Back Talk

"Back Talk"

"Back Talk" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of the American television sitcom Frasier.

Cast and characters

Kelsey Grammer - Frasier Crane
David Hyde Pierce - Niles Crane
John Mahoney - Martin Crane
Jane Leeves - Daphne Moon
Peri Gilpin - Roz Doyle

Plot outline

It is Frasier's birthday, and he is not in a particularly celebratory mood, being surprisingly snappy towards Daphne, in particular concerning her living arrangements with her fiancee Donny. The day is further strained when Frasier, leaning over to blow the candle out from a cupcake as a joke, pulls a muscle in his back, thus seizing himself up. He is thus forced the indignity of wearing a girdle to go about his daily business.

Nevertheless, he is determined to go about his radio show, having promised his listeners a birthday address (a promise utterly lost on Roz, who has managed to forget the whole thing). He manages to get through five seconds before a sneezing fit brought on by a birthday gift of some flowers, coupled with his bad back, sees him collapse in pain, and he is forced to enlist Niles' help in getting him home.

Finding a seat is the first hurdle - one is too soft, the other is too hard, and to the horror of both brothers, the only seat comfortable enough is Martin's battered old recliner. Despite the fact that it seems to have some unearthly hold over Frasier (who has discovered the perfect spot without glare on the television, complete with a perfect place to set a drink), it is nonetheless helping his back. Niles suggests that Frasier, rather than continue taking the back medication that Frasier has been taking, undertake a mental exercise - as there is seemingly nothing physically wrong with him, the problem may be emotional, and if he expresses out loud the thoughts that are concerning him, it may help his back. Frasier is dismissive of the theory - so dismissive, in fact, that he fails to notice Niles leaving.

Frasier thus finds himself talking about his problems with Eddie the Dog. His problems - not least that he's reduced to conversing with a dog - are that he's another year older, and another year lonelier, having not found a woman to share his life with yet. This leads Frasier to realise that the reason he's been so sharp with Daphne lately is because Daphne will soon be leaving his life, moving away to live with Donny once they're married; Frasier will miss her more than he'd anticipated, having enjoyed having a caring, loving female presence around the house whenever his lovelife has been depressing. He determines to make Daphne feel loved before she leaves.

Unfortunately, Daphne has been home and in the shower all this time, and finally emerges - unnoticed - to hear Frasier confess that he loves Daphne. Misinterpreting the words completely, Daphne is horrified further when Frasier, giving her a hug, informs her of how much she means to him. Her interpretation is further supported when Martin arrives home and, hearing that 'Dr. Crane' has confessed his feelings for Daphne, assumes that Daphne is referring to Niles.

Astounded, Martin and Frasier compare notes; and Frasier soon realizes that, as Niles has not been present to confess anything, Daphne has gotten the wrong end of the stick. And to make matters worse, Frasier has compounded the impression by requesting a massage. When Daphne arrives in his room - intending to conduct a massage in a massive padded jacket and gloves - Frasier takes the opportunity to assure her that although he does love her, it's purely as a friend, not in a romantic sense.

Daphne is elated - although, admittedly, flattered by the thought that Frasier might have felt that way - and begins to give Frasier a massage as the medication Frasier has been taking begins to kick in. One thing is puzzling, her, though; she informs the increasingly drowsy Frasier that Martin seemed to know what she was talking about when she told him that 'Dr. Crane' was in love with her, and has been for six years, despite the fact that it wasn't Frasier. Frasier, by now completely doped up, informs her that that was because of Niles, and precedes to blow the whole secret by chattily telling her that Niles has been crazy about her for years now. Daphne is astonished (although, notably, not horrified), but before she can press for more information, Frasier has fallen asleep.

Later, Frasier wakes up, his back now fine, and cornering Daphne, asks her not to reveal the secret that he told her... as although Martin's chair is quite comfortable, he still wants it out of his apartment. He seems to possess no memory of revealling Niles' secret, and is surprised at how awkward she is acting. When Niles arrives, Daphne is uncomfortable around him, and finds herself staring at him in confusion (and a hint of longing) as he goes to wish his brother a happy birthday.

Trivia

• This episode marks the beginning of an arc examining Daphne's feelings towards Niles, which will be resolved in 'Something Borrowed, Someone Blue (Episode 2)'.

See also

List of Frasier episodes

External links

• 'The Frasier Files' episode transcript.