Frasier (season 7)
| Frasier Season 7 | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 23, 1999 – May 18, 2000 |
| Home video release | |
| DVD release date | November 15, 2005 |
The seventh season of Frasier originally aired from September 23, 1999, to May 18, 2000, on NBC.
List of episodes
See also: List of Frasier episodes
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | 1 | "Momma Mia" | Kelsey Grammer | Rob Hanning | September 23, 1999 |
| Roz has fixed Frasier up on a blind date, but before she turns up at Café Nervosa, Frasier has already introduced himself to another woman at the counter; Mia Preston (played by Rita Wilson), a children's author whose books he used to read to Frederick. He finds her intriguing, and they begin to date. When Niles and Martin meet her, they are startled to discover that she looks just like the brothers' late mother, Hester, which Frasier does not realize. The three Cranes plan to spend the weekend at a cabin where they vacationed years ago to celebrate Martin's birthday. As a gift the brothers bring old home movies transferred to videotape. Frasier sees the resemblance when watching the home movies, in which his mother appears, and realizes to his horror that he is dating her spitting image. | |||||
| 146 | 2 | "Father of the Bride" | David Lee | Mark Reisman | September 30, 1999 |
| Frasier is trying to decide on a wedding present for Daphne and Donny, and Roz is apprehensive in case she is asked to be a bridesmaid, recalling her previous experiences (all of which involved wearing awful dresses). After a conversation with Martin, Frasier decides to pay for the wedding flowers. Unfortunately, when he announces this to Daphne, he is suffering from a bout of hiccups brought on by some jerky Martin made him eat, he only manages to get as far as saying: "Dad and I would be honored to pay for your wedding…". Daphne, who has so far been trying not to let her mother take control of the ceremony and arrangements because she is paying, is delighted. Consequently, Frasier feels obliged not to complete the sentence. However, he becomes so involved with the details of organizing everything, trying to plan things his way, that Daphne starts to worry that she will have the same problem as with her mother. Meanwhile, Niles is very pleased at having met an attractive woman through what he presumes to be a dating service. The name "Executive Match" rings bells with Frasier, as he heard Donny use it while discussing a client on the phone; it is, in fact, an escort agency, which means that Niles is unwittingly dating a call girl. | |||||
| 147 | 3 | "Radio Wars" | Sheldon Epps | Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil | October 7, 1999 |
| Frasier is very annoyed at getting a prank phonecall very early in the morning from KACL's new morning team, Carlos and the Chicken; everyone else finds it hilarious. He seizes the opportunity to speak to them at Café Nervosa later that day, but they claim to be fans of his show and not to have intended any offense, so he graciously refrains from any angry outburst. Unfortunately for him, he receives another prank call later, whilst enjoying a bath, during which, suspecting nothing, he is actually persuaded to sing down the phone and to stamp around the floor of the bathroom simultaneously. Desperate for revenge, Frasier sits up all night composing a scathing speech of rebuttal, intending to read it on air to humiliate his rivals. Martin advises him against it, promising that it will only exacerbate the problem. The last straw comes when Roz calls Frasier to notify him about Carlos and the Chicken's currently broadcast: a medley of sound effects and sound bites, engineered to sound like a sex session between him and Roz. | |||||
| 148 | 4 | "Everyone's a Critic" | Pamela Fryman | Joe Keenan | October 14, 1999 |
| The owner of KACL has sent her daughter, Poppy Delafield, to start an internship at the station. Everyone finds her unbearable because she can never stop talking, though they are all too polite to say so. Meanwhile, Niles is very pleased with himself; he has been appointed art critic of a posh magazine, The Monocle, and is now attending performances for free and socializing with the elite of Seattle]. Frasier becomes envious, and asks Kenny if he could host an arts show on KACL, to fill a recently vacated slot in the schedule; Kenny says no. Frasier therefore decides that he must approach someone in a more senior position. To this end, he has a subtle conversation with Poppy, to persuade her to suggest his idea to her mother. She loves the idea, but some of the subtlety is lost on her, including the crucial component of who should host the show. Martin is pleased when Eddie kills his first rat, but then trouble starts when he encourages him to repeat his success, and the victim turns out to be a missing hamster. | |||||
