11x19 - Miss Right Now

[bunniefuu]

Act 1

Scene 1 - Frasier's Apartment

Fade in. It is raining. Ronee, in her robe, comes into the living
room from Martin's room, Frasier is at the table.

Ronee: Hey, you're up early. Rain wake you?
Frasier: Oh, no, just a little preoccupied.
Ronee: Well, if there's something on your mind you can tell me.
Won't be long before I'm your mom.
Frasier: I was actually gonna tell you before you said that.
Ronee: [sitting] Oh, come on.
Frasier: Well, there's this woman I can't seem to get off of my mind.
A woman with a boyfriend.
Ronee: Why don't you just get her drunk and see what happens?
Frasier: You are nothing like my mother.

Martin comes in from his room.

Martin: Hey, Ronee, better get dressed. You can't look like that when
she gets here.
Ronee: Oh, she not coming for another hour.
Frasier: Who?
Martin: Ronee's mother.
Ronee: Your grandmother.
Frasier: Stop that!
Martin: She's visiting with her church group from Spokane.

He goes into the kitchen.

Ronee: Yeah, and if she sees me like dressed this she'd know that
I spent the night and then she'd be carping about it the
whole weekend.
Frasier: What, she doesn't approve of pre-marital sex?
Ronee: Judging by the diving bell she wore as a nightgown, she wasn't
real big on post-marital sex either.

Martin comes back from the kitchen with his coffee.

Martin: Plus, I'm startin' out with one strike against me.
Ronee: Mother still remembers a night he drove me home from
babysitting you and Niles, thirty years ago...
Martin: Forty years ago.
Ronee: I'm telling this story. I was all weepy because this guy had
just dumped me, and your father put his arm around me, just
to be nice. And Mom saw it and she thought he was trying to
rob me of my virtue.
Frasier: [getting up] Oh, that's crazy.

He goes to the front door to get the paper.

Ronee: I know, like there was anything left to rob.
Martin: Well, don't worry. It's been a long time since I've had to
charm the mother of one of my girlfriends, but, believe me,
it's a skill you don't lose.

Ronee gets up from the table. Behind Frasier, the elevator opens and
a woman steps out.

Betty: Dr. Crane?
Frasier: Oh, Mrs. Lawrence, how lovely to see you again. Ronee should
be here any minute.

He pulls the door behind him as Ronee gets down, then crawls for the
bedroom.

Betty: Yes, well, I'm a little early.
Frasier: Yes, there's no problem.
Betty: I'm not inconveniencing you?
Frasier: No, not at all.
Betty: I could come back later.
Frasier: I wouldn't think of it.
Betty: Well, then can I come in?
Frasier: Yes, yes of course. Where are my manners?

He leads her inside.

Frasier: Oh, let me take your coat.

He takes her coat as she looks over.

Betty: Martin.
Martin: Hey, Ronee, we were just talkin'... wait. Mrs. Lawrence?
Wow, you look wonderful! Ronee isn't here at the moment,
so why don't I give you a little tour? We can start in the
kitchen.

He puts his arm around her shoulders to lead her and she flinches.

Betty: Still all hands I see.
Martin: Well, Mrs. Lawrence, kitchen's right here. You know, you look
the same as you did the last time I saw you.
Betty: What are you saying? That I looked like this at forty?

They go into the kitchen. Ronee rushes for the front door, then rings
the bell.

Frasier: I'll get it!

He opens the door, but motions Ronee to hold still.

Frasier: Wait! It's pouring rain outside.

He grabs a vase, takes out the flowers and upends it over her head.

Frasier: Why, look who's here. It's Ronee.

Ronee, soaking wet, just waves at her mom coming out of the kitchen.

FADE OUT

Scene 2 - Cafe Nervosa

Fade in. Niles and Daphne are sitting at a table. Frasier comes in
the front.

