Original subtitles

No longer a virgin

I'll celebrate with champagne

And sturgeon

And maybe with a very tall surgeon

When I'm no longer a virgin

I'm emergin'

And splurgin'

I'll... burgeon

Don't need urgin'

Or purgin'...

Or, or coercin'...

To quit

Bein' a virgin

Bobs, come on.

I'm coming.

You're listening to Earth Matters on WZKWFM,

Ohio's finest college radio.

This first Earth Day looks to be a challenge

to the smog-filled skies, the filthy water,

- the littered countryside that we call our planet.

Pollution is killing the Earth.

Pollution from factories...

You know, Earth Day rhymes with birthday.

♪ Happy birthday to you... ♪

- Oh. - ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Bobbie ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Let me give you a little sugar.

That's my t-shirt.

I had it specially made.

Well, you haven't worn it for months.

Because it's been winter.

And you're not a woman yet.

Yes, I am.

Seventeen definitely counts.

And, anyway, it should be girls and women unite.

Girls should be included. Don't you think?

You're absolutely right.

So, I'm taking you to school this morning. Right, Bobs?

Uh, no, Joyce is picking me up.

You know she's getting a car soon?

What... You are so critical of her.

She's a really great person. I mean, she's really smart.

She got into Ohio State with a scholarship.

I'm not critical of her.

I just think she's mature for you.

And I don't want you to get killed while she's driving you home

-drunk or on drugs. -Well, I think Joyce is a great friend for you.

She's smart, she's an activist, and she's working class.

Fine. I'm the bourgeois one because I don't want my only child

to wind up dead in a ditch.

Um, I'll have some coffee too, please.

Ooh la la.

All right, Bobs, time for your birthday wishes.

Okay.

Number one, as always,

I hope to become a great writer, as great as Dorothy Parker.

-Right on. -Yes, good one.

Anything else?

Obviously, I hope we get out of Vietnam

and abolish nuclear weapons.

- Hear, hear. - Excellent.

I hope, with all of my heart, that Daddy gets tenure.

Well, he is one of the best historians in the department.

Uh, there's not a lot of competition.

Well, they'd have to be major cretins

not to give it to you, Daddy.

Well, I'll tell the dean you said so.

Unfortunately, he's a cretin.

Anything else?

Okay, I have one more.

I wish...

...that Mom would start wearing a bra again.

Bobbie!

-It's symbolic. -I know, I know. I was just joking.

I know your consciousness-raising group

would kick you out if you showed up in one.

We'd have a ceremonial burning.

You could light the match.

Far out.

No man allowed, I presume.

Sorry, Daddy.

Tomorrow, can you help me put up flyers for the rally at Ohio State?

Uh, yeah, if I can get through today.

You're going to be fine.

Are you sure you wanna do this? You seem kind of freaked out.

Yes, I want to. Um...

I'm on the pill.

I'm, I'm ready. Uh...

But, anyway, it's not that big of a thing. Is it?

No, it is. It's symbolic, as you would say.

It was, even for me.

You can remember that far back?

Ponytail or not?

Not.

- Hey, wait. I got you a birthday present.

-Oh, shit. Thanks. -Mm-hm.

Wait. Where'd you get this?

Uh, I stole it from a guy

I kind of screwed last night.

He's got a BMW, okay? He can afford to part with it.

Just don't smoke it all at once.

I'm not a cretin.

- You know the owner of this place is a socialist?

- Really? - Mm.

My parents campaigned for McCarthy with him.

Cool.

Hey, why, why don't you get that joint?

Mm.

Mm.

You know, it's a really nice bed.

You could come try it.

They're, they're right outside.

Uh, I, I just think I need to smoke some more pot.

It's not going to be a very romantic experience

if you're stoned out of your mind.

I thought you thought "romantic" was a bourgeois concept.

Yeah, but me putting my penis in your vagina is not really a concept.

Yeah.

What?

Okay, let's do it.

Okay.

So, now I'm not a virgin anymore?

Please, please, just a few minutes of silence.

So, how did I do?

I'd say C+.

Did you, um...

...did you have an orgasm?

Well, you're not supposed to the first time.

Well, I read that some girls do.

Must have been Lenin who said it.

Right.

Vladimir or John?

Touché.

-Okay, let's smoke some more grass. -Okay, okay.

Yeah! Yeah!

Oh!

Yes!

Oh, yeah.

-Oh, yeah. -Yeah, yeah, don't stop.

Oh, give it to me.

Oh, look.

"Make music, not war."

They're radicals.

That's symbolic.

- Are you all right? - Yeah.

-You're obsessed with sex. -No. No, no, no.

You're the one who's always going on about the sexual revolution.

-Mm-hm. Mm-hm. -All right?

But what about the inherent contradictions

of women's lib?

- Mm. Mm. - Hm.

I mean, I mean, it's capitalism.

It's completely co-opted bourgeois feminism.

Well, what about the inherent contradictions of little Mr. Radical,

who thinks about sex constantly, when he could be advancing the class struggle?

-Right. -Mm-hm.

Uh-huh. Mm. Touché.

How did you get to be so smart?

-Well, writers have to be smart. -Mm-mm. No. There are dumb writers.

There are dumb waiters.