| 149 | 5 | "The Dog that Rocks the Cradle" | Pamela Fryman | Bob Daily | October 21, 1999 |
| Since being fired from KACL, Bulldog (Dan Butler) has been working as a pizza delivery man, as Frasier discovers when Bulldog brings one to his apartment. Roz is also there with Alice, and when Frasier sees how pleased Alice is to see Bulldog, he suggests to Roz that she employ him as a babysitter for the following day, when she has a date. It has been a month since Roz's last date, so she is keen not to miss this one, and follows Frasier's suggestion. However, when her date arrives at her door, Bulldog answers it and scares him away, telling him to phone and cancel like a gentleman. This gives him the opportunity to spend the evening with Roz and Alice, and Roz never suspects a thing. She then organizes more dates during the week, and Bulldog scares them away too, but Roz cannot remain oblivious for long. Meanwhile, Niles has been fighting to reclaim a plot in Verdant Hills, a prestigious cemetery, which he lost after his divorce. He and Frasier encourage their father to organise something for himself, but Martin does not like to tempt fate. | |||||
| 150 | 6 | "Rivals" | Katy Garretson | Christopher Lloyd | November 4, 1999 |
| When Frasier escapes Poppy at Café Nervosa by leaving Niles in his place, Poppy is suddenly less talkative than usual; she finds Niles warm, charming and handsome. Frasier returns home and finds a strange woman in a towel using the phone. It soon turns out that her name is Regan, she recently moved in next door, and Martin rescued her when she accidentally locked herself out. Martin explains to his son that he brought her for his benefit, and though not very grateful for this interference, Frasier does find Regan attractive, and intends to ask her out. When Niles meets her, Frasier detects recognition in his face (Regan is one of Niles' patients), and thinks he may have competition; he finds Niles' admission that he has taken a shine to Poppy unconvincing. Niles, in turn, thinks Frasier's persistent hostile remarks about Poppy mask a latent attraction, and so does not believe that he really likes Regan. Both couples attend a charity ball, each brother assuming that the other is pursuing his date, with disastrous consequences. | |||||
| 151 | 7 | "A Tsar is Born" | Pamela Fryman | Charlie Hauck | November 11, 1999 |
| Antiques Roadshow comes to Seattle, and after an enjoyable evening watching the previous show together, Martin and his sons decide to take a family heirloom for appraisal. The object, which is a pewter clock, turns out to be Russian, and is one of a collection made exclusively for the imperial Romanov family. It is valued at $25 000, which Martin is delighted by. Frasier and Niles are more interested in the Romanov connection, and they know that their great-great-grandmother was from Russia. They decide to research their family history, thrilled at the possibility that they may be descended from royalty, but they do not tell Martin, who thinks they are ashamed to be Cranes. They soon find that the clock was last seen in Moscow in the same year that their great-great-grandmother emigrated, and the excitement grows when Dr. Myshkin from the Russian embassy phones to say he has something important to tell them. What they do not know is that Martin is planning to sell the clock. | |||||
| 152 | 8 | "The Late Dr. Crane" | Robert H. Egan | Rob Hanning | November 18, 1999 |
| Frasier and Niles have a minor car accident and end up at the hospital. While waiting for Frasier to be seen, Niles discovers that Maris' plastic surgeon, who is still sending him the bills for Maris' botox treatments, is based here. He takes the opportunity to confront this Dr. Mel Karnofsky, and finds that she is a young-looking, attractive divorcée with a fussy nature akin to his own and an interest in the arts. Unable to master enough courage to ask her out, he pretends to be interested in some botox treatment for himself. Frasier is shocked, but not half as shocked as when a local news report announces his death later that day. The mistake had been made when he left the hospital early, and someone else took his place in the line and suffered a fatal heart attack. When reading his obituary in the newspaper, Frasier reflects on his life, and all the things he has yet to achieve. Martin, meanwhile, enjoys the attention and free drinks he receives from everyone who thinks he has just lost his son. | |||||
