[6.11] Good Samaritan




Good Samaritan                              Written by Alex Gregory & 
                                                       Peter Huyck
                                            Directed by Sheldon Epps   
=====================================================================
Production Code: 6.9
Episode Number In Production Order:
Original Airdate on NBC: 7th January 1999
Episode filmed on
Transcript written on 9th July 2000


Transcript {david langley}

[Act 1]

[Scene 1 - Cafe Nervosa
Fade in.  Roz and Frasier are seated at a table near the counter.]

    Roz:  So when's Freddie comin' in?
Frasier:  Oh, actually, he's arriving in a few hours, I'm picking him 
          up at the ariport.  Gosh, you know, I'm so excited to see 
          him.  It was Lilith's turn to have him for his birthday 
          this year, but apparently there was an accident at the lab.  
          One of her monkeys bit her on the tounge.
    Roz:  [disturbed]  What exactly was she doing with the monkey?
Frasier:  She was teaching them sign language.  I guess one of them 
          made a disparaging remark about her new haircut, she stuck
          her tounge out.
    Roz:  Wow!  How bad does a haircut have to be for a monkey to 
          hate it?
Frasier:  [rising]  Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to get myself a 
          cup of coffee.  [He notices something.]  Oh, somebody 
          dropped a wallet.
    Roz:  Hmmm.  Is he cute?
Frasier:  It's hard to tell from a driver's license photo, but he is 
          five foot six, weighs two hundred pounds and has corrective 
          lenses.
    Roz:  Leave it on the floor!
Frasier:  Well, thank God I don't share your "Good deeds for hunks 
          only" policy.  [to counterman]  Excuse me, I just found 
          this...

[A man comes in behind him.]

    Man:  Hey, hey, is that my wallet you got there?
Frasier:  Is it?  I just found it on the floor over there, I was just 
          about to leave it at the counter.  Please, no reward.
    Man:  What happened to my cash?
Frasier:  Well, I don't know.  It was empty when I found it.
    Man:  Yeah, right!  I had seven bucks in here!
Frasier:  Well I'm sure some lucky thief is off enjoying a matinee 
          and a small soda!
    Man:  At least you left my credit card!  Jerk!  [He stalks off.]
Frasier:  Would you please bring me my usual?  [He returns to the 
          table.]  Do you believe that guy?  I do him a favor, he 
          accuses me of stealing!
    Roz:  Oh, please.  The world is full of creeps like that.  
          Haven't you figured that out yet?
Frasier:  Well, I'm sorry, Roz, but I still believe people are 
          basically good.

[Bulldog comes in and crouches next to their table.]

Bulldog:  Hey, guys, I'm glad you're here.  I need talk to you about 
          something.
Frasier:  What can I do for you, Bulldog?
Bulldog:  My mom's having bypass surgery tomorrow morning, and I'd 
          like to sit up with her tonight at the hospital.  But I 
          gotta work the eleven to one spot.  I don't suppose you 
          could...
    Roz:  Oh, right!  Like we don't know there's a big fight in Vegas 
          tonight!
Bulldog:  Look, I know I've jerked you guys around before, but this 
          is serious.
Frasier:  Bulldog, I'm sorry, Frederick's coming in tonight, it's his 
          birthday.
Bulldog:  [taking out a cell phone and dialing]  OK, Doc.  Never 
          mind, I understand.  Hello, Bernice Briscoe's room, please.  
          I hope my mom's around to celebrate her next birthday.  Hi, 
          Mom.  It's Bobby. ... Um, look, I'm gonna have to work 
          tonight after all...
Frasier:  Bulldog, wait a minute.  You know what?  Frederick will 
          probably be asleep by eleven, I guess we could take your 
          spot...
    Roz:  Are you insane?!  How can you be so gullible.  He is not 
          talking to his mother.  [She grabs Bulldog's phone and 
          starts in with a very sarcastic voice.]  Does somebody have 
          a boo-boo on her heart?  Is someone gonna have to open you 
          up with those big old rib spreaders?  ...  Oh, Mrs. 
          Briscoe, I'm so sorry.  Listen, I just wanted you to know 
          that we'll fill in for Bobby tonight.
Bulldog:  Thanks a million, you guys.  I better get back to the 
          hospital.
Frasier:  God bless, Bulldog.
    Roz:  [her face in her hands]  Oh, i can't believe I said that!  
          That poor woman...


