01x24 - My Coffee With Niles

[bunniefuu]

[N.B. This entire episode was sh*t in “real time,” with no scene
changes or cuts. Notice how Frasier and Niles’s trips to the
men’s room are exactly timed to coincide with the length of the
commercial breaks.]

Act One.

MY COFFEE WITH NILES


Scene One – Café Nervosa
It is a very busy day, and all the tables are occupied. Niles is
standing at the counter, speaking into his cellular phone. He is
giving directions to Maris. Meanwhile, Frasier walks in.

Niles: Calm down, dear. No, calm down, listen, take a left, then
the second right, then a left again.
Frasier: Is Maris lost again?
Niles: Yes, she wandered into the kitchen by mistake. I had to
talk her back to the living room.
Frasier: [looking round:] It's kinda busy, any chance of getting a
table?
Niles: Not at the moment. The table by the window received their
check five minutes ago but they have been sitting there
yammering away every since. I've been sh**ting them dirty
looks, but they haven't budged.
Frasier: Show me the look.

Niles pulls a one-eyebrow look in a strict sort of way.

Frasier: They're there for a while.
Niles: Meantime, shall we go ahead and order?
Frasier: Oh why not? [to waitress:] What are your coffees today?
Waitress: Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Frasier: I'll have a Zimbabwe latte.
Niles: I'll have a Kenyan cappuccino.
Frasier: So, what's new?
Niles: Well, Yoshi the gardener finally won the battle of the wills.
He got Maris to dig up her camellias so he could put in that
precious Zen garden that he's been hocking us about since
last fall.
Frasier: How did that turn out?
Niles: Oh, it's beautiful, it's the perfect place for meditation.
Yesterday, I found Maris smack-dab in the middle sitting in
the lotus position.
Frasier: Well good for her, apparently it's bringing out her
spiritual side.
Niles: I'm not sure, she reading a Danielle Steel novel, making a
nail appointment on her cellular phone.
Frasier: Do you realize that today marks a year since I moved here
from Boston?
Niles: Really? A year! It seems like yesterday dad moved in with
you.
Frasier: Isn't funny how two people can have distinct, opposite
impressions of the same event?
Niles: [moving to the window seat:] They are both sitting there as
if they own that table. Maybe if we both gave them the
look.
Frasier: It's worth a try. [They both stare at them, and they move.]
Niles, I'll never doubt you again! [they give high fives]

However, by the time that Niles and Frasier have got their possessions
from the counter, a couple have already seated themselves. Niles and
Frasier are angered by this.

Niles: Try the look on this table, I'm going to the men’s room.

Niles leaves, whilst Frasier stares at a couple at their usual table.

FADE OUT

Scene Two – Café Nervosa
However, they haven't budged a few minutes later when Niles
come back from the men’s room with wet hands.

Niles: Maddening!
Frasier: What is it now?
Niles: They have a new moisturizer dispenser in the men’s room, and
the cream is entirely too oily, so I had to rewash my hands,
and would you know it, that is when the hot-air hand dryer
decides to break down!
Frasier: How do you get through the day?
Waitress: [bringing coffees:] Here we go, Zimbabwe and Kenyan.
Frasier: [not pleased] Oh, excuse me, did I say decaf?
Waitress: No, you didn't.
Frasier: Oh, I'm sorry. If I drink the regular it'll keep me tossing
and turning all through my brother's conversation. [she takes
it] Well Niles, it doesn't look like anybody is leaving, why
don't we take a table outside?
Niles: Why not, I'm feeling al fresco.
Frasier: Oh, how does Mrs. Fresco feel about that?

They chuckle away as they go to the outside seats. They find a table
and some chairs exactly in front of the entrance. Frasier watches
Niles wipe down the seat meticulously.

Frasier: It must be a riot on camping trips!
Niles: Would you like a...?

He offers his handkerchief, Frasier refuses. They both sit down.

