I like that she didn't let him try to explain his way out of it. "I said Goodbye, Stanley." She didn't let him take the moment away from her. Very empowering.

38 years of her life she can't get back. She gave him her life. He doesn't deserve someone as good as her. Good for her for confronting him. There's no justification for what he did. He’s a coward for getting a lawyer to tell her the marriage was over.

“Goodbye Stanley” *stanley visits 20 times later*

“You’re damn right things happened.” The way her voice deepens even lower sent chills down my spine because you can tell she’s digging deep into a real place to deliver that monologue. She was the queen Stanley the yutz never deserved.

Herb Edelman did a phenomenal job of portraying a deadbeat loser who simply cannot let go of his ex-wife due to his emotional immaturity. Stan was one of my favorite characters. His interactions with the girls, especially Dorothy and Sophia, were hilariously funny, yet relatable, and sometimes poignant and touching.

Dorothy had every right to be mad. Not only did he cheat on her, he walked out on her and had his lawyer tell her he wanted a divorce after 38 years of marriage. He deliberately threw her under the bus and watched it run over her time and time again.

She was way to good for Stan.

One thing that annoyed me is almost to the end of the series Stan tried to have his cake and eat it. He wanted to be single yet didn't want to let go of her. It finally hit him when Dorothy finally found someone who loved and wanted to marry her. At least he finally learned to let go.

This is one of my favorite Dorothy monologues. Especially that line, "A STRANGER told me my marriage was over!"

"I said goodbye, Stanley." Another example of why The Golden Girls was such a hit - it went far beyond mere comedy - the writers injected some heavy doses of reality into these characters' stories.

It's strange how of all the times she displayed her comedic talents on film and television, my favourite Bea Arthur moment is this intensely dramatic speech. It's incredible to hear her tearfully lament how years of her dedication and love were so cruelly betrayed by this man whom she's finally able to confront.

“I said goodbye, Stanley.” I think those words cut deep into Stan. I think he realized the depths of the pain he caused Dorthy. He couldn’t make it right.

It always made me cry when she said "I finally get to say goodbye" with tears in her eyes. Poor Dorothy. Alot of the stuff she had been through in her life makes you totally understand why she was so serious and bitter at times in the series.

She had tears in her eyes! Beautiful actor. Will always be my favorite!

He realized too late he had the best woman in his life.

RIP Beatrice Arthur and Herb Edelman.

Bea delivered a stunning performance here. I couldn't believe the strength she showed, it touched my soul, like it happened to me. Really teared up here.

He got kicked out so bad, he didn’t have the sense to pick back up his toupee.

I remember watching this as a kid. I always thought Stan was a loser. He's a grown man who keeps running to his ex-wife whenever he has a problem.

Stan divorced Dorothy, but she could never seem to get rid of him...

This, and the one where she tells off the doctor who didn't care about her illness, are her best monologues.

My whole family clapped when she finished her speech and a few of us cried. Our dad pulled a Stan, shall we say.

No one could snatch a weave while proving her real strength like Dorothy ❤️❤️

I feel bad about what Dorothy went through when she married Stan. It's sad that Stan doesn't realize how much Dorothy loved him and did everything for him when times were tough. I don't blame Dorothy for being angry at Stan and it was a rotten thing to have his lawyer call Dorothy about the divorce and he wasn't man enough to go up to Dorothy and say, Dorothy I don't feel happy in our marriage and I'm sorry but I want a divorce. Stan should be ashamed of himself for doing something that heartless and not be grateful for what Dorothy gives to Stan to make him happy, but he never returns anything back after 38 years of marriage. Dorothy did a brave thing and she deserves all the blessings in the world for doing what she did. TEAM DOROTHY!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

This speech was written in the 80s, but this performance was so therapeutic that it hit home when I left my boss after 5 years. When you dedicate your loyalty to giving any man a happy life for 5 years, in ANY context, it screws with your head when he underappreciates it

1:56 seeing the tears in her eyes ALWAYS makes me cry she was an amazing actress ❤️ 😢

Their relationship was mostly used for humor. Even when discussing their relationship, it's usually done for a laugh. Not here though. The tears in Dorothy's eyes shows how much he really hurt her.

"I said goodbye Stanley"

This was Dorothy at her best. Not her hilarious sarcastic quips, but the righteous indignation over being mistreated. Bea Arthur was masterful in her acting

This whole time... I thought she was mad because he cheated on her, when all along, it was because he left and never saw her again, only to have his lawyer her that they’re getting a divorce. I’m not sure which is worse to go down in.

I've always thought of Dorothy as the protagonist of the series. Anyone else?