-Yeah. Funny, funny. -Uh-huh.

So... you think you're, uh, ever going to write about me?

Um, you mean like a poem?

No. I was thinking, like, a very long novel.

You're so conceited. Um...

Well, I'd have to know you for a long time to write a novel about you.

So what?

Well, it's just, you're going off to college next year.

Yeah. So?

It's just another chapter.

Yeah.

But will I be in it?

Yeah.

I sure hope so.

Hey, hey, you want to hear a poem that I wrote today?

It's called "No Longer a Virgin."

You can just tell me later.

Okay.

Oh, far out.

It's the Chevelle from the motel.

- Hey... - What?

...why don't you recite that poem?

Adam, we practically shared a bed with these people, and now we're making out,

- and they pull up in front of us...

Oh, look, they're getting out.

It's your mom.

Hey, Bobbie. Are you here for the Earth Day teach-in?

Hey, Bobbie. Coming to the rally at Ohio State?

The ROTC has got to go.

Hey, Bobbie, I'm really digging your mom's class.

What's happening, Newman?

-Um... -You all right?

Hi Carl. Um, uh, no, I'm really not all right.

Hang in there.

And say hi to your dad.

Capitalist society.

These so-called progressive institutions

are themselves filled with contradictions.

Take our lovely left-leaning college.

Uh, it's been committed to progressive causes since its inception.

Uh, as we all know, it was one of the first colleges in America

to admit Black students and one of the first to award BAs to women.

But look at our history department.

Despite affirmative action,

and our reputation for radicality,

we have one female assistant professor

and one Black instructor, neither of whom has tenure.

Equally egregious,

we offer an intro course on historical methodology, but Marxism...

...has been eliminated from the syllabus.

These, my friends, are what we Marxists like to call...

...contradictions.

I can't believe she did this.

You're not even sure it was her. You didn't actually see her

go into the motel.

Daddy will be so devastated.

Bobbie, maybe it's not that big a thing, okay?

Maybe it's like a sexual revolution thing.

They're 40.

The sexual revolution isn't for them.

-Yeah, it is. It's for everybody. -Okay, well,

wait until your mother starts screwing every guy in sight.

It'd do her some good.

-Sorry, I know it's not funny. -Yeah, agreed.

I heard that.

Going to work now.

-We'll miss you. -Ha, ha.

You better be home when I get back.

Bobbie, do me a favor?

Keep her out of trouble, okay?

-I will. -Okay.

I thought you didn't believe in marriage anyway.

It's, it's not about marriage.

It's... the...

They worked so hard to change their...

Whatever you want to call it. Their relationship, which was already great.

And they succeeded.

You know, he isn't a chauvinist anymore,

and, and she's really fulfilled

now that she has time to write her book.

And it was all perfect.

And she ruined it.

They're awfully different.

Your dad's so nice and normal,

and your mom's kind of a...

...iceberg.

I can't believe she did this.

Bobbie, you gotta cool it.

You want a Coke?

No.

I'm just... so freaked out.

Um...

Do you have any booze?

No.

We can you go to this party later.

There's going to be a ton of booze there.

You wanna see a flick?

We could see Women in Love. There's supposed to be a lot of symbolism in that.

And male nudity.

So, the next day, I saw him on Main Street.

He was getting into this orange BMW, and he looked so gorgeous and full of himself.

And I was like, "Where are you going?" And he said he was going

to this party later in his dorm. And I said, "Could I come?"

-Bobbie, are you listening? -Yeah.

And the whole party was really cool, and trippy, and weird,

and we tried to screw, but he couldn't get it up.

And then my mom was up when I got home at 4:00 a.m.,

and she started screaming and throwing things, and--

-Bobbie? -What?

You're not listening to me.

I'm going to pee.

Oh, um...

Oh, hi, Nina.

Hey, Bobbie.

Hm.

You okay?

Can I get two tickets for Women in Love, please?

Oh, shit. Um...

I left, I left my wallet somewhere. Um...

My friend's going to be right back, so--

This, this movie is kind of mature for you.

Do your parents know that you're here?

Well, it's R-rated, so I don't, I don't need their permission.

It's more of a movie for adults.

Well, I am an adult.

You're right.

It is none of my business.

On the house.

-Oh, thanks. -Mm-hm.

Perhaps it would be nice if a man came along.

I mean, I wouldn't go out of my way to look for him,

but if there should happen along a highly attractive individual

with sufficient means, well...

Glenda Jackson is so cool.

I wanna be just like her.

Do you think she really got to screw Alan Bates?

Hey, you never told me how it went with Adam.

Um, it was okay.

I was just happy to get it over with. Um...

It's just completely mind-boggling...

...that the whole time we were there,

my mother was right next door,

having major orgasms with some radical.

Yeah.

- Yeah, pretty mind-boggling is right.

Did you at least have fun?

Uh, it was okay.

I don't think I had an orgasm.

You'd know.

Okay. Done.

- You can't tell anyone we're in high school.

I'm not a cretin.

Yeah. But if we have, you know...

Chris?

- Bobbie? - Hey.

Bobbie, what are you, uh... what are you-

Uh, Joyce, this is Chris.

-Chris, this is Joyce. -Hey.

How do you two know each other?

-Well, we-- Yeah. -Chris, Chris was my babysitter.

