Empty Nest

A wealthy philanthropist eyes Harry. Carol tries to help shy Doris (who once volunteered at the clinic but now sales roll-on moose door-to-door) come out of her shell.

Harry persuades his old jazz idol Sonny Baxter to come out of retirement and play at a benefit. Strange things start happening after Sophia vows revenge on Charley for dumping her niece.

After receiving an inheritance, Charley assembles a group of people who have meant a lot to him over the years (which includes Harry, Carol, Sophia, and Don Adams from Get Smart) and takes them all on a trip to Mardi Gras. Laverne's hideous looking cat dies.

Laverne's old biker boyfriend returns and the two rekindle their romance, which annoys Harry, who doesn't think the guy is good enough for her. Carol makes a memory video for baby Scotty.

Laverne fills in for a friend at Shady Pines, where Sophia's boyfriend hits on her. Sophia catches the two together and thinks Laverne is stealing her man.

Charley ends up working at his brother's used car lot, but when he makes a big sale his brother takes all the credit. Maxine and Laverne become competitive when they start jogging to get in shape.

Harry gets shot when a young boy brings a gun to the clinic. Carol has a date with a famous anthropologist, who opts instead to go party with Charley.

When the baby can't stop sneezing, Carol hires Studs With Suds to clean the house from top to bottom, and Sophia charges her friends to come and see them in action. But when they think it may be Dreyfuss causing the allergy, Harry takes him to stay with Charley, who doesn't want to give him back. Meanwhile, strange noises from upstairs make Laverne think the clinic is haunted by the ghosts of men who were murdered there years before.

Carol joins a mother-daughter support group and ends up feeling that she is the worst mother in the world, especially after locking the baby in the car. Laverne thinks Maxine is dying when she mysteriously asks for time off after a check-up.

Charley plans to marry a waitress from a pancake house. When she finds out they have the same birthday, Laverne thinks that explains why she and Maxine are so much alike, which Maxine thinks is ridiculous.

When Maxine has a dental emergency, Harry steps in and gives an interview in her place, but the journalist makes the article sound as though Harry deserves all the credit for the clinic's success. Meanwhile, Charley falls for Dreyfuss' vet.

When the baby starts ""singing Beethoven,"" Carol fears the hospital has given her the wrong child.

Maxine and Harry compete to sell opera tickets. After a series of false alarms, Carol gives birth to son Scotty while at the opera.

Harry and Charley get stranded at sea. Maxine tries to overcome her fear of public speaking.

A shy woman volunteers at the clinic and starts sending Laverne flowers and cooking her dinner, which prompts Maxine to think the lady is a lesbian. Carol tries to get her unborn child enrolled in a posh preschool.

Maxine's mother visits and drives her crazy, but then finds out she may have glaucoma. Charley finds out the sex of Carol's baby, something she didn't want to know. Harry and Casey MacAfee try to make a date.

Carol reads her mother's old diary and thinks she wasn't wanted. Maxine is annoyed by a mime and a hypochondriac at the clinic.

Carol is afraid to tell a date that she is pregnant. Laverne and Maxine disagree when trying to plan a baby shower.

Laverne's mother-in-law visits, unaware that Nick and Laverne are divorced. Charley tries to persuade Carol to make him godfather of the baby.

Carol can't decide how to tell Patrick about her pregnancy. Laverne refuses to tell Maxine a secret.

Carol throws Patrick out when she realizes that he'll never grow up, but later learns that she's pregnant. Laverne goes too far when trying to organize things at the clinic.

Harry sells his pediatrics practice to another doctor, who ends up firing Laverne. When the hospital sends Harry to check out an inner-city clinic, he ends up teaming up with the owner, Dr. Maxine Douglas, to keep the place open. Laverne joins them as nurse. Meanwhile, Sophia Petrillo moves back into nearby Shady Pines retirement home and drops by the Weston house.

Patrick and Emily drive back from New York together in his van. Meanwhile, Harry, who is home sick with the flu, must bear the brunt of Carol's certainty that something will happen between the two while on the road.

