Meg begins to question her feelings for Sam as he defends a friend who is being bullied because of his race. Michael Brooks announces that he is leaving American Bandstand (1952). Helen explores surgery for Will.

Helen heads to New York with Nancy, Pete's new girlfriend, and gets a new view on womanhood. Patty learns a harsh lesson on her first day of high school. Meg goes to her first college party as Sam discovers what Nathan does to earn money.

Helen realises the pressure of being a working mother at the travel agency. Beth visits J.J. at Camp Lejeune with interesting results. Meg does a book report on a banned book.

Meg attends a free speech rally with Drew at college. J.J. is tempted to cheat as Roxanne's relationship with Lenny is tested. Sam and his family face life without his mother, who dies of cancer.

Lenny wants to take his relationship with Roxanne to another level. J.J. discovers his mystery woman, Diane, is the wife of one of his superiors. Jack wants Helen to quit her job when Will's surgery is paid through the March of Dimes.

Meg and Drew go on a double date to Lenny's concert as J.J. deals with Beth and Vietnam. Pete's drinking is pushing Nancy away. Sam takes an interest in Malcolm X.

J.J. and Beth celebrate their engagement as their mothers fight about everything. JJ tells Meg what he really thinks about her relationship with Drew. Roxanne is starting to lose interest in the tour but not Lenny.

Jack and Henry discover the store has been robbed. Sam fights with the choice between Yale and Howard University. J.J. meets Jimmy Riley, Meg's former dance partner on American Bandstand (1952), in the hospital in Vietnam.

When Drew comes over for dinner, Jack hates him. J.J. has his first gun fight in Vietnam and Patty seeks her first bra.

American Bandstand (1952) has a father-daughter dance and Meg has to ask Jack to attend. Patty's crush on Luke ends when she sees Roxanne and Luke kissing.

J.J. gets to see Nancy Sinatra perform in Vietnam to help deal with the death of an enemy soldier. Will gets a paper route. Henry's quest for a business hits a snag.

Meg is upset to discover Roxanne and Luke are dating each other. Pete gets cold feet at his wedding. Sam and Angela dislike Henry's new girlfriend Annie.

Meg joins the WFIL newsroom and dislikes what she sees of the Vietnam War. Henry and Jack are at odds as equal partners of the store.

J.J. learns the fate of one of his friend Danny's brother as Patty crashes the family car. Beth reveals her pregnancy to her parents.

Nathan is drafted and Sam seeks Meg's help in getting Drew to talk to him. Jack considers his political future. Beth decides her and her baby's future.

Sam and Meg get caught up in the anti-war movement and take a stand that changes their futures. J.J. and his squad get caught in a crossfire without backup.