The Crucible (Frasier)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “The Crucible” | |
|---|---|
| Frasier episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 06 |
| Written by | Sy Dukane Denise Moss |
| Directed by | James Burrows |
| Production no. | 40571-007 |
| Original airdate | October 21, 1993 (US) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Here's Looking at You" | "Call Me Irresponsible" |
| List of Frasier episodes (Season 1) | |
"The Crucible" is an episode of the US sitcom Frasier. It is episode six of season one. Frasier organises a cocktail party to show a painting he recently bought, but it's painter informs that she didn't paint it.
[edit] Guest cast
- Rachel Rosenthal as Martha Paxton
- John Rubinstein as Phillip Hayson
- Eugenie Bondurant as Diane
- Gregory Eugene Travis as Ronald
- Robert Klein as Gary (voice of a caller)
[edit] Plot
Frasier has recently bought a Martha Paxton painting, and is talking to one of his listeners about it. Martha Paxton calls up the show, and Frasier invites her to a gathering at his apartment. When she arrives, however, she looks at the painting and confirms that it is NOT her work.
Upset about the incident, Frasier tries to return it to the gallery where he bought it from. However, the gallery owner, Philip Hayson, says that he has a no-return policy. In fact he and his employees try to point at the forged signature to convince Frasier that it is not a fake.
Having failed to return the painting, Frasier contemplates getting the law to take care of the incident. Martin tells him to ask for the "Fine Arts Forgery department", which is a joke from Martin - a subtle way of telling Frasier that the cops rarely like to waste time investigating swindling incidents. They usually care more about murders, rape, and other major crimes. A lawsuit would not work, because he'd spend more money in litigation than he spent on the painting. Frasier even contemplates exposing Hayson on the radio during his show, but Niles reminds him that Hayson could sue him for slander.
Still furious, Frasier goes to the gallery late at night with a brick. Just when he is about to smash the window, Niles arrives in his Mercedes and tells Frasier to put the brick down. He reminds Frasier about how he wanted to take revenge on the Coach for an incident in gym class. Frasier stopped him though. In the similar way Niles warns Frasier that if he throws the brick, he'll lose something more valuable than money (for example...his mind!). Frasier gives the brick to Niles, deciding not to take revenge. However, in discussing the gym incident, Frasier recall how the coach called Niles "Peachfuzz." So Niles takes the brick and smashes the gallery window. Just before he and Frasier escape, he throws money to cover the repairs. Frasier keeps the forged painting and hangs it in the main bathroom of his apartment instead of the fireplace, where it stood before.
Martha Paxton happened to be a bald woman. She was played by Rachel Rosenthal. Philip Hayson was played by John Rubinstein.
[edit] Trivia
- The episode's title is taken from the 1953 play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The play features a central moral dilemma concerning whether committing a sin in order to save one's life can be justified. The choice of title pokes fun at Frasier's more trivial moral dilemma over whether to break the gallery window.
