The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century

Season 4, Episode 13, Aired

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Suzanne and Mary Jo rush Charlene to the hospital when she goes into labor on New Year's Eve and with a desire to deliver the first New Year's baby. Dolly Parton plays Charlene's "guardian movie star," who comes to her in a dream with news of her baby's birth and Bernice goes for an unexpected ambulance ride.
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  • This is my favorite episode of "Designing Women." It makes me cry every time I see it. My daughter knows this and she always makes a point to tell me when it's on.moreless

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    Charlene, who is a very sentimental gal, goes into labour on New Year\'s Eve, 1989. She has a dream beforehand; in it, Dolly Parton appears to her as her \"Guardian Moviestar.\" She tells Charlene about the daughter she is about to give birth to. She also utters the most memorable line from the show; \"On this, the first day of the last decade of the entire twentieth century, when you meet your daughter, you\'ll be meeting the person who will be holding your hand when it\'s your time to go.\"
    Suzanne is convinced that Charlene will give birth to the first baby of the New Year, hoping that by doing so, she will win a car that Suzanne can give to her maid, Consuela. She is hysterical, stalking the maternity ward, trying to find out how many centimeters the other patients are dilated.
    Bernice shows up at Sugarbaker\'s wearing the Christmas tree skirt that Mary Jo gave her for Christmas. It was too funny watching Mary Jo explain to her that it was a skirt to go around the Christmas tree. Bernice exclaims that she \"liked to never got the thing on.\"
    Anthony is stuck with the date from hell. Mary Jo and Julia are the usual calm in the eye of the storm. As Charlene is giving birth, they visit with Miss Minnie, a 102-year-old patient in the hospital who likes to be on the maternity floor so she can be near all the babies. She tells them about her life and they are all with her when she quietly passes away.
    This is, by far, my favorite episode of this show.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (1)

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    • Goof: Julia states Reese is visiting his daughter in Seattle. This is inconsistent with two seasons ago when Margaret lived in Phoenix.

  • QUOTES (4)

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    • (Suzanne is dreaming that she, Charlene, Julia, Mary Jo and Anthony are all infants in the hospital nursery in a giant playpen) Baby Mary Jo: Whaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh Baby Charlene: Don't cry, Mary Jo. What's wrong? Baby Suzanne: Nothing's wrong. She's just jealous because I was the first baby born after midnight January One, 1990. Baby Mary Jo: I'm not jealous, I'm hungry!! I only weighed in at five pounds. (sucks her thumb) Baby Suzanne: Yeah, likes that's a problem. You know you're little and tiny and cute. Of course you're not as cute as some people. Hey where's that mirror-mobile? I like that thing. Baby Julia: Suzanne, suck your pacifier. Baby Suzanne: Ohh! A little fussy today aren't we? Well, you're all just jealous because I won the new car. I was the first baby. I won, I won, I won! Baby Julia: Suzanne, I am not fussy today. I just don't particularly care for the head nurse. She is so superior! I'm especially tired of her coming in here every five minutes with that thermometer. I'd like to tell her where to stick it (pause) but apparently she already knows. Baby Charlene: Well I think this whole place is great. It's twenty-four hour room service and look(holding up her hospital ID bracelet) free jewelry! Baby Suzanne: Are you serious? Baby Charlene: Yeah, I think it's pretty. Baby Suzanne: Well, I'm glad you're developing a taste for cheap bracelets. You're gonna need that later on in life. And by the way, would someone kindly tell me what is he doing here? Baby Anthony: Excuse me, but to whom are you referring? Baby Suzanne: Oh, well like I'm the only one here who noticed! Hasn't anyone else asked themselves what is wrong with this picture? Baby Mary Jo: He's different! Baby Charlene: Oh, I know. I especially noticed during the diaper change. He's definitely different. Baby Anthony: That's right, very very different. And I'll tell you something else. For some reason, I do not particularly appreciate being put behind these bars. Whaaaaahhhh!! I don't want to be incarcerated anymore! Let me out! I'm busting out of here now!! Baby Suzanne: Oh keep your diapers on! You wouldn't even make it to the hallway. Baby Anthony: Well maybe not on my own, but I'm gonna be driving that little car right there. Baby Suzanne: Whaaaaaahhhhhhhh!! Baby Anthony: I was just gonna borrow it. I'll bring it back. Baby Suzanne: You can't take that!! It's my car, I won it. I'm the New Years baby! (Baby Bernice enters and runs off with the pint size car) Baby Bernice: Not anymore!! Not anymore!! Baby Suzanne: That's my car! That's my car!!!

    • Ambulance Driver: Did you know that it's a criminal offense to solicit an emergency vehicle under false pretenses? Bernice: Do you know that if the Avon lady falls down on your property you have to pay for it?

    • Mary Jo: Bernice, why are you wearing your Christmas tree skirt? Bernice: Well, this is the skirt you gave me for Christmas. Mary Jo: Yes, I know. It's not to wear. It's a Christmas tree skirt. You're supposed to put it around the base of your Christmas tree. Bernice: Oh! Well, no wonder. I like to never got this thing on. I finally just let the waist out and tied it with a belt.

    • Bernice: Happy New Year! Julia: Well, Happy New Year, Bernice. Bernice: (blowing horn at Suzanne) Happy New Year, Suzanne. Suzanne: Happy New Year to you too, Bernice, you little fruitcake. Julia: Suzanne! Suzanne: Oh, she knows I'm just kidding. She loves for me to call her that, don't you, Bernice? Bernice: It's okay. I would mind though, for example, if we were at the White House. Suzanne: Okay, I'll remember that.

  • NOTES (5)

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