38 years of her life wasted - so sad. To waste your life in such a marriage is probably worse than being single for such a long time.

This is most definitely one of my all-time favorite Bea Arthur scenes, that was an Emmy nod in my book !

This part always makes me cry, I wish I could do something like this to my ex.

The of the most poignant scenes on GG but did any one else notice at 1:40 that a studio camera moves into the frame right in front of Bea? They probably felt it was better not to re-shoot the scene because it was so well done.

Bea Arthur was a phenomenal actress.

I really felt for Dorothy in this episode. Bea Arthur was a genius!

Really one of the best monologues written in a sitcom. And no one could’ve delivered it like Bea Arthur. It pulls you in like its real.

At least in the finale, Dorothy and Stan parted on better terms.

all 4 girls and Stan all passed away i love this show

and he would go on to become one of the best recurring running gag characters on the show.

She was too honest for him. He just couldn't take it.

Stanley , you never DESERVED this queen

Herb Edelman had a history of playing knuckleheads. But, in reality, he was a highly intelligent individual who spoke 5 languages.

if this episode was a full length movie it would have been nominated for a number of awards including a few Oscars

Very well done scene, and anyone who has been in Dorothy's situation (husband, wife or what-have-you) can relate

Probably one of the more powerful non-comedic scenes of the entire series and it only lasted two minutes. Excellent writing and acting.

Goodbye, Stan is a whole mood.

My favorite of Dorothy was this this, and the episode where she told off that doctor that dismissed her as being emotional when she was sick.

aww.. the way they all ran to Dorothy❤

Those were real tears in Bea’s eyes at the end. Anyone notice? She was such a good actress. Stan was such a drag 😔

Bea Arthur she is just so damn good. The swelling of emotion. Holding back her emotions. She fucking kills it. That folks is acting.

The first scene of the golden girls I fell in love with Dorothy. A great scene.

Bea Arthur did pay tribute to the real actor. Bea said he was a good person in real life

Dorothy spent 38 years of her life with someone and in the end he was a coward and left...stanly is not a man for doing wat he did. Hes a coward who couldnt face the music when he needed to. Dorothy deserved to say that goodbye. Its the least he could have gave her

R.I.P. Herb xxxxx💖💖 R.I.P. Bea xxxxxx💖💖

Dorothy's tone reminds me of the episode where she went off on Dr. Budd.

I wish I could have told my ex husband how I felt without his smart ass comebacks and told him goodbye like that.

My God do I love me some Bea! This beautiful soul will never be replaced ❤

I rewatched the series in order, and this is season 1 episode 2.... holy crap, to pull that performance out during only the second episode.... 🙌🏻 This makes her cynicism and wit throughout the series make a lot more sense. Beautiful character moment, awesome Bea monologue moment.

"All those things happened, Stanley. And because they happened I deserved BETTER (...)." Felt.

He should have told her.

RIP to all The Golden Girls

One of the best monologues on this show

I love this sitcom. These girls ate funny but there were epiaodes that hit the heart too

Beatrice Arthur...you were a terrific actor...respects🙏 That monologue was superbly and very effectively delivered.

Heart wrenching and stunning monolgue, and Dorothy rises above it with such strength. And a tour-de-force moment for Bea Arthur

Damn..I still love this show..RIP Bea..Betty..Rue..and Estelle

At 1:41, one of the cameras was shown in the corner of the frame! And I didn't need the Internet to help me find it! Yes!!!

What makes this scene more upsetting about this, is that you THINK Stan would have at least said to Dorothy “I’m sorry I HAD someone else tell you our marriage.” Cause marriage IS 50/50. Your are not ALWAYS going to have a perfect married life. Yes, there is going to yelling and screaming. Yes, there are going to days someone has to sleep on the couch after a steamy fight. And some crying. But sharing a part of YOUR life even though you have had your ups and downs, the least you CAN do to each other is shake hands, say “I wish you a better, happier life. And goodbye.” Not every divorce is going to be a calm one. Or one where someone will give you the satisfaction of a party hand shake, but looking back with MY mom, I saw how she was able to stand on her OWN two feet. Yes, I could see how scared she was, and worried if she will make it through the next day. But at the end of the day I saw her laughing when I made her laugh after a hard day of work. And letting her know, she is with people WHO do love. Who do, appreciate her. And will spend every waking moment of her life telling her goodnight mommy and I love you. Mom, you survived. WITHOUT a a husband. Look how strong you are without someone TELLING you what to, how to do it, and never gave you a single thank you since being married the second time. I can already tell you are happy. Without a weight on your shoulder. I see you smiling more, laughing more, and voicing YOUR concerns and dreaming and hoping. Your a savior mom.