He'd come over every Friday, and um, my parents would go to the movies.

Dad called it movie night.

I read your novel.

-You did? -Yeah.

That's you and five others now.

- Well, I thought it was really deep.

My mother thought so too.

-Did she? -Mm-hm.

The critics didn't agree with that view.

Ugh. Then they're stupid.

- Fuck the critics. - Fuck the critics.

I had such a crush on you.

Ah... I don't know. Well, okay.

I hope your taste has improved somewhat.

What about writing? You still want to be a writer?

Ah. Tonight, all I want to be is very drunk.

Yeah, I can see that.

You had a poem.

A really great poem.

What was it called? The uh, The Fi...

No, "The Sardine." "Sardines."

"Sardine Queen." Yes, it was very funny.

You're good, Bobbie. You should, you should keep, keep writing.

Hey, why don't I take this and...

Maybe you should go home.

She doesn't need a babysitter anymore.

Yeah. Yeah.

You're right. Okay.

Hang in there, Bobbie.

Good to see ya.

He is so cool.

Don't even think about it.

Ugh.

Hey.

Thanks for being my friend, Joyce.

Thanks for being mine, Bobs.

Oh, shit.

Okay, kids, let's see your IDs.

What is wrong with you?

I can't believe you called the cops.

What was I supposed to do?

I tried Adam.

He didn't know where you were.

No one was home at Joyce's.

And then someone left your book bag at the front door.

We thought you'd been abducted. Where were you?

I, I hung out at Joyce's, and then I went to a party.

Okay, Chris was there. You can ask him.

-Chris who? -Chris Harman.

Chris Harman?

Why were you going to a party with Chris Harman?

He was just there, okay?

- Did he say something to upset you? - -No.

Look, we were worried sick about you, Bobs. Why didn't you call us?

At least to let us know you weren't gonna be coming home.

- I'm sorry, Daddy. - I just...

Uh, I kind of lost track of time.

Kind of lost track of time?

Are you on something? I mean, besides, obviously, alcohol.

Look, why don't you have something to eat?

I'm not hungry. I just want to go to bed.

Why are you acting like this?

Did we do something?

You are so selfish.

You, you use feminism to get Daddy to do everything for you

while you just sit at your fucking desk all the time.

You only think about how oppressed you are.

-Bobbie. -What about what he's been through?

What about the fact that he went from being this really poor kid

Who went from selling men's suits

to being a college professor?

- Bobbie, what-- - And, and, and-- No.

And he is the nicest,

smartest, most honest person...

Okay. All right. Okay. Okay.

It's going to be okay, baby. It's all okay.

Bobbie, what's going on?

Did something happen, sweetheart?

Everything's gonna be all right.

Okay?

No, it isn't.

Oh.

The cops arrested 16 kids

at the Ohio State ROTC occupation yesterday.

Oh, shit. Wa-- was anyone hurt?

They broke some windows, but no one was injured.

If they don't get out of this fucking war soon,

they're gonna have a revolution on their hands.

You were about to wish me a happy birthday.

Oh, I'm sorry. Honey.

Happy birthday.

Supposed to be a nice day.

Thanks.

My tooth still hurts.

If it doesn't feel better, you should go up to Chicago.

-Have my father take a look at it. -Yeah, no, thanks.

Well, at least it's free.

Uh, I'd rather be in pain than subject myself to your father.

And I assure you, he feels the same way about me.

Oh, come on, Rob.

-He doesn't hate you anymore. -Untrue.

He still sees me as the impoverished Jew

who pulled a fast one on his daughter.

Well, then I'll find a dentist here.

We need to save money.

It can't cost that much.

Do you know you say that about everything?

No, I don't.

We have plenty of money. We're doing fine.

Are we?

Ah.

You know, I hated my mother when I was 17.

Well, that lets you off the hook?

Ha. I'm never off the hook.

Mothers get blamed for everything.

I just wish I knew what I'd done.

I think it might have something to do with Adam.

Maybe she's too young for sex?

-Yes, she is too young for sex. -Well,

she's probably having sex with him.

He's her first boyfriend.

She, she hardly knows him.

She is on the pill.

I took her to the gynecologist at her request.

Why wouldn't you tell me?

She told me not to, and I thought maybe you wouldn't want to know.

Yeah, damn right I wouldn't.

Thanks for telling me.

You almost done?

Why don't you get in here with me?

I'll wait.

You sure you don't wanna join me?

I'm sure.

You still having lunch with Bobbie today?

That's the plan.

Great.

I want you to have a great birthday.

So, how is Christopher?

He's okay.

Your relationship still casual?

If you're asking if I'm in love with him,

the answer is still no.

Come on, Rob.

Let's have sex.

I don't feel like it.

You want me to end my thing with Christopher?

It's up to you.

-If it's upsetting you-- -It's not my choice.

All right, tee up.

Take it, Rob.

Go, go, go!

Ho!

That's 21.

Two out of three.

Whoo!

Great work, man.

We killed 'em.

You killed them, Rob.

Wait till next week.

Looking forward to it.

I won't be around next week.

Come on. You can't desert me. We're a team.

Sorry, man.

I got to go visit my grandmother next weekend.

- I start basic in two weeks. - Shit.

