1
00:00:09,269 --> 00:00:11,730
Lillian, the next time your
perfectionist tendencies

2
00:00:11,814 --> 00:00:15,317
drive you to distraction,
just remember this quotation

3
00:00:15,484 --> 00:00:17,027
from Henry James:

4
00:00:17,194 --> 00:00:20,823
"Excellence does not require perfection."

5
00:00:20,989 --> 00:00:22,991
LILLIAN [ON PHONE]:
<i>That's very helpful. Thank you.</i>

6
00:00:23,075 --> 00:00:24,284
Or is it "demand"?

7
00:00:24,451 --> 00:00:27,119
Hmm, require, demand.
Excellence does not require perfection.

8
00:00:27,203 --> 00:00:28,912
Excellence does not demand perfection.

9
00:00:28,996 --> 00:00:31,846
-Aren't they the same thing?
-Of course not, Roz, shush.

10
00:00:32,709 --> 00:00:34,909
Excellence, demand.
Require, demand. Require.

11
00:00:35,002 --> 00:00:39,173
-Oh! Or is it "mandate"?
-LILLIAN: <i>I really have to go now.</i>

12
00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:42,009
Oh, well, doesn't really
matter anyway, does it?

13
00:00:42,176 --> 00:00:44,428
Ha, ha, meantime, Seattle,
this is Dr. Frasier Crane

14
00:00:44,512 --> 00:00:47,862
wishing you good day… Oh, it's…
It's "require." It is "require."

15
00:00:47,974 --> 00:00:49,142
[FRASIER LAUGHS]

16
00:00:49,308 --> 00:00:51,811
…and good mental health.

17
00:00:53,855 --> 00:00:55,648
-Frasier,
-Yeah?

18
00:00:55,815 --> 00:00:58,015
Would you please give
this to Freddie for me?

19
00:00:58,735 --> 00:01:00,611
It's for his spelling bee tomorrow.

20
00:01:00,778 --> 00:01:03,990
Roz, it's not a spelling bee,
it's the national championship.

21
00:01:04,157 --> 00:01:07,952
-Oh. Ew, when is Lilith coming in?
-Well, actually, she's not coming in.

22
00:01:08,119 --> 00:01:10,245
She'll be watching the
competition from home.

23
00:01:10,329 --> 00:01:13,499
Her victory dance at state finals
earned her a long overdue suspension.

24
00:01:13,583 --> 00:01:14,625
[CHUCKLES]

25
00:01:14,792 --> 00:01:16,544
So, what is this anyway?

26
00:01:16,711 --> 00:01:20,005
It's a flattened penny.
I found it at the railroad tracks once

27
00:01:20,172 --> 00:01:22,424
when I was going
through a really bad time,

28
00:01:22,591 --> 00:01:25,927
but as soon as I picked it
up, started getting lucky.

29
00:01:26,094 --> 00:01:29,181
Oh, so that's where it all started. Hmm.

30
00:01:30,098 --> 00:01:31,391
No.

31
00:01:31,558 --> 00:01:34,686
Why are you turning a nice
gesture into something dirty?

32
00:01:34,853 --> 00:01:37,730
I'm sorry, Roz. I know it didn't
bring you that kind of luck.

33
00:01:37,814 --> 00:01:41,318
-Thank you.
-That would be one tired penny.

34
00:01:46,948 --> 00:01:50,702
FRASIER: Eddie Crane from
Seattle, your word is "woof."

35
00:01:50,869 --> 00:01:52,579
[BARKS]

36
00:01:57,375 --> 00:02:01,296
MARTIN: W-O-O-F.

37
00:02:01,463 --> 00:02:03,256
[BARKS]

38
00:02:03,423 --> 00:02:04,925
FRASIER: Very good.

39
00:02:05,091 --> 00:02:10,304
Frederick Crane from Massachusetts,
your word is "onomatopoeia."

40
00:02:11,013 --> 00:02:12,598
Wrong.

41
00:02:13,974 --> 00:02:16,226
Where are your knees?
I wanna see spelling knees.

42
00:02:16,310 --> 00:02:17,478
Oh, yeah, right.

43
00:02:17,645 --> 00:02:21,440
Last thing you wanna do is pass
out on stage because of locked knees.

44
00:02:21,607 --> 00:02:25,653
I know. Allison Sharf, the Frisco Fainter.

