Written by:
Lori Kirkland
Dan O'Shannon
Bob Daily

Guest Callers:
None this episode.

Skyline: A shooting star passes over the skyline.

Plot: At the hospital, Niles is getting ready for his heart surgery. The others have all gathered to wish him well and to calm them down, Frasier has provided a handout explaining the procedure and backgrounds on all the doctors.

Daphne however is getting very worried. Martin is coping by pretending the problem doesn't exist (like he did with the boys when they were children to help take their minds off their illness) and after a call from Maris, Niles is wheeled into surgery. Whilst on the effect of the drugs, he mentions how many memories there are in a hospital.

Whilst waiting outside, Frasier, Martin, Daphne and Roz each remember previous visits to the hospital, which are seen in the background of the present day characters. We visit 1957 with Niles' birth, 1966 when Niles broke his leg, 1985/6 when Hester passed away, the early 1990s when Maris had an operation, and 1998/9 when Roz bought Alice in thinking she had a rash (it was lipstick). Meanwhile Martin and Frasier argue over a Chunky bar stuck in the vending machines, and an upset Daphne breaks the glass with a fire extinguisher to solve the problem, before breaking down in tears.

Later the Cranes and Roz are told that Niles' surgery was successful and he is beginning recovery. At the end we have a glimpse into the future, where Niles shows his little girl her new baby sister.

Subtitles: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part.

It's Maris!!!: Maris phones Niles before he goes into surgery, and later on we see her in a hospital bed as Niles consoles her after a facelift went wrong. Of course we don't see her face because it is covered with bandages. :-)