| 153 | 9 | "The Apparent Trap" | Kelsey Grammer | Dan O'Shannon | November 25, 1999 |
| Frederick is coming to celebrate Thanksgiving with his father, while Lilith spends the holiday with a colleague. At the last minute, this colleague cancels, and Lilith asks Frasier if she can join them. He concedes, acknowledging that the season should be a celebration of family, even though there is still some awkwardness between Lilith and Niles following their brief tryst. Lilith happens to be writing an article about raising a child after divorce, and Frederick suggests she collaborate with Frasier, and do so while she stays at the apartment. He then goes to some effort to bring his parents closer together, saying privately to each how much the other is missing them, setting up mood lighting and romantic music. It is not long before they realize they are being set up, but they cannot help wondering if Frederick has some other motive behind his elaborate scheme. | |||||
| 154 | 10 | "Back Talk" | Pamela Fryman | Lori Kirkland | December 9, 1999 |
| It is Frasier's birthday, and he is not in a particularly celebratory mood, being surprisingly snappy towards Daphne concerning her living arrangements with her fiancé, Donny. The day is further strained when Frasier, leaning over to blow the candle out from a cupcake as a joke, pulls a muscle in his back, thus seizing himself up. He is thus forced the indignity of wearing a girdle, but is nevertheless determined to do his radio show. He manages to get through five seconds before a sneezing fit brought on by a birthday gift of some flowers, coupled with his bad back, sees him collapse in pain, and he is forced to enlist Niles' help in getting him home. Finding a seat is the first hurdle, and to the horror of both brothers, the only one comfortable enough is Martin's battered old recliner. Niles suggests that Frasier undertake a mental exercise; as there is seemingly nothing physically wrong with him, the problem may be emotional, so it may help if he expresses his worries out loud. Frasier thus finds himself talking about his problems with Eddie, and realizes that the reason he's been so sharp with Daphne lately is because she will soon be leaving his life. He determines to make amends for his behavior and ensure that Daphne feels loved before she leaves. Unfortunately, Daphne has been home all the time, and finally emerges, unnoticed, to hear Frasier confess that he loves her. She does not realize that his feelings are platonic, and is horrified and embarrassed. Her interpretation is further supported when Martin, hearing that "Dr. Crane" has confessed his feelings for Daphne, assumes she referring to Niles and confirms it. Frasier soon realizes that, as Niles has not been present to confess anything, Daphne has misinterpreted. He takes the opportunity to assure her of this. Daphne is relieved, and gives Frasier a massage as his strong medication begins to work. Unfortunately, in his drowsy state, his speech is unguarded, and when she revisits what Martin said, he reveals that it is Niles that has feelings for her. Daphne is shocked as Frasier explains that Niles is crazy about her and has been for years before falling asleep. Later, Frasier doesn't remember revealing Niles's secret leaving him and Martin believing they successfully dodged a bullet while Daphne attempts to get used to this new information. | |||||
| 155 | 11 | "The Fight Before Christmas" | Pamela Fryman | Jon Sherman | December 16, 1999 |
| Frasier is planning his Victorian Christmas party at home, and is trying to keep it a secret at KACL, having only invited Roz out of his work colleagues. He has also invited Cam Winston, deciding to call their feud to a temporary halt. Daphne is having an awkward time, as Frasier does not remember what he said under the influence of his painkillers, and Niles does not yet realize that she knows his feelings. Niles, meanwhile, has to offer his condolences in person to Maris after her old gardener Yoshi dies, but Frasier advises him not to tell Mel. She eventually finds out and is very angry, so Niles does his best to talk her round. Frasier's Christmas party is a disaster, and it does not take long for him to find out why: Cam Winston is holding a rival party in his apartment, and poaching all Frasier's guests. Daphne panics when she learns that Niles and Mel have broken up, and still more when she overhears Frasier in the kitchen advising Niles to "make his feelings clear to her" (not knowing that he means Maris). | |||||
