Post by managermike99 on Jul 29, 2014 15:56:18 GMT -5
1968 (Drama, 60 min) (12 episodes)
From the producers of "Crotoan" comes another historical limited series. From the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy to the growing unrest amongst the youth towards their leadership and the VietNam war. 1968 remains perhaps the most culturally signficant year of the 20th century. See this year come to life once again in complete re-enactments as well as archival footage backed by the soundtrack of a generation. Look back at it with the knowledge that we now have of who was really pulling the strings of power. Step back to 1968 and step forward to a 60 minute adreneline rush.
Follow the Martin family, from gentleman farmer Grandpappy, to Baby Boomer parents Rick & Michelle, and their three boys; one on his first tour of duty in Vietnam, the second headed to College but apparently sidetracked by the surrounding social discontent, and a third only 7 years old and already being molded by the tragic and violent events that surround him.
Watch and see how America and the Martin family grow up during the year 1968.
~episode guide~
1.01 - January 5/30/07 - 8.65
Jan 1st, New Year's Day. The Martin family gathers in front of the TV set (after Dad slaps it a few times to get good reception), and watch as Evel Knievel fails in his attempt to jump Caesar's Palace Fountain. The middle son Chris is disapointed and delusioned. His father Rick gets a smile on his face as he pours himself a whiskey and drags on a cigarette. He takes the oppotunity to preach to Chris the importance of going to College. Mother (Michelle) reads out loud a letter from their oldest son Lee who is serving in Vietnam. Dad puffs out his chest, obviously proud. But the letter soon goes into graphic details of drug use and violence, things aren't going so well. Mother has to skip over parts much to the anger of Chris, but oblivious to it all is youngest (age 7) son Kyle. Rick seems to have the air taken out of his sails, and overall the room is subdued. Except for Kyle who has made himself a ramp and is jumping (and crashing) his Evel Knieval action figure and motorcycle.
****
Jan 5th Dinner table and Rick reads out how Dr. Benjamin Spock has been indicted for conspiring to violate draft law. Grandpa is there, he says he wished he served in WWI but as a farmer he was exempt, and his son (Rick) was too young to serve in WWII. Rick says Lee is the first of the Martin clan to serve and that makes him proud, just like when Chris graduates from college, he will be the first Martin to have a college degree. Chris plants a bomb saying he's not sure he's going to college, he wants to pursue his career in music. This yields the expected result of a confrontation. Chris ends up fleeing to his room and putting on his new copy of the Beatles "Magic Mystery Tour"
***********
Jan 13th The Martin clan is again sitting around the TV set, caught up in the program. The North Vietnamese have began the Tet-offensive in Vietnam. They have surprised the south and the US by attacking them where they least expected it; Saigon. The defenses are woefully inadequate. Mother is crying, and Father tries to calm her saying she doesn't know for sure that Lee had arrived yet in Saigon for his new post.
**********
Jan 14th Superbowl II is on and the Green Bay Packers beat Oakland Raiders, 33-14 in Miami and a post game interview with Superbowl MVP: Bart Starr, Green Bay, QB. All the family is decked out in Green Bay colors but there is little to no celebratory mood. They flip through TV and newspaper reports on the continued attacks on Saigon.
************
Jan 22nd . The Martin's receive a phone call from the state department confirming that to the best of their knowledge Lee is still alive and was not stationed in Saigon at the time of the offensive. The mood of the family has improve. They watch the news however on the Tet Offensive and then it turns to the Apollo 5 lwhich was launched to the Moon; an unmanned lunar module test. Rick rants about Presisdent Johnson and before him JFK worrying too much about the moon and not enough about the commies. He points out that the Russians are still testing nukes. Chris says its Johnson's fault that they are in Vietnam now and that's why his brother is there, maybe dead or dying, which of course just starts another family fight reducing Mother to tears.
************
Jan 30th The Martin family watches the TV in horror as the Vietcong launch a Tet-offensive on the U.S. embassy in Saigon.
The phone rings startling everyone. They all stare at it, no one wanting to answer it. Finally little Kyle picks up the handset and says "Hello".
