In “Episode 7” on YouTube, here’s a few story lines like Mary continues to search for the perfect coffee. In addition to this, this was the 1970s, and Fernwood, Ohio, is caught up in it’s First Amendment right of Free Speech to protest, which is constitutionally protected. Along with that, Tom and a detective discuss guns kept at home. Further, Tom finds obscene material in his home. These are the main ideas of this episode.
In spite of all the different kinds of coffee on the market, Mary continue her search for the perfect coffee. Mary asks Cathy, saying, “You want a cup of coffee at a time like this? What do you want? Regular or instant? Powder or freezed dried crystals?”
However, at this point, Mary can’t think straight. Mary slow utters, saying, “Isn’t it funny how the human mind works. I mean, here I have this terrible problem about my daughter on my mind right? And this thought about freeze dried coffee gets into my head. Hmmn.” Apparently, Mary has two things running through her head.
That being said, Mary is at a loss for words to explain herself.
“Cathy, I am talking about my daughter. The thing about the coffee was just a straight thought,” Mary explains. “How do you suppose it happens with a straight thoughts like that at a time like this? Nevermind.”
At this point in the episode, we learn Heather is depressed. Heather pleads to her mom, saying “Ok, I won’t starve yet, even though I have no reason to go on living.”
Admittedly, one wonders if Mary is insane in “Episode 7”. Mary explains to a surprised Cathy, saying, “I was actually talking on my own telephone to a mass murderer.” Mary is talking to a mass murderer.
“Episode 7” looks at the First Amendment right to protest, which really took off in the 70’s. “Mary what are you doing here? I thoughts yous (sic) was at the library,” laughs Loretta Haggers as she’s being arrested for picketing.
Elsewhere, Tom arrives home and finds obscene material. Tom yells at Charlie, screaming: “What do you mean these are my books? What do you think I am? Some kind of pervert?”
In this broadcast, Charlie wonders if Mary can be arrested. “What would they be arrested for?” Tom adds, “You think for running a pornographic bookstore?”
This segment, too, looks at employee rights, which really took off in the 1970s. A police sketcher brings up this issue when talking to a LT., saying, “Lt, I am going on sick leave. I am sure my nerves are shot.” At this time, unions were negotiating benefits for employees in workplaces across the USA.
It’s this airing where Heather receives 24 hour police protection because of a mass murderer. The Fernwood police LT. states: “Alright Mrs. Hartman. What were going to have to do is assign a plains clothesmen on 24 hours duty to protect your daughter. He’ll stay at your house. He’ll escort her back and forth from school. That way, she’ll be safe.”
When police protection arrives for Heather, Mary returns to thinking about the perfect coffee.
“I think the coffee is weak. I usually get mountain grown. This must be from the slopes. Hmmn.”
Episode 7 looks at home guns in 70s America. “I have a 38. I keep it around the house,” points out Tom.
As well as that, the detective, hired as a police protection, keeps numerous guns at home too. The detective tells Tom and Mary: “A service revolver. I kept my too. The wife has a 22 for her purse. And the boy has a Smith and Wesson for target practice.” In fact, the detective’s whole family has guns at home.
Altogether, this broadcast was good. It looked at some serious issues of the 70s like guns, obscenity, and the constitutional right to protest. This was an educational episode.
