"It's like we say in St. Olaf, Christmas without fruitcake is like St. Sigmund's Day without the headless boy."
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Where's Charlie? is the fifth episode of the seventh season of The Golden Girls and the one-hundred and fifty-ninth episode overall. Directed by Lex Passaris and written by Gail Parent and Jim Vallely, it premiered on NBC-TV on October 19th, 1991.
When Miles gives Rose a friendship ring, Sophia convinces Rose that her late husband does not approve of her relationship, resulting in Rose hurting Miles. Blanche helps her amateur baseball player boyfriend improve his play, but the plan backfires when he is recruited by a team in Japan and becomes a cross dresser.
Plot[]
Sophia is perplexed to find Dorothy composing a letter to her departed father Sal. Dorothy explains that it's her way of settling her unresolved feelings about their relationship and his sudden passing, prompting Sophia to remark, "There's nothing sadder than your daughter losing it before you do." Blanche introduces the girls to Stevie, a professional baseball player she has been coaching. She admittedly knows nothing about baseball, and her coaching method consists mainly of making Stevie wear her lingerie under his uniform during batting practice.
Rose is elated when her boyfriend Miles gives her a "friendship ring," explaining that he "[wants his] ring on [his] girl." But after discovering what she believes to be a sign from her late husband Charlie in the refrigerator, she is conflicted. Fearing that Charlie is unhappy with her for accepting Miles' ring, Rose states that she'd give every last cent she had for a chance to talk with him again. Sophia, seeing a money-making opportunity, pretends to channel Charlie and encourages Rose to give her twenty dollars. When Rose asks "Charlie" how he feels about Miles' ring, Sophia dodges the question, allowing Rose to draw her own conclusion. Rose resolves to give the ring back to Miles. Dorothy is appalled to learn what Sophia has done and orders her to tell Rose the truth upon penalty of being sent back to Shady Pines.
During batting practice, Stevie thanks Blanche for her mentorship and reveals that he's been offered a spot on a team in Japan, which he has accepted. Blanche is irate that he would choose baseball over her and leaves in a huff.
Sophia confesses her deception to Rose and talks her into patching things up with Miles. The two of them reconcile, and Rose puts his ring back on. Dorothy announces that she's finished writing her letter and gives it to Sophia to read. But instead of an airing of grievances with Sal, it's a thank-you letter to Sophia for giving Dorothy life.
Stevie shows up at the house wearing a dress, fishnets, and heels, and gushing that "For the first time in my life I'm batting 310, and I like myself!" He asks Blanche to get back together, but she declines. Though she denies that it's because of Stevie's clothing. after he leaves she admits that the dress was in fact the dealbreaker.[1]
