“Kissed me half a decade later
That same perfume, those same sad eyes…”
~ FINNEAS.
February & March 1990.
Tom and Michael board a flight back to “the States,” with Tom breaking down after saying goodbye to his girlfriend Inger. Landing in NYC, they get a free ride in a limo from a fellow veteran who escorts them to the last bus to McGuire Air Force Base.
Finally back home, Michael introduces Tom with Gary. After a couple of nights of heavy drinking, Gary gives Tom and Michael a ride to Holyoke, Massachusetts. This time Michael and Tom party with Tom’s older brother, Paul, and they end up in a strip club. Michael strikes up a conversation with the performer, Bonnie Blue, prior to her “shower show.” Immersed in their discussion on literature, the boos from an impatient audience break them up. To Tom’s surprise, she gives him her address and phone number.
Meanwhile, Samina wins best actress FilmFare Award but prior to the event learns that her sister, Lakshmi, is getting married. Devastated by the news, when Ronit calls her to celebrate she hangs up, locks herself in her room and consoles herself by painting for hours.
Later, Michael is back in Dracut and prepares for Teena’s visit. Gary asks why he’s bothering to pay for her ticket from Oregon, which leads to Michael’s confession that he doesn’t want any regrets down the road about whether or not she’s “the one.” Gary takes Michael to the airport and meets Teena for the first time. That night, after a brief and awkward romantic moment, Teena reveals the real reason why she came.