45
00:02:26,278 --> 00:02:29,031
She went down like a sack of hammers.

46
00:02:30,032 --> 00:02:34,829
All right, now, go to the hallway
mirror and look at your form.

47
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,583
Aren't you two going a
little overboard with this?

48
00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:44,171
The drills, the stance, the spelling diet.

49
00:02:45,422 --> 00:02:47,716
Dad, Freddie really wants
to win this competition.

50
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,802
-I'm doing my best to help him.
-Well, you shouldn't over train him.

51
00:02:50,886 --> 00:02:52,388
He needs to have some fun.

52
00:02:52,555 --> 00:02:54,598
I told him he could bring his clarinet.

53
00:02:56,517 --> 00:02:57,917
All right, I'll talk to him.

54
00:02:58,686 --> 00:03:01,146
Thanks, Dad.
I think I got my stance down now.

55
00:03:01,313 --> 00:03:02,355
FRASIER: Good boy.

56
00:03:02,522 --> 00:03:07,277
Frederick, have a seat for a minute.
Something I wanna tell you.

57
00:03:09,112 --> 00:03:10,488
Listen,

58
00:03:11,155 --> 00:03:16,286
I don't want you to get consumed
by this spelling-bee thing, all right?

59
00:03:16,452 --> 00:03:18,621
It's not important if
you're a good speller

60
00:03:18,788 --> 00:03:20,957
or the best speller.

61
00:03:21,124 --> 00:03:23,501
The important thing is that you have fun.

62
00:03:23,668 --> 00:03:26,004
-Okay?
-Okay, Dad.

63
00:03:26,170 --> 00:03:28,047
-Know what'd be really fun?
-What's that?

64
00:03:28,131 --> 00:03:30,681
-Kicking butt in the spelling bee.
-FRASIER: Ha, ha.

65
00:03:31,801 --> 00:03:33,469
-Oh, Niles, Daph.
-Hello, all.

66
00:03:33,636 --> 00:03:35,736
Listen, I'm afraid I've got some bad news.

67
00:03:35,847 --> 00:03:39,183
I could only get two tickets
for the spelling-bee competition.

68
00:03:39,350 --> 00:03:42,729
Oh, that's a shame.
But we'll be there in spirit, ha, ha.

69
00:03:42,896 --> 00:03:45,397
It's probably just as well,
considering how emotional I get

70
00:03:45,481 --> 00:03:47,025
watching children compete.

71
00:03:47,191 --> 00:03:49,402
Keep thinking how much it means to them.

72
00:03:49,569 --> 00:03:52,155
Like the little girl who
studies over candlelight

73
00:03:52,322 --> 00:03:53,823
while her father's down at the pub

74
00:03:53,907 --> 00:03:56,658
drinking away the money
for the light bill, ha, ha.

75
00:03:57,242 --> 00:04:00,245
Or the little girl on the school bus
who pretends not to see her father

76
00:04:00,329 --> 00:04:02,372
waving at her from the pub.

77
00:04:03,206 --> 00:04:06,000
Then there's the little girl
who thinks that by doing well,

78
00:04:06,084 --> 00:04:08,337
she can grow up, purchase the local pub

79
00:04:08,503 --> 00:04:11,503
and turn it into a circus so
her father can keep his promise.

80
00:04:14,134 --> 00:04:15,636
We had a little wine at lunch.

81
00:04:17,429 --> 00:04:18,763
Don't worry about the tickets.

82
00:04:18,847 --> 00:04:20,849
Uh, while I would have
gone to support Freddie,

83
00:04:20,933 --> 00:04:22,767
I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward

84
00:04:22,851 --> 00:04:25,312
-to being back in that environment.
-Oh.

85
00:04:25,479 --> 00:04:29,232
Don't get sidetracked by all
the glitz and glamour of the bee.

86
00:04:31,610 --> 00:04:33,987
Spelling well is its own reward.

87
00:04:38,533 --> 00:04:40,494
What was that about?

88
00:04:40,661 --> 00:04:44,289
Well, your Uncle Niles has a
painful history with spelling bees.

89
00:04:44,456 --> 00:04:47,792
-Really? Was he any good?
-Ah, one of the best to ever compete.

90
00:04:47,959 --> 00:04:49,710
Better than you, Dad?

91
00:04:50,294 --> 00:04:51,837
Son,

92
00:04:52,421 --> 00:04:57,259
as good as I was, my spelling
couldn't compare with Niles'.