[Bulldog is on his way out when he runs into a beautiful woman.]

Bulldog:  Hey, we're outta here! 
  WoMan:  But our flight doesn't leave for another two hours.
Bulldog:  No, I gotta stop by my mom's first.  I owe her fifty bucks 
          and a case of Schlitz.

[The leave, fade out.]

[Scene 2 - Frasier's Apartment.
Fade in.  Niles is sitting at the dining table. He is dipping 
ballons into a glass of water, blotting them on a napkin, then 
twirling them in the air to dry.  Martin comes in and sees this.]

Martin:  Should I even ask?
 Niles:  These balloons come in an unsealed package, covered in some 
         mysterious dust, straight from some southeast Asian 
         sweatshop.   Doesn't that worry you?
Martin:  [sitting]  Oh, you bet it does.  I remember back in Korea, 
         we'd crouch in our foxholes, scared to death those bastards 
         were gonna drop balloons on us.
Daphne:  [rushing in from her room]  The doorman just called.  
         They're on their way up.

[She hands out hats to them as they get up.]

 Niles:  I don't know how much of a surprise it's going to be, 
         anyway.  You did the same thing last year.
Martin:  That's the whole point.  He's never gonna suspect I'd do it 
         two years in a row.
Daphne:  I must say, I feel a bit bad for Freddie.  None of his mates 
         are going to be here, just us three old fogeys yelling 
         "Surprise".
Martin:  Well, any party he's at with you is gonna be a treat for 
         him.  You know, he's got that little crush on you.
 Niles:  If you really want Fredderick to enjoy himself, he 
         especially likes you in that little blue cocktail dress.
Daphne:  Well, I'm not sure that dress is appropriate for a child's 
         birthday party.
 Niles:  Well, it's hardly a party, it's just us fogeys.

[Cut to the elevator with Frasier and Freddie.]

Frasier:  You know, Frederick, your granddad really wanted to be 
          here, but he had an important Rotary Club meeting.
Freddie:  Uh-oh.
Frasier:  What?
Freddie:  Not another surprise party.
Frasier:  What are you talking about?
Freddie:  Just like last year!
Frasier:  Oh, lord, all right, all right.  I'll tell you what, just 
          don't let on, OK?  You know how he loves this stuff.  Just 
          ask surprised, all right?

[They arrive at the 19th floor]

Freddie:  The hardest part is pretending to be fooled by those trick 
          candles.
Frasier:  Oh, gosh.  You think it's hard now, wait 'til you're my 
          age.

[Frasier opens the door and hits the lights.]

    All:  Surprise!
Freddie:  Oh, wow!  I'm so surprised!
 Martin:  See, I told you!

[Martin and Niles come towards him with arms outstretched saying 
"Happy birthday", Freddie walks past them and races into Daphne's 
arms for a big hug.]

Freddie:  Hi!

[Martin and Niles look on knowingly, the phone rings.]

 Daphne:  Happy birthday, sweetheart.  Just let me get the phone.  
          [She answers as Freddie trails after like a puppy.]  Hello? 
          ...  Yes, who's calling please?  ...  Wiwif?  Anybody here 
          know a Wiwif?
Frasier:  Oh, Lilith!  [He takes the phone.]  Yes, hello Lillith.  
          ...  What's that?  ....  Oh, right!  Yes, of course he's 
          here.  It's you mom, Freddie, why don't you take it into 
          your granddad's room?  [He hands it to Freddie.]
Freddie:  OK.  Hi mom.  [He goes off.]
 Martin:  Hey, let's get the cake ready.
Frasier:  Oh, yes, yes.  Oh, Frasier, I think you're going to be 
          pleasantly surprised.
Frasier:  Ooooh.

