The Golden Girls (TV Series)

Older and Wiser (1991)

Bea Arthur: Dorothy Zbornak

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : You've never told a lie?

  Rose Nylund : That's right, I've never told a lie. Well, just once when I snuck out of class to go to the movies.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : That's not much of a lie.

  Rose Nylund : That's what I thought. Turned out to be the day they taught everything.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : The final piece of the puzzle.

  Rose Nylund : [later]  I'm beginning to think Blanche is hung up on her looks.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : Boy, you don't need lightning to strike you.

  Rose Nylund : No, thanks. Not again. Once was enough.

  Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : An extra piece of the puzzle.

• 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.

• Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : [stopping short in shocked consternation upon seeing the crowd of elderly residents grouped in a big circle and haphazardly trying to dance the Hokey Pokey]  Oh, my Gawwwd - - they got into the medication!

• Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak : [after hearing Blanche excitedly relate about her having helped out around the house while "Big Daddy" was on probation]  And the point of this - - sordid Song Of The South?

• 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.