Jean Smart reprises her Emmy Award-winning role as a former prom queen, who could hold the key to Frasier’s romantic future.

Frasier goes shopping with Niles, who wants to buy a DVD player for Daphne. While standing in line, they strike up a conversation with Claire, a lovely woman to whom Frasier is immediately attracted. A few minutes later, Frasier sees his old flame, Lana Gardner, walk in. Lana was the prom queen at Frasier’s old high school, and he’s eager to dodge her – until he learns that Claire and Lana are friends.

To Frasier’s delight, Claire asks if he’d be willing to bring Lana to a surprise birthday party Claire’s throwing for her. Although Frasier has no interest in Lana, he’s smitten with Claire, so he accepts. That evening, as Frasier heads out to pick up Lana, Martin struggles to hook up Daphne’s DVD player, while Niles tries to deal with the bruises Daphne inflicts on him in her sleep. Frasier has a good feeling about Claire, but Niles warns him not to expect Claire to fulfill Frasier’s fantasy of “a Kierkegaard-reading, soufflé-baking, haiku-writing cellist.”

On the way to the party, Lana laments that her slacker son Kirby is flunking history, and asks Frasier to tutor him. Frasier refuses. When Lana admits she’s depressed about her ex’s upcoming marriage, Frasier tries to cheer her up by telling her about the surprise her friends have planned. At the event, Frasier is amazed when Claire discusses her passion for the cello, Kierkegaard, cooking and haiku. However, he’s dismayed when Claire leaves with a rich guy named Neil. So, Lana makes a deal: she’ll help Frasier woo Claire if he’ll tutor Kirby. Eager to date Claire, Frasier agrees.