but it’s only a firecracker. Henry helps her up, expressing irritation at the bottle rocket and implying Frankie’s reaction is unsurprising. He walks her home. Frankie asks if he is married. Henry explains that his wife died of breast cancer, and Frankie recognizes her own sorrow in him. She invites him inside, clarifying that she isn’t looking for love, just physical intimacy. They sleep together.

Frankie’s relationship with Henry is mostly physical and discreet. Their mutual loneliness and grief unite them. Frankie gets birth control pills from Planned Parenthood, now that it’s legal for single women to do so. Frankie doesn’t tell anyone about Henry, but Barb writes in August, sensing something is up. She lives in Chicago now, still struggling to be a “a woman in a man’s world.” Ethel, on the other hand, is a new mother. Barb plans to march on the Republican National Convention with the VVAW and convinces Frankie to join her. Henry drives Frankie from California to Florida for the protest, alongside a caravan of other veterans. Despite this generosity, Frankie still conceals her Vietnam-related trauma from Henry.

The next day, Barb locates Frankie in the VVAW camp. Led by Ron Kovic, a paralyzed veteran, the veterans march in silence, implying “there’s nothing left to say.” Henry excuses himself, saying Frankie should be with the other veterans. The march blocks three lanes of traffic in front of the convention hall. National Guard helicopters whir overhead. Finally, a congressman allows three wheelchaired vets inside. On the walk back, Frankie and Barb discuss the protests’ efficacy and Henry. Barb likes Henry, but Frankie isn’t interested in love after Rye. The next day, the news reports the veterans allowed into the convention interrupted Nixon’s nomination acceptance speech. Later, Frankie wakes from another Vietnam dream. She blames the march and tries, repeatedly, to forget.