Betty White credited as playing...
Rose Nylund
- Dorothy Zbornak: Did you finish the decorations, Rose?
- Rose Nylund: No, not yet. I, I kinda got sidetracked.
- [reveals a mouse-like balloon sculpture]
- Rose Nylund: Look.
- Dorothy Zbornak: This is what you've been doing for the past forty-five minutes?
- Rose Nylund: Uh-huh. Isn't he cute? I call him Scotty.
- [Dorothy pops the balloon]
- Dorothy Zbornak: Now you can call him garbage.
- Rose Nylund: [Rose comes into her kitchen in St. Olaf, pretending to be surprised by the birthday cake with lit candles she left on the table] Oh, my birthday! I completely forgot! Well! I'd better make a wish and blow out those candles before Mr. Hickenlooper has the entire volunteer fire brigade up here pumping water on my clean kitchen floor! I swear that man will look for any excuse to make that siren sound through his nose! Ingle Lundquist told me just this last week that...
- [Rose stops herself and looks at an empty chair to her left]
- Rose Nylund: ... I know. 'Shut up, Rose, and blow out your candles.' Okay... a wish.
- [she blows out her candles and chuckles]
- Rose Nylund: I guess that was kind of a silly wish. I know you can't *really* be here with me, Charlie. It's taken me these past eight months to accept that, but I finally have! Then why our usual little private birthday celebration? Somehow it feels less lonely, Charlie. I mean, this is the first special day I've had to spend without you. If it'd been Christmas, I'd probably have hung your stocking! Or if it'd been *your* birthday, I probably would've still asked the clerk down at Tuttle's to help me pick out a tie for you. Oh ho, I bet *that* would've gotten me some strange looks from the sales staff... although they already look at me strangely. Because of the time I tried to special-order a double-breasted navy suit with a drop seat in the pants for cousin Wendell. Anyway, that was part of the reason. The other part... was I wanted to talk to you. I know... I didn't need a special occasion for that. It'd be more of an occasion if I *stopped* talking! But, I... I figured since it was my birthday, you wouldn't be upset when you hear what I've got to tell you.
- [stands up from the table]
- Rose Nylund: I've decided to sell the house and leave St. Olaf, Charlie. The winters are rough here in Minnesota, and this place is... too... filled with memories to let me get on with my life. I need to start over... *without* you, Charlie. And I think this is the best way. I know it'll be tough in a strange town... all alone... but I've read some *wonderful* things about Miami!
- [sits back down]
- Rose Nylund: It won't be long before I meet nice people, and... and make some new friends. I have a real good feeling about that! So! I... just wanted you to know what I'd decided. I hope to be in Florida before the next winter comes. But I know that wherever I am, you'll be right there with me.
- [Rose fights back tears]
- Rose Nylund: I love you, Charlie. I miss you.
- [composes herself and starts to cut the cake]
- Rose Nylund: It's my birthday! You know the rules! I get the rose!