| 156 | 12 | "RDWRER" | Kelsey Grammer | Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil | January 6, 2000 |
| Chez Henri has burned down, and Frasier and Niles feel like the new millennium has been canceled. They must now make alternative plans for their New Year's celebrations. Martin is in a better mood, having received the customized number plates he ordered for his new Winnebago RV. The plates read "RDWRER", which he claims is short for "Road Warrior". Frasier and Niles remember that the Wine Club is hosting a celebration in Sun Valley to which they are invited, but unable to find a flight at short notice, they end up traveling with Martin in the Winnebago. The trip is a difficult experience for Frasier and Niles to bear, though Martin thoroughly enjoys himself, whether driving or sitting in the back watching Austin Powers videos. They stop for a snack at a roadside café, and while Martin peruses the menu and Frasier attempts, unsuccessfully, to socialize with the locals, an exhausted Niles retires for a nap and ends up leaving in the wrong Winnebago. All of a sudden, Sun Valley is out of the question, as the Cranes now have to make sure they are at least together to ring in the New Year. | |||||
| 157 | 13 | "They're Playing Our Song" | David Lee | David Lloyd | January 13, 2000 |
| When Kenny decides that each show on KACL requires a special theme jingle, Frasier struggles to think of one. Still trying harder, Frasier cancels dinner with Niles, and when he reveals why, Niles is interested and offers to help. Making the tune extremely complex, Frasier enlists Niles as the announcer for a dramatic monologue. Meanwhile, when brushing his teeth, Martin invents a catchy little tune for Frasier, who dismisses it instantly. Still thinking something is missing from his tune, Frasier hires an orchestra and choir to perform in it. He has also promised Roz's new boyfriend Leon a role, eventually giving him the part of lead triangle (the regular player has tinnitus). Daphne, Kenny and Martin arrive and join Roz to listen to Frasier's long-awaited song. At the end of the two-minute piece (which combines a Broadway musical-style chorus with an incongruous film-score background for Niles' monologue), Kenny is left speechless. In private, he then explains he did not want something so elaborate. Daphne talks Martin into singing his ditty. Kenny loves it and tells Frasier to come up with something more like that. Starting again, Frasier can't think of anything and admits that he doesn't think he can do 'simple'. He asks Martin's advice, and is told to try "saying what you do" and then adds a tune to it, allowing him to come up with another catchy jingle which Frasier hates at first, but he eventually relents and adds his own words to it. | |||||
| 158 | 14 | "Big Crane on Campus" | Sheldon Epps | Mark Reisman | February 3, 2000 |
| Frasier runs into Lorna Lenley (Jean Smart) at Café Nervosa, who went to his school and was one of the most popular girls. She is now working in real estate. He used to have a crush on her, but never had the courage to ask her out, and suddenly meeting her again, he reverts to the same state of mind and asks if she can come round to appraise his apartment. She arrives that evening, and Niles can hardly believe his eyes, also remembering her from school. Eventually, Frasier admits to Lorna the real reason he wanted to see her, and she takes it very well. In fact, she stays for dinner, and is still with Frasier the following morning. It is at this point that he sees another side to her: she smokes, she shouts down the phone, she is not very refined, and Frasier becomes concerned that they have no future together. However, soon afterward she invites him to accompany her to the retirement dinner of their school football coach, and he imagines the reactions of the formerly popular students if they saw him arrive with Lorna. Meanwhile, Niles enlists Daphne to help him cook dinner for Mel, and a tender moment between them ends with an interruption by Martin. When she snaps at his father, Niles suspects that she may be in love with him. Upon hearing this, Frasier tells him that he merely imagined Daphne's discomfiture and misinterpreted what he did see. | |||||
