‘Love Under the Big Top’
Season 5, Episode 5 - Aired October 28, 1989
Dorothy is thrown when her successful boyfriend announces he's giving up the law to become a clown. Meanwhile, Rose persuades Blanche and Dorothy to join her protest against tuna fishing.
Quote from Sophia
Blanche: Your Ken is quite a catch, Dorothy. For once I'm a bit jealous.
Sophia: What's not to be jealous about? The man's gorgeous. He's got money and class. I couldn't be happier for you, Dorothy. I just want to give you a loving mother's advice: Don't blow it!
Quote from Dorothy
Dorothy: I mean, aside from being one of Miami's most successful lawyers. [Sophia knocks on wood] Thank you, Ma. The man is caring. He's sensitive. Do you know that on weekends, he actually puts on a clown's costume and entertains sick kids at the hospital? [doorbell] I mean, what more could I want from a man? Get it out of the gutter, Blanche.
Quote from Sophia
Sophia: Hey, Kenny. What's a nice boy like you doing with ulcers anyway? You got a job and a girl who'll do anything for you. Anything. You will, won't you, Dorothy?
Dorothy: I'll take that as a "Have a good time."
Ken: Don't worry, Mrs. Petrillo. I'll have your little girl home at a reasonable hour.
Sophia: Don't bother. You kids have fun. I won't wait up. Have her back by Tuesday. No questions asked.
Quote from Blanche
Blanche: Honey, congratulations.
Dorothy: You're more excited than I am.
Blanche: Well, why not, Dorothy? Just think of it. Life with a successful attorney. The summer homes, the glamorous social circles, those impulsive little trips to Europe with rascally Romans pinching your bottom. You're a lucky girl, Dorothy. I hate you.
Quote from Sophia
Dorothy: This is just crazy talk. I mean, we've only been seeing each other for three months. I've never even thought of what it would be like if I were Mrs. Kenneth Whittingham.
Sophia: Has a nice ring to it. Go get 'em, pussycat. Just remember, you and I come as a package.
Quote from Dorothy
Ken: Sweetheart, I am so excited.
Dorothy: Oh?
Ken: It's just that I've come to a major decision.
Dorothy: Oh?
Ken: And it's a decision that affects both of us.
Dorothy: Ohh?
Ken: Sit down. Close your eyes and I'll give you a hint.
Dorothy: Okey-dokey.
Ken: [wearing a red nose] Well? Can you guess what my decision is?
Dorothy: You're becoming Irish?
Ken: No. I'm becoming a clown. A full-time circus clown.
Quote from Dorothy
Ken: How about a celebration? I'm dining with friends from the circus. Join me?
Dorothy: Might as well get my feet wet. Oh, Ken. There won't be, like, a dozen tiny dogs, hopping on hind legs, wearing funny hats?
Ken: Oh, I wish.
Quote from Dorothy
Blanche: Oh, come on, tell me.How big a disaster was last night?
Dorothy: It wasn't a disaster, Blanche. It was just uncomfortable. I tried to find common ground, something I could talk to Ken's circus friends about. But it turns out the Human Cannonball doesn't do that much reading.
Blanche: Does Ken know how you feel?
Dorothy: He asked me how I felt, if I had a good time, and I had to tell him the truth. I just didn't fit in with the other clowns' wives.
Quote from Blanche
Rose: Dorothy, I've been thinking. It might help you get your mind off this Ken thing for a while. Why don't you join us at the rally?
Dorothy: Oh, no-
Blanche: Oh, yeah, Dorothy. Oh, do. Oh, get out of yourself. It's for a noble cause. Or are you so self-centered that you'd rather wallow in self-pity?
Dorothy: You're right. I'll do it.
Blanche: Oh, good. Rose, Dorothy's taking my place.
Quote from Sophia
Sophia: There you are, pussycat. What's this news about Ken? He gave you a ring, didn't he?
Blanche: Yeah. Three of them.
Dorothy: Look, Ma, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just give it to you straight out. Ken is becoming a clown.
Sophia: Scusi?
Dorothy: Ma, he's tired of being a lawyer, so he's joining the circus.
Sophia: What did you do to him?
Dorothy: I didn't do anything.
Sophia: Yeah, right. One day the man's a lawyer, the next he's a clown. Perfectly natural.