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'"A Piece of Cake"' is the fiftieth episode of ''The Golden Girls''.

Contents

Plot

Trivia

Plot

The girls are preparing a surprise birthday party for Sophia's friend Esther-a milestone year ("after 80, every year without a headstone is a milestone!"). This prompts Dorothy to recall a birthday party Rose once held for her at "Mr. Ha Ha's Hot Dog Hacienda", a kiddie restaurant. While there, Dorothy was coerced into performing in the "Birthday Roundup Parade" by the obnoxious clown after whom the restaurant was named. The two traded barbs to the point where Dorothy was ready to smash her "Ha-Ha-Hot Fudge Cake" into his face. Mr. Ha Ha stopped her by pointing out that it "wouldn't be a very adult thing to do." Upon these words, another birthday boy tapped Ha Ha on the shoulder and smashed ''his'' cake in the clown's face, offering a "Happy Birthday, Dorothy." As the scene ends in laughter, Rose recalls the last birthday she spent in her home in St. Olaf. She prepared a cake and beverages, walked out of the room, and walked back in, pretending that her deceased husband Charlie had created a surprise for her. Sitting alone at the kitchen table, she had a conversation with him, in which she revealed that she has sold the house and plans to move to Miami. On the verge of tears, she said, "I miss you...", and then put on an air of false cheer, declaring that "it's my birthday! You know the rule...I get the rose..." She cut the cake alone, trying as hard as she could to be happy. After this sad scene, a happier time is remembered-when Rose tried to prepare a surprise birthday party for Blanche. Sophia, still weakened by her stroke, even came to the house for the first time. As guests mingled on the lanai, Blanche appeared and unfortunately revealed that she hated birthdays, as they remind her of her age. But there is one thing she hates more than a birthday is a surprise birthday party...which Sophia announces as she appears. Blanche told the guests to leave...until she saw that all of them were men. "I invited everyone in your black book...the one by your hot body oil dispenser", Rose announced. Blanche decided that perhaps a birthday party was not such a bad thing after all! Sophia rounds off the stories by telling everyone about her fiftieth birthday, where she and husband Salvadore had a huge fight. Sophia thought that her life was pointless, but a young Dorothy reminded her of all of the good she had done throughout her time. Sophia went in to apologize to Sal...but didn't come back out ("We'll be there in an hour, Dorothy...ooh...make that two hours!") Back in the present, the girls head out into the living room to prepare the surprise...for ''Blanche!'' "This was the only way to surprise you", Sophia points out. The episode culminates with a long conga line of men dancing in through the lanai, and a very happy set of girls joining in.

Trivia

★ This is one of the few times that Dorothy, Sophia and Blanche enjoy hearing one of Rose's stories without complaining or dishing insults. Another example would be the season 3 episode Mother's Day where Dorothy even tells Rose it was a lovely story (sincerely, rather than her trade mark sarcasm)