TEXT: Skyline: A bolt of lightning flashes. ACT I [Scene 1 - Squash gym lobby. Niles is there. Frasier rushes in.] Frasier: Ooh, Niles, sorry I'm late. Did you sign us up? Niles: Um, Frasier, I've been thinking. How many years have we teamed up for the squash tournament, only to be eliminated in the second round? Frasier: Nine. Niles: Don't you think it's time we came up with a new strategy? Frasier: Niles, if you're talking about taking that powder that's made from sheep's glands, the answer is never again! Niles: Actually, I was thinking of something more fundamental. It occurs to me that after nine years... Frasier: Shh, shh, Niles, Niles, here comes that two-faced braggart Jim Blake. Jim, looking good! [Jim, a dark-haired man, walks to Frasier and shakes his hand.] Jim: Thanks, Frasier, thanks. Frasier: So, you signed up for the tournament? Jim: Uh, I don't know. [to Niles] Have we, partner? [Frasier is stunned. Niles grins cheesily.] Jim: Awesome, awesome, let's do it! I'll see you on the court, bro. [Jim offers his fist for a "fist high-five." Niles, unsure of himself, slaps the fist with his open palm. Jim, rather bemused, then exits.] Niles: It's not what it looks like. Frasier: It's exactly what it looks like. You've teamed up with someone younger and in better shape. Niles: No, Frasier, you know I don't care about such superficial things. Frasier: You know, that Jim is bad news. He struts around here in those ridiculous-looking Swedish goggles that everybody thinks are so cool. Niles: [smugly] Jim. Frasier: You know, I just wish you'd
SUMMARY:
It's time for the Crane brothers sports club squash tournament, and Frasier is expecting to be teamed with Niles again but he has other ideas: as they have been eliminated in the second round for nine years in a row, Niles has decided to team up with Jim Braggett (something of a poseur) in the hope of doing better. Understandably, Frasier is upset at his brother's actions but luck is at hand when Chelsea Gray (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn ), a girls' gym teacher, walks into the room. She and Frasier briefly met some time ago and mentions that she is looking for someone to team up with her for the mixed doubles. Frasier is reluctant initially but when he sees her hit a great ball at Jim Braggett he agrees. This decision pays off handsomely when Chelsea and Frasier win the mixed doubles tournament. This delights Martin as his son has finally brought home a trophy that doesn't have a book on it, while Niles is a bit jealous of his brother's achievements and hopes he can do just as well with Jim. Frasier also admits to Daphne that he has developed a bit of a crush on Chelsea and is worried that she doesn't feel the same way, but Daphne manages to convince him to take the plunge and he is rewarded with a date with Chelsea. After the relationship has stabilized, Niles tells Frasier that he first he couldn't believe he was dating a gym teacher on account of their dreadful experiences they both faced when they were at school but remarks that Chelsea couldn't be more different. Frasier also enjoys Chelsea, but things change when he goes to pick her up at her school and watches the woman berate a heavyset girl for not trying hard enough to climb the rope. This brings back memories of Frasier's horrible cigar-smoking gym teacher Coach Fuller (played by Bob Hoskins ) and as a result he can no longer look at Chelsea without seeing her as his former gym teacher.