Niles: So, Frasier, now that chapter two of your life is in
full swing, do you mind if I ask you something?
Frasier: No, go right ahead.
Niles: Are you happy?

Frasier thinks.

Niles: Did you hear the question?
Frasier: Yes, I'm thinking. It's a seemingly complex question.
Niles: No, it's not.
Frasier: Yes, it is.
Niles: No, it's not. Either you're happy or you're not.
Frasier: Are you happy?
Niles: No, but we're not talking about me.
Frasier: Oh, let's not just gloss over that. You, my only brother,
has just told me you're not happy and it pains me to hear
that, so why?
Niles: I was watching PBS the other night in my study and they
were showing this documentary on the Great Depression.
Vintage Steinbeck - desperately poor people escaping
the Dust Bowl, their meager possessions strapped to
rickety old trucks heading to what they thought was
their salvation. Then there was this scene with this
scruffy boy being handed a brand-new pair of shoes by
the Salvation Army. Frasier, if you saw the look on
that boy's face. It was a look of pure and utter
happiness. I have never experienced that kind of
happiness, not in my whole life. Not even when I
bought these four hundred dollar Bruno Maglies.
[shows shoes off] Do you like them?
Frasier: Do you like them?
Niles: What about the tassels?
Frasier: Well, I'm not much of a tassel guy.
Niles: No, neither am I, nevertheless there they are. [thinks]
Oh, I have no reason to be unhappy. I have my health,
have a wonderful home, a beautiful wife... did your
eyebrow just move?
Frasier: I don't think so.
Niles: I've got my practice. Although, lately I've lost track of
the ideals that led me to psychiatry in the first place.
Frasier: Hmm, yes.
Niles: Look who I'm talking to. Psychiatry's answer to the drive-
through window. You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm not
just in psychiatry for the money.
Frasier: Oh, I wouldn't say that's true. In a word... forget it.
Niles: What were you going to say?
Frasier: I'd rather not.
Niles: Well, there's no need, I think I know what you were getting
at. You've been wanting to ask me this for years: did I
marry Maris for the money? [Frasier nods] I resent that!
I did not marry Maris for the money. It was just a delightful
bonus.
Frasier: So, you really do love her?
Niles: Of course I love her. But it's a different kind of love.
Frasier: You mean it's not human?
Niles: No, no, I mean it doesn't burn with the passion and
intensity of a Tristan and Isolde. It's more comfortable,
more familiar. Maris and I are old friends. We can spend
an afternoon together - me at my jigsaw puzzle, she at her
auto-harp - not a word spoken between us and be perfectly
content.
Frasier: I'm told it was a lot like that near the end in the h*tler
household.
Niles: Oh fine, let's shift this subject back to where it belongs.
This whole thing started with me asking whether you were
happy. And don't think about it this time, just answer.
Frasier: Aw, well...
Roz: [coming over:] Hey, guys!
Frasier: Hi, Roz.
Niles: Hello, Roz. What are you doing here?
Roz: Well, I always wanted to learn to fly a jet and today
they're offering a special on jet flying lessons, so I
thought I'd come by and take advantage of it. [Niles
doesn't understand.] I came to get coffee!
Niles: Well, thanks for stopping by, I'd have been mad if you didn't.
Roz: I'm also meeting someone here.
Frasier: Oh, let me guess, a man?
Roz: Yes.
Frasier: [imitating:] Yes.
Roz: The new guy from the news department, Andy Winslow.
He's really cute. He caught me checking him out when
he was bending over the water fountain.
Frasier: Ah! Love at first sight!
Roz: Anyway, he said why don't we get some coffee and get to know
each other? [adding makeup:] I don't know Frasier, I've got a
strange feeling that this guy might be the one.
Frasier: Oh, Roz, honey, you say that about every guy you meet.
Let's just see if this one calls back.
Roz: [takes Niles's serviette and uses it to wipe her lipstick.]
Yeah. I guess, you know, I don't think he's here yet. I'll
just go and snag a table.
Frasier: Good Luck!
Niles: Bye, Roz.
Roz: Yeah. [leaves]
Niles: I don't think she likes me.
Frasier: Niles, it isn't a question of liking or not liking.
She despises you!
Niles: Really? Why should I warrant such strong emotions? I barely
acknowledge her existence.
Frasier: I think you may be onto something there, Sherlock!
Niles: [looks into the café] She is comely, in a back-alley sort
of way.
Frasier: Roz, yes she's very attractive.
Niles: Do you ever think about you two, you know...
Frasier: Roz and me? [laughs] No!
Niles: You've never fantasized about stealing away to a cheap
little motel with her?
Frasier: Oh well, I'm a normal man with normal urges. She does have
a silk blouse that falls open a bit when she leans over the
cart rack. But mixing work with romance, I don't know, is it
ever worth it?
Niles: I don't know, you tell me. You're the one who looked down
her blouse!

