04x10 - Stan Takes a Wife

[bunniefuu]

♪ Thank you for being a friend

♪ Traveled down the road and back again

♪ Your heart is true

♪ You're a pal and a confidante

♪ And if you threw a party

♪ Invited everyone you knew

♪ You would see the biggest gift would be from me

♪ And the card attached would say

♪ "Thank you for being a friend" ♪

What are you doing home?

I thought you were on a date with Jerry.

So did I.

He let me out at the movie theater and said he was gonna go park the car.

That's the last I saw of him.

I think you've been ditched.

Now, did I ask you?

If I want advice on getting ditched, I'll ask an expert.

Dorothy, did I get ditched?

Yes, Blanche, but don't feel bad.

Look what it's done for Sonny Bono.

Then it's finally happened.

I cannot believe it.

I have lost it, haven't I?

In more backseats than any woman I know.

You're not feeling any better, are you?

I'm fine, thank you.

You look terrible.

Gee, I guess I won't be making it in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue this year like the rest of you.

Dorothy's concerned about your health.

We all are.

You have been walking around sick for over a week.

You'd feel a lot better if you would just obey the doctor's orders.

Look, either you're gonna follow his orders or I'll call him and tell on you.

Oh, what is he gonna do?

Come over and spank me?

If he does, tell him to come by my room.

(doorbell)

Who can that be at this hour?

Maybe it's Blanche's date.

Oh, he better not show up here.

I'll get it.

Hi, everyone.

It's me, Stan.

Look, I know it's late, but I had to come by.

I have awesome news.

Dating someone over 12?

Ma, that's not nice.

Is that it, Stanley?

No.

Congratulate me, everyone.

I'm getting hitched.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Well, congratulations, Stanley.

Tell us all about it.

Her name is Katherine.

We met at the post office.

We discovered we had a lot in common.

Oh, is she bald too?

For the first few months I found myself sending her flowers, candy, friendship notes for no special reason.

That's lovely, Stan.

I'm impressed.

Yeah, I read in a book by some dame shrink that chicks really eat that stuff up.

Anyway, Katherine and I fell in love and on the spur of the moment we decided to get married.

The wedding is a week from tonight and you're all invited.

I talked to the kids.

They said they'll try and fly in.

I gotta go now.

I'm on my way to surprise Katherine with this.

What do you think?

I think Lisa Bonet spent more on the ring in her nose.

Don't listen to her.

It's beautiful.

I'm sure Katherine will love it.

You mean it?

Not a word.

Babe, it's a real diamond.

What's wrong with it?

I think the more appropriate question is "Where is it?" OK, the diamond's not very big.

OK, it's not a real diamond.

It's the thought that counts.

OK, I didn't put much thought into it.

It was cheap.

I'm cheap.

What can I tell you?

Why don't you let me help you pick out something else for Katherine?

I'll help too.

There's nothing wrong with my taste.

You've seen that ring I picked for Dorothy.

Actually, he was going for a bracelet, but the mechanical claw grabbed the ring.

OK, girls.

I guess I do need some help.

I'll call tomorrow and we'll set up a time to go shopping.

I really have to run now.

I'm fixing a terrific late-night supper for Katherine.

Oh, really?

In 38 years of marriage, you never once cooked a terrific meal for us.

Neither did you.

Ma, I thought you were supposed to be taking it easy.

When I feel bad I have to take my mind off it.

There's only one thing that does that.

Cooking a big meal.

No.

Making love in a closet.

But, hey, you do what you can.

Hi, we're back.

We helped Stan pick out a ring for Katherine.

I feel terrible.

I think we spent too much money.

Stop worrying about the money.

We're talking about love.

I still think we spent too much.

You didn't spend it.

The yutz spent it.

That's what makes him a yutz.

Sophia's right.

Don't worry about it.

(Sophia coughs)

Ma, Ma, I think you better sit down.

Come on.

Over here.

Here you go.

Should I get Sophia a glass of water?

No, Rose.

You should sit here and watch her hack herself to death.

