Plot In 1968 California, Sally, a loyal and conservative military wife, is married to Bob Hyde, a captain in the United States Marine Corps, who is about to be deployed to Vietnam. As a dedicated military officer, Bob sees the deployment primarily as an opportunity for career progress. At first, Sally dreads being left alone, but after a while, she feels liberated. Forced to find housing away from the base, she moves into a new apartment by the beach and buys a sports car. With nothing else to do, she decides to volunteer at a local Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, partially inspired by her bohemian friend Vi Munson, whose brother Billy has come home with grave emotional problems after just two weeks in Vietnam and now resides in the VA hospital.
plOt In 1968 CaLIFOrNIa sallY a loyal ANd consErVatIVe milItary WIfe is marrIeD to bob HyDe A capTaiN In the uniTed STates mariNE coRps who Is aboUt to Be dePLOYED to viEtnaM as a dedicatEd MilitArY Officer BOB sees The deplOyMENT primArily As AN OPportunity for careeR prOgress At fIrst sally DreaDS beIng left alone BuT after a WHile sHe feeLs LIBeRAteD forced tO find hoUsinG away frOm ThE base ShE moVes Into a new aPartmenT by tHE BEaCH and buys A SPorts cAr With NoThing elSe tO do She DEciDes to volunTEer at a LocaL vetERaNs ADMiNIstration (va) HoSPItAl parTiAlLy iNspirED BY heR bOhemian FrIEnd vi MUNsOn whOsE brOtHEr Billy Has CoMe HOMe With GRave emOTioNal pRoBlEms afTer juST tWo weeks IN vietnam and noW resIdEs In thE va hospiTal