1.02 - February
Feb 1st; It's a sad day in the Martn houselhold as they bat around two news items; Vince Lombardi has retired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and fromer VP Richard Nixon has announced he will be running for President. Mother puts it all in perspective, Lee is still alive and fighting in Vietnam, and Granddad is recovering from his heartattack of two days ago.
**************
Feb 8th; Father and son are at it one more time as officers kill 3 students demonstrating in South Carolina State (Orangeburg). Rick asks his son Chris why he is so against the war in Vietnam. Does he want to see communism spread unchecked? Chris yells no, he just wants to see his brother again.
***************
Feb 16th. Mother is puttering around listening to Elvis sing "How Great Thou Art", Granddad is watching Rick work on his Chevy Nova, and Chris is reading to his new girlfriend about Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon and their wives flying to India for transcendental meditation study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
*****************
Feb 18th. The family is watching the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics from Grenoble France with friends, the room full of cigarette smoke and beer bottles. Talk turns to the 10,000 person demonstration in West Berlin against the Vietnam war, and the general consensus is that the Germans too soon forget their liberators from Hitler.
****************
Feb 24th; The Television tells us some good news U.S. troops reconquer Hue Vietnam. But Mother is reading a letter from Lee, and it says he was injured, caught some shrapnel in the leg. He says not to get their hopes up but this might mean he is coming home. The family celebrates the good news.
****************
Feb 29th; Somewhere in the Nevada desert another nuclear test is performed.
1.03 - March
March 4th: The Martin family looks grim as they settle around the television. Lee's wounds were not severe enough to warrant a discharge. His letter says he will be recovering for a couple weeks and then back to his unit. In the background on the TV Martin Luther King, Jr. announces plans for Poor People's Campaign.
***************
March 14th: Rick is angry saying that corproate America has its priorities all wrong, that they aren't patriots. The story he is referring to is that CBS TV suspends Radio Free Europe free advertising because RFE doesn't make it clear it is sponsored by the CIA. Chris' main beef with corporate America is that the latest Beatles album "Lady Madonna" has been released in the UK but not yet in America.
**************
March 16th: Archival footage is shown of Robert F. Kennedy announcing his candidacy for President of the United States. Chris is excited about the news saying finally a candidate worth voting for.
***************
March 21st: Israeli forces cross Jordan River to attack PLO bases. Rick tells his family that the Israelis are no better then anyone else, and that its a mistake of the American government to get into bed with them.
Family tension goes through the roof when Chris announces that he will be participating in a student demonstration at Marquette University. Rick says that Chris better not screw up his chance to go to Marquette next year.
*******************
March 29th: As news reports roll in that students seize building at Bowie State College, Rick tries to physically restrain Chris from leaving the house to go to the demonstration. It doesn't work though and Chris fllees the house. Mother has to calm down little Kyle who is crying thinking his brother is off to fight the war like Lee.
*******************
March 30th: Chris has been arrested as the student demonstation turned violent. To make matters worse he was also charged with possession of marijuana. The Martin household is ready to explode.
1.04 - April
April 2: On TV Senator Eugene McCarthy has stood up for the Democratics opposed to President Lyndon Johnson's war policy in VietNam. When McCarthy wins the Wisconsin primary it now looks like Johnson is done in his efforts to run as in incumbant for President. The youth movement of the Democrats has sent a strong signal to their leadership on what they think the future of the war and the party should be.
As Rick lights up a cigar, he smiles as Chris tells him what this means for the future of America. Rick says he agrees with Chris, which stops the whole family in their tracks. He says that McCarthy better represents the Dems then Johnson. But as he sits down in his easy chair and exumes a big cloud of smoke he says the Republicans are going to kill the Dems in the general election without the incumbant running.
Chris counters with "Bobby Kennedy may have something to say about that", which puts Rick back into deep thought.
**********
April 4th: Mom is on the telephone crying, Rick and Chris sit in stony silence as the networks tell us that Martin Luther King has been assassinated in Memphis. The exploits of King are listed, but are threatened to be overshadowed as violence breaks out in many American cities. Chris wipes tears from his eyes, not wanting his father to see. Rick is quiet but mumbles something about it being a sad day for the United States when freedom of speech is threatened.