93
00:04:58,135 --> 00:05:03,474
He was right up there with the
likes of William Kerek from Akron

94
00:05:04,392 --> 00:05:08,187
and that Peterson girl from Omaha.

95
00:05:08,646 --> 00:05:10,773
Except your uncle was even younger.

96
00:05:11,607 --> 00:05:14,652
Some people thought he
wasn't ready, that it was a mistake

97
00:05:14,819 --> 00:05:17,696
to bring him up to the show
right out of elementary school,

98
00:05:17,780 --> 00:05:22,910
but he made it all the
way to the last word.

99
00:05:23,077 --> 00:05:24,328
What happened?

100
00:05:26,414 --> 00:05:28,791
He didn't even try to spell it.

101
00:05:29,542 --> 00:05:32,128
He just stood there for a moment

102
00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,048
and turned and walked off-stage.

103
00:05:36,215 --> 00:05:39,926
He was immediately disqualified
and he never competed again.

104
00:05:40,093 --> 00:05:41,678
FREDERICK: Never?

105
00:05:41,845 --> 00:05:44,681
Sure, he'd spell now and again…

106
00:05:47,017 --> 00:05:50,061
…but only to help you out,
and you had to really need it,

107
00:05:50,228 --> 00:05:53,314
because he could spot a setup a mile away.

108
00:05:53,481 --> 00:05:55,525
Wow, sounds to me like he choked.

109
00:05:55,692 --> 00:05:57,235
Choked?

110
00:05:57,652 --> 00:06:01,740
Or was he the victim of
an elaborate conspiracy?

111
00:06:01,906 --> 00:06:03,575
Really?

112
00:06:04,159 --> 00:06:07,579
Oh, I thought I heard him
coming down the hall. He choked.

113
00:06:11,416 --> 00:06:14,461
Logorrhea. Um, can I have a definition?

114
00:06:14,961 --> 00:06:16,712
[WHISPERS] Uh-oh. Always a bad sign.

115
00:06:16,796 --> 00:06:19,132
Excessive use of words.

116
00:06:19,299 --> 00:06:24,637
L-O-G-O-R-H-E-A. Logorrhea.

117
00:06:24,804 --> 00:06:25,847
[BUZZER BUZZES]

118
00:06:26,014 --> 00:06:27,414
I'm sorry. That's incorrect.

119
00:06:27,724 --> 00:06:30,309
So long, home school.

120
00:06:30,476 --> 00:06:32,435
GADSTON: And that
completes the tenth round.

121
00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:34,938
We'll begin round 11 of the
National Spelling Championship

122
00:06:35,022 --> 00:06:37,566
after a five-minute intermission.

123
00:06:37,941 --> 00:06:40,341
FRASIER: Freddie.
You're doing great, son, great.

124
00:06:40,486 --> 00:06:43,780
MARTIN: You've got it made, especially
since that Asian kid was eliminated.

125
00:06:43,864 --> 00:06:47,743
-They're the ones you have to watch.
-Dad, don't stereotype.

126
00:06:47,910 --> 00:06:49,203
Not even a positive one?

127
00:06:49,369 --> 00:06:51,789
Oh, jeez, what's
happening in this country?

128
00:06:52,081 --> 00:06:53,582
Well…

129
00:06:53,749 --> 00:06:55,793
-Hi, Freddie.
-Hi, Amanda.

130
00:07:00,089 --> 00:07:03,759
Don't let her distract
you with her wiles, son.

131
00:07:04,176 --> 00:07:07,276
There'll be plenty of women
once you win this thing, all right?

132
00:07:07,387 --> 00:07:09,222
You were a little
wobbly on that last word.

133
00:07:09,306 --> 00:07:11,141
Just remember, when
the root word is Greek,

134
00:07:11,225 --> 00:07:14,853
the "uh" sound is made with the letter Y.

135
00:07:15,020 --> 00:07:17,188
So far, all the sneaky
ones have had Greek roots.

136
00:07:17,272 --> 00:07:19,065
Oh, so it's okay for you to stereotype.

137
00:07:19,149 --> 00:07:20,651
Oh.

138
00:07:20,818 --> 00:07:23,368
Dad, we've gone over this a million times.
I got it.

139
00:07:23,486 --> 00:07:25,279
-All right.
-Where'd you get the soda?

