Fri, Sep 22, 1978
It's Martin's 60th birthday, and Rhoda is hosting a party for the family at her apartment. At the last minute, Ida telephones saying that she and Martin won't be able to make it as Martin has thrown out his back again, and is sleeping it off. Rhoda and Brenda figure that if Martin can't come to them, they will go to Martin out in the Bronx. Upon their arrival at their parent's apartment, Rhoda and Brenda find that their mother is acting strangely and for some reason won't let them in. They eventually learn it is because Ida lied and Martin is not even home. The reason: he left her two months ago. Not wanting to burden the girls, Ida had been making excuse after excuse to them of his whereabouts. All Ida knows is that he is receiving mail via general delivery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he has gone to "find himself", but that he still loves Ida and the girls and that he will come home eventually. Now that she no longer has the deception to the girls to preoccupy her time, Ida goes into a depression over the issue. Barring Martin's early return, will anything get Ida out of her funk? Meanwhile, Benny gives Brenda an ultimatum of sorts about the status of their relationship.
Fri, Sep 29, 1978
Ida learns from a friend who actually saw him of Martin's whereabouts in Fort Lauderdale. Despite the account that Martin seems very happy in his new life, Ida plans on going down to Fort Lauderdale all dolled up to surprise him, the sight of her which she hopes will make him want to come home. At the last minute, Ida changes her mind as she figures if he had wanted to come home, he would have done so without any urging from her. Instead, she asks Rhoda and Brenda to go on her behalf, which they do with Benny as their chauffeur for the long drive if only because of Brenda's fear of flying. They do eventually arrive in Fort Lauderdale after a less than smooth trip, and they do find Martin. But trying to find some alone time actually to speak to him about what is going through his mind may be a totally different and more difficult matter.
Fri, Oct 6, 1978
By seeing a provocative new dress she just purchased, Rhoda and Brenda learn that Ida has decided to date again, most specifically her allergist, Dr. Murray Berger. After getting over the shock, the girls approve of their mother having some male companionship to go out every once in a while, instead of staying home alone waiting for Martin to return. So that they can all get acquainted, Rhoda decides to host a small dinner party for her mother, Dr. Berger, Brenda and Benny. Rhoda changes her mind about what her mother is doing when she meets Dr. Berger, who is twenty years her junior, and someone to who Rhoda herself would have been attracted under different circumstances. After Rhoda expresses her concerns to her mother in private, Ida counters that what Rhoda is truly feeling is jealousy about she having what Rhoda would want. To deal with her feelings and to try and repair her relationship with her mother, Rhoda has to examine critically whether her mother's comments have any merit. Meanwhile, Rhoda runs into Tina Molinari, Gary's annoying ex-employee from the jeans store. She has been unemployed since Gary closed the store to move to Chicago. Despite Rhoda's sly hints to him not to do it, Jack hires her as the costume shop's new girl Friday.
Fri, Oct 13, 1978
Although she knew the day would come, Brenda is still surprised when Benny proposes. Talking openly about the pros and cons of the proposal in front of Benny, Brenda decides that the pros far outweighs the cons and she says yes. Rhoda, the first person to hear the news, is excited for her sister and her soon to be brother-in-law. Rhoda decides to hold a small party so that Brenda and Benny can tell Ida, the formality of whose blessing Brenda wants before she proceeds. Ida, however, surprises both Brenda and Rhoda by not giving her blessing, as Martin leaving her has made her change her perspective on marriage, in which she no longer believes. A heartbroken Brenda has a falling out with her mother over the issue. Still wanting to be with Benny, Brenda instead decides to ask him to move in with her. Meanwhile, Rhoda tries to convince Ida to give Brenda her blessing about the wedding, Ida not believing that Brenda would live in sin. Either Ida or Brenda will have to change their mind for Brenda and Ida to be able to reconcile.
Fri, Oct 20, 1978
Brenda is in a tizzy as Benny has invited her to his parents' place to meet them for the first time. Brenda asks Rhoda to come with her for moral support. A reluctant Rhoda eventually agrees. Although Rhoda's presence does make the meeting easier for Brenda, it is Rhoda who ends up having the bigger problem as Benny's older brother, Earl, who is also at the dinner but who Rhoda has no interest in, declares his attraction to her. Rhoda, who has no intention of ever dealing with Earl again except in family gatherings, succumbs to Benny's pleas for her to go out with him again if only to maintain family peace. Rhoda has to decide how far she will go to let Earl know that she has no interest in him, while still maintaining that family peace.
Fri, Oct 27, 1978
Ida has been spending a lot of time lately with Rhoda and Brenda. She admits it's because she's lonely. As such, she's decided to look for a roommate, advertising for a female. Holding the screening interviews at Rhoda's apartment, Ida receives an interesting response in the form of Phillip Cooper, who, with his wife, is looking for a new situation with a third after Mrs. Cooper's mother, who lived with them and was their meticulous housekeeper, moved away. The story is enough for Ida to take that interview to the next step at least to let the Coopers take a look at her apartment. But upon Mr. Cooper's arrival at her apartment, Ida learns his story was not quite true: there is no longer a Mrs. Cooper, who recently passed away. Mr. Cooper saw in Ida's ad a home situation which he now misses without his wife. Although initially suspect, Ida is enamored enough with his story to accept him as her roommate. Only time will tell if it ends up being a match made in roommate heaven, or if certain issues will arise which they hadn't anticipated which could turn that heaven into a certain kind of hell.