Carl, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me?

I'm telling you now.

Look, I know a guy up in Toronto.

He can get you set up there. I can, I can call him.

Thanks, man, but...

...I don't wanna go to Canada.

I have to, I have to, I have to be in 'Nam.

I'll go to college under the GI Bill.

Might do something in radio.

Yeah.

Poor Carl.

Hope they end that fucking war

before he gets shipped out.

Yeah.

What's happening with you?

Uh, things are good.

Book's coming along. Got all this dirt on Hoover and the HUAC.

What about you?

Just found out my, uh, book's getting a rave

in the next NYRB.

Right on, man.

Right on.

Any word on the tenure front?

We can talk about that at lunch.

Yeah, I can't do lunch.

Uh, heard you met with Simmons on Friday, huh?

I did everything I could, Rob.

He wants to hire Cornell Dixon.

The guy studied with Marcuse.

He's a Panther.

Yeah, I read his book. It's good.

You know, I've, I've published more than anyone in the department.

You, you should see my evaluations.

Those kids love me.

I couldn't do it, man.

He knows you don't respect him.

Well, that's an understatement.

Sorry, man.

What's wrong, Daddy?

Uh, nothing.

I got this toothache.

It's driving me crazy.

Oh.

But I'm happy to be with you.

You want to tell me what's going on with you and Mom?

I, I don't really want to talk about it.

Okay.

Well, I'm here whenever you're ready.

So, what did you and Joyce do yesterday?

Um, we went to the ROTC protest at Ohio State.

It was majorly inspiring.

I'm gonna write a poem about it. It's going to be called "Rot."

Do you get it? It's, like, the first three letters of ROTC.

-Yeah, I got it. -Yeah.

-It's clever. -Mm-hm.

Next time you wanna go to a protest, you,

you got to ask us first, especially if it's out of town.

I mean, you're lucky you weren't hurt or arrested.

Well, I know how to be careful.

I mean, I grew up going to protests.

Right. Still, you got to run it by us.

Promise me that you will.

I promise.

Okay.

-I promise. -Okay. Thank you.

Good.

So, how, how's it with you and Adam?

-It's okay. -Okay?

Mm-hm.

Well, good.

I really like him.

Yeah, I, I...

I don't know if you are

intimate or anything,

but if you wanted any advice about VD or--

Ew. Daddy, stop.

Okay.

Uh, Daddy, there's...

...there's something I have to talk to you about.

What is it?

It's about Mom.

I found out something really major.

I already know.

You know?

Is that, is that why you've been seeming so sad?

- No, no, no. - That's because of my tenure situation.

Listen, honey, this is no big deal.

I promise.

-Yes, it is. -No, it's not what you think.

It's just a little experiment that came out of your mother's feminism.

Like a, like a sexual revolution type of thing?

E-- exactly.

You know, your mom was a virgin when we got together.

Most single women at that time didn't feel free to explore sexually.

Are you exploring too?

No, I don't need to.

As a single man, I was able to.

Daddy, ugh. Just...

-Do you know who she was with? -I do.

-But you don't need to know. -I deserve to know.

This is not information your mother and I want you to have.

Okay?

Look, please.

Please just try and forget about this.

Honey, I know all about it, and I am fine with it.

I swear to you.

Do you know she went to Nate's motel with that guy?

No, I, I didn't know that.

Look, Bobbie... we are very lucky.

We're a family of three thoughtful people

committed to living by the ideas we believe in.

We have our contradictions.

I'll admit it.

But we all love each other, right?

Mm. I don't love her anymore.

-Don't say-- -No, I don't. I mean-- No,

she is obviously not committed to our family.

Or else she wouldn't be acting like a major whore.

I think we have to leave her.

I'm not leaving your mother. And you're not leaving her either.

We're back.

How was your group?

Okay.

It was Marian's turn to lead.

We mostly talked about sexism in the workplace.

You know, Marian's the only woman lawyer at her firm,

and they only give her divorce cases.

Of course, she probably wouldn't have gotten hired

if they'd known she was a lesbian.

If she's so feminist, why doesn't she come out?

And be out of a job?

She could defend radicals.

They need lawyers.

Uh, I think it's time for my birthday wishes.

Okay. Uh, wish number one.

- I hope Bobbie gets into Bennington.

Oh, I might wanna go to Ohio State now.

It's less elitist.

And Joyce will already be there, so we could room together.

I mean, Bobbie, you've been talking about the writing program

at Bennington for years.

Of course, it's your choice.

To Bobbie's choice.

Uh, okay.

Wish number two.

I hope... Random House publishes your mom's book.

Actually, your wish has been granted.

Really?

Yeah.

Why didn't you tell me?

Well, I, I only found out on Friday,

and, you know, there hasn't been a right moment, so...

Uh-huh.

To Feminism and the Sexual Revolution...

...by the great Kate Chase Newman.

I thought we were toasting to you, not to her.

Oh, that shirt looks great on you.

I'm glad I got the large.

Is it comfortable?

Yeah. Yeah, it's fine.

How's your tooth?

It's a little better.

I need to ask a big favor.

There's bird shit on the windshield.

Looks like an entire flock shat on the car.

I tried to get it with wipers, but I made it worse, and now it's hardened.

