Finally they pulled into the parking lot of the tiny Desert Moon Diner.
"Here we are!" Martin said when they walked into the neon-infused establishment.
Frasier and Niles looked around in amazement. "Well, this certainly isn't Le Cigar Volant, is it?"
"Thank God for that!" Martin said.
"How many?" the hostess asked with a smile.
"How many what?" Niles asked.
"She means how many people will be dining here." Frasier explained.
Niles nodded in understanding. "Ah. Very clever! I'm sorry; I'm just not used to not being recognized in a restaurant."
"Four." Martin said.
"Right this way." The waitress said, leading them to a shiny booth with a sparkling metal table and slick blue vinyl seats.
They slid into the seats, and the waitress handed them menus.
"Look at these prices!" Niles exclaimed. "$4.99 for a breakfast plate?"
"Don't tell me you think that's expensive!" Martin said. "I've seen you and Frasier order coffee that cost more than that!"
"On the contrary, Dad. I haven't seen prices like this since we were kids." Frasier said. "A meal like this would easily cost $30 at Le Cigar Volant."
"Highway robbery." Martin said. "How they can get away with putting ordinary hamburger on those fancy plates and charge so much is beyond me."
"It's a delicacy, Dad." Niles said. "And it's fabulous!"
"Fabulous... riiiight." Martin said, rolling his eyes.
"Can I take your order?" The cheerful waitress asked.
"Yeah, I'll take your Desert Moon special, and a beer. Do you have Ballentine's here?" Martin asked.
"Dad, we're on vacation." Frasier said. "Feel free to order whatever type of beer you like."
Martin's eyes twinkled. "Oh gee, thanks Fras! In that case, I'll have a Rolling Rock."
"And you sir?"
Frasier studdeid the menu intently. "It's so hard to decide. Do you by chance have a breakdown of the nutritional information? I'm afraid my diet just-."
"Oh, for God's sake, just order something!" Martin yelled. "We can't stay here all day! No telling what Eddie's doing to the Winnebago; seeing that he's locked up in
there all by himself! I tried to take him in with us but would you let me? No, of course not! You left my best friend all locked up like he's some criminal."
"Oh, all right! I'll have a #6 with orange juice. " Frasier said.
The waitress turned to Niles. "What about you, Sir?"
Niles cringed at the vast array of menu choices. "I'll have two pieces of toast, lightly browned, a bowl of oatmeal, mixed as smoothly as possible so as to rid it of those
horrible lumps, and an egg white omelet. Oh, and a haf caf non fat latte with the faintest hint of cinnamon."
The waitress stopped writing on her notepad and looked at him in confusion.
"We don't have a half-whatever it was you just ordered. But we have coffee."
Niles sighed. "Very well. Black coffee, please."
"And you, Hon?"
"Oh, it all looks so good!" Daphne said. "I suppose I'll have an egg white omelet meself."
The Cranes all spoke at once, questioning her decision.
"But Daphne, what about your cinnamon roll?" Niles asked.
Daphne shook her head. "I really shouldn't."
"Oh come on!" The three men said together.
"Daphne, please don't let your mother's insensitive comments about your eating habits keep you from enjoying what some might call a guilty pleasure."
Frasier said. "Now this is your vacation as much as it is ours, and I insist that you relish every moment of it."
Daphne smiled and stared at the picture of the mouthwatering cinnamon roll.
"All right, when you put it that way. I think I'll have two cinnamon rolls and a cup of tea."
The waitress scribbled Daphne's order. "Would you like those cinnamon rolls before or after your omelet?"
Daphne laughed. "Oh, I certainly won't be needin' that omelet now! I'd be as big a house if I ate all that!"
"Very well. I'll be back with your order." The waitress said.
"Daphne, you are more than welcome to order as much food as you want. Are you sure you don't want an omelet?" Frasier asked.
"No, thank you. Dr. Crane." Daphne said.
"This is a nice place, isn't it?" Martin observed as he looked around the shiny diner.
"It certainly has the characteristics of those old fashioned diners." Frasier agreed. "Like the ones you and Mom used to take Niles and I to."
"Oh, that's right!" Niles exclaimed. "And Frasier, don't you remember how we kept asking Dad for dollar bills so that we could go up to the counter and get quarters
from the cashier?"
Frasier laughed. "Connie Marie. Gosh, I haven't thought about her in years! She certainly was spectacular."
"And quite attractive from what I remember." Niles said. "She wore that pink uniform with the matching pink bow in her hair."
"And those perfect white sneakers." Frasier sighed.
Martin laughed. "Yeah, I should have known that you boys weren't going up to the counter for those quarters just so you could play music on the jukebox."
"Well that was in the past, wasn't it?" Frasier said. "We don't need Connie Marie when we have Daphne, who simply radiates beauty."
Taken aback by the compliment from her boss, Daphne blushed deeply. "Dr Crane... that's so very kind of you."
"I mean it sincerely, Daphne." Frasier said.
"And so do I." Niles said. "You're simply stunning in every way imaginable."
"Niles!" Frasier said. "I think we've embarrassed her enough for one morning."
"I'm just speaking the truth." Niles said, taking a sip of his coffee.
It was then that Daphne realized she'd been staring at Niles. Without warning, a flash went through her mind and she put her hand on her forehead, wincing in pain.
"Will you excuse me? I have to go to the loo." Daphne said, rising from the table.
"Of course, Daphne, but your food will be here soon."
"I'll only be a minute." Daphne said, hurrying to slide out of the booth.
With surprising speed, she crossed the diner and slipped inside the ladies room door.