♪ ♪
(Eve laughs)
- (Olivia laughs) - EVE: Okay.
And who was that?
That was my date for Valentine's Day.
- (gasps) - (laughs)
Two hours ago, you were whinging about not having a date.
Oh, God, did you hire that woman?
No.
No, I met her at the grocery store.
We both reached for whatever thing she was reaching for,
and now we are having dinner together tomorrow night
at a fancy French restaurant.
- Ooh la la. - No, Ooh La La was booked.
I took the liberty of making
a dinner reservation at Les Charles
one month ago in hopes that Cupid's arrow might strike.
And lo, it has.
ALAN: Eh, seems like
- a lot of effort. - OLIVIA: Of course
it seems like a lot of effort to you.
Your final last semester was to make your students
clean out your garage.
No, that's what it looked like.
Actually, in reality, it was an experiment.
I was testing to see whether the...
something... uh, psychology.
You know, Alan, I think Olivia sounds like
she may be reaching her breaking point with you.
Oh, it's taken her long enough, I've been terrible.
- Hey, Olivia. - Oh, hi.
- Hi, Bernard. - Hey, uh,
so I-I know we've only been on a few dates,
and we're keeping it quiet,
but Valentine's Day is tomorrow, so maybe...
Yeah, "maybe" sounds good.
So, Eve, any plans for Valentine's Day?
No, I picked up a shift.
Uh, Freddy? You got any plans?
Anything romantic on the, on the burner?
Ah, you know me.
Tomorrow night, when the moon reaches its peak,
I'm headed up to a rooftop
- with a special someone. - Oh, yeah, who?
Uh, it's Tiny. We're gonna throw an old dishwasher off,
- see what happens. - FRASIER: Ugh. What a travesty.
Doesn't anyone make an effort for love anymore?
Fear not, Uncle. I'm keeping the flame of love alive.
I just received a Valentine's Day card from a secret admirer.
Could be from anyone, maybe even someone in this very bar...
- It was Daphne. - Definitely your mom.
Where is everyone's love of love?
Stop being cynical, stop being complacent.
Challenge yourself to go after love today.
I would love to see that.
Thank you, Alan.
An old dishwasher hitting the sidewalk and exploding.
Hey, Dr. Crane?
I heard what you said about love over there.
I was wondering, can I bug you for some help?
I-I'm seeing someone, and I'm worried
that she doesn't think we have enough in common.
Well, of-of course, I'm always glad to help.
Um, tell me about her.
Well, she's a lot smarter than me.
Oh, real needle in a...
stack of needles there.
Uh, tell me more.
Well, I'd like to see her tomorrow,
but I don't know what to say to her.
Why not try saying it with flowers, hmm?
No woman can resist a beautiful bouquet showing up
at work on their desk.
Or their dashboard.
Or kiosk.
- (knock at door) - Olivia? - Hmm?
Um, listen, I need my book of Robert Burns poetry back.
I have a date this evening,
and I don't want to leave anything up to chance.
Absolutely, and thanks, by the way.
- It's so good... - Yes, isn't it?
...for killing spiders.
Oh.
What a lovely bouquet of flowers.
You seeing someone?
Uh, sort of. He's very sweet.
Oh, I love that. I knew there was hope
- for Cupid after all. - Mm-hmm.
What are you doing here?
Don't you have a class?
No. Also, this is my office.
What are you doing here?
What? Uh...
Sorry, earplugs already in.
I'll, um, I'll just go and find somewhere else to, uh, work.
(sighs)
Are you all right? You seem troubled.
I-I should be discreet.
I think I need to part ways with someone.
Today proves I can't, I can't avoid it any longer.
Really, really? And this person is-- it-it's someone I know?
Oh, please don't ask.
- It'll put you in a difficult position. - I see.
And somehow they've fallen short of your expectation?
I-I don't know if the fire's there.
Um, do either of you know how to hang a hammock?
Useless.
Yeah, not much fire there.
I'm sure you've been through this.
What would you do?
Well, if you really intend to part ways
with this person... (grunts)
...he at least deserves to tell his side,
to fight for himself.
First thing you should do is tell him that you need to talk.
Okay, yeah, I'll text him right now.
And please remember, be sensitive.
It's like a relationship.
It is a relationship.
That's very perceptive of you.
- Alan? - Hmm?
I've just come from a discussion with Olivia.
Nothing's decided yet, but...
