Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself

 was the fifth episode of Season 3 of The Golden Girls, also the 56th overall episode of the series.

Summary
The women confront their phobias on a flight to the Bahamas to attend a funeral.

Plot
Sophia has entered a cooking contest, she tries the food on Blanche and Dorothy, despite their reaction it's not good enough, Rose enters in tears her Aunt Gretchen died and the family expects Rose to deliver a eulogy but she's afraid of public speaking. Rose reveals that her fear started after she froze during her High School Graduation Speech, Dorothy then helps her by admitting she had a fear of flying, she had to go to Gloria's wedding in LA and so she saw someone to help her. Blanche reveals she has a recurring nightmare about hearing the voice of God while she was in a space with Bald Men.

After Rose freezes again in a test she reveals she can't do without Blanche and Dorothy there. They agree only for Blanche to reveal that they will be flying to the Bahamas where the funeral is being held, Dorothy while speaking to Sophia about her fear reveals she's still afraid. Just before they go, Dorothy tries to get out of it saying that Sophia was ill at the competition only for her to enter saying she's fine and forgot her wine. It's clear that Dorothy trying to back out but after Blanche gives them a sharp talk they go to the Airport. On the plane Dorothy is scared to death, however Blanche discovers the plane is filled with bald men and that her dream is in a plane and they fly into the ocean with the Captain's name being Lord the final piece.

As the journey goes on the girls share a nice memory but Dorothy realises nothing has happened and they all are being silly, however the plane has to go back as a storm threatens the route, Blanche reveals that wasn't in her dream meaning it broken and they will be fine. Rose however hasn't conquered her fears, so Blanche tells her to do it on the plane, she uses the intercom to talk about her aunt who use to scare her but as she thinks about it she did it to make her unafraid of the world and thanks her in death for it. They return to Sophia revealing the day's event, the bald men were former Mr Cleans and that they faced their fears. Sophia reveals she originally drew against a 103 year old who died of shock, the funeral is on Saturday and Rose has been volunteered by Sophia to deliver the eulogy.

Quotes
 Dorothy: Honey, you were doing just fine.

Rose: Oh, that's because you were here. Tomorrow, I'll be out there all alone, staring at my relatives, who'll be ready to hoot and snicker at the first crack in my voice. They'll think I'm an idiot.

Sophia: Please, it's family. They know you're an idiot.  Blanche: Will you just calm down? Drink champagne.

Dorothy: I don't like champagne.

Blanche: Go ahead, it might relax you.

Dorothy: Didn't make me relaxed. It just makes me wanna burp. I'll probably burp and the pressure in the cabin will change and we'll fly into a mountain.

Rose: That would be a good example of a mishap.

Dorothy: Rose, do me a favor, fasten your seat belt. Over your mouth!

Guest List

 * Meg Wyllie - Candy
 * Paul Ross - Captain Lord (voice)

Trivia

 * The title comes from Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration speech which was first quoted in To Kill a Mockingbird.
 * The saying was also used by Sophia in Break-In to Rose.
 * In The The Operation Dorothy reveals she has a fear with Hospitals and Blanche admits she has a fear of flying, also she has stage flight which Rose tells her to deal with.