'The Golden Bachelor' recap: Who remains after first-date drama and three eliminations?

The multi-smooch first night of ABC's "The Golden Bachelor" is reality show history. Thursday's second episode was all about getting down to the dating for 72-year-old Gerry Turner, the widower looking for love.

One of the 15 remaining contestants got actual Gerry date time, others some face time. That made for high stakes and stress in a 42-minute episode ending in three women being cut.

While the goofily gallant Gerry is very much the prince in everyone's eyes, he still has to stay in the good graces of Bachelor Mansion, newly filled with candidates ages 60 to 75 who risk having the love door reopened only to have it just as quickly shut.

Here's what went down on "Golden Bachelor" Episode 2.

Who did 'The Golden Bachelor' pick?And who went home? A recap of the first night

Gerry Turner's first date almost made us stop believin' in 'Don't Stop Believin' '

Theresa, who celebrated her 70th birthday with a cake-smudged kiss with Gerry on opening night, received the first-date honor, with Gerry pulling up in a classic convertible. It gets surprisingly real as Gerry, an Iowa native, navigates crowded California freeways for the first time ever with alarmingly faulty headlights. Theresa reaches out and reassuringly touches Gerry's shoulder. It's both touching and electric.

Their date at Cadillac Jacks Cafe, the '50s revival diner used for TV and movie shoots, somehow stays real with Theresa sharing moving details of her first marriage. The two hold hands across the table. But Gerry barrels his way through a contrived "hope" speech cueing the Journey power anthem "Don't Stop Believin' " on the jukebox. Sure enough, the fake waitstaff and fellow diners turn into a dancing flash mob with Gerry and Theresa joining in, spilling into the parking lot.

That was hokey as heck. But Theresa got the rose, so she'll be back.

Faith's second impression takes a hit

The group date time is shoehorned into a romance novel photo shoot that had contestants scurrying to the clothing rack for first dibs. "I'm not running, I'm walking fast," the near-sprinting April declares over her shoulder.

Faith, who earned the premiere's first impression rose, spins out later during one-to-one time outside Gerry's 72nd birthday party picnic.

"Maybe he sees me and forgets he gave me the first impression rose," she says in the video debriefing. A bit much, but Faith still earns a rose.

Nancy tears up while wearing a wedding dress

Nancy, 60, gets weepy during the group photo shoot as her prop wedding dress brings back memories of her real nuptials with her now-deceased husband, "which is still the best day of my life," she says tearfully to the camera.

Her distance during the shoot earns her a follow-up discussion with Gerry. The tearful conversation about loss, memories and moving on is powerful. Gerry talks about missing his late wife, who baked each Christmas, when he smells cinnamon. "It just hits you," he says.

"I still have hope moving forward," Nancy says. Strong stuff.

Is April still having a good month?

Last week, April, 65, made an impact by giving Gerry a calendar in which every month was April. This week, April makes the most with limited screen time, grandly declining to work the birthday party grill, but still tossing in a salty wiener joke. She can be cutthroat (that costume sprint) but kind, hugging the crying Nancy.

When April finally receives her rose in the ceremony, she pushes through others to grab it, muttering comedically, "Thank you, God."

Which 'Golden Bachelor' women went home? Natascha makes a heroic plea for a chair rose ceremony

The episode ends with a "Golden Bachelor" culling, with three women going home without roses: Natascha, 60, the New York pro-aging coach; Jeanie, 65, a retired project manager from Estill Springs, Tennessee; and Peggy, 69, a dental hygienist from East Haven, Connecticut.

But Gerry gives a trembling chin and barely contained cry that makes it all go down easier.

"He really felt bad about hurting me," Jeanie says in her debrief. "But a lot of us were giving up on love. And with Gerry, there's nice guys out there."

Natascha gives the ultimate mansion exit, calling for seats during the rose ceremony, which is shot standing up.

"You have people in their 60s and 70s. Do the rose ceremonies in chairs," Natascha says. "They have chair yoga, chair aerobics. Chair rose ceremony."

So which 'Golden Bachelor' women remain?

With three contestants cut, and Marina, 60, a Los Angeles-based educator leaving the show off-camera for personal reasons, here's who remains.

• April, 65, a therapist from Port St. Lucie, Florida.
• Christina, 73, a retired purchasing manager from Sierra Madre, California.
• Edith, 60, a retired realtor from Downey, California.
• Ellen, 71, a pickleball co-captain from Delray Beach, Florida.
• Faith, 61, a local radio host from Benton City, Washington.
• Joan, 60, a school administrator from Rockland, Maryland.
• Kathy, 70, a retired educational consultant from Austin, Texas.
• Leslie, 64, a fitness instructor from Minneapolis.
• Nancy, 60, a retired interior designer from Alexandria, Virginia.
• Sandra, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia.
• Susan, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania.
• Theresa, 70, a securities professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.