Can you help me get it off?

-We don't have to do it now. -Yeah, I wasn't going to.

-Where are you going? -Just out.

I'm not getting tenure.

You don't know that.

Yes, I do.

I talked to Steve after the game today.

He said there's no way. They're hiring Cornell Dixon.

Honey, I'm so sorry.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Maybe it's not over yet.

They could keep you and hire him.

Sociology could share the appointment.

Forget it. It's humiliating enough as it is.

The dean wants me out.

Well, you know what?

Fuck him.

You've written two important books,

and you are a brilliant teacher.

You'll find a good job somewhere else.

Well, actually, there's a position at Princeton that I'm perfect for.

It's coming up in a year. The chair loves me.

Of course, we'd have to get an appointment for you.

Like, I mean...

Rob, I...

Look, Princeton might be the right place for you,

but it's not necessarily the best place for me.

I, I like teaching at a progressive college.

Right. We, we came here for you, and, and now it's my turn.

Well, it's not that simple.

We came here because we needed the money,

so that you could keep writing your dissertation.

I would have stayed in New York doing adjunct work if we could have afforded it.

But if we left now, I mean, I'd,

I'd be giving up an incredible department

that I spent years helping to build.

It's good to know you're on my side, Kate.

Thanks.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, I didn't mean to make you feel worse.

- We could consider commuting to Princeton.

Oh, forget it.

I probably won't get the Princeton position anyway.

Maybe Nate would give me a job as the night manager at his motel.

I know that this is a big blow, Rob,

but you will land on your feet.

You always do.

No.

I won't.

I'm fucked.

Come on, Rob.

Hello?

Oh, Marian.

Hang, hang on one sec.

It's Marian. She's really sick.

I have to...

Rob.

-Wait. -What?

Look...

I'm sorry about your job.

We will figure something out.

Uh, Rob.

I know this is the last thing you wanna hear,

but could you help me with the bird shit?

I cannot see out of the windshield.

Ugh. I told you, we need something stronger.

-It's not coming off. -You got to, you got to apply more pressure.

I am.

-It's stuck on there. -All right. Come on.

Look at this. Ugh!

Could you try scrubbing? I can't seem to get it.

Rob! Stop!

Rob!

Rob, you're going crazy!

Stop it! Rob!

I've got to finish a paper tonight

on "Imitation of Life."

Sirk.

He's brilliant.

You really have to do it tonight?

Yeah, I do. I work nights all week,

and I've got two papers due on Friday.

Thanks.

I have a toothache.

That's too bad.

You know it's my birthday today?

Are you having a good one?

No.

You want?

So, I got that Kent State job.

- You did? - Mm-hm.

Congratulations.

I knew you'd get it.

I already found a place.

What, you're moving there?

I thought you'd be commuting.

No.

That's a bummer.

We can still see each other, though.

So, I have news. I'm, uh,

I'm not getting tenure.

They're giving my job to a Black man. Cornell Dixon.

Oh, he's very smart.

Thanks.

I'm sure you'll find another job.

I'm getting divorced.

That's big news.

I hate her guts.

Really? Or maybe you're just jealous.

Of that nonentity she's screwing?

That wasn't what I meant.

Oh, you think I'm competitive with my overachieving wife?

Something like that.

Hm.

What are you doing here, Rob?

I wanted to see you.

Obviously.

You haven't seen me in a month.

Yeah, I, I've been feeling kind of low.

Why can't you just be straight with me?

Why are you telling me you're getting a divorce?

Is it because you wanna be with me?

Or am I just another piece of ass to you?

Yeah.

It's all my fault.

Yeah, I'm the big, bad, uh, patriarch.

You're the poor, objectified woman.

Only, it's worse than that, 'cause I'm white, you're Black.

So, I'm twice as bad and you're twice as good.

Poor you.

It must be terrible to be a white man.

If only you could be a Black woman,

then all of your problems would be solved.

Or better yet,

you could be a Black female grad student

who's working at a movie theater

and screwing her middle-aged ex-professor.

Wouldn't that be fun?

Well, did I mention that he's married?

Oh, Nina.

Let's start over.

Did you tell Kate about us?

I haven't, but I will. I, I promise.

I don't believe you.

Look...

...can't we just have mind-blowing sex

and forget about everything else?

Hm?

At least that was honest.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

I have to work.

Please. Nina, please.

It's my birthday.

You need to go, Rob.

Mm.

Kate?

It looks like you're glad to see me.

I got Marian to the emergency room.

She's going to be okay.

It's just food poisoning.

Fuck.

He actually says we will eradicate the problem.

"Eradicate the problem"?

Like, like these kids are roaches.

Well, he's got his justification.

They burned down the ROTC.

Is today's demo still on?

According to the paper.

It's a beautiful day.

How can you talk about the weather at a time like this?

I was just...

Protests are always bigger when the weather's good.

We always used to have sex on our birthdays.

Remember?

Afterwards, you'd make a giant breakfast.

It was a nice tradition.

Yeah.

It was.

Why did we stop?

I don't know.

Are you close?

Yeah.

Yes.

How do you want to come?

Uh...

The usual.

-I love you, Katie. -Ah.

You always love me just before you come.

Hm.

Happy birthday.

Rob?

