11x06 - I'm Listening

[bunniefuu]

Skyline: Lightning flashes.

ACT ONE

Scene One - Apartment
In the morning, Ronee and Martin are in the living room, wearing their
bathrobes and getting breakfast. Ronee is at the piano.

[To the tune of “Good Morning” from “Singing in the Rain.”]

Ronee: [singing] Good morning, good morning, I’d like a bagel too,
and schmear it, with cream cheese, thank you...

Martin sways appreciatively, but Frasier comes out in his bathrobe,
bleary and irritable.

Frasier: Excuse me, excuse me! Did it occur to you that some of us
might still be trying to sleep?
Martin: Oh, lighten up, Fras, Ronee was just showing me how she can
change the lyrics to any song to suit the occasion.
Frasier: Yes, very impressive. Does she take requests?
Martin: Sure!
Frasier: Stop it!

Frasier goes to the table and pours himself coffee.

Ronee: You know what you need, Grumpy? A nice hot breakfast. Marty,
why don’t you get Grumpy here some breakfast?
Frasier: I don’t want any breakfast, and please stop calling me that.

[To the tune of John Denver’s “Thank God he’s a country boy.”]

Ronee: [singing] Got me some ham, and some cakes on the griddle/
Whoo! Good God, he’s a grumpy boy!

Martin laughs uproariously.

Martin: You see what she just did?
Frasier: Yes, it’s mind-boggling. Listen, Dad, do you mind giving me a
ride to work today? My car is in the shop.
Martin: Again?
Frasier: Well, yeah, my seat-warmer’s stuck on high, so I tried to
offset it by blasting the air conditioner, which resulted in
sort of a fog bank on my dashboard.
Ronee: I can give you a ride, Fras. I mean, it’s just an old Caddy,
so there’s nothing fancy like butt warmers or seat belts.
Frasier: Fine. Let me just make sure my will is in order, and I’ll be
back in a minute.

He gets up and dashes to his room.

Martin: Well, I’m going to go take a shower.
Frasier: [on his way out] Don’t use all the hot water!
Martin: I know. Gotta leave enough for milady’s tub.
Ronee: Oh, that’s okay, I can take a shower too.
Martin: I wasn’t talking about you.

Martin exits. Ronee’s mobile rings, she answers. As she talks,
Frasier re-appears in the hallway, but she doesn’t see him.

Ronee: Hello? Oh, Richard, hi.

Hearing this, Frasier ducks behind the wall. As she turns toward the
piano, he hunches closer to hear better.

Ronee: Listen, this really isn’t a good time. I was just heading
into a yoga class and... yeah. No, I would love to have
dinner. That sounds fun. Okay, I’ll see you then, sweetie.

As she hangs up, Frasier retreats a step, then makes a loud entrance,
as if he just came in.

Frasier: You know, I got two steps in my room and realized I’d
forgotten - ah, there it is.

He picks up his coffee cup as Ronee sits at the piano again.

[To the tune of “There She Is, Miss America”]

Ronee: [singing] There it is, Frasier’s coffee cup...
Frasier: You are a national treasure.

FADE OUT

Scene Two - Café Nervosa
Niles is seated at a table, composing a letter. Frasier comes in.

Frasier: Niles! Thank God you’re here. Listen, there’s something I
need to discuss with you.
Niles: Oh, wait, wait, wait. I’m in the middle of composing a plea
to Alfred Antin in the meter of Dr. Seuss.
Frasier: Who?
Niles: Theodore Geisel, the children’s author. You know, “I do not
like green eggs and ham/ I do not like them, Sam-I-Am...”
Frasier: Yes, yes, I know who Dr. Seuss is, you ninny. Who’s the other
guy?
Niles: Oh-oh, Alfred Antin. He’s Seattle’s premier scenic painter
specializing in children’s rooms. His billowing clouds can be
seen scudding across the ceilings of the finest nurseries in
town, but he’s booked solid. So I thought if I wrote this...

He notices Frasier’s restless shifting.

Niles: Oh, you’ve lost interest, haven’t you?
Frasier: I was feigning interest to begin with. Niles, I-I need your
advice on something. Uh, this morning, I-I heard Ronee on the
phone make a date with another man.
Niles: Are you sure?
Frasier: I’m positive. She was talking to a man, yes, and in honeyed
tones.
Niles: Mm...
Frasier: Here’s my predicament. I-I don’t want to meddle, but I also
don’t want to see Dad get hurt. So, how do you suggest we
tell him?
Niles: [looks up, surprised] “We?”
Frasier: Yes, “we.”
Niles: Don’t drag me into this, I don’t know a thing about it.
Frasier: You know as much as I do, I just briefed you.
Niles: Well, I didn’t want to be briefed.
Frasier: Well, then you should have said something, now you’re in as
deep as I am! You can’t unscramble an egg, Niles.
Niles: What are you talking about?!