The Waitress brings Frasier’s second coffee.

Waitress: Decaf Zimbabwe Latte.
Frasier: Is that non-fat milk?
Waitress: No.
Frasier: Oh, I hate to be a bother, it's just that I'm watching my
fat intake. [she takes it away, then it begins to rain]
Niles: What is that? Rain?
Frasier: [sarcastically:] No, God is crying!
Niles: I asked a simple question.
Frasier: Do you ask any other kind?

Niles and Frasier walk in and see Roz, who has managed to get their
usual front row table. They see a group moving near the bookcase,
so they head over there, but a couple get to it first. The people on
the window seat move so they dash over there. A man is just about
to get there, but Niles blocks him out of his way. They finally sit
down.

Frasier: Good work there, Niles!
Niles: I think I just wanted it a little more than he did. [looking
out of the window:] Boy, it's really coming down. [Frasier
looks out and begins laughing.] What? What?
Frasier: Oh, just something that happened the other morning. I asked
dad to pass me a bran muffin. You know what he said to me?
He said, "What's the magic word?"
Niles: You're kidding.
Frasier: He didn't think it was very amusing when I said "rest home!"
[they both laugh]
Niles: [sees Roz with a man] Oh look, look, that must be Roz's
coffee companion. Wow! He's really handsome, isn't he?
Frasier: ”Wow!” Did you say “Wow?”
Niles: Good lord, I did. I've never said "Wow" when describing
another man before. I wonder if that means something.
Frasier: Oh, absolutely. [sarcastic:] It means you're a gay man.
Your life with Maris was a charade and you should have
come out of the closet years ago. Are you going to tell
dad or shall I? [laughs]

Meanwhile, a rather wet Daphne and Martin enter with Eddie by their
side.

Martin: This was stupid, this whole thing was stupid, admit it.
Daphne: It was not stupid! You needed your exercise. What was
stupid was you came out without your bumbershoot!
Martin: It's called an umbrella! Speak English, can’t you?
Waitress: [coming over:] I'm sorry, sir, no dogs allowed.
Martin: [acts like a blind man:] What?
Waitress: Oh, I'm sorry.
Niles: It's okay, okay.
Martin: [feels Niles's face:] Niles?
Niles: Hello, dad.
Frasier: So, dad, what are you two doing here?
Daphne: Well, I thought we needed some exercise, and I had to come
down here to pick up some beans anyway, so we walked. Well,
two of us walked. One of us had to be dragged by his
collar.
Martin: Hey, I told you I didn't want to come here in the first
place. Look at me, I'm going to die of pneumonia.
Daphne: Oh, you'll outlive us all. The cranky ones always do.
[Niles goes to the counter with her.]
Frasier: Dad, let's get you something hot to drink. [Frasier summons
the waitress] Em, cappuccino, latte?
Waitress: [to Martin:] Can I help you?
Martin: Coffee, black, and don't put anything fancy in it.
Waitress: We have two special coffees. [Martin stares, bored] I'll
surprise you. [leaves.]
Frasier: [Eddie sits next to him] Oh, joy. There's nothing like the
smell of a wet dog to work up the appetite for supper!
Martin: Look at us, we're soaked to the skin!
Frasier: You're in a fine mood today!
Martin: Ah, and by the way you left a mess in the kitchen.
Frasier: I had a piece of toast!
Martin: Yeah, and you didn't use a plate like I asked you too, and
you put it in under the counter. [Niles sits down with his
briefcase] And all because you left a bunch a crumbs and
toast sweat there!
Niles: Toast sweat?
Frasier: Yes, yes, it's when you put a piece of hot toast on any
surface, and it leaves droplets of dew behind. Haven't you
heard dad's lecture on the evils of toast sweat? It's the
scourge of our times.
Waitress: [with coffees:] One coffee, black.