I think she's on the verge of letting you go.
But teaching's everything to me.
I'm looking for Dr. Cornwall.
Wrong building.
Can she even do this? You have tenure.
Well, it looks like "dereliction of professorial duties"
is cause for breaking tenure.
As is... oh, wow.
You've done all of these.
Oh, this is difficult.
I haven't had a career setback like this since... mm.
What's he referring to?
Back in the '80s,
Alan spent several years working on a, a model to disprove
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grieving.
It was to be my magnum opus, but I was sabotaged
by the deep pockets of the self-help industry.
Ah. Big Grief.
They killed my project.
At first, I couldn't even accept what had happened.
And then I was engulfed in anger.
Soon after, I started negotiating some way
to try and save my work.
That was followed by a crippling sadness.
Eventually, I came to accept that her model had won
despite there being zero evidence to its validity.
Don't worry about a thing.
If Olivia pulls the trigger, we will fight it.
Or...
is this the change I need?
Leaving here would allow me to focus
on some long-forgotten passions.
Writing, research.
Maybe I'll even try some teaching.
Not doing those things is why she's firing you.
Uh, you can also lose tenure
for "selling property to the Irish"?
When was this written?
Well, now, I'd better prepare
for what could be my final lecture.
No.
Tomorrow starts today.
No matter what happens, I am here for you.
Anytime, at the ready, on February 15th.
No, just go.
I can't believe this.
The other server just bailed on me
right before we were about to open.
(sighs) I'll never be able to handle tonight's crowd alone.
Hmm, well, you know what? I got some time.
- I can give you a hand. - Really?
- What about your plans? - Eve,
there are things more important than throwing a dishwasher
off a roof.
Plus you have to wait till it's dark, so...
Oh, thank goodness you two are here.
Listen, I'm having a little trouble
choosing which cologne to wear this evening on my date.
Um, I thought maybe, um...
You must know that I'm not going to smell you.
- (phone chimes) - Oh...
Oh.
Carol has to cancel.
She's having trouble with her boiler.
- Oof. - Oof. Sorry, Dad.
"Oof"?
What the hell? We-We'll just reschedule.
FREDDY: Dad. (scoffs)
Carol's canceling?
On Valentine's?
At the last minute?
At Les Charles?
Because of her boiler?
Kind of running out of room in that upper register,
aren't you, there, sport?
She's blowing you off, Dad.
EVE: Hate to say it, but Freddy's right.
This is her Aunt Sadie.
And who is Aunt Sadie?
Well, whenever I had a bad date,
Aunt Sadie was my made-up relative
who'd have an emergency so I could leave.
Like when I dated the juggler,
Aunt Sadie fell off a boat.
Or when I was dating the DJ,
Aunt Sadie was digging a piece of waffle
out of her toaster with a fork when she got hit by a car.
She's just making up a little white lie
so you don't feel rejected.
FREDDY: Yeah, which is cruel.
I-I mean, I think.
'Cause, uh, just giving my dad
false hope like that just makes him look
- more pathetic. - I think pathetic's a bit strong.
So, what is she supposed to do, say "I'm canceling the date
because I'm not attracted to you"?
Why does that have to be the reason?
This lets him slowly accept
that it's never gonna happen.
Mm-hmm, okay, yeah, that makes sense.
So...
...I've been stood up on Valentine's Day.
(sighs) We were having
such fun at the grocery store. What could have happened?
It could have been anything.
I once dumped a guy for ordering a salad.
Yeah, I once dumped a girl 'cause her name was Liz.
Is that what dating is today?
You're j-just giving up on love because of the slightest hiccup?
Oh, yeah. I once dumped a guy for hiccups.
This is why there's an epidemic of loneliness.
People just waiting around
to be struck by love.
They don't realize it just takes a little bit of work.
Disagree.
It's either easy or it's not meant to be.
Oh, Moose. (chuckles)
I'm really in the mood for some good news.
How did it go with the flowers?
Not good, Doc.
Look at this.
"We have to talk"?
What is wrong
with people? And on Valentine's Day,
this most sacred of manufactured holidays.
- So, what should I do? - Well, I...
You know what? It's too late for me tonight,
but why don't you take my reservation at Les Charles?
- You sure? - Yes, of course...
She's going to love it.
You invite her to dinner, and, uh,
text her now and be romantic.
Okay, all right.
How's this look, Doc?
