Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 8 -> Episode 8.05

Legal Tender Love And Care

Frasier, Niles and Daphne are all at Frasier's apartment awaiting Frasier's high-price (and very attractive) lawyer, Abby, to drop by to update them on Donny's lawsuit against Frasier and Daphne. When she does, they are in for a bit of a shock as she informs them that Donny phoned earlier that day to drop the lawsuit - with no real explanation why. They all agree they should all go out to dinner later that week to celebrate, and Frasier surprises Abby by asking her to go out with him - and she agrees!. In the meantime, Frasier receives his bill from Abby and is surprised at just how much she is charging - $4000 just for phone consultations, for example - and becomes even more determined to do something about it when Martin informs him that Daphne's lawyer charged half of what Abby did for the same job.

Later that week, at the celebratory meal, Frasier becomes concerned at Abby's record keeping as she starts the clock when speaking to a client but forgets to stop her clock when she has finished talking to him. There is also a potentially awkward moment when Donny arrives at the same restaurant and reveals why he has dropped the lawsuit - he just got engaged. Abby's lax timekeeping at the restaurant has prompted Frasier to send her a strongly worded e-mail asking for a point by point breakdown of his bill, and receives a phone call from Abby asking to see him immediately. When he gets there, Frasier finds Abby's e-mail system was down and hasn't yet read his e-mail, but when Abby starts to come on to Frasier, his e-mail arrives with immaculate timing leaving Frasier no choice but to try and delete it before Abby can read it....

- Niles says lawsuits make him nervous, as:
Niles: Normally I'm unflappable.
Frasier: If you flapped any more, we'd have to lower you to half mast on Veterans Day (!).

- Abby wants everyone to join Frasier at the meal, but Frasier wants Abby to himself:
Frasier: We're rarely available together.
Niles: I'm open.
Daphne: Any times good for me.

- Frasier is surprised at Abby's $4000 bill for phone consulatations:
Frasier: Who the hell is she talking to?
Martin: All her friends - bragging about the new sucker she's got on the hook!

- At the meal, Abby says the dinner is on the firm:
Frasier: Oh no, I wanted to pay for dinner.
Martin: Don't worry - you are (!)

- Outside a court, Daphne warns Donny not to rush into things with Wendy:
Daphne: Take the time to get to know each other - trust me, you'll be glad you did when the day finally arrives that you do get married...[Wendy arrives in wedding dress].... and what do you know, it's here!

This episode is written by a newcomer to the show - Saladin K. Patterson - and to be honest, it shows. There are several torturous and cringe-making sections of this episode, while the sequence with an unwell Niles in a lift goes on for far too long. Teri Polo, who you may have seen as Ben Stiller's girlfriend in the excellent 'Meet The Parents', gives an adequate performance but it is Martin who in my opinion got the funniest lines, commenting sarcastically on the size of Abby's bill and her lax record-keeping. An inauspicious debut from a writer who would prove to be the worst the show ever had, and the talented cast seem to realise the poor quality of this episode's script making this a painful watch, sadly.

Rating

59 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 62.5%
Total Number of Reviews: 2