Martin enters with a newspaper.

Martin: Oh, boys, boys, boys, I’m glad I caught you. Did you see
this?
Niles: [reading] “Doo-wop-alooza”?
Martin: Yeah, one night only. All the greats of doo-wop: The
Coasters, The Platters, and that guy from The Teenagers
is back from his hip replacement.
Niles: Wow...
Frasier: Yes...
Martin: Oh, I know you guys aren’t interested in modern music, but
Ronee would really love it. I was hoping maybe you could use
your connections to maybe score us a couple of seats?
Frasier: Well, I’m afraid I’m not very well-connected in the doo-wop
world, Dad. Uh, if there’s ever a “Mahler-palooza,” I’m your
man.
Niles: Dad, I’ll ask around. [gathers his letter] I have to go. I’m
off to try and win the heart and mind of A. Antin. I’ll go
and meet him with my Daphne/ and hope that things don’t go
ker-phaphne!

He shrugs lamely and exits. Martin sits with Frasier.

Martin: Hey, Fras, sorry again about this morning, you know, me and
Ronee waking you up. We were just having a little fun.
Frasier: That’s all right. It’s great to have a fling once in a while,
isn’t it?
Martin: Hey, let me tell you something. You don’t go to Doo-wop-
alooza with a “fling.”
Frasier: I see.

Pause. Frasier looks down.

Martin: You got something you want to say, son?
Frasier: No.
Martin: Fine. [signals the waiter]
Frasier: Well, all right, if you insist on dragging it out of me.
Something happened this morning, Dad.
Martin: What?
Frasier: Well, I was, uh, walking down the hall to retrieve my coffee,
and, uh, Ronee was on the phone, and I didn’t want to
interrupt, so I waited, and I heard her make a... a date with
another man.

Martin sits back, stunned... and takes it badly.

Martin: So you eavesdropped, huh?
Frasier: No.
Martin: Well, a person’s having a private conversation. You stop and
listen - that’s eavesdropping!
Frasier: Dad, it was completely by accident. I understand why you’d be
upset, but please don’t sh**t the messenger.
Martin: Well, the messenger’s got it coming if he’s a dirty little
eavesdropper! You walk into a private conversation, you make
your presence known by some subtle way. You can-can clear
your throat- [clears throat] you can make a noise- [hits the
table]
Frasier: Dad, please!
Martin: [gets up] You know, just because people call in for your
precious pearls of wisdom on the radio, it doesn’t give you a
free pass to get into everybody’s business! Now I know why
you’re always saying, “I’m listening” - because you always
are!

As Martin leaves, two men sitting at the window table share a laugh.

Frasier: Oh, well, I’m glad the two of you found that so amusing, but
as you just heard, it is rude to listen in on other people’s
conversations.

The men look at him blankly. One of them gestures a question in sign
language, while the other signs back and mouths, “I have no idea.”
Both men are deaf.

Chagrined, Frasier exits.

FADE TO:

THE FIRST OF SHEILA


Scene Three - Apartment
The doorbell rings. Frasier answers the door to Niles, then returns to
searching the couch cushions.

Frasier: Oh, Niles, come on in.
Niles: Hey, Frasier. Hi, I’m just here to drop off these Doo-wop-
alooza tickets for Dad.
Frasier: Oh well, that was good luck, how did you manage it?
Niles: Well, actually, Alfred Antin and his wife are big doo-wop
fans, and the couple that was going with them canceled, so-so
they let...

He trails off, as Frasier repeatedly lifts the couch cushions, looking
for something. Niles lifts one himself.

Niles: They let me have the tickets. What are we looking for?
Frasier: Well, my money clip. Have you seen it?
Niles: Rarely.

Frasier purses his lips at the implied insult, then keeps looking.

