And Then There Was One

 was the 16th episode of Season 2 of The Golden Girls, also the 41st overall series episode. Directed by Terry Hughes, and written by Russell Marcus, the episode premiered on NBC-TV on January 31, 1987.

Summary
Miami is having a charity Walk-A-Thon and Rose has volunteers she, Dorothy and Blanche to babysit the competitors children. At the end of the day they are left with a small baby, they talk about the possibility that she may have been abandoned and what would happen if they kept the baby. Also, Sophia has athletic aspirations as she aims for the Wheaties box.

Plot
Sophia is preparing for a the charity Walk-A-Thon by eating Pasta, Rose reveals that she volunteered the house to babysit competitors children, despite Blanche's objections Dorothy talks her around. The day of the Walk comes Sophia leaves for the over 80's, Rose has prepared things for the children and Blanche has tidied away anything breakable. The babysitting goes okay with Rose being in charge even the grumpiest kid plays in.

However at the end of the day one baby Emily is still there, they tried calling her home and the events nothing yet. To stop Emily crying they put her in Blanche's arms, she is calmed which surprises the non-maternal Blanche. Sophia returns claiming she did so well she might be in the papers, she remarks that Emily's parents might have abandoned her, not helped when the people at the event return call to reveal everyone has gone and so they call the police, they can wait 2 days for the child services or send her to the police. They decide on waiting and getting a few things for the days ahead.

After returning the girls talk about their own children, Blanche sadly admits she was too vain, hiring a Nanny and realising she ruined her relationship with them as adults. The next day as the girls prepare breakfast, Sophia reveals people had been calling her all night from the event saying she's a celebrity, just then Emily's father returns, confronted he admits he did call and Sophia answered bragging about her achievements. He reminds her of what he said, he couldn't pick up Emily because his wife had triplets, Sophia misheard him and so didn't tell anyone. With that solution Emily is taken home but it's clear Blanche hoped she could prove herself, Dorothy comforts her saying that her children do need her but she doesn't agree.

However Blanche calls Janet asking her if she can visit her but she keeps making excuses, until she hears the emotional honesty in Blanche's voice and they set the date.

Scene excerpts

 * Quotes
 * Dorothy: Rose, honey... have you been washing the fruit off before you eat it?
 * Sophia: You know, I've just realised the best reason of all to enter this walkathon.
 * Dorothy: What's that Ma?
 * Sophia: [referring to Rose] I get away from this ditz for a whole day.


 * Dorothy: Ma, are you sure about this?
 * Sophia: I'm not even sure I have these pants on right.

(He hands the list to Rose, who looks it over.)
 * Bob Henderson: Here's a list of Norman's likes and dislikes.
 * Rose: These are only dislikes.
 * Bob Henderson: Yeah, that's my Norman. And fortunately, for today, he's your Norman.


 * Blanche: (about the marathon) That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe we should volunteer.
 * Rose: We already did.
 * Dorothy: What did you say?
 * Rose: (recoils) ...I said we already did...
 * Dorothy: Rose, I work all week. The last thing I want to do is walk 15 miles on a Saturday.
 * Rose: We won't be walking. We're gonna sit.
 * Blanche: Ooh, now that sounds fine, I like sitting.
 * Sophia: We know, it's your second-favorite position.

Episode Notes

 * Nat Bernstein, Emily's father in this episode, also appeared in the preceding episode, "Before and After," as Rose's doctor.


 * Ray Combs, who played the part of Bob Henderson in this episode, was the "warm-up" comedian for this series and the sitcom Amen. He was best-known as the host of the second revival of the game show Family Feud from 1988-1994. Sadly, Combs died by suicide in 1996.


 * This episode ranked #10 in the Nielsen Ratings for that particular week in which it was first aired.

Guest starring

 * Ray Combs as Bob Henderson
 * Christopher Burton as Norman Henderson
 * Nat Bernstein as Emily's father
 * Ariana Richards as Lisa
 * Scott Curtis as Timmy
 * Jessica Keenan Wynn as Emily (uncredited)