Heartwarming / Mrs. America

Phyllis

Gloria

• Gloria's meeting with the woman who works at her apartment building after the woman asks her to autograph the list of women (Gloria included) who had abortions, then an illegal procedure in the United States and much of the world, and the woman tearfully confesses about her abortion with Gloria comforting her. It's there that it's clear why Gloria's work is so important to her, as it helps women deal with the reality of their lives and choices they need to make to thrive.

Shirley

Betty

• Eleanor's close and loving relationship with her nieces is touched upon again here where it's revealed she comforted her younger niece Anne about her anxiety swimming and assures her she doesn't have to swim if she's scared. Too bad Phyllis had other ideas...
• Flo defending Margaret to some homophobic Black feminists regarding including lesbians in the National Black Women's Coalition.
  Flo: There will be no Lavender Menace bullshit here. Lesbians are welcome. Horizontal hostility is not.
• The scene where Gloria calls Betty after her disastrous debate with Phyllis Schlafly and Gloria gives a heart-to-heart with her and something that Betty has been waiting for, some recognition and appreciation from a younger feminist.
  Gloria: You were right. We don't get to decide how the battle lines are drawn, or how the male press portrays us. I have been thinking about the first time I read The Feminine Mystique. Why should women accept this picture of a half-life, instead of sharing the whole of human destiny? I don't know if I ever told you… your book changed my life. Thank you.

Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc

• Gloria confiding to Brenda that she found out about Jules and asked why she didn't tell her, alluding that these two women have a normally open and close relationship, and Brenda talks about how she likes sleeping with Jules but she still loves Marc.

Jill

Bella

Houston

Reagan

• Alice showing up after a year's absence in Phyllis's offices brings joy to Pamela, who looked clearly lonely with the abuse from her husband and the disapproval of the other women with her baby and toddler.
• When Bella gets fired by President Carter Gloria not only comforts her, she even makes a few calls at the commission and she (with several other women, counting Carmen and Jill and Audrey and Midge) all resign at the same time in protest.
  • Later even Betty (who was antagonistic with Bella) admits to feeling bad, especially given that Bella fought hard for women to be appointed to cabinet positions.
• Bella's and Shirley's phone call together where Bella urges Shirley to keep "the door open for the next bunch" after she would eventually leave her seat and then Bella shares a nice kiss with her husband.
• Eleanor, after the bomb alert clears out the gala, is approached by a Silver Fox who asks about her and she replies she is a nobody and he, to her joy and interest, replies back: "Guess I'm nobody too". After seeing Eleanor get grief from her brother for being an Old Maid and Phyllis making fun of women in her position and taking credit for the nieces and nephews Eleanor has raised, this moment felt sweet.
• The fact that despite not wanting to be around the girl's mother, that Alice would willingly pick up Anne from her bus stop and take her home where she would have to talk to Phyllis, all because of how close she was to the children.
• Gloria's speech at the end where she tells the crowd not to lose heart by Reagan's win and the Religious Right gaining influence and that they will keep fighting for the rights of women and minorities because everyone is just getting started and there is no possibility of backing out.
  Gloria: We are just beginning to discover, each of us, who we can be. And no matter how long this revolution may take, there can be no turning back.