During a truce, the members of the 4077 are excited that they may actually get through the Christmas holiday without seeing much medical action. Unfortunately, Colonel Potter spoils their happiness when he announces a supply convoy has been hit and they may soon be receiving patients.

On top of the bad news, the 4077 is hosting a slew of Korean orphans for the holiday and Klinger must try to round up treats from the MASH personnel to share with their visitors. Winchester is hesitant to share any of his care packages from home but as it turns out he has a good reason.

Just as the festivities are about to begin, a jeep pulls up with a wounded soldier named Flanagan who has been hit by a sniper. Houlihan, BJ and Hawkeye tend to soldier Flanagan while the party goes on in the next tent.

While caring for the wounded soldier the three not only learn that the patient is not going to be able to be saved, Margaret discovers a photo of Flanagan and his family. That sets BJ in motion to try to delay the death of the soldier so his children will not have to remember Christmas as the day their father died.

Meanwhile Winchester learns that the care packages of fancy candy he had delivered to Mr. Choi have been sold on the black market. Winchester confronts Choi about selling the candy. Choi explains that although Winchester’s anonymous gift would have given the children joy for a fleeting moment, the value on the black market would give them enough rice and cabbage for a month. This explanation humbles Winchester and makes him sorry for not understanding in the first place. While Winchester is wallowing in his humble pie back in his tent, Klinger comes in with the last of the leftovers from the party. When Winchester asks Klinger who is responsible for the food, Klinger replies “the source of this Christmas dinner must remain anonymous. It’s an old family tradition”, making the viewer aware that Klinger knows of Winchester’s anonymous charity from the previous night and Winchester is more than grateful.

Back in the tent with Flanagan, he dies at 11:25 p.m. Margaret quips: “It never fails to astonish me. You’re alive, you’re dead. No drums. No flashing lights. No fanfare. You’re just dead.”

Hawkeye goes to the clock and moves the time to five past midnight and says, “Look, he made it. Time of death 12:05 December 26”.

In a touching moment, the final scene has Colonel Potter dressed as Santa and one of the orphans delivering the last four pieces of BJ’s fudge to BJ, Hawkeye, Houlihan and Father Mulcahy as the party goers sing a rendition of “Silent Night”.

The posting of this episode is dedicated to the memory of Loretta Swit who played Major Margaret Houlihan and sadly passed away in May of this year. May her memory live on.

It’s Mary Richards ‘s first Christmas away from home working at station WJM-TV. In the opening scene, she’s talking with her mother on the phone about coming home for Christmas. Of course, when she asks her boss, Mr. Grant, if she can get off early Christmas Eve, he calls her into his office.

There he analyzes a ridiculously small tree that Mary put on his desk. Mr. Grant tells Mary that he hasn’t had Christmas off in seven years.

Mr. Grant: Christmas is just like any other day when you work in a newsroom. You know what I mean?

Mary: No.

Mr. Grant: Oh. You gotta work on Christmas.

Back at Mary’s apartment, she’s hanging out with Rhoda and decorating a Christmas tree. Phyllis stops by and asks to hide her daughter’s gifts at Mary’s. Mary tells Rhoda about her Christmas dilemma and having to work. Mary suggests since she doesn’t have to work Christmas Eve, she and Rhoda spend it together and Rhoda agrees.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve back at the station. Ted walks in complaining about the people down the hall having a Christmas party with Chuckles and how the newsroom can’t have a Christmas party. Mr. Grant reminds him why.

Mr. Grant: Because of what you did last year.

Mary: What’d you do, Ted?

Ted:  I don’t remember.

Mary asks Murray what happened, and he tells her that once he got a few drinks in, he felt like telling off the boss.

Mr. Grant: Except he did it on the air.

Murray and Mr. Grant go on to explain it was the President of the United States Ted told off on the air. (Oh, Ted, where are you now? This obviously was during the Nixon administration). Apparently, Ted did it because he was angry that he had sent a Christmas card and didn’t get one back.

Fred comes in and reminds anyone who is listening that he has to work New Year’s Eve too.

Mary and Murray exchange gifts. Ted passes out gifts also. Personalized record albums of The Year in Review as told by Ted Baxter.

Fred comes over and talks to Mary about not being able to go home for Christmas and starts to coerce her into working that night so he can be with his family. He says he’ll trade and work New Year’s Day for her so she can watch all the football games. Then Fred lays it on thick, saying he’s never spent Christmas Eve with his kids. Mary caves and asks him to cover so she can go home and have dinner.