**************
April 24th: Columbia Unviersity students take over the New York City institution effectively shutting it down. The protests began last year when student actiivists found the university was secretly in alliance with the US Military on some weapon testing. A second round of protests began led by the Leftists and African American students. This time it is more confrontational including fights with the NYPD.
In the Martin household this brings up the testy issue of Chris' own arrest for demonstrations last month, and on possession of Marijuana. Apparently the subject had not been broached by father and son. Rick tells Chris not to throw his life away, his college acceptance, but Chris says a life without standing up for things you believe in is a life wasted. Rick says 5 years in the workforce will be enough to make you a Republican.
**************
April 29th: Against his parents' wishes Chris arrives on a road-trip with some friends in New York City to see the new play "Hair" [basically the ultimate Hippy play]. They can't get tickets until the May 1st show so have to pile 5 of them into one flea bag motel room. They go for a midnight romp through the famous Times Square. After smoking some weed a couple of his friends decide to try some acid. It doesn't turn out well as the violent rampage ends with half of them arrested and half in jail.
**************
April 30th: Rick Martin is woken from his slumber by a phone call in the middle of the night. After a few "ah-has" he gets up to get dressed telling his half-sleeping wife "Michelle, I have to go to New York City and bail out Chris. Somethimes I think Lee is in less danger in Nam then he would be at home."
1.05 - May
May 1st:
It's a long ride home for Rick and Chris, but the lecture soon turns into a frank conversation between father and son. They end up talking baseball and agree to go to a Brewers game next weekend.
****************
May 10th: Rick and Michelle quietly talk about how the US and North Vietnam have started peace talks in Paris, but they don't want to get the family's hopes up that Lee will be coming home.
************************
May 14th: Chris is watching the evening news while his father reads the paper. Rick gets a big smile on his face, and baits his son sayng he see's that the Beatles have formed their own record company, Apple Corp. Chris takes the bait saying they are tired of the artistic control of the big corporations, but Rick continues to bait him saying the Beatles are doing it for the cash. Finally Michelle tells her husband to grow up.
***********************
May 15th: The family stays up to watch Joe Garagiola guest host the Johnny Carson show with guests Paul McCartney and John Lennon who are promoting Apple Records. This creates the usual rowe between father and son.
***************************
May 18th: Rick comes home from work worried. Student protests in France are getting out of control, and now yesterday the reports that nine students entered the Selective Service offices in Catonsville, Maryland, took dozens of service draft records, and burned them with napalm as a protest against the Vietnam War.
He pours himself a drink as he rants about going to hell in a handbasket. Chris knows better then to push his Father's buttons and retreats to his room.
****************************
May 25th: The family celebrates Chris' birthday. His Father puts on "Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers, which starts a battle that ends with the birthday boy choosing the next song "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones.
*****************************
May 30th: The family gathers to read the latest letter home from Lee. It's by far his darkest letter, at times incoherent. He's homesick, losing weight, and talks about how all his friends are either dead or stoned. He warns Chris to stay in school, out of the draft, and away from drugs. He assures his family he is doing his best to stay honorable, but its hard to remember just what that means. He asks Chris to stay away from the political protests, to support his family instead. Everyone is in tears except Rick, who hugs his wife and assures her they'll get through this.
1.06 - June
June 1st: Images of 1968 put to the #1 song, "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel
**************************************
June 5th: The nation is shocked when tragedy again strikes the Kennedy family, this time they watch the news to see reports of Sirhan Sirhan shooting and killing Presedential hopeful Bobby Kennedy. Rick is actually remorseful and tries to console Chris who is shocked and dismayed.
**********************************
June 8th: James Earl Ray the alleged assassin of Martin Luther King Jr, is arrested.
********************************
June 19th: The Martin household is boiling over as Rick disaproves of his wife Michelle taking a part-time job at a lunch counter.
*******************************
June 25th: The scene is somber as the family "celebrates" Lee's birthday as their eldest son is still fighting in 'nam. They tell stories of the boys growing up. More images of fighting and soldiers dying fill the evening news until Rick stands up and turns the TV off.
1.07 - July
July 4th: The Martin family is undersiege as they attend the neighborhood Independence Day celebrations. Chris has fallen hard and heavy for a new girl in town who he has started to date. Michelle (Mom) is the subject of scorn for having stood up to her boss, and got herself fired from the diner, objecting to the degrading way he treated his black employees. Rick (Dad) is also the subject of curiosity from his more conservative friends over his softening stance on the VietNam war.