As selfish as it seems I can wholly understand the affair. What I don’t get is leaving your wife after 38 years - the children, the trials, tribulations and triumphs and you say goodbye to the women that knows and loves you most. Then you don’t even have the nerve to tell her but hide behind a lawyer

So much truth in Dorothy's monologue as its usually the wife who does a lot of the sacrificing in marriage, especially for the given time period when Dorothy & Stan were married, when back then once a woman got married she usually became a stay at home housewife who cooked, cleaned and took care of the kids, and in doing so gave up her dreams of a career and individual interests etc. Usually too, again for Dorothy & Stan's timeframe of marriage, it was the woman who usually stuck to her wedding vows and never strayed while the men often enjoyed extramarital affairs that the wife more or less turned a blind eye to. Women gave up a lot in marriage back then and to be left by your husband for another woman probably made the end of the marriage all the more devastating and bitter because wives then put in and also lost so much more, basically their identity as all they've known is to be a housewife and devoting all their time, energy and love to their husband all those years and trying to keep him happy when suddenly he leaves them high and dry.

I wish THIS for any women who has ever been hurt by someone they used to love😭💖👏

A powerful acting performance by Bea Arthur. And a sad one.

She had me teary eyed. What an actress! 😍

I love this episode they are very good actors

One of the best monologues ever. Oscar worthy.

One of these days I hope to become as smart as Dorothy when I become an old lady.

Dorothy is an amazing and strong woman, and Stan messed up big time by betraying her trust.

There are people in this world like stan. People find it easier to cheat or just walk out rather than talk to their spouse that they feel something is wrong in the relationship or break it off face to face.

38 years. At the beginning of this episode Dorothy mentions it's been 2 years since the divorce. This was 1985, so presumably they were married from 1945-1983. But continuity errors make that hard to actually confirm. More importantly, poor Dorothy for having spent 38 years down the drain with Stan. And to think Stan took the cowardly way out at the very end. So sad. Dorothy deserved better.

This so what happens when you give your all to one husband or wife. Its their lost . after everything you give them , they took the easy way out. Then you move on with life and they had the nerve to said they want you back . go to hell !! You had that person , you are the one who threw it away!

She had every right to own him like that, considering for the fact that he left her and never told her that he was leaving.

He left his toupee, lol! 😅

I’ve loved The Golden Girls since I was a kid. When they were comical, it was hilarious. The serious moments , however, always cut to the heart. My favorite Dorothy moment is when she tells off Barbara Thorndyke. Such a perfect and dynamic cast. I miss shows like this. In my opinion, quality television died out in the late 90s - early 2000s. We really don’t see shows like this anymore. So thankful for reruns! 💐

I liked the fact dorothy finally told stan off. I hope someday i get to tell my ex some things that should have been said.

Dorothy is just like my mom.

What a strong performance by a great actress.Im sure plently of people could relate to what she said.RIP Beatrice. 😮

Stanley did Dorothy wrong after 38 long years. He can't take back what he did to her. If any girl did that to me, I wouldn't be happy. I would also be heartbroken. I'm guessing I do play characters like that in TV shows and movies.

2 minute clip, viewed out of context, which I've seen many times before but I'm still crying. Acting masterclass, courtesy of Bea Arthur.

Despite stan and Dorothy divorce, he always kept coming around.

This was Beatrice Arthur's best moment as Dorothy. The best Dorothy Spornack moment in the history of the Golden Girls. This scene shows how empowered Dorothy is and how brilliant Beatrice Arthur was as an actress.

I think more women should have her strength. She nailed it.

but it was hardly 'good bye' since he always kept running back to Dorothy when he needed something LOL

At the start when she tells him to have a seat it's like she's his boss and he's in trouble.

What funny about this is we weren’t suppose to see this Stan character again. The audience loved the dynamic so much the producers and network brought him back

She finally got the closure she needed

I love the whole speech Dorothy gives, you really feel everything she's saying and what's she's feeling at the moment, all the pain, anger, humiliation as well as the bittersweet memories. But my favorite part of it is at the very end, when he goes to speak probably a half assed, half hearted apology and she stops him and says, "I said 'goodbye' Stanley......." I love how he tilts his head a little and they both share this certain look of mutual understandment and closure between them before he retreats.

Standing ovation for Ms Dorothy Zbornak. I..... WISH.....I could find the SPINELESS worms who slithered on their bellies out of my life, and ANGERED me to degrees I didn't know, existed!! Thankfully though, there were no children from ANY of those individuals, so, I can hold my head up high and say, I didn't bring any children into the world, to permanently..... SCAR....like I have been!!

Her theatre training really came through in this scene 👏✨