The Golden Girls (TV Series)

Older and Wiser (1991)

Estelle Getty: Sophia Petrillo

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : [as Sophia is starting a new job]  Ma, I think this'll be good for you. Mr Porter seems like a nice man. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun there.

  Sophia Petrillo : And don't forget the money. I haven't had a paycheck since 1942. And then I blew it all on war bonds.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : Well at least you got it back.

  Sophia Petrillo : No, Italian war bonds. I fell for their slick advertising campaign: Buy Italian war bonds. The quickest, surest, Fascist way to double your money. Well, let's go.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : Ma, you want to make a good impression? Matching shoes.

  Sophia Petrillo : They should match my purse?

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : No, they should match each other.

• Sophia Petrillo : [in a sly twinkle-eyed response to one of the elderly residents' asking her where the "junk food" was for their impromptu party]  I've got a great idea for free pizza! Let's call up one of those guaranteed 30-minute pizza places, and we'll tell 'em that we're a bunch of college kids. Then, when they knock, one of us grandmothers will answer the door and say, "What took you so long?"

  [everyone laughs] 

• Sophia Petrillo : [in response to one of the other elderly residents' telling her how good it is to have her back again]  Well, it's good to BE back. They may not have wanted an activities director here, but they've GOT one! So come on - - let's get **active**.

  [clicks on a portable boombox with a tape of dance-music, then turns amicably to an elderly Black gentleman in a wheelchair who's sitting a few feet away] 

  Sophia Petrillo : Mr. Lewis, would you like to dance?

  [He shrugs agreeably, so Sophia puts a hand on his shoulder and grips the wheelchair's arm in her other hand, then slowly waltzes them around in a small area, while the man just sits still and blithely goes along for the ride] 

  Sophia Petrillo : Oh, I can see that you've had LESSONS.

  Mr. Porter : [hearing the commotion of the impromptu elders' party and hurriedly showing up in the room with a shocked disgusted expression]  Oh, for cryin' out loud - - what's in tarnation's going on here?

  Sophia Petrillo : [in an innocent but determined tone]  Seniors' dance night, Mr. Porter... care to join us?

  Mr. Porter : [giving a unimpressed impatient wincing wheeze and waving his arm to halt the festivities]  Okay, come on - - party's over. Everybody back to bed!

  Mr. Lewis : [in a pleased, slightly dreamy tone]  I danced tonight - - first time in 27 years!

  Sophia Petrillo : [staring at Mr. Lewis with a slightly startled expression]  Why, Mr. Lewis - - you can SPEAK! How come you've never spoken before?

  Mr. Lewis : [grinning broadly]  Nobody was LISTENING - - not until YOU got here.

  Mr. Porter : [sulkily]  I'VE been here - - you could have spoken to ME.

  Mr. Lewis : [twisting his mouth in disgusted revulsion]  Well, ah dohn LIKE **you**...!

  Sophia Petrillo : Don't you SEE, Mr. Porter? You're not LISTENING to these people - - I mean, you ignore their thoughts and feelings, and you make them feel old.

  [turning to address Dorothy, who has been standing by during this conversation] 

  Sophia Petrillo : And Pussycat, you make me feel old, too - - you treat me like I'm not capable of making my own choices.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : [gently but fervently]  Well, Ma - - I did it because I CARE about you! I was afraid of losing you if I didn't look after your well-being.

  Sophia Petrillo : [understandingly but a little pointedly]  I know that. But Pussycat, give me air. I know that you love me, but perhaps we can **both** start making decisions about me - - **together**.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : [putting her arm around Sophia and hugging her close]  We will, Ma.