Frasier: Hey, you two.
Daphne: Hello.
Niles: Frasier! Whatever plans you have for this evening, cancel
them. I'm taking you to a fantastic new restaurant.
Frasier: [sitting] Well, all right. Where are we going? Chez Paul?
Kobu?
Daphne: Burger-Burger-Burger.
Frasier: Dear God, you're serious.
Niles: I know what you're thinking. Not two days ago I was just
like you. Too good to walk into any one of their seventy-one
convenient locations.
Daphne: Then I dragged him in there yesterday for lunch when I was
craving a Bacon Cheese Burger-Burger-Burger. He liked it so
much he insisted we try the Chick 'n' Bucket for dinner. I
guess he's got the fast food bug.
Frasier: And which one would that be? E. coli?
Niles: Now, now, keep an open mind. After all, you've embraced the
peasant cuisine of Italy and France, why shun the peasants
in our own backyard?
Frasier: You've changed, Niles.
Daphne: [rising] He hasn't changed that much. He sent back his Big
Slurp. Goodbye, Darling
Niles: 'Bye, Darling.

She kisses him and leaves.

Frasier: Thanks, Niles, but, you know, I think I'll pass. Spend a
night in, curled up with a good book. I didn't get much
sleep last night.

Roz comes in.

Roz: So, Frasier. What was going on with you at work today?
You seemed a little distracted.

She sits.

Frasier: I'm, I'm not really sure. I can't stop thinking about this
woman I've met. It's my matchmaker, of all people.
Niles: Now, do you get a discount if the matchmaker sets you up with
herself? Sort of a floor model sort of thing?
Roz: I thought you were kind of ticked off at her.
Frasier: Well, I was, and then we had dinner together last night.
And, God, we were so comfortable with each other, it's like
we've known each other for ages.
Roz: So ask her out.
Frasier: Oh, I can't. She's got a boyfriend. And, truth be told, I'm
not sure why I'm so obsessed with her, I barely even know
her. Niles, listen, is it possible that this is just a case
of transference?
Niles: Oh, interesting. Uh, hmm... a matchmaker's not unlike a
therapist. You confide in them, seek guidance. It's only
natural you'd develop a little crush on her.
Frasier: Yes, precisely! Now, how many times has a patient fallen for
you?
Niles: You first.
Frasier: Oh, don't be such a baby. This is not a competition.
Niles: Eleven.
Frasier: Thirteen. You know, this is really a weight of my shoulders.
It's just simple transference. Thank you, Niles.
Niles: [rising] Yes, well, I'm glad to be of help. You know, when
I said eleven earlier, actually I...
Frasier: [laughing] Too late, Niles, off you go.

Niles, fuming, leaves.

Frasier: Well, that's a relief.

Charlotte, the matchmaker, comes in.

Charlotte: Frasier!
Frasier: [rising] Charlotte. Hi, good to see you. Uh, I'd like you
to meet, uh...
Roz: Roz.
Frasier: Yes, yes.
Roz: Frasier's producer.
Charlotte: Hi. [to Frasier] You know, that was fun last night.
Frasier: Yes it was. We should do it again sometime.
Charlotte: Oh, I'd love to. When I'm back in town. I'm going camping.
Frasier: I didn't realize you were an outdoorswoman.
Charlotte: I'm not. The last time I camped out it was for Van Halen
tickets. But Frank loves it and I'll do anything once.
Oh, would you mind watering my office plants while I'm
away?
Frasier: I'd be glad to.
Charlotte: Oh, you're the best.

She hands her keys over.

Charlotte: Here. Thanks. Anyone need a refill?
Frasier: No.
Roz: No thanks.

She goes to the counter and Frasier sits back down.

Roz: "Transference," my ass. You've got it bad.
Frasier: All right, what am I supposed to do?
Roz: Fight for her. I mean, who is this Frank guy?
Frasier: Oh, I don't know. Some kind of environmental activist.
Roz: That's your competition? Some tree-hugging geek? Come on,
you're one of the most eligible bachelors in town - in your
age range.

Frasier takes note of her qualifier. A young, rugged man comes in and
looks around.

Frank: Charlotte.
Charlotte: Hi, honey.

She carries their coffees over and kisses him.