| 159 | 15 | "Out with Dad" | David Lee | Joe Keenan | February 10, 2000 |
|
It is Valentine's Day. Niles cancels a boys' night out with Frasier at the opera to be with his girlfriend Mel. Hoping to meet a beautiful woman he has been eying from across his box at the opera for several weeks, and not wanting to go alone, Frasier asks Martin to go with him. Having to choose between that and staying at home to watch Sophie's Choice with Roz and Daphne, Martin decides on the former and accompanies Frasier to see Rigoletto. Later at the opera, Frasier sees the gorgeous woman. He and Martin meet her (Emily, Marg Helgenberger) and the woman's mother, Helen (Mary Louise Wilson), during intermission. As Helen tries to ask Martin out on a date, Martin, finding her unattractive, panics. After a pause he lies and tells her he is gay. That evening, Emily brings her gay uncle, Edward, to Frasier's apartment, hoping to set him up with Martin. Martin does not realize that Edward is gay until it is largely too late. Realizing Edward's true sexuality and heightened interest in him, Martin pretends that he and Niles are an item. Niles finds a way out and leaves. While Frasier hopes to have a long Romantic night with Emily, Edward reminds her that he needs to get home as it is getting late. Emily readies to leave as she is Edward's ride. Just then, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, Martin offers to give Edward a ride home, giving Frasier and Emily the evening together. Joe Keenan was nominated for the 2000 Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Comedy for this episode. | |||||
| 160 | 16 | "Something About Dr. Mary" | Wil Shriner | Jay Kogen | February 17, 2000 |
| Roz is going on holiday, and desperate to avoid having her replaced by Chuck Ranberg (who has a distracting speech impediment), Frasier decides to hire someone from outside KACL. He appoints a woman from a community outreach program called Mary Thomas (Kim Coles), who is initially reluctant to speak during the broadcast, even to introduce callers, but soon overcomes that and even interrupts with her own advice. Her style is very different from Frasier's, and her delivery is very light-hearted and jovial. Frasier finds this irritating, but is reluctant to be critical. Martin attributes this to the fact that Mary is black, believing that his son is too sensitive about that. The listeners enjoy this new style, and callers even start addressing her as "Dr. Mary". Kenny is so pleased that he makes the arrangement permanent and moves Roz to Gil's show; Frasier is horrified, but has no idea how to voice his grievances without sounding bigoted. He suggests to Kenny that Mary should be allowed to present a show as call screening is limiting her and Kenny agrees, but the result is not what he expected as Kenny makes her his co-host. Between Mary and the new call screener (who is just as outspoken), Frasier finds himself barely able to get a word in on his own show. Meanwhile, Daphne sustains an injury by being in the wrong place during Niles' demonstration of his new skills at kickboxing. Niles is mortified, and insists on doing all Daphne's household chores until she has fully recovered. Martin decides to take advantage of the fact that, until now, his son had no idea what these chores were. | |||||
| 161 | 17 | "Whine Club" | Kelsey Grammer | Bob Daily & Jon Sherman | February 24, 2000 |
| Frasier is very excited about the prospect of being elected "Corkmaster" of his local wine club, which he has asked Niles to nominate him for. During conversation on the subject with Roz, discussion turns to Mel, and Frasier admits that he does not know her very well, so suggests having Sunday brunch that week to get to know her better. However, whilst Niles is getting ready for the wine club meeting, Mel insidiously manages to convince him to run against his brother for the position of Corkmaster, playing on his pride. As a result, at the meeting that night Frasier is stunned when Niles reveals his intention to run against him. When the votes come in at a tie, a wine-tasting tiebreaker overseen by the outgoing corkmaster (Anthony Heald) sees Niles narrowly win. Frasier is gracious in defeat, until he discovers that Mel provided the impetus for Niles' decision to stand. This revelation is just one of a series of events during the brunch that bring out a collective distaste for Mel among all present, although no one says anything to her or Niles. Frasier is sorely tempted, realizing that her emasculating influence is comparable to that of Maris. Meanwhile, Martin has embarked on an affair with Claire Wojadubakowski, an old friend whose husband Stan was buried a few weeks before. As Martin and Stan were quite close, he is feeling quite guilty over this, and endeavors to conceal the fact from Frasier. | |||||