Harry befriends a young shoplifter while volunteering at a free clinic and brings him home. The boy, an uncontrolled diabetic, later runs away, taking the Westons furniture with him.

Carol is upset when cousin Little Carol visits and announces her wedding plans. Charley is sentenced to community service at the hospital and gets some helpful tips from Jack Trenton.

Emily upsets Harry when she tears a ligament in her knee and needs surgery, but chooses instead to follow a therapy program recommended by another doctor. Meanwhile, Patrick goes camping and Charley tags along.

Emily is dating Carol's old school friend Danny, who compulsively jokes about his weight problem; Laverne is spending all her spare time on the phone gossiping with other nurses, but is aghast when another nurse accidentally hears her and Harry together in the supply closet and alerts the grapevine.

A small investment in a mall makes Laverne especially bossy. Carol consults an animal psychologist for help when Dreyfuss ignores her after she yells at him.

While gathered around the television for the Super Bowl, the Westons, Laverne, and Charley reflect on old times.

Harry and Charley travel to Las Vegas to see a boxing match but the trip is plagued with problems. Meanwhile, Emily wonders when Carol stopped being her cool big sister when Carol won't let her visiting college friends crash on the living room floor. Emily later regrets her comments when Carol takes control and starts teaching the whole group to do 70's dances.

The FBI wants Emily to help them nab her bookie boyfriend. Laverne teaches Charley CPR.

When Emily returns from college, Carol decides to take her little sister under her wing, so to speak, and sets her up on a blind date with Patrick's friend. Meanwhile, Emily's rich boyfriend, whom she doesn't want to see anymore, doesn't want their relationship to be over.

A storm strands cruise passenger Charley adrift in a raft and he returns a different man. Carol and Patrick have a chance to work together, but she becomes jealous when he gets the job and she doesn't.

Harry discovers that a patient is using steroids. Upset that Patrick is using a nude model in his work, Carol starts thinking she's not attractive enough and attempts an exercise regimen. Laverne is put in charge of fire drills.

Laverne is reluctant to accept Harry's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner and flashbacks to the previous such dinner show why.

Harry attempts to start a relationship with an old friend. Carol tries to assemble exercise equipment she bought for Patrick, and when she can't do it she reluctantly calls on Charley for help.

Carol talks Harry into appearing with her on Geraldo. A young patient tries to increase his height so he will be tall enough to ride an amusement park roller coaster.

Harry agrees to help Laverne hand out candy on Halloween, while Carol and Patrick are mugged after attending a costume party dressed as Madame Curie and Radium.

After finding a man guilty during jury duty, Carol tires to clear her conscience by hiring a former criminal to work at her catering business.

Harry tries his best to get a lady to agree to date him, but soon wishes he hadn't bothered when she tries to control every area of his life. Laverne tries to conceal an ulcer.

Harry objects to Arthur's sudden wedding plans, which prompts Arthur to end their friendship. Carol tries to get Barbara to arrest her at a protest.

Barbara sets newly divorced Laverne up on a blind date with a coroner's assistant. Carol is jealous of the friendship between Patrick and Charley (who surprisingly understands the depth of Patrick's art).

Carol begins dating Patrick, the Westons' sprinkler man. When his apartment is condemned, Carol persuades Harry to let Patrick move into the garage.

Barbara agrees to drop by and check up on Charley after he receives a death threat. Seeing how much they have in common, Charley becomes smitten with her . Meanwhile, after Harry lets a young patient play with Dreyfuss, the kid tries to buy him.

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.

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

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Harry's lust for his girlfriend sparks marital thoughts.

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.

Harry is supposed to get Charley back to the house for a surprise party, but instead the two end up searching for Charley's old girlfriend whom he never got over. Meanwhile, Carol, Barbara, and Laverne try to entertain the party guests.

Harry dates a newspaper writer who begins writing about their relationship in her column. Charley is rendered impotent after a medical experiment backfires.

Harry dates a 28 year old, which upsets Carol, Barbara, and the girl's parents. Laverne shapes up a nurse trainee.

The Westons each pour their hearts out to Dreyfuss when the girls decide to move out after two years at home.

