The Facts of Life

- Season 4

(1982)

Due to budget cuts at Eastland, Jo will lose her scholarship. With a deadline to find another at the end of the week, she is excited to find the one for which she qualifies--until she discovers that it's funded by Blair's family.

Natalie fabricates a story about an unnamed Eastland student who had an abortion.

Tootie refuses to believe she is suffering from hearing loss until she is in an accident.

Eastland's oldest living graduate returns to the school.

Blair befriends a mentally handicapped artist.

Natalie finally uncovers the name of her biological mother.

While working at a garage, Jo receives a promotion after impressing her boss. However, this causes a rift between her and Doug, her boyfriend and coworker.

When an IRS agent pays her a visit, Blair discovers that her father has been using her for a string of potentially illegal tax dodges.

Natalie covers a boxing match at Stone Military Academy, the nearby boys' school, for the school paper.

Natalie refuses to go to the Sadie Hawkins Day dance.

Mrs. Garrett receives a marriage proposal from her elderly boyfriend.

An obnoxious young heiress enrolls at Eastland.

Jo is concerned by Blair's infatuation with a boy who treats her poorly.

When Mrs. Garrett learns she has high blood pressure, the girls try to protect her from stress.

Jo learns that her favorite teacher is terminally ill.

Tootie defends her brother Marshall after he drives the girls home from a party after having five beers.

Blair's sister Meg, a nun, inspires Jo.

Blair belittles Jo for wanting to become a nun.

Mrs. Garrett's cooking instructor from Paris visits Eastland. Meanwhile, the girls try to deal with a squirrel who got into their bedroom.

When Natalie starts spending all her free time with a boy she likes, Tootie gets so jealous that when she picks up a call from him about their upcoming study date, she lies to Natalie and tells her that he canceled it.

Both Blair and Jo are accepted to the prestigious Langley College, however Jo decides she's not going because of the cost and the financial burden it would put on her mother, who is already working multiple jobs just to put Jo through Eastland. Her mother and father, however, are adamant about her attending. Their assertion is that they will somehow come up with the money because Jo's future is their most valuable asset.

The girls study for final exams together for the very last time.

In the days leading up to graduation, Mrs. Garrett becomes overworked because Mr. Parker has put her in charge of the entire ceremony, while Tootie worries whether she'll see Blair and Jo again. Meanwhile, Jo, who has to give the class valediction, is under additional pressure because of her parents' fighting, while Blair's father is unable to come to the ceremony, making her mother angry.

Before Jo and Blair graduate, Tootie and Natalie want to preserve as much time with them as possible, still fearing they'll never be together again. Meanwhile Jo's father tries to mend a rift with her mother.