You just said, "Dinner," with a question mark.
And that third "N" isn't doing you any favors.
(sighs)
Mind if I take a crack at this?
All right, fine. Let's see, um...
"I lament..."
(chuckles)
"...that Cupid's arrow
has not pierced you."
- (chuckles) -"But I have a reservation tonight
"at Les Charles.
"Shall we give our...
"cherubic friend
"one more
shot?"
(laughs) Holy crap,
- you sound like a book. - (laughs)
Send.
All right.
Now we just wait and see, huh?
(phone rings)
Oh, sorry. (clears throat)
Yes, hello?
Frasier, you know that thing you helped me with earlier?
Well, it's escalated.
Can you please come by and help me?
Yes, of course.
I'll be right there. But, uh,
don't talk to Alan until I get there.
Why would I talk...?
I'm sorry, Moose, I've got to go.
Uh, there's been a little emergency with a friend at work.
Whoa, what if she texts back?
I can't write like you can.
I'll be back in 15 minutes.
Well, take my phone, just in case.
Well...
all right, sure.
Uh, what-what's your passcode?
It's my birthday.
November 11th.
So... one, one,
one, one?
You want me to write it down for you?
No, no, I've got it, thank you.
Trust me, Moose,
someone is going to triumph
on this Valentine's Day. (laughs)
Frasier, he texted back.
He wants to prove his case over dinner tonight.
Over dinner? On Valentine's Day?
I know. It's serious.
And my brain is screaming at me
to end it, but...
but sometimes he can be really charming.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
You have to talk to him right now.
Okay. Um...
- (phone beeps) -"Can I call you?" Send.
(phone whooshes)
- (phone chimes) - (Olivia sighs)
(exhales)
Uh, this text he sent you...
...what was so charming about it?
It referenced Cupid's arrow.
God, it was poetic and original.
Hmm. Yes, it was.
I mean, sounds like it was.
I mean, most of the time, we don't connect,
but sometimes
I sense a, a deeper side.
Hmm. Well, perhaps he's just overwhelmed by you
and doesn't really know
how to find the right words to say.
- (sighs) - Has he texted you back?
No, not--
- (phone chimes) - Oh, okay.
"To hear your beautiful voice
would silence mine."
That is so sweet.
And it directly addresses what we were just talking about.
Sounds like fate to me.
But a fancy dinner?
I'm just gonna tell him that my mom had an emergency.
No, no. People have got to stop doing that,
saying no to love before it's even begun.
You've got to give it another chance.
When would dinner be?
I'll ask.
- (phone beeps) -"When..."
(takes deep breath)
"...would dinner be?"
(phone whooshes)
- (phone chimes) - Oh, wow.
He answered almost before I hit send.
But he didn't.
That's a very important distinction.
"Jazz piano starts at 7:00.
"'If music be the food of love,
play on.'"
As You Like It.
Mm, Twelfth Night.
Is it slightly misquoted?
(chuckles) No.
(laughs)
I really love that he's making an effort,
but now I feel like I can't keep up.
I-I-I cannot think of anything clever to say.
Frasier...
...would you be my Cyrano?
Your Cyrano?
Sure.
Let's see if I can get inside this texter's mind.
(phone beeps)
"I confess you surprise me,
"in the figure of a lion,
the feats of a lamb."
- (phone beeps) - You see, uh,
answering Twelfth Night with Much Ado About Nothing.
- I love it. I love it! - (phone whooshes)
Ooh, I wonder how he's going to respond.
Well...
we'll just have to wait to find out
if he's not out of Shakespeare.
Hmm?
Oh, my, this is an interesting print.
(phone chimes)
Oh, here.
Not that phone!
"Halloo your name to the reverberate hills,
"and make the babbling gossip of the air
cry out 'Olivia.'"
(laughs) Isn't that something, huh?
A Shakespeare text with your name in it.
(both laugh)
Maybe it's worth giving him another chance.
Okay, I'll say yes to dinner.
Wonderful.
Oh, and, Olivia, I meant to ask,
um, how do you feel about Alan
these days?
Same as always?
Same as always.
ALAN: I am here to teach.
You...
are here to learn.
Hmm?
And yet
this hallowed institution...
...is a prison.
It's keeping you and you and you
walled off from two infinites.
The infinite
of what's out there
and the infinite
of what's in here.
Break off your shackles.
I implore you.