140
00:07:25,363 --> 00:07:27,323
Oh, come on, I'll show you.

141
00:07:28,491 --> 00:07:31,869
-Hey, hi there. John Clayton.
-Oh, hi.

142
00:07:32,036 --> 00:07:35,039
-My son is one of the finalists, ha, ha.
-Oh, nice to meet you.

143
00:07:35,123 --> 00:07:37,249
-Frasier Crane. I'm Frederick's dad.
-Yeah.

144
00:07:37,333 --> 00:07:40,419
-You gotta great little speller there.
-Aw, yeah, you too.

145
00:07:40,586 --> 00:07:43,547
Yeah, first year I take it?
Look, let me give you a little advice.

146
00:07:43,631 --> 00:07:46,800
Watch out for some of the
parents, they can be kind of cutthroat.

147
00:07:46,884 --> 00:07:48,553
Oh, well, thanks for the tip.

148
00:07:48,719 --> 00:07:50,512
Yeah, no problem. So you and Freddie,

149
00:07:50,596 --> 00:07:53,808
you working all the usual
things: Roots, suffixes, prefixes?

150
00:07:53,975 --> 00:07:55,852
-Yes, yes, all of that.
-Good, good.

151
00:07:56,018 --> 00:07:58,104
How about attitude, breathing, endurance?

152
00:07:58,271 --> 00:07:59,605
-Sure, sure.
-Yeah.

153
00:07:59,772 --> 00:08:02,692
-Endurance?
-Excuse me. [SNIFFS]

154
00:08:04,235 --> 00:08:07,738
Betsy, the Crane kid's got no legs.

155
00:08:08,823 --> 00:08:11,742
All right, we're ready to resume.

156
00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,161
Amanda Abrams.

157
00:08:14,327 --> 00:08:18,206
Amanda, your word is "milieu."

158
00:08:18,373 --> 00:08:23,503
Milieu. M-I-L-L-I-E-U. Milieu.

159
00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:25,005
[BUZZER BUZZES]

160
00:08:25,172 --> 00:08:27,340
[CROWD GROANING]

161
00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:31,678
Won't be long now.

162
00:08:35,807 --> 00:08:42,689
Syllepsis. S-Y-L-L-E-P-S-I-S. Syllepsis.

163
00:08:42,856 --> 00:08:45,692
Warren Clayton, resipiscence.

164
00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:51,823
R-E-C-I-P-I-S-C-E-N-C-E. Resipiscence.

165
00:08:51,990 --> 00:08:53,366
[BUZZER BUZZES]

166
00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:55,118
GADSTON: I'm sorry, that's incorrect.

167
00:08:55,202 --> 00:09:00,498
If Frederick Crane gets the next
word he will be the national champion.

168
00:09:00,665 --> 00:09:05,794
Frederick, your word is "hermeneutic."

169
00:09:06,795 --> 00:09:09,256
Um, may I have a definition?

170
00:09:09,965 --> 00:09:12,468
GADSTON: Interpretive or explanatory.

171
00:09:13,177 --> 00:09:14,553
Hermeneutic.

172
00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:21,720
H-E-R-M-E-N-E-U-T-I-C. Hermeneutic.

173
00:09:21,936 --> 00:09:23,770
GADSTON: We have a new national champion.

174
00:09:23,854 --> 00:09:26,857
-Frederick Crane.
-FRASIER: Wonderful.

175
00:09:27,024 --> 00:09:29,026
So wonderful, ha, ha.

176
00:09:29,193 --> 00:09:31,153
Congratulations, son.

177
00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,280
[CROWD APPLAUDING]

178
00:09:38,744 --> 00:09:40,662
DAPHNE: When you
were spelling that last word,

179
00:09:40,746 --> 00:09:42,497
I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.

180
00:09:42,581 --> 00:09:45,834
-Weren't you scared?
-A little, but then I relaxed.

181
00:09:46,001 --> 00:09:50,047
That is your spelling
stance working for you.

182
00:09:50,214 --> 00:09:54,301
Bend at the knees, spell with ease.

183
00:09:54,885 --> 00:09:56,720
Well, this calls for a toast.

184
00:09:56,887 --> 00:09:59,680
Is it all right if Freddie has
a little C-H-A-M-P-A-G-N-E?

185
00:09:59,764 --> 00:10:02,558
Daphne, he's the best
speller in the country.