Roz: You're screwed.
Charlotte: Frank, this is Frasier, the one I was telling you about.

Frasier rises and shakes his hand.

Frasier: Hi.
Frank: Hi, how are you?
Frasier: Good, thank you.
Charlotte: And his producer, Roz.
Roz: Hi.
Frank: Hello.
Frasier: So, I understand you're going camping.
Frank: Yeah. I raised some eagle hatchlings when their mother was
k*lled by a hunter and now we're going to go release them
in the wild.
Roz: How can you tell when it's time?
Charlotte: Well, one of them ate his landlord's cat.
Roz: Oh.
Frasier: You know, if they're still hungry, my dad has a dog.

Charlotte laughs.

Frank: Hey, you're funny. You know, I know a lady who'd love your
sense of humor. She's a ranger up at Mount Raineer. She
comes down every couple of months for supplies if you'd like
to meet her.
Frasier: Well, uh, thanks but, you know, I haven't had much luck with
the women of the Parks Department.

Charlotte laughs again. FADE OUT.

End of Act 1

Act 2

THE SINGLES SCENE


Scene 1 - A Bar

Frasier and Roz walk in. He pauses.

Frasier: Wow, Roz, did you feel that? The entire room changed when
we walked in. It's like animals in the wild sensing a
predator had arrived.
Roz: Good, I like that you're confident.
Frasier: No, I was talking about you.

They walk over to the bar, Frasier sits on a stool.

Roz: Okay, now look, this is the drill: I brought you here to get
your mind off of Charlotte. Everyone's here for the same
reason, so just pick someone and be yourself.
Frasier: Okay. What name should I use?

A woman, Kim, comes up to the bar.

Kim: Excuse me, another cosmo, please.
Roz: Buy that drink.
Frasier: Right, faint heart never won fair...
Roz: Buy the drink!
Frasier: Right. Barkeep, uh, that one's on me. [to the woman] If you
don't mind.
Kim: Mind? Why do you think I said it so loud?
Frasier: [to Roz] What do I do now?
Roz: Just don't be so nervous. And don't worry, I won't leave you
until you make a connection.

A young man comes up to Roz.

Man: Hi.
Roz: Or I do.

She hurries off with the man as the woman turns to Frasier.

Frasier: Uh, hi. I'm Dr. Frasier Crane.
Kim: Kim. So, you're a doctor?
Frasier: Yes, I am. I have a small practice here in town and...
Kim: Do you do collagen? Because I could barter frequent flyer
miles.
Frasier: No, I'm not that kind of doctor. I'm a psychiatrist.
Kim: Oh, you've probably got me figured out already.
Frasier: Oh, no. I haven't even got you on the couch yet.
Kim: Oh, my God!
Frasier: Oh, I'm sorry. That was too aggressive.
Kim: No, no, I had a fortune cookie this morning that said I was
going to meet a doctor. I was afraid I was sick.
Frasier: Well, you look awfully healthy to me.
Kim: Oh, my God!
Frasier: Dear God, too aggressive again? I'm so sorry.
Kim: No, no. I love this song. Come on, Dr. Frasier, loosen up.
I'm sorry, what's your first name again?

DISSOLVE TO: Frasier and Kim at a table.
A waiter is bringing them fresh drinks, but Frasier hasn't finished his
last one.

Kim: The first few months I was a wreck. We were engaged.
At least, I was. But now, I know I'm ready to move on.
[suggestively] Really, really ready.
Frasier: You know, it's kind of funny. I'm actually trying to get over
someone myself, in a manner of speaking.
Kim: And you thought she was the one, right?
Frasier: Well, she may have been. I'm just trying to put her out of
my mind, right now. I must say, you're proving to be a
delightful distraction.
Kim: Well, that's not the nicest thing anybody's ever called me
in a bar, but it's not the worst. This is fun. But, I'm
kinda thinkin' that I'd like to go someplace a little
less... crowded.
Frasier: Okay. Uh, well, thank you, I enjoyed our time together.
Kim: No, I meant someplace... a little more private.
Frasier: No, I understand completely. I take no offence.
Kim: Your place.
Frasier: Oh, yes, yes indeed. Well, should we go together to my place
or...? Well, you must have your own car so I could give you
directions or, well, we could drive together and then I could
drive you back here or we could drive together and then you
could get a cab back here...

