"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to take this opportunity to and recognize the cast of Nightmare Inn for providing our region with such a unique performance."

Applause scattered around the room as Frasier raised his head and looked around at his peers. Suddenly a huge smile spread across his face, when he realized he

was no longer being ridiculed.

"First and foremost, we have Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe as Mr. Wing."

Bulldog ran up to the podium and grabbed the Space Needle shaped award as though it were a Heisman Trophy.

"Oh my God... I just... I don't' know what to say! I'm speechless!" He said into the microphone.

"What a coincidence!" Roz said. "You were speechless on Saturday night, too!" Roz said.

"Can you believe that?" Daphne scoffed. "Givin' him an award for not even sayin' a word!"

"Our next performer is Gil Chesterman as Noel Fairservice."

More applause as Gil walked up to the podium. "Well! This is most a most delightful surprise; one I certainly didn't except! To win an award of any kind is truly an

honor; a thing of beauty in an otherwise unsettling world..."

"Oh geez..." Martin said, shaking his head in annoyance.

"It's like my alter ego, Nigel Fairservice once said during his boyhood in Surrey, romping with his school chums in the fens and spinneys, when the twilight bathed the

headrows like a lambent flame."

"Dear God..." Frasier groaned, burying his head in his hands.

"Ooohh kay..." the emcee said as Gil bowed graciously amid the enthusiastic applause he received.

"Next we have Roz Doyle as Miss Thorndyke."

Roz smiled at the crowd as she made her way to the podium to accept her award.

"I'd just like to thank my friend and confidant for writing this wonderful drama. Without his insisting that I take part in Nightmare Inn, I would never have gotten a call

from Doug."

The emcee looked at her in confusion. "Doug?"

"Yeah, he's the hot guy who called to make sure I was okay after my dental work. Two weeks later and we've already had four dates!"

"Are you free tonight, Babe?" A far away voice yelled.

"Of course I am." Roz breathed into the microphone using her sexiest voice.

"Good Lord, this is becoming a circus!" Frasier said.

"And now we come to the cast member who may just be the most talented of them all. A man who, in the course of this production wore many hats. And I think we all know

to whom I am referring."

Niles smiled proudly; his heart rate increasing in anticipation. In mere minutes he'd be the man of the hour; no longer hovering in his brother's shadow. And best of all,

Daphne would be proud of him.

"The one... the only... Noel Shempsky!"

"WHAT?" Martin and Daphne both yelled at the same time.

Niles heart fell. He tried to look happy but his heart just wasn't in it.

Sheepishly, Noel grinned, blushing as he walked to the podium.

"My... this is a surprise." He said, taking the Seabee Award. "You know, my parents told me that Nightmare Inn was the worst radio drama they've ever heard..."

There was a scattering of laughter across the room.

"... but they loved the sound effects!" he finished to a round of applause. "This award means so much." He continued. "If only Bill Gates could see me now! And one

more thing before I go... Live long and prosper!" he smiled brightly as he held up two fingers in a Vulcan salute.

"And last but not least, the greatest of them all... a man who is well respected in this community..."

Niles put his hand on the table, ready to rise to his feet when his name was called.

"Dr. Frasier Crane!"

At the sound of his brother's name, the banquet room went crazy with applause, assuring Frasier that his career was anything but over.

Frasier stood proudly, smiling at his peers.

Any ounce of happiness Niles might have been feeling disappeared in that moment, replaced with familiar feelings of inferiority. He watched with annoyance as his older

brother was surrounded by colleges and admirers. Even his own father was busy congratulating his oldest son.

With a sigh, Niles looked around the table which was now empty and looked around the banquet room, ignoring the glares and whispers he received.

But he wasn't stupid. He knew what they were saying;

"Poor Niles Crane. The only character in that dreadful production who didn't receive an award."

It shouldn't have bothered him; being left out. But it did.