Empty Nest Season 4, Episode 18: The Unimportance of Being Charley

1

50 Million Men and a Baby

Laverne's cousin leaves her baby behind and runs off to find her husband, who left after a fight. So while Laverne looks for her, the Westons take care of the baby. The experience makes Barbara want her own child and she considers artificial insemination.

2

Almost Like Being in Love

Harry's lust for his girlfriend sparks marital thoughts.

3

Her Cheatin' Heart

Laverne meets another man at a banquet and goes out to dinner with him while Nick is out of town. Meanwhile, when Carol confesses that she stole Barbara's first boyfriend at camp years ago, Barbara vows to extract revenge when Carol least expects it.

4

Food For Thought

Carol quits her job at the library and buys a catering business.

5

Harry's Got a Gun

The Westons buy guns after their house is burglarized, a choice they later regret when Carol gets a little trigger happy. Charley decides to head to the woods to do some serious thinking about his life.

6

The Dreyfus Affair

Harry hires a world-famous vet to operate on Dreyfuss. Charley contemplates a career change when he is offered a job at Uncle Buzzy's Pirate World.

7

Country Weston

Country music star Garth Brooks offers Barbara a job as security chief on his tour. Charley moves in with the Westons while his house is being fumigated.

8

Windy

A hurricane hits just as the Westons decide to sell their house. Laverne's mother-in-law visits.

9

Talk, Talk, Talk

Harry becomes host of a call-in radio show; Carol, Barbara, and Charley enter a chili cook-off.

10

Lonely Are the Brave

Just as Carol conquers her emotional problems, she becomes jealous of Barbara, who is up for a medal of honor for saving a man's life (something she did by accident). Laverne upsets Harry when she asks for a second opinion after he diagnoses her visiting niece's symptoms as allergies.

11

If You Knew Andy Like I Know . . .

Harry hires an old friend's son as an associate, but isn't pleased with the way he practices medicine. Meanwhile, Carol begins a relationship with the new associate and realizes he is arogant and self-absorbed.

12

My Nurse is Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble . . .

Harry's old nurse Winifred returns to fill in while Laverne goes out of town, and a war erupts between the two ladies when Winifred reveals that she's out to get Laverne's job. While on a trip to New York with Barbara, Carol manages to annoy the entire planeload of passengers (including a nun).

13

The Son of a Preacherman

As a favor to a minister friend, Harry takes in his brilliant young son as an observer, but becomes distressed when the boy confesses it's only his father's pressure that makes him want to be a doctor. Carol is excited about catering her friend Suzanne's posh Palm Beach wedding, until the groom gets excited by Carol.

14

Ex-appeal

Carol starts dating Barbara's ex-boyfriend, but Barbara realizes she still has feelings for him.

15

The Great Escape

While Harry and Laverne are en route to a medical seminar, an escaped convict takes Barbara and Carol hostage.

16

The Mismatchmaker

Harry tries to reconcile a friend and his wife. Barbara hires Carol to cater a police party.

17

The Return of Aunt Susan

"The Return of Aunt Susan" is the title of the 17th fourth season episode of the hit NBC sitcom and Golden Girls spin-off Empty Nest. The episode first aired on February 8, 1992.

18

The Unimportance of Being Charley

Charley poses as captain of his ship to impress his visiting parents. Worried that Harry favors Barbara over her, Carol decides to keep track of how many times he does so.

19

Sayonara

Nick leaves Laverne for a woman in Japan. Barbara goes undercover at a college sorority to catch a computer hacker.

20

Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde

The full moon on Leap Day causes strange things to happen: after throwing his back out, Harry begins to act very unusual; a series of odd occurrences leads Barbara to believe that a neighborhood repairman is actually Dreyfuss; Charley cancels a date to stay home and watch The Sound of Music.

21

Charley for President

Carol persuades Charley to run for president of the home owner's association. While on undercover assignment at the hospital, Barbara tries to fool Harry with a number of disguises, but he sees through every one.

22

Good Neighbor Harry

A good deed backfires on Harry when a neurotic woman refuses to leave him alone. Carol's new boyfriend seems perfect except for his hideously annoying laugh.

23

Final Analysis

Just as Carol nears a breakthrough, her psychiatrist dies. Harry's new patient enjoys making jokes and smart alack remarks.

24

Roots

The Westons (and Charley) travel to England to their ancestral home Weston Castle, where Harry is to receive the Sword of Weston in a ceremony. Unfortunately he gets locked in a dungeon after following a secret passage. Meanwhile back home, Laverne tries to teach Dreyfuss to ride a skateboard. Richard Mulligan plays three roles in this episode: the usual Harry, a butler named Basil, and a relative Baroness Daphne Weston.