Something Borrowed, Someone Blue

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“Something Borrowed, Someone Blue”
Frasier episode

Niles elopes with Daphne from her wedding
Episode no. Season 07
Episode 167 & 168
Written by Christopher Lloyd, Joe Keenan
Directed by Pamela Fryman
Guest stars Anthony LaPaglia (Simon Moon), Jane Adams (Dr. Mel Karnofsky), Saul Rubinek (Donny Douglas), Millicent Martin (Gertrude Moon), Anthony Montgomery (Waiter), Cameron Dye (Nigel Moon)
Production no. 40571-167 & 40571-168
Original airdate 18 May 2000
Episode chronology
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"The Dark Side of the Moon" "And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon (Part I)"

"Something Borrowed, Someone Blue" is the title of the two-part season finale of the seventh season of the American NBC television sitcom Frasier. It is significant in that it brings to a climax the romantic character arc between Niles Crane and Daphne Moon, a significant running plotline for the first seven years of the show's production.

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

This episode introduces Daphne's overbearing mother Gertrude, played by Millicent Martin. Although her father is mentioned, he will not be seen until Season 9.

[edit] Plot outline

The episode was originally broadcast in a one-hour format, but has frequently been repeated and syndicated in two parts.

[edit] Part I

It is two days before Daphne's wedding to Donny Douglas, and Frasier, Daphne, Niles, Mel Karnofsky and Martin return from the funeral of Maurie, the building's doorman. Daphne in particular is very emotional, which everyone attributes to nerves before the wedding. Martin bears a final gift from Maurie; a rare bottle wine retrieved from France following the Second World War, which he had saved for his entire life, waiting for a special occasion to drink it. Simon Moon, Daphne's boorish and obnoxious brother, arrives needing a place to stay before his sister's wedding; Frasier refuses to allow him to stay in the apartment, but Martin allows Simon to stay in his Winnebago instead. Mel leaves to prepare for a mid-week retreat to celebrate her and Niles' six-month anniversary, and Niles confesses to Frasier that he feels anxious about their relationship. After Niles denies that he still possesses lingering feelings for Daphne, Frasier urges his brother to seize the moment and move on from his habitual sense of caution.

When Martin gives Daphne the bottle of wine as a wedding gift, Daphne break downs once more. Frasier is left to comfort Daphne, and Daphne reveals that she knows about Niles' seven-year crush on her. Initially enraged, Frasier is shocked to learn that the 'nattering gossip' who revealed the secret was, in fact, himself. Daphne, however, has tormented herself about her own feelings towards Niles and believes that she has fallen in love with him in return. Despite her impending marriage, Frasier urges her to confront Niles and discuss this with him before her marriage. Waiting for Niles to return the next day, Daphne nervously overindulges on chocolate chip cookies; when Simon insinuates that her reason for marrying Donnie stems from her being 'in the family way', Frasier takes Daphne from the apartment; and soon after, Niles arrives excitedly; he has, on impulse, eloped with Mel and married her.

At that point, Daphne and Frasier return. Frasier takes Martin out of the apartment to give Daphne an opportunity to talk to Niles; when he learns of Niles' marriage from Martin, he frantically burst back into the apartment to interrupt Daphne and Niles before anything can be discussed. Mel arrives, and despite Niles' desiring to keep the secret from Daphne as not to steal her thunder, insensitively reveals what has happened to Daphne when she re-enters the room. Daphne appears to take the news well, warmly congratulating the two, before leaving the apartment... and breaks down in tears in the elevator.

[edit] Part II

Frasier arrives at the luxurious hotel where Daphne and Donny's wedding will take place, hoping to speak to Daphne about recent events. Daphne brushes the matter off, dismissing her feelings as just nerves, and gives Frasier the bottle of wine to thank him for all his kindness and support. As they embrace, Daphne's overbearing and hypercritical mother Gertrude bursts in and, mistaking Frasier for Donny, takes the opportunity to thank 'Donny' for finally getting her daughter away from 'that horrible Dr. Crane'. Realizing her mistake, she is no less critical about the real Donny.

Niles and Daphne sharing their first kiss
Niles and Daphne sharing their first kiss

That night following the rehearsal dinner, as Daphne's brothers show themselves a good time and become increasingly rowdy, Frasier and Martin discuss Daphne and Niles, Martin revealing that he knows that something has been going on between the two. Frasier confesses that he doesn't believe either Daphne or Niles when they claim to be over each other, leading Martin to warn him about interfering--two marriages are at stake. Meanwhile, finding themselves left alone, Niles and Daphne join each other for a dance, and Frasier watches them as they dance close together. Cornering Niles in a hotel room, Frasier reveals that Daphne knows how he feels towards her. Outraged, Niles attempts to leave, but stops when he learns that there is a possibility Daphne shares his feelings. Niles is tormented, but resolves to talk to Daphne to find out. Managing to get Daphne alone, Niles confesses that Frasier has told him of her feelings towards him, and tells her that he loves her. Before they can discuss anything, however, they are constantly interrupted; firstly by Martin, then by Donny (who has developed a boil on his foot), then by Mel (who wants to discuss honeymoon arrangements with Niles), and then by Daphne's entire family (who, having been kicked out of the bar, decide to throw the party in Frasier's room instead). Escaping the party to the balcony, the two stand together awkwardly, until Daphne takes action, and the two share their first kiss. She then tells him that they have made too many commitments to others to back out now, and that they can't be together. Niles is left on the balcony, alone.

The next morning, as the wedding taking place, Niles sits in the front cabin of the Winnebago, unable to watch Daphne be married. Martin and Frasier join him, Frasier bringing with him the rare bottle of wine to honour Niles' bravery in at last opening his heart to Daphne. The three men prepare to enjoy a glass, only to discover that the wine is undrinkable; unfortunately, Maurie kept his winerack in the building's boiler room. Frasier and Martin leave to attend the wedding, leaving Niles alone, until a knock at the door rouses him. He turns to see Daphne, before him in full wedding dress, asking him if he wants to go on a date. She has chosen him after all, and as the two prepare to flee the wedding, Daphne realizes that she can finally call him 'Niles'.

This episode sees the end of the Niles / Daphne / Donny romantic triangle that began in 'To Tell the Truth'. Although the consequences of their actions will be explored in the next season, Daphne and Niles will remain a couple for the rest of the series.

[edit] Episode title

The title is a play on the traditional wedding verse indicating what a bride should wear on her wedding day in Western cultures. The full rhyme (including the final line, not traditionally referred to in the United States) is thus:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a lucky sixpence in her shoe.

[edit] References to popular culture

  • The bottle of wine given to Martin by Maurie, the 1945 Chateau Petrus, really is one of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world. One bottle is frequently valued at 5000 dollars.

[edit] See also

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