Yeah?

I love you too.

- I think our open relationship is bad for us.

No kidding.

You said you weren't jealous.

-I guess I shouldn't have believed you. -Yeah, you shouldn't have.

Why didn't you have an affair too?

Or did you?

It's just-- If you did, I wanna know.

We're having such a nice morning.

Meaning, you did?

Well, okay, since we're finally really talking, I, uh...

...I did have one, but I ended it.

How long did it last?

I don't know.

Two months.

When did it start?

I don't remember.

After you began seeing Christopher, I think.

Why didn't you tell me? That was our deal.

-Please, Kate. -Who was it?

Stop interrogating me. Okay? I...

I promise I will tell you everything one day.

Just not today, okay?

Oh, shit.

There's something else.

How did you know that Christopher and I went to Nate's?

-Did someone see me? -Let's not go there.

-Tell me. -No.

Who saw me?

I am going to have breakfast.

I, I have a right to know.

It'll just upset you.

-I can take it. -No, you can't.

It was Bobbie.

Oh, God.

That's why she's been so horrible.

Oh, this can't be.

She doesn't know who you were with.

Did you explain the situation to her?

I, I told her it was part of your feminist liberation

and that I was fine with it.

But did you tell her about your affair?

I thought that would be a bad idea.

So, as far as she knows,

I'm the heartless, cheating wife

and you're the knight in shining armor?

Classic. Blame the mother.

I wasn't trying to set you up.

I, I thought Bobbie would be even more upset

if she knew I was sleeping with someone.

You mean she'd also be furious with you.

This whole thing was your idea.

Fuck you.

You're the one who lied about it.

To her and to me.

And I was feeling guilty for not wanting to give up my entire life

and move to Princeton.

Could you do that over the sink?

You're getting your nails all over the bed.

-I'm going to talk to Bobbie. -Please don't.

Kate, it'll kill her, and it'll kill me.

It wasn't my fault that you were screwing the babysitter

at the same motel we used to go to.

And thank you for that.

That image is now permanently embedded in my mind.

Hi. Um...

- We need to talk. - Can't.

I'm having breakfast with Adam and Joyce.

Just give me a minute, Bobbie.

Well, Adam's picking me up right now.

This is really important.

Daddy told me why you were so angry with me,

which I totally understand.

- But I have to explain. - -Well, I don't wanna hear it.

Do you know how much you hurt him?

- He's like a completely different person nowadays.

You don't know the whole story, Bobs.

Don't call me Bobs.

Okay.

Roberta.

Look...

...we talk about the sexual revolution all the time, right?

It's changed the ways that people think about sex.

-Particularly women. -I read your stupid book, okay?

And those people aren't like us.

You read my book?

Yeah. I took it from your office.

And I don't care about your theories.

You betrayed Daddy, and now you want me to take your side?

No, I don't. I just-- I, I, I want you to know what happened.

-Well, I don't care. -Come on, Bobbie, honey, you, you have to listen.

No, I don't! I wish you would drop dead!

Marian, thank God you're here.

-Hey. -Hey. I just got off the phone with Grace.

She's got an interview with a firm in Columbus.

Oh, it would be incredible if she got it.

We could actually live together for, what, the first time in 13 years.

Oh. What if your firm finds out?

-What, are they going to tell me I can't have a roommate? -Okay.

You silly.

I tried to tell her it had to do with the times.

The sexual revolution and all that.

Well, you should put it in your book. It's perfect.

It can go in the epilogue.

I don't want the entire world

to know about my sex life.

Bobbie would be horrified.

Maybe it's better if she doesn't know.

And then, at least she can still look up to Rob.

You are a headcase. What about all your consciousness-raising?

You're protecting the man again.

This is exactly like your father

when you found out about his affairs.

Rob's nothing like my father.

Besides, this is different.

I'm protecting my daughter.

Yeah, and presumably then you were protecting your mother.

When is it going to end, Katie?

I know.

Look, it's a no-win situation for me.

But for Bobbie, I mean,

isn't it better if she has a good relationship with at least one of her parents,

even if it is based on a lie?

I don't think so. No.

It's a lot easier to be a purist when you don't have a kid.

Or a husband.

Exactly. That's why I'm not living with the enemy.

No, but you defend them for money.

- Good point. - You should be a lawyer.

She's never gonna forgive me.

That's not gonna change.

Even if I tell her about Rob's affair.

It's true. You are in a bit of a pickle.

And if you got a divorce, you would have to be willing to lose Bobbie.

You cheated, so he'd get custody.

Even though he cheated, and he hasn't got a job.

Divorce laws are fucking sexist.

I gotta go.

Christopher.

-Happy birthday. -Oh.

I thought we were seeing each other tomorrow.

My day is packed.

I have class at 10:00.

Look what I brought.

Take a look.

Go on.

- That's the one you were looking for, right?

Yes.

Wh-- where did you find it?

Well, I, I called Red Books in London

after I tried ten other places, and...

Oh. This is a first edition.

That was incredibly thoughtful of you.

I can't accept this.

Of course you can.

I just...

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to give it to you.

How's your novel coming along?

I think about you...

...all the time.

-I have to prepare my class. -Five minutes.

Come here.

Oh, I can't.

You can.