**********
July 13th: the family is vacationing in Chicago, visiting Michelle's sister and attending a family wedding. They soon find out that the turmoil and unrest in Milwaukee is nothing compared to the racial unrest currently going on in Chicago. Chris and his cousin David nearly have a run-in with a group of Black Panther activists.
*************
July 23rd: Rick watches as Classy Freddie Blassie wins his 5th World wrestling championship, Chris and his girlfriend make-out parked in her car to "Ina-a-gadda-da-vida" by Iron Butterfly, and Mom pours herself another Gin and Tonic while re-readign the letters home from Lee.
***************
July 24th: The TV is filled with the violent scenes of a race riot in Clevleand where 11 people were killed including 3 policemen.
**************
July 27th: The TV is filled with the violent scenes of a race riot in Gary, Indiana. Rick talks to his wife about how the South Vietnamese have sentenced an opposition leader to hard labour just because he suggested a coalition government as a way to end the war. "What kind of people are we dying for over there?"
**************
July 30th:
Gram Parson refuses to play with the Byrds in South Africa due to apartheid. Chris talks with his girlfeind Jen about how he hasn't told his Father yet that he didn't enroll in college next year, that he's getting a job instead and the two of them plan to move out. Michelle is crying on Rick's shoulder because they haven't heard form Lee in a couple months.
1.08 - August
August 8th: Republican National Convention in Miami Beach nominates Richard Nixon for President and Spiro Agnew for Vice-President. Rick and his friends celebrate with Cigars and a few good jokes about the Kennedy family and the lame duck Democrats.
******************
August 10th: Race riots break out in Miami, Chicago, and Little Rock. Rick tells Chris to cancel his planned trip at the end of August to Chicago, he was going to take his girlfreind to visit their relatives in the Windy city.
********************
August 21st: In a big rowe, Chris and Jen leave in her Chevy Nova for Chicago, to visit and to attend the Democratic National Convention. Rick and Michelle watch TV reports of the Soviets under the "disguise" of the Warsaw Pact invade Czechoslovakia to end reform movement
********************
August 28th: Rick and Michelle watch on TV as police clash with anti-war demonstrators in front of the Chicago Dem convention. Thankfully they recieve a phone call from Chris to assure them he is safe, inside the convention, and not taking part in the demonstrations. Rick tells Michelle he is so happy about Chris' behaviour that he didn't have the heart to tell him that Nixon is going to crush Hubert Humphrey in the Presidential race.
**********************
August 30th: Chris and Jen come in the door all excited about the convention only to find Michelle (Mom) passed out at the kitchen table beside a half empty bottle of gin, and Rick (Dad) burning some letters. Rick tells Chris in a somber tone that they received more letters from Lee. He's okay, but the things he talks about...the horrors...the behaviour of these American soldiers...Rick can't manage any more and tosses another page on the fire, choking back tears.
1.09 - September
Sep 9th: It's a tense Sunday at the Martin household. Rick is fuming at Chris because he now knows that he is not going to College this year, and plans to move out with Jen. The Martin's have invited Jen's parents over for dinner and to talk about their kids' future. The two Dads watch in disbelief as Minnesota Vikings QB Tommy Kramer passes for 6 TD's as the Vikings trash the Green Bay Packers 42-7. Jen's mother talks to Michelle about alcoholics anonymous. Michelle is embarrased but Jen's Mom assures her its discreet and that yes she attends too.
******************
Sep 16th: Rick has to get Michelle to find "Laugh-In". Normally he would never watch such crap, but tonight its special guest is Richard Nixon.
******************
Sep 22nd: Michelle makes up an excuse of going out for coffee with Jen's mom to get out of the house and go to her first AA meeting. There she breaks down and cries over what has become of her son Lee in 'Nam.
******************
Sep 29th: As "Hey Jude" plays in the background Chris proposes marraige for Jen, but much to his surprise she refuses. She wants to just live with him. When he says he needs time to think aobut that she gets very mad, and says he is just like his Dad. The fight gets worse and ends with Jen throwing her ring at Chris and walking out.