Frasier: I’ve misplaced it, [kicks Martin’s chair in frustration] and
it’s distracting me no end.
Niles: Anyway, Dad was thrilled when I told him I found the tickets.
Frasier: Oh well, I’m glad to hear that. He was just a bit vexed when
he left me earlier this morning.
Niles: Over what...? [gasps] Frasier, you told him about Ronee’s
date!
Frasier: As we agreed!
Niles: “We”?
Frasier: Yes, “we.”
Niles: There’s no “we!” There’s never been a “we!”
Frasier: Oh, give it up, Niles! There’s blood on both our hands!
[checks his watch] Oh, gosh, I better go eat something. I’ve
got my reading in twenty minutes.
Niles: Reading?

He follows Frasier to the kitchen.

Frasier: Yes, yes, I’m, uh, reciting “Annabelle Lee” for the Poe
Society this evening. I-I don’t mind telling you, I’m just a
bit nervous.
Niles: Oh, don’t worry - po’ folk don’t ‘spect much.

Niles laughs as Frasier gives him a look.

Niles: I had to say that. Well, I’m off.
Frasier: Yes.

Niles leaves. Frasier removes a Chinese takeout carton and opens it
for inspection, then staggers at the smell. He closes it and replaces
it in the refrigerator. At a loss, he takes an apple from the basket
and bites into it.

In the living room, Martin and Ronee enter through the front door.

Martin: It’s this amazing doo-wop show...

Hearing them, Frasier wants to make his presence known, but his mouth
is full of apple. Rather than appear in that condition, he hides
behind the kitchen entrance.

Martin: ...all the greats, one night only this Sunday.
Ronee: Sunday? I’m sorry, I-I, I made plans.
Martin: Oh, plans, huh? Uh... what kind of plans?

Frasier swallows, but cannot now come out - he’s already heard too much
for his presence to seem innocent.

Ronee: Look, Marty, I like you too much to lie to you. I, I have a
date.
Martin: Oh, oh, it’s no problem, yeah. Uh, want a drink?

Frasier’s eyes widen in horror.

Ronee: Oh no, I better not, I’m working. Just a beer.

Frasier hides behind the range as Martin and Ronee comes in. Martin
gets two beers from the fridge and gives one to her.

Ronee: You’re not upset, are you? I mean, you know, we never really
talked about not seeing other people.
Martin: Oh no, it’s fine, no, no! I’m seeing other people too.

Frasier, who was looking scared, now looks indignant.

Martin: Maybe I’ll ask, uh... Sheila! Yeah, she’ll be all over this
one. So, uh, how about another night?
Ronee: Yeah, sure. Um, what about Tuesday?
Martin: Great!
Ronee: Great. [then] Wow, I had no idea it was this late.

They exit the kitchen.

Ronee: [o.s.] So, I’ll call you about Tuesday.

Frasier rises, and exhales in relief - then ducks as Ronee comes back
in. But she has already noticed him. Martin follows her back in.

Ronee: Frasier, what are you doing?
Frasier: I didn’t know you two were home. Uh, I was just cleaning the
oven, I must have dozed off.
Ronee: Cool. Well, I gotta run. Goodnight, you two.
Martin: See ya.

He waits until she is gone, then rounds on Frasier.

Martin: You have a disease!
Frasier: Dad, please, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, let me explain-
Martin: No, there’s nothing to explain! I told you not to eavesdrop
and you did it again, you are a very sick person!
Frasier: I tried to announce myself, I had a mouthful of apple
rendering me speechless!
Martin: Oh, I was a cop, you think I haven’t heard that one before?

He storms out of the kitchen, Frasier follows him.

Frasier: You are just angry because I heard you lying to Ronee. You
really expect to win Ronee’s heart by inventing fictitious
girlfriends? “Sheila,” indeed!
Martin: [floundering] It’s none of your business, and... you weren’t
supposed to hear it!
Frasier: Well, I did hear it.
Martin: No, you overheard it. It’s like an illegal wiretap - it’s
inadmissible!

Martin st*lks to his room, Frasier follows him.

Frasier: Dad, you cannot build a relationship on lies!
Martin: Inadmissible!
Frasier: Dad!
Martin: IN-ADMISSIBLE!
Frasier: Fine!

There is the sound of two doors slamming, Martin’s and then Frasier’s.
The powder room door opens - and Niles stiffly comes out, looking very
embarrassed. He exits the apartment.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

Scene Four - Café Nervosa
Daphne and Niles are seated together at a table.

Daphne: Why can’t your father just go to the concert by himself?
Niles: Because Alfred Antin will be offended if we don’t use his
tickets, and then he won’t paint our nursery. [pleading]
Don’t you want to be the one to go with him?
Daphne: Forget it, Niles. We flipped a coin, and you were the doo-
wop-a-loser.