186
00:10:02,725 --> 00:10:05,478
-So I should get the good stuff.
-Yes, ha, ha.

187
00:10:05,728 --> 00:10:08,606
NILES: You should be very proud
of your accomplishment, Freddie.

188
00:10:08,690 --> 00:10:10,817
Just keep it in perspective.

189
00:10:10,984 --> 00:10:14,612
And don't forget the 26
little friends who got you here.

190
00:10:15,822 --> 00:10:17,406
MARTIN: Gather round, everybody.

191
00:10:17,490 --> 00:10:19,840
Almost time for ESPN
to air Freddie's interview.

192
00:10:19,951 --> 00:10:21,786
That's right.

193
00:10:21,953 --> 00:10:23,603
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING ON TV]

194
00:10:24,956 --> 00:10:27,208
You know, I have no idea where ESPN is.
Uh…

195
00:10:29,168 --> 00:10:30,295
Thanks, Dad.

196
00:10:30,461 --> 00:10:32,296
I told you that penny
would bring him luck.

197
00:10:32,380 --> 00:10:34,298
Actually, Roz, I never
even gave it to him.

198
00:10:34,382 --> 00:10:38,052
You see, with all of Freddie's
hard work and dedication,

199
00:10:38,219 --> 00:10:42,265
inspired coaching, he had no
need for your superstitious talisman.

200
00:10:43,016 --> 00:10:44,267
[DOORBELL RINGS]

201
00:10:44,684 --> 00:10:47,020
Just a gesture.

202
00:10:47,186 --> 00:10:51,940
I mean, I found it at the railroad
tracks, not in some enchanted wood.

203
00:10:54,192 --> 00:10:57,988
Oh, well, what a surprise.
Please, uh, come in.

204
00:10:58,155 --> 00:11:00,907
Everyone, this is Dr. Bernard
GADSTON from the spelling bee.

205
00:11:00,991 --> 00:11:03,201
-MARTIN: Oh, hi, Doc.
-It's lovely of you to join us

206
00:11:03,285 --> 00:11:05,453
in our celebration.
Can I get you some refreshment?

207
00:11:05,537 --> 00:11:07,998
Unfortunately, this
is not a pleasure visit.

208
00:11:08,165 --> 00:11:11,543
I must inform you that there has
been an accusation of cheating.

209
00:11:11,710 --> 00:11:13,462
Not the Asian kid.

210
00:11:15,213 --> 00:11:19,718
What? I said not the Asian kid.
Would somebody tell me the rules?

211
00:11:19,885 --> 00:11:21,970
Well, whoever the culprit is, uh,

212
00:11:22,137 --> 00:11:24,389
we have no wish to soil this noble event

213
00:11:24,556 --> 00:11:25,974
by filing a formal protest.

214
00:11:26,141 --> 00:11:28,559
We're certainly happy with
the way things turned out.

215
00:11:28,643 --> 00:11:31,396
I'm afraid it's Frederick who
has been accused of cheating.

216
00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:32,981
FREDERICK: What?

217
00:11:34,733 --> 00:11:36,901
I don't know what kind
of sick joke you're playing

218
00:11:36,985 --> 00:11:38,737
but my son is no cheater.

219
00:11:38,904 --> 00:11:40,655
I was there. I didn't see anything.

220
00:11:40,822 --> 00:11:42,782
Well, we have evidence to the contrary.

221
00:11:42,948 --> 00:11:45,534
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton
noticed an anomaly on the tape

222
00:11:45,701 --> 00:11:47,870
while they were making Warren watch it.

223
00:11:50,289 --> 00:11:53,042
What sort of an anomaly?

224
00:11:53,209 --> 00:11:55,503
You were clearly mouthing the letters

225
00:11:55,669 --> 00:11:57,879
as Frederick spelled
the last word, Dr. Crane.

226
00:11:57,963 --> 00:12:00,508
-I did no such thing.
-We have it on the tape.

227
00:12:01,175 --> 00:12:03,803
Well, if I did, it certainly
wasn't a conscious act.

228
00:12:03,969 --> 00:12:06,055
It was like singing along at a concert.

229
00:12:06,222 --> 00:12:08,598
You know, I remember being
admonished once by the ushers

230
00:12:08,682 --> 00:12:10,767
for joining in a particularly
intense performance

231
00:12:10,851 --> 00:12:13,354
of "Das Lied von der Erde."

