Rhoda

Episode 1

Martin Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Sat, Sep 23, 197822 mins

It's Martin's 60th birthday, and Rhoda is hosting a party for the family at her apartment. At the last minute, Ida telephones saying that she and Martin won't be able to make it as Martin has thrown out his back again, and is sleeping it off. Rhoda and Brenda figure that if Martin can't come to them, they will go to Martin out in the Bronx. Upon their arrival at their parent's apartment, Rhoda and Brenda find that their mother is acting strangely and for some reason won't let them in. They eventually learn it is because Ida lied and Martin is not even home. The reason: he left her two months ago. Not wanting to burden the girls, Ida had been making excuse after excuse to them of his whereabouts. All Ida knows is that he is receiving mail via general delivery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he has gone to "find himself", but that he still loves Ida and the girls and that he will come home eventually. Now that she no longer has the deception to the girls to preoccupy her time, Ida goes into a depression over the issue. Barring Martin's early return, will anything get Ida out of her funk? Meanwhile, Benny gives Brenda an ultimatum of sorts about the status of their relationship.