“Episode 29” will make you think about families of the 1970s. Firstly, Mary forgives May, but she’s on the fence about Tom.  At this time, too, Martha and George must deal with the fact that their daughter works in the world’s oldest profession. On top of that, Charlie is anxious and needs a sedative when he learns Loretta will never walk. These are some crazy story lines from this segment, which focuses on family life in the 70s.

Sadly, to start, Mary Hartman doesn’t care about her husband because he cheated on her.

“I don’t want him anymore, and there’s no sense to letting him go to waste,” as Mary tells May to have Tom.

On the other hand, May is alone. In a low voice, May whispers to Mary: “I think you can understand how it is for a woman, especially on her bithday to be divorced and alone.”

Despite fooling around with her husband, Mary finds it in her heart to forgive May. “Oh, I forgive you. You didn’t do anything but spread disease,” Mary reveals May.

Even so, Mary tells Tom to date Gloria Steinem, a feminist, journalist, and social political activist.

“Gloria Steinem would be proud. I don’t think she would date you,” Mary says to a guilty looking Tom.

Moreover, Mary has had it with Tom.

“The dust stays,” Mary tells Tom who lives at Charlie’s house.

Nevertheless, Mary congratulates Tom on visiting a psychologist.

“Maybe it’s good that you’re going to go to a psychological counsellor… You tell him anything you want to. About you or our marriage,” Mary sobs to Tom.

Elsewhere, the Shumways deal with Cathy. “Well you wanted her to have a profession,” George says to Martha as Cathy works at a massage parlor.

However, Martha doesn’t like the fact that Cathy is a hooker.

“Yes, but not the world’s oldest,” moans Martha.

Later, we see see Charlie at the Fernwood hospital, and he’s inquiring about his wife. “Hey Doc, where’s Loretta?” Charlie pleads to the doctor.

Because Charlie is anxious, the doctor offers him a sedative.

“How would you like a sedative,” the doctor tells Charlie.

More importantly, the doctor doesn’t want Charlie to give up hope. “That doesn’t mean I want you to give up hope,” the doctor tells Charlie.

That being said, in the past, the doctor had to deal with stressed people who were dealing with busing in their neighborhood. The doctor tells Charlies: “He treats most of the city council. After they have most of those forced school busing.” After all, it was the 70s, and African Americans were being bused to suburban schools.

Toward the end of this episode, the doctor levels with Charlie. He explains to Charlie: “Mr. Haggars, your Loretta will be crippled for the rest of her life.” Loretta will never walk again.

Charlie can’t believe it. Charlie tells the doctor: “Crippled?” Yes, definitely, it looks like Loretta will never walk again.

To sum up, this episode was crazy. What kind of family has to deal with problems like this? Like your daughter being a hooker? Or having to deal with a cheating spouse who gives you VD? Or having to forgive your husband’s mistress? Of course, this was the 70s, so I guess it was possible.