Harry realizes his mentor is getting too old to practice medicine, but is afraid to tell him. Meanwhile, Carol and Barbara prepare for a piano recital.

Barbara tries to get a man she likes to ask her out. Laverne must cast the deciding vote on an important Hickory issue.

Carol advises Barbara on how to suck up to get a job promotion. Laverne plays matchmaker for Harry.

Barbara mistakes Carol's boyfriend for a burglar and shoots him. He stays with the Westons to recuperate and only ends up getting hurt worse. Harry helps Laverne confront her fear of public speaking when she has to give a speech at an awards ceremony.

Laverne is fearful after a mugging. Carol and Barbara compete for a handsome new neighbor.

A young patient of Harry's announces she wants a nose job. Charley thinks about a career as a gigolo. The Westons decide to take a new family portrait.

Charley wants visitors during a hospital stay and when his parents can't come, he hires actors to play them. A neighbor accuses Dreyfuss of fathering his dog's puppies.

Harry suspects that Barbara's new boyfriend is married, and when he voices his concerns Barbara gets mad. Worried that Dreyfuss is getting too fat, the Westons put him on a diet, but then end up secretly giving him junk food.

During a moment of weakness, Carol and Charley sleep together. Thinking perhaps their hate for one another is actually masking love, they attempt to build a relationship.

Laverne quits when Harry complains that she is making too many office decisions without him. Carol talks Barbara into letting her join her poker game.

After being dumped yet again, Carol flips out and falls in love with the first man she can find: an oddball who passes out cheese samples at the mall. Laverne decides to spice up Harry's biography for a hospital newsletter.

When a patient is depressed after his best friend moves away, Harry gives him a pet turtle. The boy becomes more upset when the turtle dies soon after. Carol talks Barbara into taking an art class with her. Charley tries new ways to meet women.

Barbara fears she has no motherly instincts when babysitting her boyfriend's young kids. Carol volunteers at the zoo and finds that the pandas only mate when she is around. Harry is reluctant to let Laverne give him a flu shot. Charley attempts to write his autobiography.

Carol is drawn to Barbara's sensitive, intelligent new boyfriend and can't figure out why he would be interested in Barbara. Harry is bored by his new girlfriend, a lady who seems perfect for him. Laverne grows attached to a dog that Nick brings home.

Harry looks forward to his golf game until he has to cancel to help Barbara with her taxes and Carol with her car. Tired of having no time for himself, he follows a globe-trotting friend to Pamplona for the running of the bulls.

Harry is uncomfortable dating a more successful woman, a world-famous brain surgeon; Carol and Barbara plot revenge on an inconsiderate man who met Carol on a plane and promised to phone but never did.

The Westons come home to find that Charley is having a party in their house. When Harry tells him to leave and never come back, he moves away. Meanwhile, Harry unknowingly throws away Laverne's lucky hot dog wrapper while cleaning up the office.

Carol dates a blind man and focuses only on his disability, ignoring the fact that he is rude and obnoxious. Jeffrey Millstein is nervous about a chess tournament.

Laverne is told that Nick is having an affair so she tells him she is dating Harry. When she finds out she was misinformed, Nick refuses to believe that she made up the story about her affair. Meanwhile, Carol and Barbara disagree on how to get rid of a mouse in the house.

Harry feels ready to rekindle an old romance.

Harry's visiting niece starts dating Charley. Laverne's friend Lurlene visits and accuses Laverne of being ""citified.""

Harry tries to avoid a reporter who is doing a story on him. A young patient is on the verge of death and no one can figure out why.

Tired of her complaining, Barbara persuades Carol to go with her on a spontaneous adventure. Harry and Laverne recall the day she came to work for him, but their stories have several variations.

Harry is thrilled when Barbara quits the police force, but feels he may have pushed her into a different job. Carol tries to save enough money to pay for Harry's birthday present: an oil portrait of herself.

An overworked Harry has an angina attack but refuses to slow down and rest.

The Westons prepare for their annual holiday skiing trip until Dreyfuss runs away. Laverne refuses to accept Christmas gifts from Harry.