1.10 - October
1.11 - November
1.12 - December
From the producers of "Crotoan" comes another historical limited series. From the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy to the growing unrest amongst the youth towards their leadership and the VietNam war. 1968 remains perhaps the most culturally signficant year of the 20th century. See this year come to life once again in complete re-enactments as well as archival footage backed by the soundtrack of a generation. Look back at it with the knowledge that we now have of who was really pulling the strings of power. Step back to 1968 and step forward to a 60 minute adreneline rush.
Follow the Martin family, from gentleman farmer Grandpappy, to Baby Boomer parents Rick & Michelle, and their three boys; one on his first tour of duty in Vietnam, the second headed to College but apparently sidetracked by the surrounding social discontent, and a third only 7 years old and already being molded by the tragic and violent events that surround him.
Watch and see how America and the Martin family grow up during the year 1968.
~episode guide~
1.01 - January 5/30/07 - 8.65
Jan 1st, New Year's Day. The Martin family gathers in front of the TV set (after Dad slaps it a few times to get good reception), and watch as Evel Knievel fails in his attempt to jump Caesar's Palace Fountain. The middle son Chris is disapointed and delusioned. His father Rick gets a smile on his face as he pours himself a whiskey and drags on a cigarette. He takes the oppotunity to preach to Chris the importance of going to College. Mother (Michelle) reads out loud a letter from their oldest son Lee who is serving in Vietnam. Dad puffs out his chest, obviously proud. But the letter soon goes into graphic details of drug use and violence, things aren't going so well. Mother has to skip over parts much to the anger of Chris, but oblivious to it all is youngest (age 7) son Kyle. Rick seems to have the air taken out of his sails, and overall the room is subdued. Except for Kyle who has made himself a ramp and is jumping (and crashing) his Evel Knieval action figure and motorcycle.
****
Jan 5th Dinner table and Rick reads out how Dr. Benjamin Spock has been indicted for conspiring to violate draft law. Grandpa is there, he says he wished he served in WWI but as a farmer he was exempt, and his son (Rick) was too young to serve in WWII. Rick says Lee is the first of the Martin clan to serve and that makes him proud, just like when Chris graduates from college, he will be the first Martin to have a college degree. Chris plants a bomb saying he's not sure he's going to college, he wants to pursue his career in music. This yields the expected result of a confrontation. Chris ends up fleeing to his room and putting on his new copy of the Beatles "Magic Mystery Tour"
***********
Jan 13th The Martin clan is again sitting around the TV set, caught up in the program. The North Vietnamese have began the Tet-offensive in Vietnam. They have surprised the south and the US by attacking them where they least expected it; Saigon. The defenses are woefully inadequate. Mother is crying, and Father tries to calm her saying she doesn't know for sure that Lee had arrived yet in Saigon for his new post.
**********
Jan 14th Superbowl II is on and the Green Bay Packers beat Oakland Raiders, 33-14 in Miami and a post game interview with Superbowl MVP: Bart Starr, Green Bay, QB. All the family is decked out in Green Bay colors but there is little to no celebratory mood. They flip through TV and newspaper reports on the continued attacks on Saigon.
************
Jan 22nd . The Martin's receive a phone call from the state department confirming that to the best of their knowledge Lee is still alive and was not stationed in Saigon at the time of the offensive. The mood of the family has improve. They watch the news however on the Tet Offensive and then it turns to the Apollo 5 lwhich was launched to the Moon; an unmanned lunar module test. Rick rants about Presisdent Johnson and before him JFK worrying too much about the moon and not enough about the commies. He points out that the Russians are still testing nukes. Chris says its Johnson's fault that they are in Vietnam now and that's why his brother is there, maybe dead or dying, which of course just starts another family fight reducing Mother to tears.
************
Jan 30th The Martin family watches the TV in horror as the Vietcong launch a Tet-offensive on the U.S. embassy in Saigon.
The phone rings startling everyone. They all stare at it, no one wanting to answer it. Finally little Kyle picks up the handset and says "Hello".