Kim puts her hand over his mouth.

Kim: I don't care how we get there, let's just get there!

Frasier smiles at this. FADE OUT.

Scene 2 - Frasier's Apartment

Fade in. Frasier is at the dining table, pouring two glasses of wine.
He adjusts the lighting and turns on the stereo as the doorbell rings.
He "suavely" dances over to the end of the couch.

Frasier: It's unlocked.

Niles comes in with Daphne.

Niles: It's unsafe!
Frasier: Oh, dear God.

He shuts off the stereo with the remote.

Niles: Anyone could walk in.
Frasier: What the hell are you two doing here?
Niles: Well, we came to cheer you up with some late night fast food.

He holds out a bag.

Niles: If anything's gonna make you forget a woman, it's a big Double
Juicy.
Daphne: Please, take it. If you don't, he will. I've created a
monster. He's already had two chimichangas and a You Ain't
Nothin' But a Corndog.

Frasier takes the bag to the kitchen.

Niles: All for less than four dollars. Where has this food been all
my life?

Frasier comes back in.

Frasier: On the end of a coroner's artery scraper! What the hell has
happened to you? You've devoted your whole life to developing
your standards, only to succumb to the fast, the cheap and the
tasty.

Kim walks in the front door.

Kim: Sorry, I turned the wrong way coming out of the elevator.

She notices Niles and Daphne.

Kim: Oh, hello.

Daphne and Niles slowly look back to Frasier.

Frasier: Uh, Kim, this is my brother Niles and his wife Daphne. They
were just leaving.

Kim takes Daphne's hand.

Kim: Charmed.
Niles: Hello.
Daphne: Nice to meet you.
Niles: Well, I see I have my big Double Juicy and you have yours.
Frasier: Yes, good night!
Kim: Did somebody here have a chimichanga?
Daphne: See, I told you. It's coming out of your pores.

They leave. Kim takes off her jacket and looks around.

Kim: Wow. Nice place. You really are a doctor.
Frasier: Yes. Would you like the tour?
Kim: I don't know. What do you want to show me?
Frasier: I don't know. Uh, what do you want to see?
Kim: What would you like me to see?
Frasier: Whatever you came here to see.
Kim: And what did I come here to see?
Frasier: Is there and end to this? Because I'm starting to feel
redundant on my part.
Kim: Let's just have some fun

She rips his shirt open.

Frasier: You are delightfully single-minded. Would you care for some
wine?
Kim: Sounds great.

Frasier gets the wine as Kim sits on the couch.

Kim: We both had a rough time lately. How 'bout we go a little
crazy tonight?
Frasier: I like the sound of that.
Kim: I've got a little outfit you might like.

He hands her a glass of wine.

Frasier: The littler it is, the more I like it!
Kim: I love it when I say something and then you say something
funny.
Frasier: I tell you what, if you'd like to, you can change right in
here.

He shows her the powder room and she gets up and goes in.

Frasier: And, maybe I'll whip up a little surprise of my own.
Kim: Okay.

She pinches his rear and laughs as he closes the door. He then rushes
to the kitchen, taking off his shirt, as she talks to him through the
door.

Kim: When I met you tonight, I had no idea what a bad boy you
were.
Frasier: You know what bad boys need, don't you?
Kim: A spanking, right?

Martin comes in the front with Mrs. Lawrence and Ronee.

Frasier: That, or a good tongue-lashing.
Kim: [laughing] Hah, you did it again!

Frasier comes in from the kitchen, a line of whipped cream down his
chest, freezing when he sees the others. Kim comes out of the powder
room in a slinky black negligee. Martin is shocked, Ronee is trying
to contain her laughter.

Betty: My goodness!
Martin: What's goin' on?