[The men go to the kitchen.  There is a large cake on the stove.]

  Niles:  Eh, voila!
Frasier:  What the hell is that?
  Niles:  It's Louis Pasteur, Freddie's favorite scientist.
Frasier:  What child wouldn't be thrilled with a coconut death mask 
          on his birthday?
 Martin:  Frasier, what happened to your jacket?
Frasier:  Oh, at the airport, I helped this woman get a dog into her 
          car.
  Niles:  Oh, I hope at least it was in a crate.
Frasier:  Yes, a very heavy crate.  I had to hold it at arm's length 
          so that what I chose to believe was drool wouldn't run out 
          onto my shoes.  [Niles grimaces.]  Eight blocks later, I 
          finally load little Fido into her backseat, the woman 
          drives off without so much as a "Thank you" or an offer to 
          give me a ride back to the airport.  Well, I responded with 
          the time honored gesture of disapproval, but on the 
          upswing, I caught my finger on the jacket and, well...  I 
          must say, my belief in people's basic decency has taken a 
          beating today.  You know, earlier, I returned a man's 
          wallet, he accused me of stealing.
 Martin:  Well, it just proves what I always say:  A good samaritan 
          is nothin' but a good target.
Frasier:  Well, I'm sorry, Dad.  I'm not ready to be quite that 
          cynical yet.
 Daphne:  [coming in, excited]  He's off the phone!
 Martin:  Ooh, good.  All right.  Well, you can believe what you 
          want, but I think people are born rotten, and every year 
          they get worse.  [He leads the procession out of the 
          kitchen.]  Happy birthday to you...

[Fade out.]

[Scene 3 - The Radio Station.
Frasier is on the air, Roz is yawning on her side.]

Frasier:  Welcome back, to the night owl edition of the Dr. Frasier 
          Crane show.  We have Stephen on line two.  Go ahead, 
          caller, you're on the air.
Stephen:  [voice over]  I think I'm losing my mind, Dr. Crane.  
          People are talking to me through my radio.
Frasier:  Why do you think that?
Stephen:  There it is again.
Frasier:  Turn your radio down.
Stephen:  Now it's giving me orders!
Frasier:  Stephen, turn your radio down.
Stephen:  It knows my name!
Frasier:  Stephen, listen to me:  This is your radio talking.  I'm a 
          very smart radio, and I care about you.  And I want you to 
          turn me off, go to bed, and seek counseling in the morning.
Stephen:  OK.  Sorry, Doc, can't talk anymore.
Frasier:  Well, I'd like to end tonight on a philosophical note.  You 
          see, earlier today, I helped some people.  [Roz uses a 
          butterfly clip to hold her bangs up and begins wiping off 
          her makeup with pads.]  I returned a man's wallet and I 
          aided a woman at the airport.  And in return, I was accused 
          of being a thief, and my favorite jacket was ruined.  I was 
          so dissappointed by the events of the day that, on my way 
          to work here tonight, I almost passed by an elderly man 
          with a flat tire without stopping to help him.  [He glances 
          over at Roz, who is now putting cold cream on her face.]  
          What the hell are you doing?  I asked myself.  How would I 
          feel if I were in this man's position, and no one stopped 
          to help me?  Well, I did pull over, I helped the man, and 
          frankly it felt great.  So without sounding preachy, I 
          would like to advise you all to do a good deed once in a 
          while.  If not for the sake of others, but then for your 
          own sake.  Now let's go to station ID.  Roz, do you mind?
    Roz:  What is your problem?  I'm getting ready for bed.  Alice 
          gets me up at the crack of dawn, if I get all this taken 
          care of, I get an extra half hour's sleep.
Frasier:  Well at least you spared me the spectacle of flossing!
    Roz:  Thanks for reminding me.  I had corn.
Frasier:  And we're back.  It seems we've got time for one more 
          call...  [Roz is now flossing and can't help.]  Don't 
          bother Roz, I'll get it.  Go ahead, caller, this is Dr. 
          Frasier Crane, I'm listening.
  Ralph:  [v.o.]  Hi, Dr. Crane.  This is Ralph.  The guy who's tire 
          you changed tonight?
Frasier:  Ralph!  Well, what a wonderful surprise.  Let me first say            
          to our listeners that this call was not solicited in any 
          way.
  Ralph:  Dr. Crane, I was just wondering, do you wear cuff links?
Frasier:  Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do.  But there's no need to 
          buy me a gift.
  Ralph:  A gift?!  You scratched the hell out of my paint job with 
          those things!  You owe me money!
Frasier:  You can't be serious!  How much damage can cuff links do to 
          a car whose side window consists of duct tape and a Hefty 
          Bag?
  Ralph:  Ah, you'll find out when my lawyer sends you the bill!
    Roz:  Let me remind yoiu again, listeners, that call was not 
          solicited.