Martin, still pretending to be blind, reaches for the coffee. The Waitress
guides his hand to it.

Waitress: And a decaf, non-fat, Zimbabwee Latte.
Frasier: Oh dear, is that cinnamon on that foam?

She whisks it away again.

Frasier: [to Martin:] Well you know, as long as we're picking at each
other's scabs here, I found another one of Eddie's chew toys
in my sweater cubby the other day, hairs all over my favorite
pullover. I know he sleeps in there when I'm not home!
Martin: It serves you right for keeping your sweaters in a place
called "the cubby."
Frasier: That's it, my bedroom is off limits to this fleabag.
Martin: He's not a flea bag.
Niles: Hey dad, how about those Mariners?
Martin: Shut up, Niles. Look, who's kidding here? If my hip’s good
enough to get me down here, then maybe it's about time I
found a place of my own.
Niles: Where will you go?
Martin: Oh, don't worry about me, I'll find a place. I've got a
little money saved up. I never wanted to move in with you
in the first place, and the last thing I want to do is...
Frasier: [with him] ...“to be a burden to anybody.”
Martin: [to Niles:] That's your brother's smart-ass way of telling
me he's heard this before. Well, you won't have to hear it
again, come on Eddie. Tell Daphne to catch up with us, will
you?
Frasier: Dad, please, we go through this little melodrama at least
once a week. Will you just sit down, it's raining outside.
Martin: No, no. I'll pay for coffee too, how much is it?
Frasier: A dollar-fifty.
Martin: For coffee? What kind of world are we living in?

Martin exits into the rain, whilst Frasier decides to take a visit
to the toilet.

End of Act One (Time: 12:35)

Act Two.

Later, Niles is at the counter where Daphne has just got her beans.
Frasier comes back, also with wet hands.

Niles: Frasier, are you alright? You've been in there forever.
Frasier: Oh, I tried that damn hand cream, [wipes his hand on
serviette] I was so oily I couldn't get a grip on the
doorknob. I awaited to be rescued, finally when some guy
came in I said, "Oh God, am I glad to see you." I can't
even begin to describe the look he gave me.

A man walks past Frasier, giving him an indescribable look.

Frasier: There it is!

Niles and Frasier heads to their seats, Daphne goes with them.

