Maris has been arrested for the murder of her Argentine boyfriend, and the police have called in Niles for questioning. It soon becomes apparent that the murder weapon was an antique crossbow belonging to Niles, which he had lent to Maris for an artistic re-enactment. Even though Niles emerges unscathed from the police interview, he and Daphne have to endure several days of persecution by the press and sleep deprivation, not to mention endless phone calls from Maris in prison. The situation becomes worse when Frasier offers to make a television statement on Niles' behalf, and once on camera makes a horrendous malapropism, mistakenly saying his brother should be "executed" (meaning to say "exonerated"). All this time, Niles is dealing very calmly with the whole situation - almost too calmly, in fact, and Frasier knows the dangers of repression. Things finally break down in Café Nervosa, when Niles suffers a nervous breakdown. He undresses and ends up sitting at a table, completely naked, reading a newspaper. Roz defends Niles, keeping everyone in the restaurant from calling the police, while Frasier is able to get him to safety. After things have calmed down and Niles' breakdown ended, Maris calls once more. He says he'll help her, but his and Daphne's life is first and foremost and she cannot call every second.