1.02 - February
Feb 1st; It's a sad day in the Martn houselhold as they bat around two news items; Vince Lombardi has retired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and fromer VP Richard Nixon has announced he will be running for President. Mother puts it all in perspective, Lee is still alive and fighting in Vietnam, and Granddad is recovering from his heartattack of two days ago.
**************
Feb 8th; Father and son are at it one more time as officers kill 3 students demonstrating in South Carolina State (Orangeburg). Rick asks his son Chris why he is so against the war in Vietnam. Does he want to see communism spread unchecked? Chris yells no, he just wants to see his brother again.
***************
Feb 16th. Mother is puttering around listening to Elvis sing "How Great Thou Art", Granddad is watching Rick work on his Chevy Nova, and Chris is reading to his new girlfriend about Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon and their wives flying to India for transcendental meditation study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
*****************
Feb 18th. The family is watching the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics from Grenoble France with friends, the room full of cigarette smoke and beer bottles. Talk turns to the 10,000 person demonstration in West Berlin against the Vietnam war, and the general consensus is that the Germans too soon forget their liberators from Hitler.
****************
Feb 24th; The Television tells us some good news U.S. troops reconquer Hue Vietnam. But Mother is reading a letter from Lee, and it says he was injured, caught some shrapnel in the leg. He says not to get their hopes up but this might mean he is coming home. The family celebrates the good news.
****************
Feb 29th; Somewhere in the Nevada desert another nuclear test is performed.
1.03 - March
March 4th: The Martin family looks grim as they settle around the television. Lee's wounds were not severe enough to warrant a discharge. His letter says he will be recovering for a couple weeks and then back to his unit. In the background on the TV Martin Luther King, Jr. announces plans for Poor People's Campaign.
***************
March 14th: Rick is angry saying that corproate America has its priorities all wrong, that they aren't patriots. The story he is referring to is that CBS TV suspends Radio Free Europe free advertising because RFE doesn't make it clear it is sponsored by the CIA. Chris' main beef with corporate America is that the latest Beatles album "Lady Madonna" has been released in the UK but not yet in America.
**************
March 16th: Archival footage is shown of Robert F. Kennedy announcing his candidacy for President of the United States. Chris is excited about the news saying finally a candidate worth voting for.
***************
March 21st: Israeli forces cross Jordan River to attack PLO bases. Rick tells his family that the Israelis are no better then anyone else, and that its a mistake of the American government to get into bed with them.
Family tension goes through the roof when Chris announces that he will be participating in a student demonstration at Marquette University. Rick says that Chris better not screw up his chance to go to Marquette next year.
*******************
March 29th: As news reports roll in that students seize building at Bowie State College, Rick tries to physically restrain Chris from leaving the house to go to the demonstration. It doesn't work though and Chris fllees the house. Mother has to calm down little Kyle who is crying thinking his brother is off to fight the war like Lee.
*******************
March 30th: Chris has been arrested as the student demonstation turned violent. To make matters worse he was also charged with possession of marijuana. The Martin household is ready to explode.
1.04 - April
April 2: On TV Senator Eugene McCarthy has stood up for the Democratics opposed to President Lyndon Johnson's war policy in VietNam. When McCarthy wins the Wisconsin primary it now looks like Johnson is done in his efforts to run as in incumbant for President. The youth movement of the Democrats has sent a strong signal to their leadership on what they think the future of the war and the party should be.
As Rick lights up a cigar, he smiles as Chris tells him what this means for the future of America. Rick says he agrees with Chris, which stops the whole family in their tracks. He says that McCarthy better represents the Dems then Johnson. But as he sits down in his easy chair and exumes a big cloud of smoke he says the Republicans are going to kill the Dems in the general election without the incumbant running.
Chris counters with "Bobby Kennedy may have something to say about that", which puts Rick back into deep thought.
**********
April 4th: Mom is on the telephone crying, Rick and Chris sit in stony silence as the networks tell us that Martin Luther King has been assassinated in Memphis. The exploits of King are listed, but are threatened to be overshadowed as violence breaks out in many American cities. Chris wipes tears from his eyes, not wanting his father to see. Rick is quiet but mumbles something about it being a sad day for the United States when freedom of speech is threatened.
**************
April 24th: Columbia Unviersity students take over the New York City institution effectively shutting it down. The protests began last year when student actiivists found the university was secretly in alliance with the US Military on some weapon testing. A second round of protests began led by the Leftists and African American students. This time it is more confrontational including fights with the NYPD.