232
00:12:14,271 --> 00:12:15,940
But I wasn't even looking at him.

233
00:12:16,107 --> 00:12:18,525
Let's not make this any
more painful than it already is.

234
00:12:18,609 --> 00:12:20,610
The committee has
reviewed the tape and decided

235
00:12:20,694 --> 00:12:22,279
to award the trophy to Warren Clayton.

236
00:12:22,363 --> 00:12:25,157
-What? You can't do that.
-MARTIN: This stinks.

237
00:12:25,324 --> 00:12:28,035
I'm sure you'd like to avoid
embarrassment as much as we would,

238
00:12:28,119 --> 00:12:30,370
so we'll just say this was
all due to a technicality.

239
00:12:30,454 --> 00:12:32,915
That way Frederick
can keep his regional title

240
00:12:33,082 --> 00:12:35,791
and attend the banquet
tomorrow night for the finalists.

241
00:12:35,875 --> 00:12:37,836
This isn't fair.

242
00:12:38,002 --> 00:12:39,838
I'm sorry, son.

243
00:12:40,213 --> 00:12:42,507
I hope I'll see you at the dinner.

244
00:12:44,342 --> 00:12:46,761
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

245
00:12:46,970 --> 00:12:49,055
Thanks a lot, Dad.

246
00:12:52,142 --> 00:12:54,602
[SIGHS]

247
00:12:54,769 --> 00:12:57,188
Should've given him the penny.

248
00:13:03,236 --> 00:13:04,529
Great news.

249
00:13:04,696 --> 00:13:07,448
I have just spoken with a lawyer
who believes we have a case

250
00:13:07,532 --> 00:13:11,035
against the spelling-bee officials.
Isn't that great?

251
00:13:15,540 --> 00:13:16,583
Frederick,

252
00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:20,420
look, I know how upset you are.

253
00:13:23,339 --> 00:13:24,799
I'm so sorry.

254
00:13:28,302 --> 00:13:30,929
Frederick, aren't you gonna say something?

255
00:13:31,722 --> 00:13:35,809
-Talked to Mom today.
-You're a bigger man than I am.

256
00:13:36,351 --> 00:13:38,061
FREDERICK: That's what she said.

257
00:13:44,067 --> 00:13:46,737
I've really done it this time, haven't I?

258
00:13:47,029 --> 00:13:48,655
I feel terrible.

259
00:13:49,364 --> 00:13:53,660
-He just hates me.
-No, he's disappointed, that's all.

260
00:13:53,827 --> 00:13:55,328
He knows that if I made a mistake,

261
00:13:55,412 --> 00:13:57,873
it was only because I
wanted him to win so badly.

262
00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,000
MARTIN: He'll get over it.

263
00:14:00,167 --> 00:14:02,627
Remember when you were
13, you had that science project?

264
00:14:02,711 --> 00:14:04,963
I came in your room and sat on it.

265
00:14:05,130 --> 00:14:08,383
-You forgave me.
-True.

266
00:14:09,134 --> 00:14:11,845
Spent six months working on that project.

267
00:14:12,846 --> 00:14:16,517
Well, my point is accidents happen.
He'll come to see that.

268
00:14:16,683 --> 00:14:20,102
Ah, I suppose you're right.

269
00:14:21,687 --> 00:14:23,355
Three perfectly good chairs in my room,

270
00:14:23,439 --> 00:14:25,608
you had to sit on my hybrid orchid.

271
00:14:27,109 --> 00:14:31,030
Well, let's hope Freddie's
as forgiving as you are.

272
00:14:32,073 --> 00:14:34,742
So, uh, wanna go to that
banquet tonight, Freddie?

273
00:14:34,909 --> 00:14:35,952
I don't think so.

274
00:14:36,118 --> 00:14:39,539
It'll just be a bunch of people
saying bad stuff about me.

275
00:14:39,872 --> 00:14:43,584
-None of which is true.
-But they think it is.

276
00:14:44,418 --> 00:14:47,296
-Here you go.
-Uncle Niles?

277
00:14:47,463 --> 00:14:51,384
Is it true that you walked off-stage
on the last word of the National Bee?

278
00:14:52,635 --> 00:14:53,927
Now, where did you hear that?

279
00:14:54,011 --> 00:14:56,889
Dad and Grandpa.
They said you were one of the best.

280
00:14:57,056 --> 00:14:58,808
Well, they exaggerate.

