TEXT: Act One Scene One - Frasier's Apartment. Eddie is asleep on Martin's chair. Frasier, Niles and Martin enter through the front door. Niles goes to the phone to check his messages. Martin: Look, we had an agreement. We went to see a movie I wanted to see, so I'm supposed to pay for the tickets. Frasier: Very well, Dad. The next time we go to see a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie, not only may you pay for the tickets, but also for the wild horses it will take to drag me there! Martin: Well, I'm only mad because we had an agreement. Now, a man's supposed to honour his agreement, didn't you learn anything from that movie? Frasier: Yes, only that bullets are useless against the man who can kick really high! Martin: Now, look, I'm serious about this. Once in a while I'd like to pay. Frasier: Okay. Martin: Okay, so the next time we go anywhere, it's on me. Have I made my point? Frasier: Yes, Dad, with all the subtlety Mr. Van Damme displayed when he jet-packed into the Vatican to subdue that nasty Pope imposter! Martin: Like you saw that coming! Martin exits to the kitchen. Frasier pours two sherries. Niles: Well, Maris has finally deigned to call me back after I'd left no fewer than twenty messages! Frasier: Honestly, Niles, by calling her so many times you give her all the power. You're much better off coming from a position of strength! Niles: Don't pour that sherry on your shirt, it will stain. Frasier: [mystified] What?! Niles: I'm sorry, I thought this was the portion of the afternoon where we gave each other patently obvious advice! [pause] I had to call Maris! You know that party I'm throwing for my country club friends. Frasier: Oh, yes. The one I wasn't invited to but my Waterford punch bowl was! Niles: Yes, well... Maris has chosen the exact same night to throw a party of her
SUMMARY:
After a trip to the cinema, Martin complains that Frasier paid for the tickets when they had initially agreed that Martin would. The two of them decide that the next time they go out, Martin will pay. So when Daphne says she is cooking sheep's head soup for dinner, the three of them head off to Le Cigare Volante instead. After another argument about money, Martin refuses to pay, but he later tries to make it up by buying a painting from the restaurant. Niles and Frasier had effusively praised the painting so as not to offend the maître d', though in reality they disliked it. Martin is unexpectedly reduced to tears when he finds this out, which in turn reduces Frasier and then Niles to tears.