Daphne: So, your brother tells me you and your father are at it
again.
Frasier: Oh yeah, what's new?
Daphne: I don't know what's wrong with him. Lately, he's had a face
as long as a wet weekend. Yesterday, when I insisted he do
his exercises, he told me to put my feet behind my head
and spin like a top. [Niles begins to fantasize about
this]
Frasier: Oh well, best thing to do, just ignore him when he gets
sarcastic. Isn't that right, Niles? Niles?
Niles: [after coming out of the daydream] I'm sorry, Frasier. For
some reason I feel a little dizzy.
Daphne: Well, I guess I better go after him.
Niles: Oh, here. [hands her his umbrella] Take my bumbershoot.
Daphne: Oh, isn't that nice. Well, at least someone appreciates my
mother tongue. [leaves]
Niles: Yes, I've always had an ear for your tongue.
Frasier: Niles!
Niles: What did I say? Want another coffee?
Frasier: Not until I've had my first one, thanks! [Niles signals for
another coffee] Why is it always so difficult between me
and dad?
Niles: Oh well, you might try looking at it from dad's point of
view. As a policeman in a position of authority and that's
been taken away from him. Wailing against the world is his
way of controlling his ever-shrinking sphere of influence.
Frasier: Yes I do empathize with him. I just can't help wishing I
could just kick that cane out from under him once in a
while and that he would land on Eddie!
Niles: Well, the simple truth is, it's hard. I know you're trying!
Frasier: I am! And you know, sometimes I do see the fruits of my
labor. You know, just the other night dad was watching TV
and I had fallen asleep on the couch and suddenly I
stirred, I felt something on my head, and dad was standing
above me stroking my hair.
Niles: Dad?! Did he say anything?
Frasier: Well, he said, "don't think it's time you got a hair cut,
you're starting to look like bozo!" I know he was only
covering though. But what do you think?
Niles: Probably wouldn't hurt to get a trim!
Frasier: No! Do you think he was covering?
Niles: Of course he was covering, you know dad! Tough as nails on
the outside, but on the inside one giant... spike.

The Waitress brings him his coffee.]

Niles: Grazie.
Frasier: Excuse me, but what about mine?
Waitress: We've got a team of specialists working on it. [leaves]
Frasier: Look, why don't we just change the subject from dad, and
talk about something else.
Niles: Absolutely, pick a new topic. Something light and frothy.
Frasier: I agree. Are you in love with Daphne?

Niles does a spit-take.

Frasier: That's a little frothier than I had in mind!
Niles: That preposterous! I refuse to dignify that question with an
answer.

Frasier stares at him.

Niles: I don't know! There, I said it. There, are you happy?
Oh, why did you have to hire Venus herself? Couldn't you
have found some beefy, East-European scrub woman who reeked
of ammonia?
Frasier: Well, I asked, but it was an Olympic year. The agency was
fresh out.
Niles: Frasier, I can't get her out of my mind. When I look at
Daphne she stirs a passion in me I've never known before.
Frasier: Niles, you're not considering leaving Maris?
Niles: Certainly not!
Frasier: Well, I suppose the situation you're in is that you'd like
to stay with Maris but you'd like an affair with Daphne.
Niles: Yes. Can I do that?
Frasier: No, you can't!
Niles: I thought that I couldn't but you got my hopes up there for
a minute. Oh, it's easy for you. You're free, you're happy -
although perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself there, you
haven't answered that question yet.
Frasier: Oh, I haven't answered it, have I?
Niles: You haven't and I'm getting curious. Are you happy?
Frasier: Well, I guess the best way I can think of saying it is...
Roz: [coming over:] This sucks!
Frasier: What's the matter?
Roz: You sit down with someone and have a cup of coffee and
think that they might just might lead you to something,
like a life! Suddenly the trap door opens and you're
right back in Roz's world!
Niles: How did it go wrong so quickly?
Roz: Hmm, simple. He didn't want to date me. He wanted to
convert me! I don't have anything against religious people.
I don't care if they're Jewish, or Jehovah Witness or
Buddhist. I am ecumenical, I embrace men of all faiths!
Frasier: If only it stopped there!
Roz: But he pretended he was going to ask me out, isn't there a
Commandment against that?
Niles: No, they didn't get into dating until the New Testament.
Frasier: Oh, I'm sorry Roz, why don't you join us?
Roz: No, no thank you. There's a cute new handyman in my building.
I thought I'd just go home, slip into a negligée and rip out
my faucet. [leaves]
Frasier: You think she's kidding, don't you? You know, I think about
Roz's life and it makes me wonder about my own. I haven't
been exactly burning up the social scene lately.
Niles: You'll find somebody.
Frasier: But what if I don't? What if I end up old and alone?
I just might have to buy a funny little dog and move in
With Frederick. I guess I don't need to worry about that
for a while.
Niles: No, Frederick should start worrying about it. In the
meantime, you might want to answer my ever-more-tedious
original question. Are you happy?
Frasier: Well, I guess I'd have to say...
Martin: [entering with Eddie:] Hello, boys.
Niles: Oh, for Pete's sake!
Frasier: Hello dad, what are you doing back here?
Martin: I don't know. I've been acting like a jerk these past couple
of days, and I've been taking it out on you and Daphne. You
know all that stuff I said earlier? Just forget about it.
Frasier: I already have.
Martin: Come on, boy.
Frasier: Dad, dad, listen. Has something been bothering you these
past few days?
Martin: No, not really, no.
Frasier: Come on, say it.
Martin: Okay. Last Sunday was my birthday.

