Crane Versus Crane
Niles is retained by the son of eccentric millionaire Harlow Safford to prove in court -- and on Court TV -- that his father is incompetent. A lawyer representing the elder Safford persuades Frasier to meet with his client, who convinces Frasier that he’s simply a carefree man with the funds to live out such adolescent fantasies as building a model railroad around his property, and installing a fire pole in his home to slide from the top floor to the bottom.
As a result, Frasier agrees to testify on Harlow’s behalf. Niles thinks Frasier is only getting involved in the case to undermine Niles’s one shot at celebrity. Undaunted, Niles prepares an extensive speech, and even dons makeup for the courtroom cameras. Unfortunately, during Frasier’s testimony, Harlow interrupts the proceedings with incessant train noises, and becomes so disruptive that the judge ends the hearing before Niles has a chance to speak.
The competition between the Cranes continues at home, as the two brothers argue over who made a bigger fool of themselves in the courtroom. They finally realize how silly they are being, and Frasier sits down to listen to the speech Niles had written for the cameras.