281
00:14:58,975 --> 00:15:01,811
They said you were just as
good as somebody named Kerek?

282
00:15:02,228 --> 00:15:04,063
Just as good?

283
00:15:05,773 --> 00:15:07,608
Funny.

284
00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:11,528
Anyway,

285
00:15:12,070 --> 00:15:13,822
the story is true.

286
00:15:14,489 --> 00:15:18,577
Never talked about it before, but I will,

287
00:15:18,743 --> 00:15:20,662
since you also have the gift.

288
00:15:23,331 --> 00:15:24,958
Have a seat.

289
00:15:25,125 --> 00:15:26,167
[SIGHS]

290
00:15:26,334 --> 00:15:29,254
I was, uh, a little younger than you.

291
00:15:29,796 --> 00:15:33,508
Been winning numerous competitions,

292
00:15:33,675 --> 00:15:36,678
but, uh, I was obsessed with
one thing and one thing only:

293
00:15:36,845 --> 00:15:38,221
the national championship.

294
00:15:39,139 --> 00:15:43,393
The time finally came and there
I was, standing on that stage,

295
00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,396
waiting for the judge
to say the final word.

296
00:15:47,355 --> 00:15:49,524
And suddenly it happened.

297
00:15:49,941 --> 00:15:55,405
It all clicked. All the rules: I
before E, assimilations, etymologies,

298
00:15:55,572 --> 00:15:59,534
they all became one,

299
00:15:59,951 --> 00:16:03,787
and then became nothing.

300
00:16:05,873 --> 00:16:11,003
In that moment I realized there
was no word I couldn't spell.

301
00:16:12,588 --> 00:16:14,757
Competitions didn't matter anymore

302
00:16:14,923 --> 00:16:20,387
because I was one with the
higher truth, that is spelling.

303
00:16:22,139 --> 00:16:24,892
So when the judge said that last word,

304
00:16:25,100 --> 00:16:26,769
I simply walked away.

305
00:16:27,102 --> 00:16:29,271
Didn't you care what people said?

306
00:16:29,438 --> 00:16:33,567
Ho, people said a lot of
things that weren't true.

307
00:16:33,734 --> 00:16:38,822
"He didn't know the word."
"He was scared." "Mafia this."

308
00:16:40,658 --> 00:16:42,493
No, didn't bother me

309
00:16:42,660 --> 00:16:46,372
because they couldn't take
away what I knew in my heart.

310
00:16:47,247 --> 00:16:49,083
You know how to spell.

311
00:16:50,459 --> 00:16:54,212
And it doesn't matter
what anybody else thinks.

312
00:16:57,048 --> 00:16:58,966
Hey, hey, don't you want your ice cream?

313
00:16:59,050 --> 00:17:02,762
No. I have a banquet to go to.

314
00:17:06,557 --> 00:17:10,186
-Ah, here we are.
-Hi, Amanda.

315
00:17:15,191 --> 00:17:17,443
Never mind her, Freddie.

316
00:17:17,610 --> 00:17:19,654
It's her problem, not yours.

317
00:17:20,113 --> 00:17:22,240
You didn't do anything wrong.

318
00:17:22,407 --> 00:17:25,284
I know. Neither did you.

319
00:17:27,578 --> 00:17:28,705
Excuse me.

320
00:17:30,581 --> 00:17:31,958
GADSTON: Good evening.

321
00:17:32,125 --> 00:17:34,475
I'd like to take this
opportunity to welcome you

322
00:17:34,585 --> 00:17:38,256
to this year's annual Spell-a-bration.

323
00:17:39,841 --> 00:17:42,719
Because of the irregularities
with this year's event,

324
00:17:43,177 --> 00:17:46,555
this gathering has been
renamed the Unity Dinner

325
00:17:46,722 --> 00:17:49,558
and is in honor of all the finalists.

326
00:17:53,186 --> 00:17:55,396
What is that supposed
to mean, "irregularities"?

327
00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,899
Frasier, Frasier, let it go.

328
00:17:58,066 --> 00:18:00,902
Crane, no hard feelings.

329
00:18:02,654 --> 00:18:06,283
-No feelings at all.
-Oh, don't be like that.

330
00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:08,993
You're not the first person
tempted to get around the rules.

331
00:18:09,077 --> 00:18:10,162
You just got caught.

332
00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:13,123
I did not get caught.