Are you sure?

Get the water!

I am gonna call the doctor.

I can't breathe.

Forget the doctor, Blanche.

Call the paramedics.

What is taking them so long?

It's been over an hour.

I'm sure they're doing the best they can.

The cafeteria was closed.

This is all I could find.

Thanks, honey.

Any word on Sophia?

None.

Oh, I hate waiting.

I hate hospitals.

I hate when the people put each other down on Love Connection.

I got here as fast as I could.

How'd you know where to find us?

I had second thoughts about the ring the girls made me buy so I came by the house.

The neighbors told me what happened.

I'm so happy you're cheap.

So how's Sophia doing?

We still don't know.

Stan, I'm scared.

Mrs.

Zbornak?

Dr.

Seymour, is my mother going to be all right?

Her condition is quite serious.

But you said it was a simple virus.

It's advanced to pneumonia.

Normally I wouldn't be this concerned, but her resistance is low.

That, coupled with her age, makes these next few hours extremely critical.

Are you saying she could die?

We're doing everything possible.

All we can do is wait and see how she responds to treatment.

Can I see her?

Not until she's out of Intensive Care.

The best thing you can do now is go home and get some rest.

I'll call if there's any change.

Come on, Dorothy, I'll take you home.

No, I'm not leaving.

Then we'll all stay.

No, you go.

Oh, no.

We're not going anywhere.

I would rather be alone.

Please.

Are you sure, babe?

Would it be stupid to ask for a group hug?

Oh, of course not, honey.

Hands above the waist, Stanley.

Hi, babe.

I hope you're hungry.

I thought I sent you home.

I was in the neighborhood.

What?

At one o'clock in the morning?

All right.

I couldn't sleep.

I kept thinking about Sophia.

How is she?

No one has said a word to me in hours.

What?

That's ridiculous.

I'm gonna find somebody, right now.

Excuse me.

I want some information and I want it now.

(Asian accent)

The john is down the hall.

It's about a patient.

Sophia Petrillo.

She's in Intensive Care.

The cafeteria's closed.

Wait.

Get a doctor in here.

(American accent)

Someone will be with you in just a moment.

You really care about Ma, don't you, Stan?

Hey, if someone puts you down for 40 years, I guess you have a special bond.

I can't imagine life without her telling me what a yutz I am, what a lousy husband I was, how my toupee looks like a monkey's behind.

God, I love that woman.

I do too.

Oh, what are we gonna do if she doesn't make it?

She's going to be fine.

Come on.

Let's eat.

I brought you your favorite.

Oh, you're such a sweetheart.

Chinese.

No, Italian.

Look, there's been no change on the Petrillo case.

We are very busy.

We'll call when we can.

Listen, buddy.

Sophia may be just another case to you, but we happen to love her.

We want to know how she is, regardless.

From now on, I want to be informed every hour, on the hour.

Do you understand me?

I'm sorry, sir.

I'll see that you're kept informed.

You were magnificent.

I have my moments.

Well, what do you want?

Lasagna or cannelloni?

Oh, Ma makes great lasagna.

I can never get mine to taste as good.

She says it's because I don't sing to my marinara sauce.

That's her secret.

She sings opera to her sauce.

Except, of course, during the holiday season when she sings Nat King Cole.

I love your lasagna.

You're just saying that to make me feel better.

Is it working?

Like a charm.

Excuse me.

Mrs. Zbornak.

Oh...

Oh!

My mother?

She's going to be fine.

You can go up and see her right away.

Thank you.

Oh, she's...

She's going to be all right.

Stanley, come on.

Let's go see her.

No, no, no.

You go.

You two should be alone.

I'll stay here and clean up.

I'll stop by later.

Stan, thank you for standing by me.

I don't know how I could have done it without you.

Hey, what are ex-husbands for?

Oh, Ma, you scared me to death.

You scared me to death.

You couldn't put on a little makeup?

There could be a single doctor.

I'd like to know you're being taken care of...

or at least getting a little on the side.

Ma, the doctor says you're gonna be just fine.