[Fade out.]

[Scene 4 - The Street]

MR. GOOD DEEDS GOES TO TOWN
[Fade in. It is raining as Frasier drives home. As he pulls to a stop, there is a woman, sheilding her head with a purse, waving at him.] Frasier: [thinking, v.o.] Oh, great! Somebody else in need of a good samaritan. Maybe if I ignore her, she'll stop waving. But what am I gonnna do? Just leave her standing in the rain? Then again, every one of my good deeds today has ended up biting me in the butt. [Frasier pulls to the curb, rolls down his window, and calls to the woman.] Frasier: Such nasty weather, may I offer you a ride? WoMan: Oh, thank you. [The woman, Crystal, gets in and Frasier drives on.] Crystal: I didn't think anyone was going to stop tonight. Frasier: Well, chivalry may be on life support, but it's not dead. Crystal: Oooh, seat warmers. Frasier: Yes, they're standard. There's a little control on the side if you want more leg room. So, where can I take you? Crystal: It's up to you. We can get a room, or we can do it here, in the car. Frasier: [in shock] Oh, dear God. You are a prostitute. Crystal: How far do these go back? Frasier: Look, I'm sorry, there's been a mistake. Crystal: Don't be nervous, baby. Frasier: I am not nervous and would you please put your seat up. Crystal: I'll put it any way you want me to, honey. Frasier: [pulling over] Stop talking to me that way! For God's sake! All right, please, I am sorry about the misunderstanding but get out of my car. Crystal: Well, why the hell did you pick me up? Frasier: I was trying to be a gentleman, now get out! Crystal: I'm not walking all the way back to my corner, give me some money for a cab. Frasier: [checking his pockets] All right, fine. Oh, lord I guess I must have left my wallet back at the station. Crystal: Well, how in the hell were you going to pay for me? Frasier: I wasn't going to pay for you! Oh, good lord. Oh, here's a twenty dollar bill, now get out. [Suddenly there are flashing lights and a quick burst of a siren behind them.] Frasier: Oh, God, get out! Hurry, out, out! Crystal: It's too late, they've seen us. Frasier: I don't believe this is happening to me. [He rolls down his window.] Hello officer, just how fast was I going? Cop: Hey, don't I know you? Frasier: No, I don't believe so. Cop: No, I'm not talking to you. Didn't I bust you last week? Crystal: [voice now an octave lower and obviously a man] Give me a break, buddy. I'm trying to earn a living, here. [Frasier is wide eyed in shock. Fade out.] [Act 2] [Scene 1 - The Police Station. Fade in. Frasier is being led to the waiting area.] Frasier: Was it really necessary to take my belt and tie? Cop: Standard procedure. It's for your own protection. Frasier: For God's sake! You had me in the drunk tank. If I wanted to kill myself I would've taken a deep breath. [The cop cuffs him to a bench. Niles comes over.] Niles: Frasier! Frasier: Niles. Niles: You certainly took your sweet time. I've been waiting here two hours. Frasier: Well, I'm sorry, Niles. I guess what with the pillow fight in the holding tank and the pre-mug shot makeover, time just got away from me. Will you stop it?! Just bail me out of here, I can't stand another minute in this place! Niles: All right. [to the desk sargeant, Fred] Excuse me, if you could get our bill together, we're ready to settle up here. Fred: It's five hundred bucks. Niles: Five hun... Frasier, I don't have that kind of cash on me. Frasier: Put it on your credit card! Niles: And have "Bail" appear on my statement? Do you know the kind of junk mail I would get? Frasier: Just do it! Niles: OK. There you are. [He gives his card to Fred, then turns back to Frasier, snickering.] So, what happened? A prostitute? Frasier: Please, I told you on the phone. I didn't know she was a prostitute. Niles: Uh-huh... Frasier: I saw a woman stranded in the rain, naturally I offered her a ride. Before I knew it, I was handcuffed to this bench surrounded by this motley assortment of...