Christopher, I can't keep sleeping with you.

What?

You're 15 years younger than I am.

You know that, that doesn't make a difference to me.

You know I don't care about that.

Stop bullshitting me.

Okay.

Something happened.

Bobbie found out about us, and she totally freaked out.

It's not okay.

But it's the truth.

Maybe it's a good thing.

I don't think so.

I love you, Kate.

I didn't, I didn't plan on it.

It just...

You know, it happened.

And not in a vacuum.

I have to get ready for class.

-Hey-- -It's over, Christopher.

No. You have to go!

Wow.

I feel really ripped off.

That's how I feel. You've used me.

Used me for your, your liberation.

I was just your sex object. Now you're throwing me out like a piece of rubbish.

That is not how I felt.

I treasured our time together.

And I always told you that my family comes first.

So?

Christopher, I care about you a lot.

We, we're just...

We're at very different points in our lives.

It's bullshit.

Now, the Kinsey report found that

50% of married men had extramarital sex

at some point during their married lives.

26% of women had it by their forties.

Fine.

But I wanted to know more about these people,

not just the details of their sex lives.

I did extensive interviews with women who had open relationships.

And, of course some of them experimented reluctantly

while their husbands used their "sexual freedom"

to seduce every woman in sight.

But I, I also found women who felt...

...liberated by their sexual freedom.

I believe that monogamy is a retrograde institution...

...that stops women from realizing their potential.

But...

...what if sexual freedom means that you hurt the people that you love?

Is that inevitable?

Is that the patriarchy punishing us for claiming our power?

If it is...

...it's a catch-22 for us.

You know?

No matter which way we play it,

we just...

...we just can't win.

Nina.

Come in. Sit down.

Well, it's been ages. How are you?

-Are you, are you still working at the movie theater? -I am.

Um, but I'm leaving at the end of the semester.

-I got a teaching job at Kent State. -Oh.

Unless they burn down the school before I get there.

Yes, it's a very volatile situation.

Well, congratulations on the job.

Rob will be so happy.

You were one of his favorite students.

Is there something I can help you with?

Yes. Um...

I...

...I wanted to tell you...

...that I had a pretty serious affair...

...with Rob.

Wow.

I feel shitty about it, if that helps.

I mean, uh...

...I knew he'd had a fling, but...

-...I never imagined-- -You know?

He told me this morning, but he didn't say who it was.

That is so freaky.

I never thought he would tell you.

And then he does, and it's the same day I show up here.

Yes. It's pretty bizarre.

You know, the whole time he kept promising me he was gonna tell you.

That it was actually a part of your arrangement, and that you wouldn't mind.

The whole time? How long was it?

Uh, since just before Thanksgiving.

You were out of town for work.

Or at least that's what he said.

I ended it on his birthday.

You ended it?

He is such a fucking liar.

How serious was it?

Very, I thought.

Which shows what an idiot I am.

So, what do you want from me?

I'm sorry, Kate.

I feel really creepy about this.

I, I thought that I would do the right thing

and tell you...

...like a gesture of female solidarity.

If I left him, you could have him.

You must have thought of that.

I don't want him.

But I'd sure dig it if we both dumped him.

Well, that... that is what he deserves.

I'm sorry, Kate.

I hope you can forgive me.

Thanks.

The National Guard is shooting at the Kent State students!

We don't have much information yet,

but we do know that The National Guard

fired on the demonstrators protesting

the American invasion of Cambodia.

There appear to be dozens of casualties.

There is no word yet on fatalities,

but what we do know is that shots were fired

at approximately 12:24 p.m.

at Kent State University.

-What are they saying? -They don't know anything yet.

-Where's Bobbie? -I don't know.

School is closed. I tried Joyce and Adam.

She'll be very upset. She knows kids at Kent State.

Oh, my God.

My teaching assistant, Bill, went up there today.

I hope he's okay.

You're not worried about Bobbie?

She disappears all the time.

She's probably just hanging out.

Are you worried?

Yeah. I am.

You know, she went to the Ohio State rally without telling us.

She did?

No, she wouldn't go to Kent.

She knew they were burning buildings.

I hope you're right.

Steve and Cassandra are coming over with Alexis. Carl too.

This just in.

We have received reports

that at approximately 12:30 this afternoon,

three companies of the Ohio National Guard

fired their weapons on protesters

at Kent State University.

-Eyewitness accounts are saying that the National Guard... -Shit!

Those pigs.

Almost makes me want to go back to England.

Why'd you leave?

I prefer Americans.

They're less complicated.

Just, uh, please call us if you hear anything.

Thanks.

-What did she say? -She hasn't heard from them.

Apparently someone with a car picked up Joyce this morning,

but she didn't see who it was.

Oh. Bill.

I'm so glad you're okay. Thanks for coming.

Now they're trying to say that we fired first, but that's bullshit.

Maybe a couple of people threw some cans of pop, but that was it.

While I was running, I was counting the seconds.

I can't remember anything after that.

Just that there was blood.

Lots of blood and...

...sunshine.

It appears that at least three of the protesters have died.

The AP is reporting that they are all college age.

According to the UPI...

You okay?

Bobbie could pass for college age.

No, no, no, no, no. She's going to be fine. I'm sure.