In the Martin household this brings up the testy issue of Chris' own arrest for demonstrations last month, and on possession of Marijuana. Apparently the subject had not been broached by father and son. Rick tells Chris not to throw his life away, his college acceptance, but Chris says a life without standing up for things you believe in is a life wasted. Rick says 5 years in the workforce will be enough to make you a Republican.
**************
April 29th: Against his parents' wishes Chris arrives on a road-trip with some friends in New York City to see the new play "Hair" [basically the ultimate Hippy play]. They can't get tickets until the May 1st show so have to pile 5 of them into one flea bag motel room. They go for a midnight romp through the famous Times Square. After smoking some weed a couple of his friends decide to try some acid. It doesn't turn out well as the violent rampage ends with half of them arrested and half in jail.
**************
April 30th: Rick Martin is woken from his slumber by a phone call in the middle of the night. After a few "ah-has" he gets up to get dressed telling his half-sleeping wife "Michelle, I have to go to New York City and bail out Chris. Somethimes I think Lee is in less danger in Nam then he would be at home."
1.05 - May
May 1st:
It's a long ride home for Rick and Chris, but the lecture soon turns into a frank conversation between father and son. They end up talking baseball and agree to go to a Brewers game next weekend.
****************
May 10th: Rick and Michelle quietly talk about how the US and North Vietnam have started peace talks in Paris, but they don't want to get the family's hopes up that Lee will be coming home.
************************
May 14th: Chris is watching the evening news while his father reads the paper. Rick gets a big smile on his face, and baits his son sayng he see's that the Beatles have formed their own record company, Apple Corp. Chris takes the bait saying they are tired of the artistic control of the big corporations, but Rick continues to bait him saying the Beatles are doing it for the cash. Finally Michelle tells her husband to grow up.
***********************
May 15th: The family stays up to watch Joe Garagiola guest host the Johnny Carson show with guests Paul McCartney and John Lennon who are promoting Apple Records. This creates the usual rowe between father and son.
***************************
May 18th: Rick comes home from work worried. Student protests in France are getting out of control, and now yesterday the reports that nine students entered the Selective Service offices in Catonsville, Maryland, took dozens of service draft records, and burned them with napalm as a protest against the Vietnam War.
He pours himself a drink as he rants about going to hell in a handbasket. Chris knows better then to push his Father's buttons and retreats to his room.
****************************
May 25th: The family celebrates Chris' birthday. His Father puts on "Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers, which starts a battle that ends with the birthday boy choosing the next song "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones.
*****************************
May 30th: The family gathers to read the latest letter home from Lee. It's by far his darkest letter, at times incoherent. He's homesick, losing weight, and talks about how all his friends are either dead or stoned. He warns Chris to stay in school, out of the draft, and away from drugs. He assures his family he is doing his best to stay honorable, but its hard to remember just what that means. He asks Chris to stay away from the political protests, to support his family instead. Everyone is in tears except Rick, who hugs his wife and assures her they'll get through this.
1.06 - June
June 1st: Images of 1968 put to the #1 song, "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel
**************************************
June 5th: The nation is shocked when tragedy again strikes the Kennedy family, this time they watch the news to see reports of Sirhan Sirhan shooting and killing Presedential hopeful Bobby Kennedy. Rick is actually remorseful and tries to console Chris who is shocked and dismayed.
**********************************
June 8th: James Earl Ray the alleged assassin of Martin Luther King Jr, is arrested.
********************************
June 19th: The Martin household is boiling over as Rick disaproves of his wife Michelle taking a part-time job at a lunch counter.
*******************************
June 25th: The scene is somber as the family "celebrates" Lee's birthday as their eldest son is still fighting in 'nam. They tell stories of the boys growing up. More images of fighting and soldiers dying fill the evening news until Rick stands up and turns the TV off.
1.07 - July
July 4th: The Martin family is undersiege as they attend the neighborhood Independence Day celebrations. Chris has fallen hard and heavy for a new girl in town who he has started to date. Michelle (Mom) is the subject of scorn for having stood up to her boss, and got herself fired from the diner, objecting to the degrading way he treated his black employees. Rick (Dad) is also the subject of curiosity from his more conservative friends over his softening stance on the VietNam war.