| 162 | 18 | "Hot Pursuit" | Sheldon Epps | Charlie Hauck | March 23, 2000 |
| Donny asks for Martin's help in obtaining surveillance photos for one of his court cases. Martin is thrilled at the idea of a stakeout, remembering his days with the police force; Niles is worried about the potential risks of the neighborhood, and decides to go along and keep his father company. Frasier and Roz are attending a broadcast conference out of town, and when Frasier discovers that he has no room at the hotel, he asks to sleep on Roz's couch. She reluctantly agrees, conceding that neither of them is likely to need the room if the cocktail party is the usual Bacchanalian revel. Unfortunately, they both suffer similar lack of success, and end up together in Roz's room sharing champagne and stories. Frasier, it happens, has been growing a beard, which Roz says makes him "like Frasier, but not Frasier"; he has a similar reaction when she shows him a blond wig that she bought on a whim. Somehow the idea of being strangers holds a mutual excitement for them… | |||||
| 163 | 19 | "Morning Becomes Entertainment" | Pamela Fryman | Rob Hanning & Jay Kogen | April 6, 2000 |
| Roz brings disturbing news to Café Nervosa: Frasier's show is being taken off the air for a week. This happens to be at the time when he is re-negotiating his contract with KACL, so he believes this is a tactic of theirs. Bebe Glazer soon tells him that the situation is bleak, but he and Roz have been offered the chance to host AM Seattle on television. This is a lower brow program, of a much lower caliber than his own, but for a long time Frasier has dreamed of appearing on television, and decides to accept. Roz turns up on the first day with a fever and delirium, and is thus incapable of co-hosting, so Bebe steps into her place. During the show, Frasier makes several valiant attempts to raise the level of decorum, but Bebe artfully keeps it light, persuading him to do impressions and so forth. By the end of the week, they are both intoxicated by the experience, but when Frasier revisits the KACL contract, he discovers that Bebe Glazer is not ready to leave the fame of television. Meanwhile, Martin's eyesight seems to be deteriorating and causing embarrassment, and Daphne has been pestering him to get some glasses. He has no idea that the choice he finally makes is a pair of women's glasses, despite the mirth they provoke from everyone. | |||||
| 164 | 20 | "To Thine Old Self Be True" | Robert H. Egan | Dan O'Shannon | April 27, 2000 |
| Donny is having trouble with his best man, who cannot organize his bachelor party, so Frasier volunteers to make the arrangements for him. Donny's instinctive reaction is to refuse, but Frasier insists, hoping he can overturn the impression that he is too much of an aesthete for this job. Daphne is relieved when she finds out, predicting that Frasier will organize a low-key, civilized event. Martin decides to help out by inviting a stripper (Rachel York) to the apartment for an interview, and she turns up dressed as a policewoman. Frasier runs into difficulty when he gives her some suggestions about an encore for her act, and they end up handcuffed together, without a key to release them. Frasier then has to do his best to hide this fact from Daphne, and numerous visitors, including Mel, Maris and his neighbor, Regan. | |||||
| 165 | 21 | "The Three Faces of Frasier" | Pamela Fryman | Jon Sherman | May 4, 2000 |
| Frasier has an announcement to make, for which he is taking Martin, Daphne and Niles out to dinner at Stefano's Italian restaurant. Niles refuses to go, making up an excuse about a patient's crisis; the truth is, he had an embarrassing experience at this restaurant as a child, and is still traumatized by it. Frasier has to make the announcement without him: the restaurant is putting a sketch of his face on their Seattle Wall of Fame, and the unveiling is that very evening. He is most proud, until he sees the caricature; the artist has exaggerated the forehead, presumably to convey a man of learning. Frasier insists on returning the following evening with Niles, to have a tactful word with Stefano about changing it. Luckily, the artist is also in the restaurant, so Stefano agrees to his request. The new caricature has a more proportioned forehead, but Niles points out that it is not recognizable as Frasier, and suddenly they are back where they started. | |||||