Frasier frantically puts his shirt back on.

Frasier: I thought you were out for the evening. For God's sake...
Martin: We came back for dessert.
Ronee: Obviously you got a jump on us.
Frasier: This is horrible. I'm so sorry. I met, uh...
Kim: Kim.
Frasier: Kim at a bar earlier this evening, and obviously we hit it
off.
Martin: All right, yeah, we get it. Uh, look, there's a little
coffee shop on the corner, why don't we go there for desert?

They file out, but Ronee turns back.

Ronee: You may get away with this now, young man, but once I'm your
mother...
Frasier: Oh, get out!

She closes the door behind her.

Frasier: I would say "Perhaps another time," but that outfit goes a
long way towards recapturing the mood.
Kim: Good. Now why don't you just relax and I'll go find some ice
for our wines.

She heads for the kitchen, oblivious to Frasier's pained look.
He starts to sit down, but the doorbell rings.

Frasier: Oh, good heavens!

He answers the door to see Charlotte, looking disheveled in jeans
and a flannel shirt.

Frasier: Hello.
Charlotte: I'm sorry to bother you, I just need my house keys.
Frasier: I thought you were camping. Uh, come on in. Gosh, I'm
sorry about the stench in the hall.
Charlotte: That would be me. I had a little run-in with a skunk.
I thought I could scare him off if I threw my keys at
him.
Frasier: Please, come on in.
Charlotte: You really don't want me to. As it is now, I'm going to
have to sell my car. What is all over your chest?

Kim comes back from the kitchen.

Kim: Frasier, I... hello.
Charlotte: Okay, I got it.
Frasier: Sorry, Charlotte, this is Kim. Kim, this is Charlotte.
Kim: Boy, I've met more people in this apartment than I did at
the bar.
Charlotte: I really didn't mean to interrupt. If I could get my keys
and use your powder room really fast.
Frasier: Right, right. It's right here and I'll get those for you.

She goes into the powder room and Frasier gets the keys.

Frasier: Uh, Kim, I'm terribly sorry about this. I'm afraid it's just
not going to work out for us tonight.
Kim: She's the one, isn't she?
Frasier: Yeah. Uh, listen, this has nothing to do with you, you know.
I've had a lovely time this evening.
Kim: Me too. Maybe it's just as well. I'm lactose intolerant.

She heads for the door, then turns back to whisper to Frasier.

Kim: Good luck.

She leaves and Charlotte comes out.

Frasier: Oh, your keys.
Charlotte: Thanks. Where's your friend?
Frasier: She left.
Charlotte: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spoil your night.
Frasier: You didn't.
Charlotte: Yes, yes I did! I spoil everything.

She flops down on the couch.

Frasier: Now, don't go there.
Charlotte: But it's true!
Frasier: No, I mean, don't go there.

He pulls her away from the couch and gestures to Martin's chair.

Frasier: Sit over there, you'll be more comfortable.
Charlotte: I spoiled your evening. I spoiled my clothes, I spoiled
my whole relationship.
Frasier: Oh?
Charlotte: Frank and I had a huge fight. He was getting impatient with
me because, excuse me, I'm not exactly a pioneer woman and I
started snapping back and the whole thing went downhill from
there.
Frasier: I'm sure it wasn't as bad as all that.
Charlotte: I dropped the cooler on one of the hatchlings.
Frasier: [rising] You know, maybe you could use a little wine.
Charlotte: [chuckles] I could.

She gets up.

Charlotte: But look at me, I can't stay in your house like this.
Frasier: Okay, I'll tell you what: I have an eight-jet whirlpool
bath that you are free to revive yourself in...

Charlotte's face shows that this is a gift from heaven.

Frasier: ...and I can get cleaned up and make us some snacks, all right?
And you know, actually, I have an endangered condor pat� that
I've been saving for just such an occasion.
Charlotte: That's not funny.

But she still laughs as he leads her off. FADE OUT.

