Dancing In The Rain by Patrick Councilor
[ I'm Listening Again ]
Frasier walked into the booth looking at everything like a kid in a candy store. He set his brief case down, carefully and neatly in place. He slowly sat in the seat. Oh, how comfortable it was. Reaching out, he adjusted the mike, just a bit. It was perfect. It was just the way he remembered it. Ever so slowly, he placed the headphones over his ears. He leaned into the dead mike to practice. "Hello Seattle." He cleared his throat. "Hello Seattle." It brought a big smile to his face. He felt like his was about to do his first show ever and he could feel an adrenalin rush.
"Hiiiiii Dr. Cane."
Frasier looked up into the producer's booth to find Noel there giving him the Vulcan greeting to "live long and prosper."
"Noel…" He was stunned. He had showed up early to go over the routine with his new producer, but he didn't expect this. Not in his worst nightmare. "Noel…. Noel Shempsky…" There were no other words to express his feelings.
Noel leaned into his mike to talk to him. "I missed you too Doctor Crane."
"Noel, you're producing my show?"
He mistakenly hit a button and cut himself off. As he continued to explain, Frasier could not hear him.
The door to the hallway flew open and Roz came running in to give Frasier a hug. "We're back! Frasier, we're really back!"
No time to take his headphones off for the hug. "Oh, I know Roz. Isn't it just wonderful."
"Have a great first show," she said.
Noel tried to open the door between the booths, but somehow it was locked. He started struggling with it. Frasier and Roz looked at him and then at each other.
"He's just filling in. You should have your producer in a few days." Roz went over and let him in.
He looked at her with a puppy dog, glazed look. "Hiiiiiii Roz." Oh yes, he was still obsessed with her.
"Noel, we have a boss/employer relationship, you can't be looking at me like that anymore."
"Relationship?" he repeated and which, by the way, was the only word he focused on as he stared into her beautiful eyes.
"Oh, for God sakes, Noel."
Without taking his eyes off of her, he walked over to Frasier and placed some papers down. "The promos Doctor Crane."
"Thank you Noel," Frasier said. "Or should I just congratulate you for being in the same room with Roz again?"
Noel didn't respond. He just seemed to be floating across the room aimlessly like he was lost in love.
"So, how did your lunch with Bebe go?" Frasier asked
"Well, you know how she mentioned some small details?"
"Yes, of course."
"Well, do you remember who she was an agent to before she became your agent…"
There was a loud bark as the door flew open. "Hey-ya Doc. How's it hangin'?"
"Bulldog!"
"Yeah, I know. It's amazing isn't it? The Gonzo Sports Show is BACK BABY! I'm on right after you, so no spitting on the mike when you talk." With that, he backed out of the booth the way he came in.
"Wow, Bulldog Briscoe is back." Frasier said it out loud as if he needed to hear it to accept it. "Didn't see that one coming."
Roz checked her watch. "Fifteen seconds, Frasier. Noel, back in your booth." Both she and Noel went into the producer's booth. Roz would observe the first several minutes. "Alright Noel, you comfortable with this?"
He was focused until he caught a whiff of her perfume and then he became light headed. "What Roz?"
"Noel, out of the seat and out of the booth. I'm taking over for today."
"Oh, alright Roz." He got up and headed for the door leading to Frasier's booth.
"NOT THAT DOOR! The other one."
He pivoted and exited to the hallway.
Frasier gave her a warm smile. He saw the whole thing. With Roz as acting producer, he felt as safe as in his mother's arms.
She smiled back then pointed to him. The "On Air" light came on. They were live and it was such a rush.
Suddenly he came to life in the career he was born for. "Good afternoon Seattle. This is Doctor Frasier Crane and WE'RE BACK! We're actually back. I have missed you all as I hope you feel the same. Before we start, I would like to dedicate this show to my eminent brother: Doctor Niles Crane. For, you see, my brother is about to take a bold journey and although he will be so desperately missed, but no matter if he's a few blocks away or a few countries away. I will always be there for him. I'm proud to say, to help me celebrate returning to the Seattle airwaves, Roz is returning as my producer today."
Roz keyed her mike. "It's a pleasure to be back with you Doctor Crane. The switch board is starting to light up like Christmas lights."
"Our number is 555-KACL. You have the number Seattle, so use it. We're here for the next three hours and I promise if you get through, I will speak with you even if it's after the show. Let's take our fist caller Roz. Who's on line one?"
"It's Mike from Pagosa Springs, Colorado?"
He shot Roz a look. How is a caller calling in from Colorado? Frasier hit the button. "Hello Mike, you're on the air and I'm listening."
"Hello Doctor Crane. I moved from Tacoma to Colorado. My ex-wife told me you were back on the air and I just couldn't believe it."
"Well Mike, it's always delightful to speak with a fan. What is your purpose of the call?"
"I just called to congratulate you…"
"Well, thank you Mike. I greatly appreciate that."
"Now that I'm talking to you… I… I'm feeling a little empty inside."
"These feeling usually manifest for a reason. How long have you had this empty feeling?"
"For years."
"I see. You mentioned that you were divorced. Were there children involved?"
"No."
"Perhaps you're missing your life with your ex-wife."
"I don't think so Doctor Crane." Mike's voice came back solid with that response.
"Well Mike, tell me more. When did you first notice the emptiness?"
Niles was driving down the freeway listening to Frasier's show. The rain was coming down in buckets. His knuckles were white from his grip on the wheel. He was going to meet Daphne at the apartment for lunch and he was feeling the frustrations of putting Daphne through the conditions of leaving the home she loved.
"I guess I miss Seattle Doc." The radio sounded in his Mercedes. "I miss the green trees and the beautiful skyline."
"Well Seattle is a wonderfully beautiful place."
"I guess… I miss my family."
Niles felt his tensions mounting. There was an explosion from the driver's side as if his emotions had triggered it. The front driver's side tire had blown. The Mercedes pitched to the right and went off the highway.