Niles and Frasier are both mortified. Niles tries to cover.

Niles: Of course it was! Frasier and I were planning a big surprise
party. But, if we threw it on your birthday it wouldn't
have been a surprise, thus we waited a week. So, surprise!

Martin doesn't buy and Frasier just stares at Niles.

Niles: Oh, if you could just see the look on your face...
Frasier: Just give it up, Niles! Dad, I'm sorry. Listen, come and
have a seat.
Martin: You know, I don't know why I let it bother me. All those
years on the force, I missed enough of you boys' birthdays.
You're entitled to miss one of mine.
Frasier: You know what, there's no reason to stop us celebrating
anyway. Tonight, we'll take you out for dinner.
Martin: You don't need to do that!
Niles: Absolutely, absolutely, you name the place.
Martin: OK, how about Hoppy's Old Heidleberg?

The boys pretend it's wonderful.

Martin: They were voted best bratwurst of all time for three years
in a row.
Frasier: Ach du lieber! [they laugh]
Daphne: [walking in:] There you are. I've been up and down Third
Street looking for you.
Martin: Oh, I was on Fourth Street, Eddie had already smelled
everything on Third. How did you know I was coming back
here anyway?
Daphne: I had one of my psychic flashes. Bang! - there you were,
walking through the door of Café Nervosa. And there you
were, apologizing for the way you've treated me this past
week.
Martin: Yeah, I'm sorry about that, Daphne. Just forget about it,
alright?
Daphne: And something about a raise. [looks to Frasier]
Martin: You're winging it now, aren't you?
Daphne: Am I that transparent?
Martin: No, I'm psychic. Come on, we've gotta hurry up because the
boys are taking us to Hoppy's Old Heidleberg tonight for
dinner!
Daphne: Oh great, German food. We whipped the Jerries twice this
century and they still have the last laugh. [leaves]
Frasier: You know, dad I'd give you a ride, but I've got to stop by
the station first.
Martin: Nah.
Niles: No, that's okay, I'll give him a lift.
Frasier: Ah.
Niles: Frasier, as always I've enjoyed getting together with you
for coffee.
Martin: What do you guys talk about all the time?
Niles: Oh, you know - sports, chicks, monster truck rallies...
Martin: Okay, don't tell me.

Niles and Martin leave, Frasier awaits his decaf, non-fat milk,
non-cinammon foam Zimbabwe Latte alone. The waitress arrives, with
yet another cup of coffee.

Waitress: Zimbabwe, decaf, non-fat milk, no cinnamon in sight.
Now - ARE YOU HAPPY?
Frasier: [answering Niles's question:] You know, in the greater
scheme... yes, I'd say I am.

He tastes his coffee. Fade out.

End of Act Two. (Time: 22:10)

Credits:

It seems that Frasier was indeed answering Niles’s question, as it
seems the coffee still isn't perfect. He signals the waitress over
to his table, who pulls the coffee away before he manages to utter
a word.