| 166 | 22 | "Dark Side of the Moon" | David Lee | Lori Kirkland | May 11, 2000 |
| Daphne is receiving anger management therapy, in the wake of a four-car pile-up. She explains her situation to Dr. McCaskill (S. Epatha Merkerson), and the episode continues in flashback: Donny has organized a surprise bridal shower for Daphne, held at Niles' apartment, and has invited a special guest, announcing him as Daphne's favorite brother. She is thrilled, expecting to see Stephen. It turns out to be Simon, and judging by the expression on his sister's face, he is definitely not her favorite. Frasier was also expecting Stephen, and had already agreed to let him stay at Elliott Bay Towers, so he is not pleased that Donny invited the wrong brother. Having Simon as a guest proves very trying for Frasier, especially when he intercepts a friend of Daphne's whom Frasier was hoping to ask out, and gives him a cold. Daphne's patience is also tested to the limit when she finds herself waiting on her brother as much as Frasier and Martin, and being treated no better. Then Donny arrives unexpectedly with his parents, a day ahead of schedule, and when Daphne discovers her favorite dress has been ruined in the laundry, that proves to be the final straw. Dr. McCaskill wonders why Daphne keeps mentioning her favorite dress, and why she was wearing it to the bridal shower she didn't know she was having. It is revealed in flashback that Daphne wore the dress because she thought she'd be spending the evening alone with Niles, which forces her to face that her feelings for him may have changed, and she's no longer sure that Donny is the man she loves. | |||||
| 167/168 | 23/24 | "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue" | Pamela Fryman | Christopher Lloyd & Joe Keenan | May 18, 2000 |
| Frasier, Daphne, Niles, Mel and Martin return from the funeral of Morrie, the doorman of Elliott Bay Towers. Daphne in particular is very emotional, which everyone attributes to nerves before the wedding. Martin bears a final gift from Morrie; a rare bottle of wine retrieved from France following the Second World War(specifically a 1945 Château Pétrus). Simon, Daphne's boorish and obnoxious brother, arrives unexpectedly, and Martin invites him to stay in his Winnebago. Mel leaves to prepare for a mid-week retreat to celebrate her and Niles' six months together, 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 breaks down once more. Frasier is left to comfort Daphne, and Daphne reveals that she knows about Niles' seven-year crush on her. She 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. When Niles returns, however, he has exciting news: he has, on impulse, eloped with Mel and married her. 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. They are interrupted by the arrival of Daphne's overbearing and hypercritical mother, Gertrude. That night following the rehearsal dinner, Frasier and Martin discuss Daphne and Niles. Frasier confesses that he does not believe either Daphne or Niles when they claim to be happy, leading Martin to warn him about interfering; two marriages are at stake. Meanwhile, 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, and that there is a possibility she 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, they are constantly interrupted, firstly by Martin, then by Donny, then Mel, and finally by Daphne's entire family. Escaping the party to the balcony, the two stand together awkwardly, until Daphne takes action, and the two share their first intended romantic kiss. (The two had kissed previously in "Moon Dance" in Season 3, but it was invalidated by Daphne as part of an act). She then tells him that they have made too many commitments to others to back out now. 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 honor 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, Morrie kept his wine rack in the 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". | |||||
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