Carol gets a job at a library, where she meets an obnoxious college professor. Charley joins a Big Buddy program. Barbara teaches Dreyfuss to play Frisbee.

Harry enlists the help of Carol when he is asked to write a children's book, but he soon finds out that Barbara has better ideas. Charley is smitten with another juror during jury duty.

Laverne moves in with the Westons after a fight with Nick and proceeds to take control of the house. A young patient who can't get a date for a school dance asks Harry to take her.

Carol objects when Harry asks her to tutor a boy she used to baby-sit, until she sees how handsome he has become. Carol feels guilty after the two end up sleeping together. Laverne misses best friend, Lurlene's birthday party because of a double work load at the office.

Carol and Barbara are witnesses to a mall robbery and surprisingly it's Carol who nabs the thief, not police officer, Barbara. Neighbor Rose hits Harry's car and offers to pay for the damages.

An old patient returns and asks Harry to be the father of her child.

Barbara finds out that her new police partner, whom Carol is dating, is married.

His recurring dream (which includes running from a tiger, a pink kimono, and Ed McMahon) keeps Harry and the girls up all night, trying to decipher it's meaning. They end up at an all-night diner where they run into Laverne.

When Harry is inducted into the hospital's hall of fame, he forgets to thank Laverne in his acceptance speech. Meanwhile, two young patients announce their wedding plans and Charley asks to be buried with the Westons.

Carol's new boyfriend is all for marriage, but not consummation.

The hospital's new owner forces Harry to move his practice after 25 years in the same office. Meanwhile, Carol tries to amend the past after reading Emily's old diary and Charley tries out a new look.

Barbara falls in love with neighbor, Dorothy's nephew, but is surprisingly not phased when he dumps her. Dorothy and Harry have an argument when Dorothy blames Barbara for the breakup.

The Westons laugh when Charley says the full moon will bring love, but then realize he could be right. A rude doctor catches Harry's eye. Carol's finds romance when a man returns run-away Dreyfuss (who in turn finds love in the man's female dog). A stake-out leads Barbara into the arms of a high-school boyfriend.

Carol becomes public relations director of the hospital and causes a multi-million dollar lawsuit when she reveals the mental problems of local celebrity Poko the Clown at a press conference. Charley convinces Barbara to pose as his fiance to get a promotion.

Carol falls in love with a South American freedom fighter and announces she's going away with him. Jeffrey Millstein falls in love with Laverne.

Harry doesn't understand why no one likes his new girlfriend, but soon realizes they were right. When the relationship ends, Carol, who actually liked the lady, questions her own instincts.

Financial trouble forces Barbara to move back in with Harry but it's not all fun and games. A lonely Carol soon decides to move in as well.

Harry is encouraged to spend a weekend alone with his girlfriend. Jeffrey Millstein's imagination runs wild after he sees a scary movie.

An organ that Libby ordered before dying finally arrives at the house and Harry becomes determined to learn to play it in time for his and Libby's anniversary. Barbara and Carol worry that he is going too far. A patient asks Harry for birth control.

Harry isn't too happy when Carol begins dating his old friend.

Harry makes plans to accompany Carol to see her photographs displayed in an art gallery, and also to attend a ceremony honoring Barbara with a gold medal of valor. The problem is, both events are on the same day.

When husband Nick is traded to a Japanese baseball team, Laverne is forced to quit. A sick Charley camps out on Harry's couch.

Harry thinks he has become a burden on Carol and Barbara when they send him away on a vacation, despite his objections.

Harry is ecstatic when Barbara accepts her surgeon boyfriend's marriage proposal, but she has second thoughts the night before the wedding.

Neighbor Blanche thinks she is in love with Harry and comes on strong when showing her affection. An old friend of the family dies after an illness. Carol decides to move in and take care of her father.

Harry tries to get Barbara to give up her police career after she is shot.

Carol gets all dolled up for a date with her contemptible ex-husband. Harry thinks Dreyfuss may be sick.

Harry is proposed to eighteen months after the death of his wife.