To Kill a Talking Bird (Frasier)

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“To Kill a Talking Bird”
Frasier episode
Episode no. Season 04
Episode 14
Written by Jeffrey Richman
Directed by David Lee
Guest stars Patricia Wettig - Stephanie Garrett

Rosemary Murphy - Carol Larkin
Nancy Linari - Elaine Hensley
Jack Sydow - Alfred Larkin
Wayne Alexander - Peter Soutendeck
Brandi Burkett - Wella
Lisa Akey - Christine
Production no. 40571-085
Original airdate 25 February 1997
Episode chronology
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"Four for the Seesaw" "Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead"
List of Frasier episodes (Season 4)

To Kill a Talking Bird is the title of the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of the American television sitcom Frasier, and the eighty-fifth overall for the series.

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
Eddie - Moose

[edit] Plot

"To Kill a Talking Bird" is an episode of Frasier, centering around Niles' attempts to be socially accepted by other residents in the posh apartment building ('The Montana') he has moved into, by throwing a dinner party.

After being forced to part with his dog, who he finally realizes was essentially a canine substitute for his ex-wife Maris, he gets a bird capable of some speech. She manages to say "I love you" a few times (although on one occasion she offers "I love you Grandma", seemingly pining for her former owner), and also memorizes Martin's description of her as "cute but stupid"). She, named 'Baby', is easily startled by sharp noises, first digging her claws into Niles' shoulder at the sound of the doorbell, then goes into shock when Frasier lights the fireplace. The arrival of each guest, and the ringing of the doorbell, brings further pain to the scalp of Niles, via the claws of the bird.

A vet is called, who explains to Niles that the bird is likely traumatized, and gives him further advice. Afraid of humiliation from a fairly snobbish roster of guests, Niles is forced to hide in the kitchen, leaving Frasier to host the party. This spoils Frasier's hopes of making an advance at an attractive woman who is present.

Frasier intermittently pops back into the kitchen to consult with Niles, who on one occasion notes that "these people live for gossip; already I know that Peter's a lech and Carol's a lush". Eventually Frasier convinces him that people will find the story funny and worthy of sympathy, so Niles (wearing a dishcloth over his head, having tried to get the bird to go to sleep) goes into the living room.

The guests are in fact comforting, until Niles uses Carol's name, and the bird repeats the line "Carol's a lush". The use of Peter's name leads it to say "Peter's a lech", and the 'cute' woman Frasier is pursuing is described as "cute but stupid". The guests all angrily leave. Frasier claims that he's lost his best romantic prospect in years, while Niles has only lost the respect of "a posh lush and a Dutch lech", a phrase he sarcastically challenges the bird to repeat.

The episode ends with Niles talking on the phone, and making clawing motions with his free hand. Frasier is seated on the fainting couch, drinking wine and eating crackers, while the bird, beneath a dishtowel, is now attached to Frasier's scalp.

[edit] Episode title cards

  • Just Call Me Stinky
  • Get a Grip

[edit] Memorable quotes

  • Daphne looks at Martin, who is seated in his favorite chair:

Daphne: Oh, dear. Your chair's got another big rip in the bottom!
Martin: Oh! Hand me my re-upholstery kit, would you?
Daphne pulls a roll of duct tape from a nearby drawer and tosses it to him
Martin: Thanks!

  • Niles has just completed giving Daphne and Martin a guided tour of his new apartment:

Martin: Hey, Niles, why is there a bed in the living room?
Niles: It's not a bed, Dad. It's an antique fainting couch!
Daphne: My goodness! They had furniture for everything back then, didn't they?

[edit] Trivia

The title of the episode refers to the American 1962 screenplay To Kill a Mockingbird, based on the 1960 Harper Lee novel of the same name. This episode bears no resemblance the the novel or the screenplay.

Rosemary Murphy, who guests in this episode, played the part of Maudie Atkinson in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird

[edit] References