**********
July 13th: the family is vacationing in Chicago, visiting Michelle's sister and attending a family wedding. They soon find out that the turmoil and unrest in Milwaukee is nothing compared to the racial unrest currently going on in Chicago. Chris and his cousin David nearly have a run-in with a group of Black Panther activists.
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July 23rd: Rick watches as Classy Freddie Blassie wins his 5th World wrestling championship, Chris and his girlfriend make-out parked in her car to "Ina-a-gadda-da-vida" by Iron Butterfly, and Mom pours herself another Gin and Tonic while re-readign the letters home from Lee.
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July 24th: The TV is filled with the violent scenes of a race riot in Clevleand where 11 people were killed including 3 policemen.
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July 27th: The TV is filled with the violent scenes of a race riot in Gary, Indiana. Rick talks to his wife about how the South Vietnamese have sentenced an opposition leader to hard labour just because he suggested a coalition government as a way to end the war. "What kind of people are we dying for over there?"
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July 30th:
Gram Parson refuses to play with the Byrds in South Africa due to apartheid. Chris talks with his girlfeind Jen about how he hasn't told his Father yet that he didn't enroll in college next year, that he's getting a job instead and the two of them plan to move out. Michelle is crying on Rick's shoulder because they haven't heard form Lee in a couple months.
1.08 - August
August 8th: Republican National Convention in Miami Beach nominates Richard Nixon for President and Spiro Agnew for Vice-President. Rick and his friends celebrate with Cigars and a few good jokes about the Kennedy family and the lame duck Democrats.
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August 10th: Race riots break out in Miami, Chicago, and Little Rock. Rick tells Chris to cancel his planned trip at the end of August to Chicago, he was going to take his girlfreind to visit their relatives in the Windy city.
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August 21st: In a big rowe, Chris and Jen leave in her Chevy Nova for Chicago, to visit and to attend the Democratic National Convention. Rick and Michelle watch TV reports of the Soviets under the "disguise" of the Warsaw Pact invade Czechoslovakia to end reform movement
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August 28th: Rick and Michelle watch on TV as police clash with anti-war demonstrators in front of the Chicago Dem convention. Thankfully they recieve a phone call from Chris to assure them he is safe, inside the convention, and not taking part in the demonstrations. Rick tells Michelle he is so happy about Chris' behaviour that he didn't have the heart to tell him that Nixon is going to crush Hubert Humphrey in the Presidential race.
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August 30th: Chris and Jen come in the door all excited about the convention only to find Michelle (Mom) passed out at the kitchen table beside a half empty bottle of gin, and Rick (Dad) burning some letters. Rick tells Chris in a somber tone that they received more letters from Lee. He's okay, but the things he talks about...the horrors...the behaviour of these American soldiers...Rick can't manage any more and tosses another page on the fire, choking back tears.
1.09 - September
Sep 9th: It's a tense Sunday at the Martin household. Rick is fuming at Chris because he now knows that he is not going to College this year, and plans to move out with Jen. The Martin's have invited Jen's parents over for dinner and to talk about their kids' future. The two Dads watch in disbelief as Minnesota Vikings QB Tommy Kramer passes for 6 TD's as the Vikings trash the Green Bay Packers 42-7. Jen's mother talks to Michelle about alcoholics anonymous. Michelle is embarrased but Jen's Mom assures her its discreet and that yes she attends too.
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Sep 16th: Rick has to get Michelle to find "Laugh-In". Normally he would never watch such crap, but tonight its special guest is Richard Nixon.
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Sep 22nd: Michelle makes up an excuse of going out for coffee with Jen's mom to get out of the house and go to her first AA meeting. There she breaks down and cries over what has become of her son Lee in 'Nam.
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Sep 29th: As "Hey Jude" plays in the background Chris proposes marraige for Jen, but much to his surprise she refuses. She wants to just live with him. When he says he needs time to think aobut that she gets very mad, and says he is just like his Dad. The fight gets worse and ends with Jen throwing her ring at Chris and walking out.
1.10 - October
1.11 - November
1.12 - December