Of course, this gift of clarity
was given to me
cloaked in the ornaments of misfortune.
Oh, no. Are you dying?
Nay.
I'm living.
Alan, good news.
I was wrong about Olivia.
You're not getting canned.
Congratulations.
What?
Uh, okay, experiment time.
Half of you are prisoners, half of you are guards,
and I'll see you in four days.
Ah, Moose.
FREDDY: Howdy, Slim.
What's your poison?
All right, what the hell's happening?
- Freddy's helping me out tonight. - Yeah.
He's also trying out different bartending personas.
(Irish accent): Right you are.
Care for a drop of the hard stuff
to wet your whistle there, laddie?
So far, none have worked.
Well, I'm glad to see that summer at theater camp
came in handy, son.
Moose. Moose, good news.
Your date accepted. She will be joining you
for dinner, and she was very impressed with your texts.
That's awesome.
I can't keep this up, though.
Do you think you could come to dinner
and just be nearby in case I need some help?
(sighs)
Might get a little complicated.
You're right, it's too much. I'll just cancel.
No, no, no.
No, you cannot give up on love
just because it requires a little bit of effort.
I will not allow it.
Love will triumph this evening, hmm?
- All right. Thanks, Doc. - Great.
I got to warn you, though, my date,
it's with Olivia.
Olivia?
Be still.
(Moose chuckles)
All right, last call!
- Huh? - What? - It's 4:30.
You have to stop yelling that.
- Oh. Hey there. - Hello.
- Waiting on a date? - Uh, no.
Sadly, my date canceled.
I'm actually here for support for a couple of friends
who are hoping to find a connection.
Oh, wow, that sounds
- like a nightmare. - Sweet, I know. Oh.
Well... Or-or sweet.
(both laugh)
No, you know, sometimes I think love,
in the early stages, needs a, a little push.
Hmm. Does it, though?
I mean, in my experience, either the connection is there
or it isn't, you know?
Uh, if it ain't easy, it ain't worth it.
And why is that the prevailing wisdom about love these days?
I mean, honestly, I, I think love is worth the effort.
I guess I'm just determined to keep fighting for love.
- Mm. - I'm a bit of a Rodolfo.
- Yeah. - La Bohème.
Well, let's just hope you find a Mimi
with a better immune system.
(chuckles) You like opera?
I sure don't.
But I worked the bar at the opera,
and sometimes that stuff just
jimmies and burrows its way in. You know?
I'm Frasier Crane.
I know. I've seen your show. I'm Holly.
- Holly. Yes, I've seen your name tag. - Yeah.
- Eyes up here, pal. - Yes, okay, sorry.
I'm just kidding. I'm kidding.
You know, if-if you're not tending bar
at Don Giovanni next week, maybe...
I-I'm sorry, I'm seeing someone right now.
Oh. Too bad.
Yeah.
- Now you've got me rooting against love. - Oh...
OLIVIA: Frasier.
(sighs deeply) I was hoping that I would find
you and your date here.
Uh, she canceled.
Amazing! For me, not for you. Sorry.
I'm still worried that this is a bad idea.
No, no, no, no, give it a chance.
I mean, look for ways that you do connect.
Um, you know, try talking about something
that doesn't usually interest you.
Okay.
I'll try, I'll try.
Uh, but can you, can you please stay?
Please. I don't think I can do this without you. Please.
Well, all right, sure, sure.
Why not? I'd be glad to.
Okay, thank you, thank you so much.
I should probably also come clean about
who my date is, 'cause you're about to find out it's...
it's Moose.
Moose?
Be still.
I'll just make myself scarce.
- So, is that the friend you're helping? - Yes.
Actually, I... I'm helping both of them.
But they don't know that.
You know what, I should be able to pull this off anyway.
- I have complete faith in you. - (chuckles)
(sighs) So, I-I loved all of those Shakespeare quotes.
What are some of your other favorites?
Hmm, what are some of my other favorite Shakespeare quotes?
Hmm.
"Doubt the stars are fire,
"Doubt the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love."
Love.
(chuckles) I'm so sorry.
You're, you're probably all Shakespeared out.
What-what do you want to talk about?
You're not into sports, right?
I...
- ...love sports. - Yeah?
Yeah, I like the Red Sox.
- I like the Red Sox. - What do you think
of their moves in the bullpen during the offseason?
Ooh, what do I think?