...citywide curfew to start at 5:00 p.m. tonight.

Anyone found on the street after that time

will be subject to arrest.

We just spoke to Professor Dodge...

Thank God you weren't there.

You know, there were six absences in my homeroom class today.

They could all be dead.

I was supposed to go today too.

-I lost my ride. -Alexis.

You promised you wouldn't go to protests without consulting us.

Kate? Kate?

-I have some news. -Oh, thank God.

Where are they?

Let's sit down, huh?

-No, I don't want to sit. -Let's sit first. Come.

-Where are they? -Come and sit.

I don't want to sit.

Tell me where they are.

Joyce just called. I...

Bobbie's been shot.

No, no, no.

No, no, that's, that's impossible.

Where? Where, where was she shot?

In her chest.

Oh, God. We should have left hours ago.

-She could be dead by now. -One, one second. Do you know anything else?

Oh, God. Only that she's at Robinson in Ravenna. I'm sorry.

- They won't tell Joyce anything. - How could this happen? How could this happen?

Now, investigators have to determine

whether there was a sniper, as The Guard claimed.

We're just learning that there are reports

that a fourth college student shot at Kent State has died.

Two of the students killed were on their way to class.

Is that you, Mommy?

Yeah.

It's me, honey.

I'm here with Daddy.

I can't see Daddy.

I'm here, baby. I'm here, Bobs.

He shot me.

I know, baby.

But you're okay.

I am?

You're gonna be fine, baby.

You're not hurting, are you?

I can't...

No, I can't feel anything.

Can we go home tonight?

No, no, honey.

You need to be here for a little bit.

- Will you both stay with me? - Of course.

Of course we will.

It was so horrible, Mommy.

They were shooting at us.

Everyone was running and screaming.

And I kept thinking...

...that I'd never see you again.

And...

...I was going to die on your birthday.

And I deserved it for being so mean to you.

Don't be silly, Bobbie.

Mommy, you're blurry.

It's okay.

That's the drugs.

I'm Dr. Waring. I'm afraid we need to send Roberta down

- for X-rays in a few minutes. - Could you just...

Could you tell us what's happening?

She was lucky. We were able to remove the bullet

relatively easily, and her lungs are intact.

Could we, um, could we stay with her? At least until they take her?

Of course.

Thank you.

I hear the guns.

I hear the guns.

The guns.

Bobbie!

Dr. Grindley, 2744.

Dr. Grindley, 2744.

How could you bring her there?

She's barely 17 years old.

They brought in the fucking National Guard.

What were you thinking?

Joyce saved Bobbie's life.

- She, she stopped the bleeding. She was incredible. - Sorry.

I'm really sorry. I didn't know that they would shoot at us.

Joyce was a hero.

She got Bobbie into one of the first ambulances.

Look, it all happened so fast, okay?

It got smokey, and I was trying to grab her hand,

and I just...

Is she gonna be okay?

What if she's scarred for life?

We taught her to protest. Was that wrong?

I don't think so.

It's my fault.

It's mine too.

Nina came to see me today.

What did uh-- What'd she say?

Not much.

Except that she left you.

And you've been screwing her since Thanksgiving.

Two months before our open relationship even began.

-She was your student. -She wasn't my student when--

The point is...

...I was totally honest with you...

...and you cheated on me for five months.

And then when you finally told me, you lied again.

- And now I have to lie to Bobbie.

I'm sorry.

You never used to lie to me.

Did you?

Look, there were things I didn't tell you, but I...

...I never betrayed you.

Until recently.

After Bobbie goes to college, I think we should get separated.

We could be happy again,

like when we were first married.

Those were the hardest times.

Bobbie was sick all the time.

We didn't have enough money, you were always working.

Still, we were great together.

It's just these last years, I...

Look, I knew everything needed to change, if not for you, then for Bobbie.

But still, I...

Fuck. I felt assaulted all the time.

-Assaulted? -Yes.

Rob.

Uh, I saw that you were down sometimes,

but why didn't you say anything?

You would have accused me of being sexist.

It would have been okay.

I knew you were trying, and I knew that you loved me.

Yeah, well, I was scared to say anything.

I'm sorry, Rob.

I guess I was...

...I was... caught up in my own stuff.

- I hope you'll find someone who'll make you happy.

I don't want another woman.

I wanna be with you.

I don't know, Rob. I...

I think we should just try to be kind to one another.

Agreed.

It's okay, Bobs.

We're here.

We're right here, darling.

Everything's going to be okay.

Today is May 4th, 1973.

It's been exactly three years since Kent State.

I'm living in Greenwich Village with Adam.

I went to Bennington for a year,

but it wasn't for me.

I work at a bookstore,

and I write experimental poetry.

Or, at least try to.

In some ways, I feel stronger than I did before I was shot.

Definitely, I'm more committed to changing the world.

And I feel optimistic about it,

especially since we got out of Vietnam,

and since Roe v. Wade.

Daddy and I came home for Mom's birthday.

Supposedly, they split up when Daddy took the job at Princeton.

But they talk all the time.

And last night, they slept in the same bed.

It's strange being in this house again

with both of them.

I'm having weird feelings towards my mom.

I love her,

but I still can't forget what she did to Daddy.

Maybe when I'm older, I'll get over it.