CATCH ME A CATCH


Scene 3 - Frasier's Apartment

Fade in. Charlotte is in a robe on the couch, Frasier next to her
pouring the wine.

Frasier: More wine?
Charlotte: Thanks. This is my idea of camping.
Frasier: You know, I'm not much of an outdoor man myself. In college
I got lost on a nature hike. After screaming for forty-five
minutes, I was finally rescued by a Brownie troop. I still
know some of their songs.
Charlotte: I still can't believe I haven't found the right woman for
you yet.
Frasier: Well, there's no rush. I'm enjoying the search.
Charlotte: You're so sweet.
Frasier: You're sweet yourself.

He puts down his glass.

Frasier: Charlotte, I hope you won't think this is too forward of me,
but, a promising relationship doesn't come along very often
and when it does, it's worth sticking your neck out for.
What I'm saying is...

Martin and the Lawrence women come in the front. Martin sees Charlotte
and lets out an exasperated noise.

Betty: Good lord, he's with another one!
Frasier: For heaven's sake!
Martin: What are you doin' to me, boy?!

Charlotte gets up.

Charlotte: Maybe I'll just get those sweats you offered and get out
of here.
Betty: All right, Veronica, we've had dessert, we've dropped him
off, can we go now?
Ronee: No.
Betty: I don't want to spend another moment in this house!
Ronee: Well, fine, then you go, but I'm staying here with Marty.
Martin: Oh, sure, okay, Ronee, I'll just make up the couch for you.
Ronee: Just drop it, Marty. Yes, Mother, we are sleeping together.
And he's not the first. Or the second. In fact, I'm well
into double digits now.
Martin: Okay, we got the picture!
Ronee: Look, I'm sorry, I know you're upset, but I just can't live
a lie anymore. For God's sake, I'm in my forties.
Betty: What are you talking about? You haven't been in your
forties...
Ronee: All right! I'll see you in the morning.

She pushes her mother out and shuts the door, then turns back to
Frasier.

[N.B. Wendie Malick - and presumably Ronee also - is fifty-four.]

Ronee: Well, if you're a good boy, maybe you'll get to spend the
summer with your grandma.

She heads off to the bedrooms, passing Charlotte on the way.
Martin takes the dessert box to the kitchen.

Charlotte: Thanks for the sweats. And about before: I think I know
what you were trying to say.
Frasier: You do?
Charlotte: Yes. A promising relationship is worth fighting for. So
I called Frank and apologized and he's on his way home.
Thank you for being there for me tonight.

She kisses him on the cheek.

Charlotte: You are such a good friend.

She opens the door.

Charlotte: So I'll see you Monday? Maybe we can get some coffee?
Frasier: Right.

She leaves. Martin comes in from the kitchen with a plate.

Martin: I brought a little dessert back. I don't suppose there's any
whipped cream left.
Frasier: Sorry, no.

He settles on the couch and puts a hand to his head as Martin sits
down.

Martin: You all right?
Frasier: No.
Martin: Want to talk about it?

He makes a face.

Martin: Whew! I gotta get this chair cleaned!
Frasier: She doesn't want me, she wants somebody else. I don't have
a chance.
Martin: Oh, I'm sorry. [then] That's the second one, right?
Frasier: Yeah.
Martin: So, what are you gonna do?
Frasier: Well, that's a good question: What am I gonna do? I suppose
I could pine over her for the next several weeks, make myself
more miserable every day. Or I could do the sensible thing
and just let her go. [rising] Excuse me.

He grabs the cordless phone and dials, pacing.

Frasier: Hi, Charlotte, it's Frasier. About coffee on Monday? Let's
just forget that. How 'bout lunch instead?

He looks as if he can't believe he said this, but Martin gives him a
smile and a wink of approval. FADE OUT.

Credits:

Niles is showing Frasier curly fries. Frasier takes one and eats it.
Shrugging agreeably, he starts to take another, but Niles pulls the box
away. While he admonishes Frasier about being greedy, Eddie runs over
and nabs some. Frasier settles back in his chair as Niles gleefully
eats another fry, only to find a hair on it.