#178: A Tree Talks in Melrose
Original air date: December 22, 1997 Production number: 2397170 Written by: Antoinette Stella Directed by: Thomas Calabro
Guest Stars: Megan Ward, Jon Secada Special Musical Guest: Abraham Laboriel
Co-Stars: Myles Abney, Daniel Gutman, Damon Hunt, Chad Weatherford Rating: 6

Jon Secada is at Upstairs doing his Christmas concert and Amanda appears. Kyle greets her and asks Taylor to watch the bar for a minute. Amanda tells her that things can change in a minute. They go in the office and Amanda says that the longer time goes on, the harder it is for her to be without Kyle. She says she needs him. Kyle asks how this is supposed to change what happened between her and Eric. Amanda says they never slept together and she only wants him. Kyle then says that she still went to sleep with him, and it doesn't matter if she was only doing it to save her agency, the fact that he turns her off doesn't score her any points. Amanda says goodbye to Kyle. Taylor comes in the office and shows Kyle a satchel full of $25,000 that they made in the concert. She pours him a shot of wine and Kyle chugs it and then chases her off.

Taylor comes into the Upstairs office to find Kyle dozed off thanks to the wine. She takes the satchel of money and starts to put in the wall safe but then she refuses, remembering Amanda's words, "Everything can change in a minute." She takes the satchel for herself.

Kyle is taking pills the next morning at Upstairs to help his hangover. Taylor is happy because they can make the bank payment and offers to do so. Kyle rushes upstairs when he realizes he forgot to lock up the money and it's of course no where to be found. Taylor calms him down and suggests they head to Vegas to play craps and win back the money.

MY VENTS: That Jon Secada incident was a little too unreal and a little too convenient. Michael never has much luck with the opposite sex around the holidays. He was having problems with Jane in 1998. Megan's attorney was way too open over the phone about the business of the divorce. Attorneys just don't say those things point blank. Obviously he had had too much to drink. Peter told Lexi at the hospital that he'd never leave her. Flash forward months later with one little word: Amanda. If Jennifer went to all that trouble to lay out her cards with Coop in the park in disguise, why did she blackmail Lexi in open air in an outlet mall with all those people around??

"It's a Blunderful Life"
Starring: Lexi, Peter, Jennifer, Coop, Craig, Kyle, Megan, Michael
Lexi is awaiting Jennifer to come over at the condo and Peter presents her with a Christmas gift of a sailing vacation in Cabo, Mexico. Jennifer shows up as Peter is leaving and wishes that he could be more like Craig. Coop shows up with Lexi's alimony check and announces he refuses to hand deliver it anymore. Lexi then declares that whatever money he gets from his lawsuit against Michael, she gets half of. Coop then declares that he'd do anything to keep from having to answer to her anymore. Jennifer smiles an evil smile when she hears this.

Craig angrily storms into Upstairs wondering why Jennifer hasn't been returning his phone calls and she says because she's avoiding him. Craig tells her that Michael stole Coop's idea for the fingerless carteurizing glove because he's seen the original sketches. Jennifer is upset because Craig showed no loyalty to her or Michael. Craig responds by saying the only reason she went after him to begin with is because she had hopes that he'd be rich someday. Jennifer says that if he believes that then they have no future together. Craig leaves and Kyle tries to comfort her, but Jennifer is used to it because Kyle dumped her one Christmas Eve as well.

Coop comes to the park to find Jennifer disguised by sunglasses and a head warmer. Jen says she has some dirt on Lexi and can used it to make Coop alimony free. Coop asks Jennifer why is she doing this and she says that Mancinis stick together. Coop asks her if she ever considered that Michael is not worth this kind of devotion and she replies that it never crossed her mind. Coop agrees to the deal.

Lexi and Jennifer are out shopping at an outlet mall and Jennifer comments that this is good after a stressful hit-and-run. Jennifer then lays the cards on the table. It's a secret how she found out but she'll go to the police if she doesn't let Coop off the alimony checks. Lexi then asks how does she know that Jen will keep her word. Jennifer says she doesn't, but she has no choice. She'll spend the rest of her life in jail and Peter will lose his license. Jen then comments that Lexi is loaded and cutting Coop loose is no big deal.

Peter awakens in the middle of the night to find Lexi no where near him. He comes downstairs and finds his doctor bag tampered with and Lexi on the kitchen floor with a bottle of empty pills beside her. He calls 911 and begins the CPR.

Coop is comforting Lexi, who is now in a hospital bed and she declares that he's free and pinpoints him as the cause of her problems. Peter appears and throws Coop out. He tells Lexi she's going to be fine but wants to know what's going on, because she's obviously in a lot of pain. Lexi lies and says she was scared that Peter was going to leave her and she is not interested in punishing Coop anymore. She just wants him out of her life. Lexi apologizes for her behavior and for not being strong like Amanda. Peter says that Amanda never needed him, and it's OK for Lexi to need him.

