Ep 17. Among my souvenirs

That Girl is an American sitcom that aired for five seasons from September 8, 1966 to March 19, 1971. The show follows the life of Ann Marie, a bright-eyed, ambitious young woman who moves from rural Brewster, New York to New York City in pursuit of her dream to become an actress. In season 1 episode 17, titled "Among my souvenirs," Ann receives a letter from her hometown sweetheart Tom who invites her to his wedding.

The episode opens with Ann showing her best friend Judy the letter she received from Tom inviting her to his upcoming wedding. Ann explains that Tom was the first boy she ever dated and she never got over him completely. Judy encourages her to attend the wedding and to start seeing other men, as she has been dating Don for quite some time now and hasn’t allowed herself to open up to other opportunities.

Ann decides to go to the wedding and invites Don to come with her, hoping to stir up some feelings of jealousy in Tom. Don agrees to go with Ann, but warns her about attending the wedding for the wrong reasons and getting hurt in the process. Despite his warning, Ann is determined to go and prove to herself that she is over Tom and that she is able to move on with her life.

Once they arrive in Brewster, Ann is greeted by Tom's mother, who is thrilled to see her and insists on showing her around town. She takes her to all her old haunts, including the local ice cream parlor, where Ann and Tom had their first kiss. Ann is clearly uncomfortable and yearning to leave, but she smiles politely.

As the wedding draws near, Ann makes a stop at the florist to pick up a corsage for Don. While there, she runs into Tom and his fiancee, Helen. Ann is immediately taken aback by how similar Helen looks to her, and realizes that there is a reason that Tom has chosen to marry her. The couple invites Ann to dinner later that night, and she reluctantly agrees.

Over dinner, Ann feels increasingly uncomfortable and out of place. She struggles to find common ground with Tom and Helen, and her attempts at humor fall flat. Don, sensing her distress, tries to help by asking about Tom's future plans. Tom reveals that he and Helen plan to move to Australia in order to start a new life. This prompts Ann to leave the table and go outside to get some air.

Once outside, Don finds Ann and they have a heart-to-heart conversation. She finally confesses that she thought she would be able to come back to Brewster and win Tom back, but she now realizes that it's impossible. Don reassures her that she can love again and that she needs to let go of the past. Ann is comforted by his words and they share a tender moment.

The next day, Ann attends the wedding and Don surprises her by giving her a corsage as well. During the ceremony, Ann watches as Tom and Helen exchange vows, and she realizes that it's time for her to move on. Don whispers to her that he loves her and Ann finally accepts that she needs to let go of her past and embrace her new life in New York.

The episode ends with Ann and Don walking together, picking up souvenirs of their time in Brewster. Ann says goodbye to Tom and Helen, realizing that she is no longer the same girl who left Brewster to chase her dreams. She now understands that sometimes it's best to leave the past in the past and focus on the future, full of promise and endless possibilities.

In "Among my souvenirs," That Girl explores the themes of love, loss, and moving on. The episode is a poignant reminder that life is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns, and sometimes the best thing we can do is let go and embrace the unknown. The performances of the cast are top-notch, with Marlo Thomas delivering a heartfelt portrayal of a young woman struggling to reconcile her past with her present, and Ted Bessell providing a perfect foil as the supportive and loving Don. That Girl remains a classic sitcom that continues to capture the hearts of audiences of all ages.