Fri, Nov 10, 1978
Ida's birthday is approaching, and without Martin around, she says she doesn't want a big fuss, although she does invite Rhoda, Brenda and Benny to spend it with her at her place in the Bronx. Among the gifts that Ida receives is one shipped to her from Martin, it being a sound movie projector complete with a film showing Martin and his latest goings-on in Florida. Ida is happy to see Martin, if only on film, and has bittersweet feelings about seeing how happy and content he seems to be. Ida receives an unexpected last minute present in the form of Martin himself, who has come home, he feeling that her birthday was the best time he could have made the move back for everyone concerned. But rather than be happy to see her husband in the flesh again, Ida does not want to see or talk to him, at least not yet, which places Martin in a difficult situation. Rhoda and Brenda try to convince their mother to at least talk to him, which if she does may reveal what she is truly feeling about her husband and their marriage at this stage in their life.
Fri, Dec 8, 1978
Brenda and Rhoda notice that Benny is out of sorts, off in his own world. Brenda learns that a recent incident is just the latest but perhaps most telling that he is invisible to most people, and thus feels unloved and unwanted by society. Brenda decides to do whatever she can to make Benny feel like he is a worthwhile human being. She decides to take the advice of one of her work colleagues and follow the tenets of a book called "How to Be a Different Woman in Every Room", which not only espouses being subservient to your man, but also doing so in a different but equally feminine persona for the tasks associated with every different room in one's house. So in addition to waiting on Benny hand and foot, Brenda also decides to wear different frilly clothing for these different personae. Rhoda voices to Brenda her hatred of what Brenda has become in trying to please Benny. Beyond dealing with Rhoda's displeasure, Brenda has to figure out if her tactics truly are making Benny feel loved by society, and if not, what will. Meanwhile, Jack sets Rhoda up on the latest of the many blind dates in her life.
1978
Both Brenda and Rhoda have exciting things going-on in their respective lives. Brenda is going engagement ring shopping with Benny. And Rhoda has been nominated for a prestigious New York Society of Costume Designers award for a science-fiction monster mask she designed. Jack, who has never won anything in his life, isn't happy for Rhoda until he learns that the company shares the honor if she wins. As such, Jack springs for the entire gang, including Brenda and Benny, to go to the awards dinner and dance. Rhoda is thinking about going solo, although Jack thinks she should ask one of their clients, model good looking Doug Korman. Despite Rhoda's less than eloquent invitation, Doug accepts. Rhoda admits that she is looking forward to having someone as good looking as Doug on her arm for the event. Beyond Rhoda and Jack actually winning or not winning the award, the events of the evening end up being less than smooth for their entire group, especially for Doug.
1978
Martin admits to his daughters that he is getting frustrated in his attempts to win back Ida, she who still seems cool to their dates. After hearing straight from Martin what the two do on their dates, Rhoda suggests that he needs to take a more romantic approach, by cooking Ida a quiet candlelit dinner for two. As Martin is still not allowed home, Martin takes Rhoda up on her offer to use her apartment and have the invitation under the guise of a family dinner. Martin takes Rhoda advice to heart in more ways than one. Upon her arrival, Ida is surprised, a little taken aback but impressed with Martin's efforts. But Martin's attempt to be romantic takes a turn for the wrong, which results in Martin, Ida, Rhoda and Brenda spending the better part of the evening with a bunch of poker playing doctors, who seemingly are more concerned about their cards than patient welfare.
1978
Rhoda is involved in two pieces of bad news. The first is that Jack is facing a massive personal debt - namely to his loan shark bookie cousin - which may force him to close the shop if he can't come up with $5,000 pronto. The second is that Brenda has invited Benny's brother Earl, who Rhoda cannot stand, over, he who in turn has tried again and again to make Rhoda fall in love with him. The first problem looks like it may be solved when Jack announces that an investor for the shop has come forward with the entire $5,000. However, that good news turns to bad when Rhoda learns the investor is Earl, who wants to spend the entire week at the shop to check it out as a sound investment. Rhoda believes that Earl will renege on the entire amount at the end of the week, this move purely a ploy to spend the week with her. As a show of good faith, Earl gives Jack $1,000 cash at the beginning, which Jack can return at his leisure if on the off chance Earl decides not to invest at the end of the five days. The questions become whether Rhoda can stand five days straight of being with Earl, and if she does, whether her initial assumption is correct that he had no intention of ever investing. Meanwhile, Benny is avoiding Brenda if only because she wants to give him a haircut.
1978
In the lead up to Brenda and Benny's wedding whenever it may be, Brenda seems to be bombarded on all sides by people figuring out her life for her. First, Ida and she have a disagreement on the wedding dress, Ida wanting something more traditional, while Brenda wants a simple every day dress. Second, Benny has news that he has found a house for them after their marriage, they sharing it with another couple on Staten Island. Third, Ida offers Brenda and Benny a trip to Israel, complete with a meeting with Golda Meir, for their honeymoon. And finally, Benny has arranged for Brenda to join him in the Goodwin family plot after their passing. Brenda is overwhelmed enough in the battles in which she knows what she wants, but is totally drowning in those decisions about which she has no idea yet what she wants. By the early light of morning, Brenda is nowhere to be found, she having run away from all these problems. Rhoda, Ida and Benny have to figure out where she went, and if they can what they can do to make everything all right in her world. Meanwhile, Rhoda is getting estimates from carpenters to enclose her kitchen. Upon hearing what she wants to do, Jack offers to do the work. Rhoda, who didn't even know that Jack knew carpentry, has to decide whether to take him up on the offer, and if she does and it doesn't go well if their friendship will be affected by it.