ACT ONE
Scene One - Apartment It is morning, and Niles is playing the piano softly as Martin sits down to breakfast. All the furniture from the carpeted areas has been piled onto the balcony outside. Daphne and Martin come in. Daphne clutches Martin's arm, while Eddie cowers between their legs. Everyone gasps: it is a perfect replica of Martin's Armchair (minus the duct tape). Frasier comes in. Frasier's here! Frasier: We are not a couple! Good day! He reaches out to drape the cloth, and accidentally pushes the Chair off the balcony. Martin comes in with Eddie, at which Frasier stiffens up. Martin: Is that the mountain? Martin: No, it's all right, I'll get it-
He takes a step toward the kitchen and accidentally steps on the oil bottle, squirting a huge black streak onto the carpet. Mindful of the noise level, he inches the Chair forward little by little, making a squeak every time, and a thump when the footrest hits the bottom. Niles comes in. Niles tries to calm him. Niles: Tbis is quite an anniversary. Niles: That's going to be hard to get used to. Now which one of you is willing to take the first step? Pause, as Frasier decides to be honest with himself. That was an accident! The chair!! This puts a strange spin on Roz's line in Season One's [1.19], "Give Him The Chair!" [Frasier nods] Where's Daphne? [beat] So who's lost? [goes to refill their sherries]
As they talk, a close-up of the balcony shows disaster irrevocably unfolding:
The telescope is angled towards the sun, and the eyepiece focuses the light like a magnifying glass out to the balcony, onto the seat of the Armchair, which is already beginning to smoke. [hunches over the keyboard again] You know, you're much nicer than my old piano teacher.
Plan: A: breakfast; Q: What meal does Martin tell Frasier that the day marks the eighth anniversary of the day he moved in with him? A: Frasier; Q: Who has a new replica of Martin's old chair built? A: The revelation; Q: What makes Frasier unusually touchy? A: his father; Q: Who does Frasier get angry with after he spills oil on the carpet? A: a squeak; Q: What is Martin trying to fix in his recliner? A: the accident; Q: What does Frasier mistake for a deliberate act of hostility? A: the furniture; Q: What does Frasier move onto the balcony while the carpet is replaced? A: a telescope; Q: What is the chair positioned under that catches fire? A: the brothers; Q: Who notices the chair catching fire? A: a positive view; Q: What view of the situation does Martin take after Frasier's recent behavior? A: Frasier's recent behaviour; Q: What causes Martin to accuse Frasier of destroying the chair? A: retaliation; Q: Why does Martin accuse Frasier of destroying his chair? A: Niles; Q: Who offers to teach Daphne piano? A: an exact, new replica; Q: What does Frasier have built of Martin's chair? A: Daphne; Q: Who has expressed an interest in playing the piano? A: her lessons; Q: What does Niles offer to give Daphne? A: her last teacher; Q: Who committed suicide? Summary: Over breakfast one morning, Martin happens to comment to Frasier that the day marks the eighth anniversary of the day that Martin moved in with him. The revelation makes Frasier unusually touchy, especially towards his father. His temper worsens when Martin accidentally spills oil over the carpet when trying to remedy a squeak in his recliner ; Frasier irrationally views the accident as a deliberate act of hostility on Martin's part. He moves the furniture onto the balcony while the carpet is replaced, and the chair, positioned underneath a telescope in direct sunlight, catches fire. When the brothers notice, their efforts to put it out only serve to knock the chair off the balcony . Ill-disposed to take a positive view of the situation after Frasier's recent behaviour, Martin angrily accuses him of deliberately destroying the chair in retaliation. When the hostility between father and son reaches the point where the two are no longer speaking, Niles decides to use his experience as a couples therapist to mediate. Frasier has an exact, new replica of Martin's old chair built. Daphne has expressed an interest in playing the piano, so Niles offers to give her lessons. He also agrees to teach Roz, who picks up the technique much more quickly than Daphne. Niles is willing to persevere with Daphne, until he hears that she has been taught before, and her last teacher committed suicide.