Martin enters.

Martin: Hey, Niles. Ready to bob-bob-she-bob?
Niles: [rises in horror] Oh, dear God. Is it a dance? Am I going to
have to move about?
Martin: No, you don’t have to, but you’re going to want to.
Niles: [one last try] Daphne?
Daphne: I’m pregnant.
Niles: What does that have to do with it?
Daphne: It’s my blanket excuse until the baby is born. After that,
it’ll be, “I can’t leave the baby.” Get used to it.

Martin starts to exit, as Ronee enters with a man. This is Richard.
His hair is also white, but his greater height and lack of a cane are
glaringly obvious - at least to Martin.

Ronee: Marty, hi.
Martin: Ronee, hey.
Ronee: Oh uh, this is Richard. [introducing] Martin, Daphne, Niles.

They all shake hands, ad-libbing hellos.

Richard: So how do you all know each other?
Martin: Well, uh...
Niles: Ronee was my baby-sitter. I was a little monster.
Richard: [to Martin] And you?
Martin: Um...

Roz enters. Martin grabs her.

Martin: Sheila! Where have you been?

He embraces her, as she looks bewildered.

Martin: This is my date, Sheila. [to Roz] Got stuck at work, huh? [he
says gently nodding his head]
Roz: Uh, yeah?
Martin: Sheila’s a model. She does all those big auto and RV shows.
[to Roz] Point to something.

Roz opens her hand and motions outward.

Ronee: Wow, impressive. Nice meeting you. [steers Richard to the
counter] Let’s get ours to go.
Richard: Oh, but I thought...
Ronee: Roll with the punches, d*ck.

They turn to the counter. Roz sits with Martin.

Roz: What are you doing?
Martin: I’m trying to make her jealous. Just go with it.
Roz: But I’m meeting my own date here.
Niles: Dad, the concert starts in fifteen minutes, and Alfred Antin
will be very angry if we’re late.
Martin: Well, I can’t leave unless Sheila comes with me.
Roz: Hello? Sheila has a date.
Niles: That’s it. [plucks the tickets out of Martin’s pocket; to
Daphne] You and I are going.
Daphne: [groans] Oh, do we have to?
Niles: Yes. [gets her up]
Daphne: Do we really need clouds on the ceiling? Couldn’t we just
push the crib closer to the ceiling?
Niles: Why even use a crib? Let’s put him in a pizza box!

They exit. Martin notices Ronee looking their way, and laughs loudly,
as though “Sheila” just made a joke.

Roz: Stop it!
Martin: Oh, you - work with me here!
Roz: Okay, okay...

She leans in as he kisses her deeply - as her date, Larry, enters.

Larry: Roz?
Roz: [breaks apart] Larry, hi. This is my dad.

Martin shakes his hand and ad-libs a hello.

Larry: Hello. You brought your dad on our date?
Roz: Oh, of course not. He was just leaving, aren’t you, Dad?
Martin: Yeah, but not until I finish my coffee.
Roz: [looks] You don’t have any coffee.
Martin: Uh, get me one, would you, Larry?

Before Larry can do so, Frasier enters.

Frasier: Dad, what are you doing here? Hi, Roz. [sees Larry] Uh,
hello.
Larry: Hi. [to Roz] Is your brother joining us too?
Roz: He’s not my brother.
Martin: Oh now, that’s no way to be. [she gives him a scalding glare]
Still waiting on that coffee, Lar.

Larry turns to the counter. Frasier, who, after eleven years has lost
his ability to be surprised at setups like this, wearily pulls out a
chair.

Frasier: Okay, what the hell’s going on?
Martin: Nothing.

Ronee and Richard get their coffee.

Ronee: Hi, Frasier.
Frasier: Oh, hi, Ronee.
Ronee: See you, Marty, Sheila.
Martin: Take care, bye.

Ronee and Richard exit.

Frasier: So you’ve been pressed into service as Sheila, hmm?
Roz: [feels her cheek] Pressed is right - he nearly bit my lip off.

Larry comes back with a cup for Martin.

Larry: Here you go, Mr. Doyle.
Martin: Ah, thanks.
Roz: Come on, Larry, we’re leaving.
Larry: It was nice meeting you, Mr. Doyle. And you can owe me on
that coffee - it was $3.75 and I flipped a quarter in the tip
jar.
Roz: I’ll be home early, Dad.

They leave, Roz grimacing as she now knows everything she needs to know
before her date has begun.

