High Crane Drifter

Infobox Television episode | Title = High Crane Drifter
Series = Frasier
Season = 3
Episode = 17
Airdate = 12 March 1996
Guests = John Cygan (Doug Harvey)
Joan Allen (Lydia)
Katarina Witt (Brenda)
Jerry Orbach (Mitch)
Billy Barty (Chris)
Eric Idle (Chuck)
Jane Pauley (Rochelle)

Writer = Jack Burditt
Director = Philip Charles MacKenzie
Prev = Look Before You Leap
Next = Chess Pains
Episode list = List of Frasier episodes (Season 3)

"High Crane Drifter" is the seventeenth episode of season 3 of American sitcom "Frasier".

Cast and characters

Main cast and characters

*Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
*David Hyde Pierce – Dr. Niles Crane
*John Mahoney – Martin Crane
*Jane Leeves – Daphne Moon
*Peri Gilpin – Roz Doyle

Plot outline

The world around Frasier seems to be losing its manners. People are using his parking space, queue-jumping in shops, talking during films at the cinema, smoking in lifts; shop assistants are ignoring him or being rude; even his own neighbours make unnecessary noise. He feels that he stands alone in upholding common courtesy, and eventually loses his patience in a crowded Café Nervosa, forcibly ejecting a man who claimed a table just before him. He is not proud of his behaviour afterwards, but Martin is, having read the story in the "People of Seattle" column. Suddenly, everyone around is hailing Frasier as a hero, and Niles is jealous. However, his actions must have repercussions: firstly, a wave of phonecalls to KACL report how people have started emulating him; secondly, the man he targeted threatens to sue.

Episode Title Cards

*"A little something for all you Donald Crisp fans"
*"The etiquette lesson"
*"No actors were hurt during the filming of this scene"

Memorable Quotations

"Frasier delivers a brief but impassioned speech, bellowing from his balcony"
Frasier: People of Seattle, listen to me! We are not barbarians, we are not Neanderthals and we are not French! Do you hear that, you up there?!

"Niles' Mercedes is being repaired, and he is annoyed at having to settle for a non-luxury courtesy car"
Niles: It's painted panic-button red, with a large rear window that pops open.
Frasier: Oh, that would be the hatchback.
Niles: Well, there's a novel idea: name the car after its most hideous feature.

"After throwing out the ill-mannered patron from Café Nervosa, Frasier claims the table"
Frasier: Sit down, Niles!
Niles: "(to a waiter)" My brother will have a decaf.