Coop comes to Jennifer's apartment and gives her a copy of the paperwork dropping the lawsuit and the notebook with the original sketches and then Jennifer looks closely at the dates, noticing they are real and that Michael stole his idea. Coop then tells her that Lexi almost died from an OD and that's the price of doing Michael's dirty work -- people get hurt. Jennifer is ashamed of her actions and leaves to go to work just as Megan is coming in. Another messenger shows up and Megan gets another gift from Michael, an empty heart-shaped locket. Coop wonders why she's falling for all that and she says that with Michael trying so hard, the least she could do is talk to him. Coop tells her to do whatever she wants, and then he leaves.

Jennifer comes over to the beachhouse on Christmas morning to find Michael drinking a beer and starts slapping him like crazy. She is furious because he lied to her and because he stole the glove, and because he only cares about himself and she put up with Craig because of him. Jennifer tells him that Lexi ODed because she blackmailed her to help him. Michael says Craig is not a big loss and at least nobody died. Jennifer leaves telling him she doesn't want his Christmas present and she and Megan are better off without him. Michael shouts that men are always dumping her because she's hard-headed.

Billy and Connie are decorating the tree and Connie keeps saying how Sam wants the ornaments and the tinsel and how she gets bored with guys and throws herself into her work. Billy then shouts at Connie that she's trying to come in the way of him and Sam and that kiss was not innocent. Connie then says that if he remembers it then it obviously turned him on. Billy then says that after New Year's, she's finding her own place.

Sam and Amanda are working the late shift and Sam comments how they should be goofing off a little more on Christmas and she's looking forward to a Christmas with Billy. Amanda says that her family was never big on Christmas and Billy shows up to take Sam to dinner. Amanda lets them go because Billy is the 2nd man in her company. They invite her but she declines because three is a crowd.

Billy and Sam are kissing near the Christmas tree and he tells her he gave Connie some storyboards to work on so they can have alone time together, and then says he threw Connie out because she's been coming on to him. Sam snaps at him for being so mean and selfish. Billy then accuses her of being naive about Connie and they both go behind doors and slam them. They reunite moments later and begin their kissing-fest again.

Billy and Sam awaken on Christmas morning and find the completed storyboards under their bedroom door. Sam walks out of the room and tells Billy to go thank Connie and invite her for coffee. Billy opens the door to find Connie naked and asleep on the bed. He closes the door and lets her sleep. Connie rolls over and dons an evil smile because whatever plan she has is working.

"The Perfect Stocking Stuffer"
Starring: Megan, Coop, Michael
Megan comes over to Coop's apartment and asks if she can come back work and Coop happily agrees to that. She then reveals she is apprehensive about signing the papers divorcing Michael because of how Michael changed her life in the past. Coop tells her she can't build a relationship on that. He's tried it before. As they head out, a delivery person stops them and asks for Megan. He gives her a package to which Megan unveils a small Christmas tree. She presses a button on an ornament and hears Michael singing "Jingle Bells." Coop asks her if she's keeping it and she decides to because she doesn't have a Christmas tree.

Megan is filing folders with Michael happily staring at her and she says she didn't come back to work so Michael could stare at her. Megan starts to say, "I talked to a lawyer..." but then Michael responds by giving her a cage of two lovebirds. Megan says she can't accept those and she never knew Michael to be the sentimental type. Michael says they're non-refundable. Megan then says she'll talk to Michael tomorrow. Coop finds her sitting back at her desk admiring the lovebirds which are named Michael and Megan. Coop then says to the birds that he knows which is Michael -- the one who stole all the birdseed.

Michael gives Megan present #3 in the office -- a snowglobe of the beachhouse, and asks her to come over tonight. Coop shows up and asks Megan out for a drink and she accepts. When Megan leaves the phone rings and it is Megan's attorney. Coop tells him that Megan said to deliver the divorce lawsuit tonight to Michael before he leaves town for the holidays.

Michael is dressed as Santa with a beachhouse full of decorations waiting for Megan to come over. There's a knock at the door and a messenger gives him an envelope. Michael opens it to find divorce papers and is furious. He starts destroying all the decorations.

Michael comes over to Megan's on Christmas night and says thanks for the "stocking stuffer" and demands his gifts back. Megan gives back everything except for the snowglobe which she can't find and the lovebirds because she's worried he'd kill them too. He runs into Coop on the staircase and Coop laughs that obviously Santa didn't bring him what he asked for. The "Jingle Bells" song starts playing again and he throws the tree into the pool. Amanda sarcastically says, "God Bless Us, Everyone."