333
00:18:13,290 --> 00:18:16,001
Well, cameras never lie
and cheaters never prosper.

334
00:18:16,168 --> 00:18:18,962
-And you never shut up.
-NILES: Frasier, Frasier,

335
00:18:19,129 --> 00:18:22,256
let's try to follow Frederick's example
and carry ourselves with dignity.

336
00:18:22,340 --> 00:18:24,050
GUARD: Where are your parents?

337
00:18:24,134 --> 00:18:26,470
FRASIER: Freddie? What's going on?

338
00:18:26,636 --> 00:18:28,554
I caught these two
fighting in the men's room.

339
00:18:28,638 --> 00:18:30,306
-He punched me.
-FRASIER: Is this true?

340
00:18:30,390 --> 00:18:31,641
He deserved it.

341
00:18:33,393 --> 00:18:35,812
Why'd you do it, Freddie?

342
00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,565
-He called my dad a cheater.
-You were defending me?

343
00:18:39,732 --> 00:18:42,151
-Where's your blazer?
-It's in the bathroom.

344
00:18:42,318 --> 00:18:45,368
Oh, dear. If it's touched the
floor, we'll have to destroy it.

345
00:18:46,405 --> 00:18:48,699
Freddie, I want you to
apologize to Warren right now.

346
00:18:48,783 --> 00:18:50,784
Yes, and then, Warren, you apologize too.

347
00:18:50,868 --> 00:18:53,704
Being a name-caller is almost
as bad as being a cheater.

348
00:18:53,871 --> 00:18:57,291
I am not a cheater. You are a thief.

349
00:18:57,458 --> 00:19:00,460
-My son is the true champion.
-Yeah, when your dad's here to help.

350
00:19:00,544 --> 00:19:03,005
Hey, I can out-spell
you any time, any place.

351
00:19:03,172 --> 00:19:04,924
Oh, yeah? How about right now?

352
00:19:05,090 --> 00:19:07,509
[STAMMERS] Hold on, son.
We don't have to prove anything.

353
00:19:07,593 --> 00:19:10,843
-I can take you in five words.
-Okay, you're on. For the trophy.

354
00:19:10,971 --> 00:19:13,641
Why? We already have the trophy. Ha, ha.

355
00:19:13,808 --> 00:19:17,061
Crane, why don't you talk
some sense into your boy there?

356
00:19:17,686 --> 00:19:21,607
-Freddie…
-Dad, I wanna spell.

357
00:19:26,529 --> 00:19:30,073
What's the matter, John? You scared?

358
00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:31,699
[CROWD MUTTERING]

359
00:19:34,327 --> 00:19:35,370
For the trophy.

360
00:19:35,537 --> 00:19:37,872
We have already
selected an official winner.

361
00:19:38,039 --> 00:19:40,332
If you would like to brawl,
take it someplace else.

362
00:19:40,416 --> 00:19:43,378
-Let's take it outside.
-FRASIER: To the street.

363
00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,634
Sudden death. Scripps Howard rules.

364
00:19:49,801 --> 00:19:53,096
-Bring it on.
-People, stop, please.

365
00:19:53,263 --> 00:19:55,181
Look at yourselves.

366
00:19:56,432 --> 00:19:58,476
This is wrong.

367
00:19:58,643 --> 00:20:01,229
What are words, after all,
but a way to communicate,

368
00:20:01,396 --> 00:20:02,814
to bring us together?

369
00:20:02,981 --> 00:20:06,317
But you… You're using them as weapons.

370
00:20:08,820 --> 00:20:12,532
Now, we still have an opportunity
to walk away from here as winners.

371
00:20:12,699 --> 00:20:16,494
And wouldn't that be the
greatest Spell-a-bration of all?

372
00:20:20,206 --> 00:20:24,209
He's right, son. Let's go home.

373
00:20:25,377 --> 00:20:28,130
Yeah. We're all winners,
except for the two cheaters.

374
00:20:31,049 --> 00:20:34,386
Hey, you know how to spell loser?
C-R-A-N-E.

375
00:20:37,306 --> 00:20:39,349
You don't have to worry
about seeing him again.

376
00:20:39,433 --> 00:20:41,533
Chances are he'll end
up in a state school.

377
00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,275
How dare you.

378
00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,278
-Can you take him?
-Yeah.

379
00:20:51,445 --> 00:20:54,114
Then spell his ass off!