Frasier: Dad, when are you going to stop playing games and tell her how
you feel?
Martin: It’s too soon. We’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks.
I don’t want to scare her off.
Frasier: How do you know you’re going to scare her off?
Martin: Well, look at her, Fras. She’s young, she’s got all these
guys after her. I’m lucky she even gave me a second glance.
I don’t want to blow it by looking like some desperate old guy
with no options.
Frasier: It’s not desperate to tell somebody how you feel about them.
Martin: What if she doesn’t feel the same way?
Frasier: What if she does and you never find out?

Martin has no answer to that.

Frasier: Dad... just give her a call and tell her you want to talk to
her.

Martin is silent... then lets out a quiet grunt.

Frasier: Was that a “leave me alone” grunt, or a “you’ve bested me
again, son, with your unassailable logic” grunt?

Again, Martin is silent, and again lets out a little grunt.

Frasier: I thought so.

He folds his arms with a self-satisfied look.

FADE TO:

Scene Five - Apartment
It’s late at night, and Martin is watching TV. Frasier enters.

Frasier: Hey, Dad. What are you watching?
Martin: Sports wrap-up.
Frasier: Sports wrap-up? Oh, that sounds like fun.

Martin looks at him in surprise, as Frasier sits on the couch.

Frasier: [watching] Oof! [chuckles] Oh, gosh, that’s not very
sportsmanlike.
Martin: [realizing] I called her, okay? Not that it’s any of your
business.
Frasier: So?
Martin: [turns off the TV] I left a message. I’m glad she wasn’t
there, I don’t know what I’ll say if she calls back.
Frasier: Well, you did the right thing, Dad. I am proud of you.
Martin: I don’t know. The whole thing’s making me nervous. You know,
I know why she’s not calling me back. She just doesn’t know
how to tell me she’s dropping me for Richard.

The doorbell rings. Frasier gets up to answer it.

Frasier: Well, who said anything about dropping you?
Martin: No one, apparently, or you would have overheard it.

Frasier makes a little “well, right” gesture, then opens the door to
Ronee.

Frasier: Oh hi, Ronee.
Ronee: Hi, Frasier.

Martin rises in surprise.

Martin: Ronee, I didn’t expect to see you tonight.
Ronee: Well, I got your message, and I was in the neighborhood. So,
what’s up?

Martin opens his mouth - and looks at Frasier.

Frasier: Oh, uh... I was just heading out.
Ronee: What, at this hour? I never thought you were such a night
owl.
Frasier: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I love clubbin’.

Frasier grabs his car keys and exits.

Martin: I-I thought you’d just call.
Ronee: Well, you know, I was going to, but it sounded like maybe we
needed to talk face-to-face.
Martin: Yeah.

Pause.

Ronee: Marty, is this about that woman I saw you with tonight?
Martin: Well... kind of.
Ronee: Yeah, I thought so.

Another pause - when we can see, though Martin cannot, that Ronee is
afraid she’s about to be dumped.

Ronee: Look, whatever it is, why don’t you just come out and say it?
Martin: Yeah, all right. Well, um... I’m not the kind of guy who...
hey, you want a beer?
Ronee: Oh boy, do I need one?
Martin: [heading to the kitchen] No, I think we could both use one.

He heads into the kitchen. The doorbell rings.

Martin: [from the kitchen] Oh, would you get that? Frasier probably
forgot his key.
Ronee: Yeah, sure.

She opens the door to - Roz!

Ronee: Oh, Sheila. I kind of thought your date was over.

Roz doesn’t know she’s not supposed to be acting anymore.

Roz: Well... maybe it is... [sultry] maybe it isn’t.
Ronee: Gotcha. Uh, just tell Marty: message received.
Roz: [not getting it] Okay.

Ronee leaves. Martin comes back in with two beers.

Martin: Hey Roz, what are you doing here?
Roz: I found Frasier’s money clip. [holds it up] Is he home?
Martin: No, uh-huh. [looks around] Where’s Ronee?
Roz: Oh, don’t worry. [“points” to the door] “Sheila” showed Ronee
the door.
Martin: What?! [rushes to the door] What the hell did you do that
for?!
Roz: [after him] Hey, I have no control over what Sheila does.

FADE TO:

Scene Six - Parking Garage
Frasier is walking toward his car in the garage, talking on his mobile.

Frasier: Oh good, Niles, you’re back. How was the concert? Well,
you’re the one who wanted that cloud mural. I’m sure Pope
Julius had to jump through similar hoops to get Michelangelo
to paint his ceiling.