Of course I am.

I survived w*r, disease and two seasons of Designing Women.

Hello, Sophia.

Hi, Sophia.

We stopped by on our way to work to check on you.

How are you?

She's gonna be just fine, only this time she's going to follow the doctor's orders.

What about you?

You must be exhausted being here by yourself all night.

I wasn't alone.

Stan came by and stayed with me.

Brought me food, held me.

Showed me that special part of himself.

Right there in the waiting room?

Not that part, Rose.

Anyway, spending time with Stan made me see something that I hadn't realized.

He dyes the hair in his ears?

I noticed that months ago.

Besides that.

I'm still in love with the man, and I can't let him marry someone else.

Is it me or is the room suddenly getting darker?

Hurry up, Blanche.

Rose, stop pulling on my nightie.

It's only got one yank left in it before it falls completely apart and I'm saving that for Henry Barnsworth.

Shh.

I just don't want Dorothy to hear.

Blanche, we can't let Dorothy ruin Stan and Katherine's wedding.

I mean, it's selfish, it's adolescent and it'd put a real cramp in their honeymoon.

Rose.

For somebody who's supposed to be so smart, Dorothy's acting like a goober.

(Blanche)

Rose.

I would say that right to her face.

'Course, I'd have to stand on a chair.

It's her, isn't it?

Now Dorothy, don't you be mad at Rose.

She's only saying what she feels.

What about you?

Do you think I'm terrible because I want my husband back?

Ex-husband, Dorothy.

Ex-husband who left you and didn't have the courtesy to tell you he was leaving.

Ex-husband who married somebody half your age just one week after the divorce.

Ex-husband who's getting married again tomorrow.

I don't know why you want that man.

He's treated you like dirt.

Even that I could overlook if he had a good body.

Look, Blanche, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but my mind is made up.

I love Stanley, I want to be with him, and I am very sorry about Katherine.

What on earth is suddenly so wonderful about Stanley?

Everything, just everything.

He has grown, he has changed.

You should have seen the way he took over when Ma was sick.

He was so commanding, so masterful, and yet so sensitive and so vulnerable.

I know I couldn't have gotten through it without him.

Listen, Dorothy.

You thought Sophia might be dying.

You were the one who was sensitive and vulnerable.

Blanche is right.

At the counseling center I see cases like this all the time.

When people lose loved ones they do things they'd never normally do.

Take Mrs. Polowski.

When her mother d*ed, she divorced her husband, lost 30 pounds, dyed her hair and ran off to Paris with an artist ten years her junior.

I just got a postcard last week.

Yeah, and now she's miserable and bony and sick of eating snails, right?

No.

They bought a beautiful home in Cannes.

Rose!

Granted, not a great example.

Thank you for proving my case, Rose.

Ma getting sick was probably a good thing after all, 'cause it made me see how great Stan is.

All right.

What if this isn't what Stanley wants?

Excellent point.

What about that?

If you had been there that night, you'd know that he feels exactly the same way about me.

Then how come he hasn't called off his wedding and told you he loves you?

Because he is not sure how I feel.

He wants me to make the first move.

Oh, gee, I hadn't counted on this.

She makes good sense.

Rose!

I want to thank you for helping me think this through.

You know, up until now I honestly had a few doubts, but after talking to you I know exactly what I'm gonna do.

Tomorrow, before the wedding, I'm gonna tell Stan I love him.

Well, way to go, Rose.

You talked her into doing exactly the opposite of what we wanted her to do.

I guess that's why they took me off the su1c1de hotline at work.

(knock at door)

Coming.

Hi.

Hi.

Can I come in?

Oh, sure.

Do I look like a man who is about to do it for the third time?

Get married, I mean.

Very handsome.

Have you lost weight?

No, I'm wearing a girdle.

Is Sophia gonna make it to the wedding?

She's not quite up to it.

But she sends her regards and Baggies for me to bring back hors d'oeuvres.

You're wearing a girdle?

And padded shoulders.

Is my head sweating?

No.

Stan, the reason I came...