Quick, tell me about the Red Sox bullpen.
Um, Casey's trash.
No, no, Orlando's the one who's killing us.
I mean, a plus-five ERA last year
with runners in scoring position.
That guy blew ten saves last year,
all of 'em in the ninth. I could murder him.
Uh, Casey, Orlando, uh,
five scorings...
Uh, baseball?
Casey and Orlando. Am I right?
(laughs) You're so right.
- They're both terrible. - Terrible.
Who's your favorite Celtic?
My favorite Celtic?
Who's your favorite Celtic?
- I'm trying to drink here. - I-I'm sorry.
Change the subject, get off of sports,
ask him about himself.
OLIVIA: You know, it's so hard to choose.
What do you do in your spare time?
Hmm. What do I do in my spare time?
- How the hell should I know? - How the hell should I know?
No, no, you read, you like art. Pick something.
I like art.
Oh. Who's your favorite painter?
Oh, my cousin Kevin.
He can do a whole fence in like two days.
That was a joke. Laugh.
I don't think it was.
- Tell her that was a joke. - But it wasn't.
Would you pick a freakin' spot?!
- I'm so sorry. - You know, a guy comes into a fancy restaurant
all alone on Valentine's Day, high as a kite,
he expects to have a nice, quiet evening.
- Dr. Crane? - Oh...
What are you do...? (laughs)
Um, you should know that Moose and I are
out on a date together.
Well, isn't that something?
Moose and Olivia?
- (laughter) - Be still.
You know, I had a feeling about you two. (laughs)
Yes, and I couldn't be happier for you.
You know what, fumbling through the early stages of love
can be, be quite challenging sometimes,
but you, you two, hang in there.
- Do it for all of us. - (phone chimes)
Um, someone named Carol can come after all.
Oh, uh, do you think I could still get a table?
No. Fully booked.
(sighs)
Then again, if you're trying this hard to force love,
is it really worth the effort?
I mean, shouldn't love be easy?
Fantastic 180.
- Thank you. It's not my first backpedal. - Yeah.
I-I do like you, Moose,
but I-I just...
It was so much pressure to think of anything to say to you.
Maybe we should be friends?
Yeah.
While we're here, though,
we should get something to eat, right?
Oh, yeah, I hear that the lobster here is amazing.
No, you know, one thing--
friends should never eat
in a romantic restaurant together.
I mean,, it'll destroy the friendship.
- Whoo! Frasier! - Off you go.
Oh, my God.
Take care, all right?
Yes, lovely, lovely.
Happy-- Happy Valentine's Day.
Nobody talks to a queen that way. Nobody.
- (crying): I am a queen. - Yeah.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
All right, have a good night.
Well, it's official, I am a great bartender.
All of these were wrong.
But it was still a lot of fun working with you tonight.
It didn't feel like work. It was easy.
ALAN: Freddy?
- Yeah? - Do you work here now?
Oh, no, I'm just doing a little favor for Eve.
Uh, sorry, no, my fault.
I don't actually care.
I'm just so sorry that I almost canceled.
Oh, please.
It's a minor speed bump.
Only a fool would pass up the potential for love
at the first sign of trouble.
You have to put in the effort.
That's right. (chuckles)
So tell me, do you have any kids?
I have a son, Frederick.
Very proud of the man he's become.
What about you? Any kids?
Mm, eight.
- Wow. Eight kids. - Yep.
They're my babies.
- Oh. - (sighs)
Aw. (giggles)
These are pictures of snakes.
Morty's my oldest.
- Oh, such a teenager. - Mm-hmm.
I still remember his first shedding.
- It was autumn. - Oh, gosh.
- A chill rolling in from the east. - Oh, that's my Aunt Sadie.
I'm so sorry...
She's stabbed herself with her father's seppuku knife.
Hmm. Madame Butterfly.
Nice.
Uh, I'm so sorry about this.
I really do have to go and help her.
Uh, it was, it was nice meeting you.
Happy Valentine's Day.
("Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs" playing)
FRASIER: Y'all know how this goes.
♪ Hey, baby, I hear the blues a-callin' ♪
♪ Tossed salads and scrambled eggs ♪
♪ And maybe I seem a bit confused ♪
Yeah, maybe. But I got you pegged.
(chuckles)
♪ But I don't know what to do ♪
♪ With those tossed salads and scrambled eggs ♪
♪ Life's callin' again. ♪
Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org