Fran lets Maxwell catch her smoking as part of a Zany Scheme to discourage Maggie from smoking. When Maxwell overreacts, Fran runs away and a Clip Show ensues.
- Bad "Bad Acting": Fran, when Maxwell catches her smoking, up until she gets genuinely offended.
- Clip Show: With Fran gone, the rest of the cast spends the majority of the episode musing about her antics, with the help of clips from previous episodes.
- Gossip Evolution: Maxwell called Fran stupid. His insult is made progressively worse by the rumor mill, resulting in the Running Gag of him trying to correct it. It's eventually subverted:Yetta: She got upset when he called her a gorgeous sexy vixen he couldn't live without.
Maxwell: I never said that!
Yetta: Don't you wish you had? - Ordered Apology: Niles insists that Maxwell apologize to Fran. He eventually does so.
- Phoney Call: Fran tricks Maxwell into thinking she's on the phone with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, who is supposedly looking for a new nanny for Chelsea. She's found out when Maxwell notices the phone is disconnected.
- Rhetorical Question Blunder:Maxwell: Oh God, Niles, what have I done?
Niles: Well, let's see: You insulted her intelligence—
Maxwell: It was a rhetorical question, Niles! - Smoking Hot Sex: Referenced when Fran talks about having caught Maggie and her boyfriend smoking cigarettes:Fran: Well, I'm just glad she wasn't smoking because they just had... you know.
- Later, after she's started smoking for her plan:
Fran: Oh boy, does this bring back memories.
Val: You miss smoking?
Fran: No, I miss... you-knowing. - Smoking Is Not Cool: Fran is successful in imparting this message to Maggie.