(knock at door)

Is the wedding still on?

Of course.

Why wouldn't it be?

He's right.

Why wouldn't it be?

Let's go powder our noses before the ceremony.

Stan, I have to get something off my chest.

I agree.

There.

That's much better.

Boy, I'll say.

OK, let's go.

I am not going anywhere.

Would you girls excuse me?

My girdle is k*lling me.

He's wearing a girdle?

And padded shoulders.

And knowing him, a sock in his crotch.

What are you two doing here?

We've come to stop you from making a fool of yourself.

Why would Dorothy make a fool of herself?

Well, Stanley, you know how she gets at weddings - all emotional.

Her nose starts running, then her mascara starts running.

Soon everything's running altogether and nobody can enjoy their cake.

Stan, I have to tell you something.

Dorothy, somebody's at the door.

I'll get it.

No, you won't.

Let Dorothy get it.

But I'm closer.

Ow!

My ankle!

Oh, it must be that old plow injury.

Dorothy, honey, could you get the door?

Dorothy stepped out for a breath air.

(banging on door)

Why's she banging on the door?

That button's coming off.

Yep, I was right.

We'd better go sew it on.

Bartender, give me another.

Come on, lady.

You don't need another.

Why not?

You've had three already.

I said give me another.

Fine.

It's your life.

Just don't blame me if you get sick.

Excuse me.

Is this seat taken?

No.

Help yourself.

Thanks.

What can I get you, lady?

How about a sh*t of self-confidence?

Let me guess.

You didn't come in here to drink.

You've got a problem and need someone to talk to.

Am I right?

That's right.

Then take a quarter and call a shrink.

This ain't Cheers.

Are you OK?

Just a little nervous.

I'm supposed to get married in exactly 20 minutes right here in this hotel.

Well, then, what are you doing here?

Cold feet?

Yeah, but not about him.

See, he's got this ex-wife.

You better be careful what you say.

I happen to be an ex-wife.

Not like his, I'm sure.

No one's like her.

She's superwoman.

She was the perfect wife.

Cooked, cleaned, had two kids, got an education, has never looked better, and now she has a career.

That wasn't a marriage.

That's a commercial for a mini pad.

Her name is Dorothy and she's coming to our wedding.

I mean, they're still friends.

Listen to me.

I'm so intimidated by a woman I've never even met.

Well, that's understandable.

I mean, she sounds pretty terrific.

I bet she's gorgeous, too.

No.

The daughter had a nose job and she had her mother's nose.

Evidently it was a honker.

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

You were saying...

I don't know what I'm saying.

All I know is I've waited all my life to find someone like Stan.

That's my fiancé.

I know.

You do?

I know how you feel.

No, you don't.

See, I've never been married before, except to my career.

I guess that's why I feel so insecure about being a wife.

I want to be a good wife.

You're really crazy about the guy.

Head over heels in love.

I feel like a teenager.

He's smart, he's funny...

and the best lover I've ever had.

You haven't slept around much, have you?

I beg your pardon?

Nothing.

Popcorn?

Oh, no.

No, thanks.

So, you think he might still be in love with his ex-wife?

They're still good friends.

I mean, he talks about her all the time.

"Dorothy" this, "Dorothy" that.

What if she decides she wants him back?

If she's as great as you say she is, and no doubt she is, well, possibly in a weak moment, she might think she wants him back, but then maybe she'd think of the two of you together and what a nice person you seem to be, how he loves you and...

how much you love him and...

I think she'd realize that her time with him was over, and she'd let go graciously and wish him well.

In fact, I think that's exactly what she'd do.

No, she wouldn't.

Yes, she would.

No, she wouldn't.

Yes, she would.

How can you be so sure?

I'm a Leo.

We're all very sure of ourselves.

Well, it looks like I've got a wedding to go to.

I'm going to a wedding myself.

Mind if I walk with you?

Not at all.

You're a very wise person.

What did you say your name was?

I didn't.

Well, I really enjoyed talking with you.

I hope we meet again soon.

Believe me, we will.