[noticing them watching him]...other wrongfully accused gentlemen. Fred: Sir, your card didn't go through. Niles: What? Oh, that's right. Maris' lawyers had my credit limit reduced. Frasier: Oh, no. Niles: It's been so bad, this week when I went to the cheese shop for their "Around the World" platter, they cut me off at Luxemburg. Frasier: Would you please call Dad and get him down here? Niles: [getting on his cell phone] All right. Yeah, Dad? ... Hi, my credit card was declined. ... Well, we need yours. ... Yeah. ... Well, right. Yeah, I'll see you soon. Frasier: Oh, God, this is intolerable. Now it'll take him twenty minutes to get here. Niles: No, he's waiting in the car. Frasier: What? Why didn't he come in? Niles: Frasier, this was his old precinct. When we pulled up outside, I saw a look on his face I haven't seen since he drove us home from our first and only little league game. [Martin comes in.] Niles: Oh, Dad. Martin: Shhh. Hold it down, will ya? Frasier: Dad, I'm so sorry. What happened was... Martin: No, I don't need to know. I didn't come down here to judge. You're my son, and I love you. Frasier: Yes, for God's sake, Dad, I didn't.. Martin: Why don't we just pay up and get out of here, OK? Fred: Hey, Marty. Martin: Hey, Fred. Fred: Listen, I wouldn't take this too hard, Marty. You remember Captain Pachesky's son turned out to be the Coleman Park Pervert. Martin: Yeah, thanks. Fred: And Sargeant O'Brian's daughter does all them cable movies. Martin: Yeah, I heard. Fred: You can pick her out, she's got his chin. Martin: Yeah, could we just get on with it, here? Frasier: Dad, would you let me explain? Martin: Frasier, look, I understand, I was in the army. We all have our urges. Frasier: Yeah, but you don't... Fred: Just sign here. [Another cop unlocks Frasier's cuffs.] Frasier: All that happened was... [A cop is leading "Crystal" across the room.] Crystal: Bye Dr. Crane, sorry I got you arrested. Frasier: Oh, that's all right, Crystal, these things happen. [to a stunned Martin and Niles] He had a wig on! Martin: You're my son and I love you. Frasier: Oh, will you stop saying that?! [They head out. Fade out.] [Scene 2 - Frasier's Apartment. The hallway outside. The elevator opens and the men step out.] Martin: I still don't know what you were thinking. Middle of the night, deserted street, picking up a strange woman. Niles: [snickering again] A VERY strange woman. Frasier: Obviously I wasn't thinking. Thank God it's all over. I'll just spend a quiet weekend here with Frederick. [He picks the paper off the floor.] Oh, dear God! [He shows it to them.] Niles: [reading] "Doc's Pal Is a Mock Gal" Frasier: Oh, will this nightmare never end?! Now, listen Dad, we're bound to get a lot of calls about this thing. Please do not answer the phone, don't talk to anybody, just let the machine get it. You don't want to give them anything they can turn into something tawdry... [They go inside.] Daphne: [sitting on the couch on the phone] Yeah, I live with Dr. Crane. ... Yeah, there's quite a bit of massage involved. Frasier: Daphne! Daphne: Mostly around the hips, thighs and buttocks. Frasier: [grabbing the phone] God! Give me that! No comment! [He hangs up.] Oh, Dapne, please don't answer the phone, let the machine pick up. Daphne: Yeah, well the machine's filled up. Everyone's been calling. Frasier: Oh, where's Frederick? Daphne: He's still asleep. Look, Dr. Crane, I just wanted to say you're the victim here. Frasier: Thank you. Daphne: Yeah, American society's so close-minded when it comes to sexual experimentation. In Europe... Frasier: Daphne, I didn't do anything wrong! Daphne: Well, exactly! That's what I'm trying to say! Frasier: Oh, I