Taking Liberties (Frasier)
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| Frasier episode | |
|---|---|
| “Taking Liberties” | |
| Episode no. | Season 08 Episode 05 |
| Guest star(s) | Jane Adams (Dr. Mel Karnofsky) , Nicholas Hormann (Alan Murchie), Victor Garber (Ferguson), Noel Conlon (Henry Worth), Heather Ehlers (Lois Fischer), Francis Guinan (Ted Fischer), B.J. Ward (Diane Murchie) |
| Writer(s) | Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil |
| Director | Kelsey Grammer |
| Production no. | 40571-176 |
| Original airdate | 21 November 2000 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Great Crane Robbery" | "Legal Tender Love and Care" |
‘Taking Liberties’ is the fifth episode in the eighth series of the American NBC television sitcom Frasier. It is significant in that it brings a close to the ‘Niles / Daphne / Mel Karnofsky’ triangle that have been a significant plot point throughout the seventh and eighth seasons.
Contents |
[edit] Main cast and characters
Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
David Hyde Pierce – Dr. Niles Crane
John Mahoney – Martin Crane
Jane Leeves – Daphne Moon
Peri Gilpin – Roz Doyle
[edit] Plot outline
In Cafe Nervosa, Frasier is scanning the 'help wanted' section of the newspaper, intent on finding a new housekeeper; as Daphne is now dating Niles, it feels wrong to ask her to continue tidying up after him. Roz is curiously sympathetic, and it soon transpires that she's selling wrapping paper to help her daughter's kindergarten; although extremely critical of the selection offered, Frasier nevertheless is pushed into buying five rolls.
At that point, Niles shows up, devastated and intent on drowning his sorrows in espresso; he is still trapped in his marriage with Mel, who is still forcing him to act the fool at various social gatherings whilst holding the carrot of a quick, simple divorce in front of him (despite the fact that it is rapidly becoming clear that she spitefully intends to drag it out as long as possible). The latest occasion was at the high-profile funeral of a local luminary - who, as it turns out, employed a butler whose services are now available. Although both brothers scramble to employ him, both having dreamt of having a butler serve them, it is Frasier who wins out by playing the 'Daphne won't have to work' card.
So it is that Ferguson, a classically trained and refined Englishman from a long line of butlers, comes to live in the Crane household, immediately beginning to impress the family with his polite manner and charming intelligence - such as advising Frasier on appropriate gifts to send the new chairman of the Opera Board, Alan Murchie, to gain his favour and therefore a place on the Board. In particular, he forms a friendship with Daphne, both sharing a common English background - he is skeptical, however, when hearing of Daphne and Niles' clandestine relationship, believing that social class remains too strong a presence in such relationships, inevitably dooming them to failure. Ferguson's doubts would seem to be proven when Niles arrives to pick up Daphne to take her to a romantic evening at his apartment - only to have to cancel and run straight to Mel's side at her request. Daphne, who has been resigned to the discomfort of being the 'other woman', is shaken and begins to doubt whether Niles will ever risk his precarious social standing for the sake of their relationship.
Frasier's gifts to Murchie pay off, and Frasier decides to hold a pre-opera party in which his place on the board will hopefully be sealed. Once again, Ferguson's talents prove essential, both in organising the party and ensuring that Martin is ferried safely out of the way where he will prove no bother. Niles arrives, determining not to bother with Mel's opinion and to go on a date with Daphne at all (or at least, to go to the shopping mall with her). Unfortunately, as along with Frasier's guests is an unexpected surprise - Mel, a friend of some of the board members, who has been invited along to the party at the last minute. Niles is forced to cancel his plans with Daphne once again and play along, both to appease Mel and as to not jeopardise Frasier's chances with the board, and Daphne, disheartened, believes that the charade will never end.
The party initially progresses smoothly (despite the presence of Roz, dropping off Frasier's wrapping paper, who has taken it upon herself to offload as much as she can to the wealthy members of the board), and Frasier's place on the Board seems certain. Matters are about to come to a head, however, when Mel rashly agrees that she and Niles will make an appearance at the New Year's Eve party of her friends on the Board. Daphne, who has been reduced to helping Ferguson serve food and drinks, overhears and runs out, upset.
This is the last straw for Niles; taking Mel aside in the kitchen, he demands that she put an end to the vindictive game she is playing, only to be met with Mel's defiant refusal. Ferguson, who has overheard the increasingly heated argument, attempts to save Frasier some embarrassment by discreetly ending the evening, only to be misunderstood by Frasier, who intends to deliver a speech that will seal the deal for the opera board. Unfortunately, when he begins to speak, the polite silence he receives only makes the shouting match that Mel and Niles are engaged in all the more audible.
Despite Frasier's best efforts to ferry everyone out, the argument spills out in front of everyone (including Daphne, who has came back out to see what the fuss was about). Niles, infuriated and no longer caring about what anyone else present thinks, tells Mel that he is in love with Daphne and is not going to put her through any more torture; their sham of a marriage is over. After a brief, stunned pause, the members of the board rush to console Mel, taking her side in face of Niles' recent boorish behaviour (as dictated by Mel) and storm out. Frasier's chances of getting onto the board are now completely shattered, but Daphne and Niles can be together at last; the two decide to celebrate their freedom by going for a walk together.
Determined, Frasier asks Ferguson what the best way to mend the rift with the board would be... only to learn that Ferguson must tender his resignation. His cynicism about relationships crossing the class barrier has been broken, and inspired by Niles' example in putting his love for Daphne before his social standing, Ferguson has decided to renew his acquaintance with a certain Lady Westerfield he once let get away. But not before he has drawn his employer one final bath.
