In June 1981, the ASCAN cohort stopped overnight in New Orleans on their return from Mississippi. Joan wanted to get back to Houston to pick up her daughter, Frances, but was outvoted. On a pay phone, Barbara criticized Joan’s absence, warning that Frances was struggling, which left Joan conflicted as she rejoined the group. Vanessa Ford insisted Joan join a pre-evening shopping trip with Donna, noting Donna should not be left alone with Lydia Danes.

At an Esprit store, Donna pushed Joan to try a blue floral dress. To Joan’s surprise, it flattered her, and after encouragement from Donna, Lydia, and a warm glance from Vanessa, Joan bought and wore it out. On Bourbon Street, Joan received unusual attention and drinks from teammates, including a flower from Griff Griffin. Joan debated with Griff about whether astronauts should date each other, revealing her doubts about love for herself and her limits about family obligations.

The group wandered into a strip club despite Joan’s initial reluctance. Inside, Joan watched the dancers and experienced a profound internal shift, recognizing her attraction to women and finding her own body and desires reframed by what she saw, especially while watching a performer named Raven. Prompted by Donna, Joan tipped Raven and felt both awe and longing as Raven engaged with her.

Outside, learning Vanessa had already returned to the hotel, Joan let Griff walk her away to find a cab. In a quiet moment, Griff admitted he had wanted to kiss her for months but hesitated because she was drunk. Joan initiated a kiss anyway, immediately found it viscerally unpleasant, and stopped it, telling Griff they were not right “like this.” Griff accepted the rejection with sadness but grace and put Joan in a taxi.

The next morning, hungover, Joan discovered she had filled hotel stationery with sketches of Raven. Vanessa arrived to fetch her for the bus, helped her clean up, and gently tended to her smeared makeup. Their conversation turned intimate as Joan confessed she had kissed Griff and disliked it but had enjoyed the club; Vanessa admitted she suspected as much and suggested Joan was still figuring out who she is.

As they prepared to leave, Vanessa found one missed sketch of Raven in the bedding. Seeing it, Vanessa smiled and told Joan she knew her exactly, implying clear understanding of Joan’s realization. The two left together, their closeness charged but unspoken, with Joan feeling precarious yet okay.