Hans the butler (Niles) turns Nightmare Inn into a bloodbath. Ms. Thorndyke (Roz) has had too much novocaine, and the Inspector (Frasier) is still baffled. It Makes Sense in Context, sort of.
Frasier hosts a radio murder-mystery drama but his Control Freak nature gets in the way.
Tropes:
- Call-Back: This isn't the first time Bulldog has used an offensive Asian Speekee Engrish patois. In Season 1 episode "Selling Out", Bulldog's "Aww, so you come chop-chop to Hoo-nan Parace, where Pekin' duck is awrays extla clispy!" caused Roz to sigh, "We're gonna get sued this time, for sure."
- Control Freak: Frasier's micromanaging helps throw "Nightmare Inn" completely off the rails, especially when he dictates Niles' emotions right to his face.
- Cut Phone Lines: Early in "Nightmare Inn" the detective discovers that the phone lines to the Inn have been cut. So naturally this is when the studio phone rings and Noel answers while next to an open mic.
- Dead Air: Frasier wraps up the play with the detective's closing monologue only for the producer to start frantically giving him the "stretch" signal because it turns out they still have nine minutes of airtime left. Frasier attempts to start a post-play discussion to fill out the slot but the cast turn their backs on him.
- Deadpan Snarker: This time, Martin gets off a doozy.Daphne: (who helped the cast rehearse) I already know the plot, but I'll try not to blurt out the name of the murderer.
Martin: Great! As a cop I hated it when people did that. - Elmuh Fudd Syndwome: Roz's voice when she gets too much novocaine from a dental visit before the radio drama.Roz: Inphector, ow! Phank God you ca'.
Frasier: This is a grisly business, Miss Thorndike.
Roz: I can't beweive any of my guests cod be a... mopipapul mubuder.
Frasier: ....That's easy for you to say. - "Everybody Dies" Ending: Niles' ultimate method of dealing with Frasier's direction. He steals the balloons they're using to make gunshot noises and has his character murder all the others one by one to prevent the mystery from being solved, saving the last "bullet" for himself.Daphne: This is turning into a bloodbath!
Martin: This is why I prefer TV, you want to be able to see that stuff! - French Maid Outfit: After Frasier agrees to cast Maxine as the maid Bulldog mentions that he's going to get her one of these outfits. Frasier points out that she doesn't need to dress up for a radio play.Bulldog: Maybe here she doesn't!
- Heh Heh, You Said "X": Bulldog begs Frasier to change his character's name because he can't keep a straight face whenever someone says "Mr. Wang".
- Helium Speech: When Niles has to play a little person, first he crouches (which obviously won't work on radio), then sucks on a balloon and gives the line in a high-pitched voice.
- I Shall Taunt You: After Niles kills off the entire cast, the final death has him flatly going "Ha" at Frasier.
- Leave the Camera Running: Variation: After Niles kills the rest of the characters, Fraser (left with nothing else) awkwardly ends the "Nightmare Inn" episode. ...except they finished under:Frasier: (checks watch) Well, we still have... nine minutes remaining... (Beat) ...perhaps we could have a little post-play discussion.
- "L" Is for "Dyslexia": The day of the broadcast Bulldog admits that Maxine has dyslexia and needs extra time to work on her single line. She stills ends up blowing it."Look out! He's got a nug!"
- Off the Rails: "Nevermind all that. I'm just gonna take this gun off the table. (POP!)"
- Performance Anxiety: The normally-boistrous Bulldog experiences stage fright and freezes up on air. Frasier is forced to claim his character is a mute.
- Prima Donna Director: Frasier quickly gets out of control with his exacting demands of the cast and constant overdirection. Niles points out Frasier has an Orson Welles Complex. He was exactly the same during their school productions, citing a production of Richard III that got delayed on opening night because the actor playing the title character attacked Frasier with his prop hump. He also predicts that not only would Frasier micromanage, but he'd snare the lead role too (which Frasier does despite a perfect actor showing up to play the role.)Martin: What, you don't think your brother knows how to direct?
Niles: No, the trouble is he doesn't know how to stop directing. - Riddle for the Ages: "And of course, one final bullet for myself, so the mystery will die with me! (balloon pop) Hah."
- Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies: How Niles ends the play after getting fed up with Frasier's demands.
- Serendipity Writes the Plot: In-Universe, Mr. Wing becomes mute when stage fright renders Bulldog unable to speak.
- The Show Must Go Wrong: The "Nightmare Inn" broadcast is inevitably a total disaster.
- Throw It In!: In-Universe. During Nile's eliminating of the cast, when he shoots Mr. Wing, Noel rings the bell he was communicating with and silences it, which Niles appreciates.
- Values Dissonance: In-Universe. The script for "Nightmare Inn" is extremely dated.Bulldog: (heavy Asian Speekee Engrish accent) Oh, me no looky, me go very by chop-chop!
Roz: (aghast) Stop! Chinese embassy on line one! - Vanity Project: What the play ultimately is for Frasier. Why else would he cast himself as the lead?
- The Voiceless: When Bulldog gets stage fright during the broadcast Frasier improvises that Mr. Wing is now mute and communicates via a bell attached to his hat.
- Writer Revolt: Inverted: After putting up with Fraser's direction for a touch too long, Niles gets fed up and abandons the script.Niles: (retrieves the bunch of balloons and a pencil from the table) Nevermind all that. I'm just gonna take this gun off the table. (POP!)
