The first scene is in the bullpen. Jim finished his Christmas shopping (he bought hair dryers as gifts for other anchors -- and an extra large one for Ted Koppel). Corky's planning the annual Christmas party and has Miles (even though he's Jewish) in charge of decorating. Murphy enters. She is very angry. Someone has parked in her parking space!! She had to park 3 blocks away and walk to the building in a snowstorm. She also has threatened the person in her space. She even knows what type of car it is and the license plate number.

Three children enter. (Their names are Michael, Joey, and Lily.) They go to Murphy and have a note from their mother. It says that she's leaving the children with Murphy. The note says that she feels Murphy is the kind of person who could give my children the home they deserve. The kids are unsure of where they live because they have moved a lot. They decide to call the police (to find the mother) and social services (to take care of the children). A few hours later, Murphy is still on hold (with the social worker I believe). Frank is teaching the kids how to play poker. Corky comes in with ice cream cones and Jim decides to recite "The Night Before Christmas" for them. (He starts reciting, but Michael puts his ice cream cone on Jim's head.) Murphy cannot get ahold of social services, so she lets them spend the night at her house.

The next scene is at Murphy's house. The kids are crying and complaining. Murphy bribes them to be quiet (they don't listen). Eldin asks them help paint the house. The kids are excited, but then ask what they're going to eat for dinner. Eldin decides to take them all to a restaurant in his van. He takes them to a crab house where they are given mallets.

The next morning at FYI, Corky asks Murphy why she hasn't signed up for any comittee for the party. Murphy says she's not going. (Last year she drank all the punch and faxed her chest to the West Coast.) The kids are wild as ever and Murphy is awaiting the social services person to come. The kids ask where they're staying tonight and how will Santa know where to find them? Murphy is about to tell them that Santa doesn't exist, but she can't bring herself to do it. Instead, she says she'll call Santa and tell him where they're staying. Joey gives Murphy a letter to Santa. (I'm not sure if this is the complete letter. Its what the book has, but there may be a few sentences omitted from the book.) It reads:

When they get back to Murphy's house, there is a tree, decorated by Eldin. Santa (Phil) comes, too, and has a horse for Murphy. When the children ask if they have found their mother, Phil tells them no, but also reassures them. Then he leaves. Soon after, there is a knock on the door. Murphy figures it's Santa and he must have forgotten something. But instead of seeing Phil at the door, it's the children's real mother!! She says it has been the worst 24 hours of her life. She wants her kids back. Murphy, being very generous (especially for Murphy Brown!), gives the mother a check. The mother is very reluctant to take it, but finally Eldin puts it in her coat pocket saying that Murphy isn't usually this generous. They are alone again. It is just Murphy and Eldin. Earlier this episode, he was told to finish up his painting and then leave, but Murphy gives him another job, re-papering her bedroom. He'll be around for a few more days now. Then they decide to go to the FYI Christmas party.

This is no ordinary Christmas party. First of all, it is decorated with Hanukkah decorations (after all, Miles is Jewish and he told Corky he didn't need Christmas spirit.... The party is dull. But Murphy and Eldin brought music -- Mowtown. The major cast members (basically everyone that has their names on the opening credits: Murphy, Eldin, Corky, Miles, Frank, and even Jim) do dances center stage. Yes even Jim. He boogies and his dance is even stranger than the rest of their dances. The episode is over, Merry Christmas.
P.S. Also this episode, Eldin saw Corky for the first time. Love at first sight.

And to all the wonderful people that read this page, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!! :)

[A FEW OF MY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Now granted, this episode is very sweet and shows a softer side of Murphy Brown, but wouldn't a famous newswoman have an unlisted telephone number and address? Yet the kids' mother found her house just fine and Murphy says if she [their mother] needs anything just call her, but never writes down her number or hands her a business card. And speaking of addresses, when Murphy says she'll send the bedroom sets, etc. to them, how would she know where they lived? Because if she knew, she wouldn't have had to take care of them to start. And everything works a little too smoothly... Like clockwork... the social worker comes right after Murphy reads the letter... The mother comes right after Phil leaves... But I guess that's how it is when you have half an hour (minus the time for commercials) to tell a story. But like most first season episodes, the writing is sharp and clever. Despite all my criticism, I really like this episode.]

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