The girls need a new roof, so they scheme to buy and then sell a painting by Jasper DeKimmel, an arrogant painter who has a few days to live.
Tropes:
- Accidental Bid: The girls try to bid on a painting by Jasper DeKimmel, as he is dying of a rare blood disorder and they believe that his demise will increase the value of his work. At the auction, Rose fans herself with her paddle, which the auctioneer takes as a bid. Blanche and Dorothy admonish Rose for bidding by waving her paddle... which they demonstrate. The auctioneer keeps upping their bids because of it (although since they're sitting in the front row and clearly together, he seems to be doing so deliberately at that point).
- Ask a Stupid Question...: The show's usual pattern is inverted by having Dorothy ask the obvious question while Rose gives the stupid answer. Even Sophia is visibly shocked.Dorothy: (sees Rose carrying two buckets) Oh, Rose, is your roof leaking too?
Rose: No, Dorothy, I just finished milking the cow that I keep in my closet. Gee, with only three hours sleep, I can be as bitchy as you. - The Reveal: A minor example; The girls discover that Jasper DeKimmel, a Jerkass artist, is dying, and needs a donor with a rare blood type to save his life. Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche use the opportunity to buy one his paintings, as Blanche points out that an artist's work is often appreciated by a huge amount after her or his death. At the end of the episode, they're successful and call Sophia to let her know. Sophia tells them that they've wasted their money, as a donor was found with DeKimmel's blood type. The camera then pulls back to reveal Sophia herself lying in a hospital bed as she complains that all she gets for saving a man's life is "juice and a cookie."
- What You Are in the Dark: An implied version; Sophia fully supports the Girls' plan to purchase an original Jasper DeKimmel painting due to his imminent death (which only they know about thanks to Sophia herself volunteering at the hospital where he's being treated), and even encourages them when they start to have doubts; she explains that since the doctors can't find anyone with DeKimmel's rare blood type, they might as well use the opportunity. However, once she learns (off-screen) that she is a match, she ultimately decides to make the donation, presumably deciding that as long as she is able to help, she has to do so.