He stops when he sees Ronee’s car, a red Cadillac coupe.

Frasier: Dear God, I think I’ve just realized where I must have dropped
my money clip - Ronee’s car. She gave me a ride in it the day
I lost it. [looks closer] Well, that’s irresponsible of her.
She’s left it open.

He opens the passenger door to look inside. A man approaches - the
owner of the car parked next to Ronee’s.

Man: Excuse me?
Frasier: Oh yes, of course.

Frasier gets into Ronee’s car and closes the door to allow the other
man into his car.

Frasier: There we are.
Man: Thank you.

As the man drives off, Frasier stays in Ronee’s car, looking on the
floor and continuing to talk into his phone.

Frasier: Anyway, I thought I’d swing by and take us both out for a
nightcap. All right, great.

Not finding his clip, he climbs into the back seat.

Frasier: Oh, by the way, Niles, I spoke with Dad, and he has taken our
advice about talking things over with Ronee. Mine and yours,
that’s what I mean by “our!” Oh, take some responsibility for
once in your life, man!

Outside, Ronee is stalking to her car, as Martin runs after her.
Hearing them coming, Frasier panics, trapped again.

Ronee: You could have at least warned me that Sheila was on her way
up!
Martin: Ronee, it’s all a misunderstanding-
Ronee: Marty, I really don’t want to hear it!
Martin: Well, you’re going to hear it, because I’m not leaving!

She ignores him and opens her door.

Martin: Fine, just get in the car if you want to. [opens the passenger
door and gets in beside her] We’re just going to sit right
here until you hear it all.

As they get in and shut the doors, Frasier has no choice but to huddle
on the floor.

Ronee: Okay, go ahead. But you better make it good, because I have a
finely tuned crap-ometer.
Martin: There is no Sheila. Her name’s Roz. She’s Frasier’s
secretary. I just pretended we were together.
Ronee: Forget it, Marty.
Martin: No, I know how this sounds, but it’s true.
Ronee: Why would you do that?
Martin: Because I had gotten these concert tickets to impress you,
and then when you said you had a date, I got... well, I got
jealous so I said I was getting a date too, and then there you
were in Nervosa, and when Roz came in, I made her Sheila.
[pause] Do you believe me?
Ronee: You know, it’s actually a little hot.

In the back, Frasier is shocked.

Martin: [grinning] Really? [then] Look, Ronee, uh, maybe I’m old-
fashioned, but I know when something feels right. I don’t
want to see anybody else. I want to be exclusive, go steady,
whatever they call it now. Well, that’s my story. What about
you?
Ronee: [sighs] Well... God, it’s freezing in here! I had a blanket.

Frasier’s eyes widen in horror again. As she reaches blindly into the
backseat, he hurriedly gropes around for the blanket, and passes it
into her hand.

[N.B. See [2.17], “Daphne’s Room” for a similar predicament.]

Ronee wraps herself in the blanket.

Ronee: Okay. Since we’re being honest, well, I-I’ve done my share of
dating, and I haven’t always made the best choices. I’ve
dated the bad guys, the guys who can’t commit, the guys who
won’t grow up, the creeps with the nice suit, the pathological
liars...
Martin: Okay, I got it.
Ronee: Anyway, and then I started dating this really good guy - you.

He beams at her.

Ronee: And I guess I-I just wanted to keep my options open with
Richard because I wasn’t sure how you felt about me. But now
I am.

They lean into each other and kiss. Frasier dares to stick his head
up, but they do not notice him.

Ronee: Now would be the time to put your class ring on a chain around
my neck.
Martin: [playfully] Well, I got one upstairs. Want to come get it?

They get out of the car. Frasier sighs in relief and sits up in the
backseat, starting to work out how to get out...

Ronee: Wait, wait...

Frasier freezes as Martin and Ronee talk to each other over the hood of
the car.

Ronee: I’ve got a better idea. I know this secluded beach that’s
miles away from anything. You want to go there and steam up
the windows?
Martin: Oh, yeah.

Frasier has no choice but to duck down again. As they get back in and
Ronee starts the car, he buries his face as deep as possible.

END OF ACT TWO

Credits:
Roz and her date are in Nervosa. As they are finishing and get the
check, he pulls out a calculator and starts to split the bill. Roz
makes up an excuse to leave the table, and she begins to sneak out. As
she approaches the door, she looks back on him, still puzzling over how
to split the bill. She waves her hand at him dismissively and exits.