guess I deserve all this. I certainly had enough warning to stop being such a Boy Scout, but did I listen? No. Well from now on, Dr. Crane, or as Seattle now knows him "Dr. Stranglove" is out of the samaritan business. [Niles hands him a cup of coffee as Daphne heads to her room.] Frasier: Thank you Niles. Niles: Frasier, have you given much thought about what you're going to tell Frederick? Frasier: Oh, God. How can I possibly explain it to him? Well, I guess the key is not to be evasive. He's going to hear about it sooner or later, I guess it should be from me. [Freddie comes in and walks to the table behind them.] After all, I am a trained professional, I can do it in a way that won't traumatize the child. [seeing Freddie reach for the paper, he bellows] FREDDIE, DON'T TOUCH THAT! [He jumps up and grabs it.] Martin: [getting up] You know, I could use a glass of orange juice. I think I'm gonna go in the kitchen get a glass. Niles: [also rising] Oh, orange juice, yum. I'm going to come with you for that. [They go to the kitchen.] Freddie: Am I having another surprise party? Frasier: [getting up] No, no, Frederick. Here, sit down for a second, son. [They both sit at the table.] I, I've got something I've gotta talk to you about. For the next couple of days, you're going to hear some rather nasty stories and some snide jokes about your old man... Freddie: Mom's coming? Frasier: No, no she's not. It's very hard for me to tell you this, but I just spent the night in jail. Freddie: Wow! Like Brad Johnson's dad. Frasier: Well, that was different. Insider trading is wrong. Freddie: What did you do? Frasier: Well, I saw a woman standing in the rain and I gave her a ride. Freddie: You can go to jail for that? Frasier: Well, it depends on the sort of woman. You see, this particular woman, this uh, person was a prostitute. But I didn't know that until it was too late. Freddie: A prostitute? Frasier: Oh, God, how can I explain this? A prostitute is someone who engages in sexual relations with other people for money. Freddie: Dad, I'm eleven. I know what a prostitute is. But, why did you pick one up? Frasier: Well, you see, I didn't know that it was a prostitute at the time. I was only trying to do a good deed. Well, I suppose in hindsight it was all a big mistake. I should have minded my own business. Freddie: So what are you trying to say, Dad? You shouldn't try to help people? Frasier: Well... [Cut to Frasier sitting in his car in the rain. This has all been in his head. He pulls over to the curb and rolls down his window.] Frasier: May I offer you a ride? WoMan: Oh, thank you. [The woman, Laura gets in.] Laura: I waved at you a couple of times, but I didn't think you saw me. Frasier: Yes, well, I noticed you, it was just having sort of a bad daydream. So, where can I take you? Laura: Same place you're going. Frasier: [panicked] Oh, dear God. You're... Laura: Laura Hilton. I live in your building. Frasier: Of course, Laura. Hi. Laura: I'm so glad you stopped when you did. Frasier: Oh, I'm certainly glad I stopped too. [He drives off into the night. Fade out.] Credits: [Daphne is asleep on the couch, Freddie asleep on her shoulder. Frasier and Niles are clearing the table and smile at this. After Frasier goes to the kitchen, Niles puts down his cup and goes over to the couch. He moves Freddie to the other end of the couch and places a cushion between the two, then goes back to take his cup to the kitchen. As soon as he's gone, Freddie throws the cushion aside and lays against Daphne again, a big smile on his face.]

Legal Stuff

 This episode capsule is copyright 2000 by Nick Hartley & David Langley.
 This episode summary remains property of Frasier, Copyright 
 of Paramount Productions and NBC. Printed without permission. 

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