Ep 13. Kissing Cousins

The Nanny season 4 episode 13 "Kissing Cousins" revolves around Fran Fine (played by Fran Drescher) as she goes to visit a wealthy relative of Maxwell Sheffield's (played by Charles Shaughnessy) for a weekend at their estate in the Hamptons. The family is made up of various eccentric members, including a cousin named Suzette (played by Jacqueline Bisset) who is immediately drawn to Maxwell. Suzette is a flirtatious socialite who tries to seduce him at every opportunity, despite Fran's protests.

In the meantime, Fran is getting to know the rest of the family, which includes a hypochondriac aunt, a mute uncle, and a grandfather who is obsessed with his prize-winning roses. While at the estate, Fran discovers that her own family history might be intertwined with the Sheffield family tree. She begins to suspect that there is some truth to a long-standing rumor that Maxwell is actually her distant cousin.

Fran's suspicions are further fueled by a twist of fate: she loses her engagement ring and is forced to borrow one from the Sheffield family's estate. The ring belonged to Maxwell's great-grandmother, and a piece of paper falls out of the box with the inscription "To be given to my great-granddaughter on her wedding day." When Fran begins to wonder if this means she and Maxwell truly are related, she becomes increasingly anxious and tries to avoid him.

As the weekend progresses, Suzette becomes more aggressive in her pursuit of Maxwell, and Fran becomes increasingly convinced that they share a family connection. Despite her fears, Maxwell reassures her that there is nothing to worry about and that they can still be together if they truly are related.

In the end, Fran discovers that the twist of fate was actually just a coincidence: the ring had been mislabeled, and it actually belonged to Maxwell's great-aunt. There is no family connection between Fran and Maxwell after all. The episode ends with the Sheffield family bidding Fran farewell as she heads back to New York City, relieved that her fears about being a part of a taboo relationship were unfounded.

Overall, "Kissing Cousins" explores themes of family history, forbidden love, and the absurdities of the elite class. The episode showcases Fran's charm and wit, while highlighting the dysfunction and eccentricity of the wealthy family she encounters. The twist ending adds a bit of intrigue, but ultimately the episode is a light-hearted and comedic exploration of the nuances of family relationships.