After the Separation Decision on “The Golden Girls”
Sophia and Max were married for a very short time by likely only a few weeks, so they separate for their marriage like it never happened, not divorce especially having their last dance together at the end of that part 2 episode and a fan speculation of what is not shown would be likely those two having a walk on that beach and sleeping together at her house one last time that night. So here’s a fan-speculation tale:
Sophia and Max's marriage was always more of a stubborn one than a marriage. A few weeks, a few good zingers and a realization that love doesn't always mean you should live together.
After that final dance at the end of Part 2, they don’t hurry. The music is still playing, but they had start walking off.
They take the long way on the beach down on the sand and hold hands. No big speeches. Sophia being herself complains about the sand getting everywhere, and Max laughs and says that was her problem, she always has wanted to bring the beach home with her.
They talk about Sicily, about the years before and about how strange it is to get a second chance to say goodbye properly, not in anger at all.
By the time they get to her house, Dorothy, Blanche and Rose have already gone to bed.
Sophia unlocks the front door as quietly as she can. Max whispers, "Should I...?"
And Sophia, for once not making a joke, just says, "Stay. Just tonight."
Not because they want to rewind the marriage. But because they want to end it the right way.
They go to her bedroom, sit on the edge of her bed, talk a little longer and hold hands the way people do when they know every spot and wrinkle. There is a lot of history in that room and no need to perform it.
They spend that last night together not as a married couple, but as two people who have loved each other but wasn’t for long and finally get to be tender about it. One last night of closeness of being in the same bed and listening to each other breathe while sleeping.
The kitchen is bright and Blanche comes in first in her robe, ready to be scandalous, then stops dead because Max is at the table in yesterday's clothes with Sophia, drinking coffee out of Rose's favorite mug with the little strawberries on it.
Then Dorothy comes in. Then Rose.
No one says anything for a good ten seconds. Sophia looks at Max.
She is the one to bring a conversation up.
"Sit," she says.
So they sit. Dorothy pours herself coffee like she's preparing for bad news.
Max clears his throat. He's a showman, but not this morning. "Your mother and I talked," he says to Dorothy. "Long talk."
Sophia picks it up. "We decided no more pizza kitchen. No more Max and Sophia working there after that big fire."
Rose looks confused, "But... you just got married?"
"We were married," Sophia says, sharp but not unkind. "For three weeks. Which in human years feels like it’s about twenty years of the kind of fighting we do."
Max smiles at that. "She's right. We love each other. We always did. But we don't belong in the same kitchen anymore. Literally and... you know."
He looks down at his hands. "My grandson in New York. I haven't seen him since he was this big." He holds his hand about two feet off the floor. "My family is there. It's time I go home."
Dorothy understands instantly. That's what gets her. "Ma?"
Sophia waves it off before Dorothy can make it a big Dorothy Speech. "Don't. It's good. It's what we want. We had our dance, we had our walk, we had our talk. Now he goes to New York, I stay here with you girls and torment you until one of us dies. Which, knowing you, will be me."
She says it like a joke but her eyes are wet.
After breakfast — Rose's eggs, which Max says are surprisingly good — it's time.
Max’s luggage is already by the front door.
Goodbye in that house is never quiet.
Dorothy hugs him like he is her stepfather which didn’t even last long. Rose hugs him like he's leaving forever and he is, making her cry. Blanche shakes his hand and then hugs him anyway because she's herself.
Sophia walks him out the door. No long scene.
Outside, he kisses her on the forehead. Not romantic. Familiar. The kind you give someone you've known since you were both kids stealing figs.
Max: "Take care of yourself, darling."
Sophia: "You too, you old crook. Don't get lost."
Max: "I won't."
He goes off and doesn't look back. Sophia knows that about him.
She stands there until the taxi arrives.
After that, she goes back inside, closes the door, goes in the kitchen and says, "Alright, who left their dishes in the sink?"
And that's how she and Max have left it. Not divorced with papers and shouting. Just... separate ways. With the last dance still counting for the marriage having gotten annulled.