Back at Mary’s apartment, Rhoda comes by with a large gift for Mary—a rotisserie oven. Mary’s ecstatic. Mary gives Rhoda a blouse. Then Rhoda tells Mary she bought a turkey for that night and Mary tells her she has to work. Rhoda leaves and Mary is left eating her sandwich before she has to return to the station.

Back at the station, Ted has given his Christmas broadcast and everyone is getting ready to leave. Mr. Grant calls Mary into the office and gives her an envelope. It’s a card and a check. A blank check. Grant grabs the check, decides what amount to fill in, pensively thinking, puts it back in the card and gives it back to Mary.

Grant discusses her working Christmas Eve for Fred and how he feels responsible for her being alone. He offers to stay and do paperwork, but Mary insists he go home.

Mary is all alone in the newsroom and is watching TV when she hears a voice coming from a speaker. The voice is looking for Fred. She goes to the microphone and talks back to the voice, informing him she’s filling in for Fred. She learns the voice is Charlie and he’s out at the transmitter. Charlie wants to end the conversation, but she wants to keep talking. She asks about the joke he was going to tell Fred and he says he can’t tell her the joke. She asks if he has any family, and he tells her about his kids and grandkids and how they’re all meeting at his son Paul’s place. He asks if she has family and she says “not tonight” and ends the conversation

Suddenly the newsroom phone rings. She answers it. There’s nobody on the other end. For good measure, Mary puts a chair against the newsroom door. Next she hears the elevator start up. Frightened, she calls Rhoda and tells her nobody is in the building and she hears the elevator. Rhoda tells her to call the police.

Mary: I can’t call the police. What am I going to tell them? That I heard the elevator?

She turns and sees shadows outside the newsroom door. She hangs up the phone and grabs a ceramic Santa as a weapon. In burst Mr. Grant, Murray and Ted and Mary is so glad to see them.

They invite her to a Christmas party at Murray’s but Mr. Grant reminds them they have to stay until midnight because the night manager always calls at two minutes to midnight to wish whoever is there a Merry Christmas.

The episode ends with Mary and Murray happily singing and Mary realizing that although she couldn’t go home for Christmas, being with her work family is already like being at home.

All Howard Cunningham wants for Christmas Eve is to have a nice quiet evening at home with just the family: himself, his wife Marion, daughter Joanie, son Richie and even his elusive other son Chuck.

Despite the fact Howard wants a nice quiet Christmas Eve, the mechanical Santa in the front yard is malfunctioning and is randomly beating up Richie. Much to Chuck’s delight.

Down at Arnold’s Fonzie comes in with gifts for some of the waitresses and Ralph Malph, Potsie and Richie. Everyone just loves their new necklaces that declare “You’re The Ginchiest”. The heartfelt gift from The Fonz prompts Potsie to invite Fonzie to his house for Christmas dinner. But Fonzie says he has plans. When questioned what his plans are The Fonz says he’s going to his cousin’s up in Waukesha. As the guys listen, Fonz continues: “I’m not much for family but I figure once a year I can take it. I’m leaving tonight on the 4 o’clock bus.”

As Richie and Howard are about to leave Howard’s hardware store, they have car trouble. Richie calls Fonzie who just so happens to still be at his garage. Richie tells his father that Fonz says he can fix it if they can push it over there.

Fonzie fixes the car and refuses payment from Howard. Richie points out to Fonzie that it’s after four and he’s missed his bus. Fonzie says “so what, I’ll catch the one at five:. Richie suggests they drive Fonzie to Waukesha. Fonz starts getting defensive and tells Richie and Howard to leave.

The two pull out of the garage but before they leave Richie tells Howard he has to give Fonzie his present. When he goes to open the door, he witnesses Fonzie sitting alone, getting ready to have a meal. He doesn’t look like someone getting ready to go to Waukesha. Richie knows something is up.

Back at the Cunningham’s, the family is busy decorating the tree as Howard recites everything they’re going to do once the tree is trimmed: make hot cider, pop popcorn, everything they used to do when they were little. Richie meanwhile is not feeling festive and Howard notices, saying to him “what’s the matter with you, you’ve been moping around since we got home”. Richie confides to Howard that he doesn’t think Fonzie went to Waukesha. Marion pipes in and asks Richie if he thinks Fonzie is all alone on Christmas Eve. Richie admits to seeing him eating ravioli out of a can and states “Now what kind of a way is that to spend Christmas Eve?” Everyone gives Howard the evil eye as he tries to brush the fact aside that Fonzie is all alone. Richie suggests they go over to Fonzie’s and finally convinces Howard to go.

They go to Fonzie’s and he comes out with a  suitcase insinuating he’s on his way to the bus station. Richie and Howard ask to talk to him. Richie asks Fonzie if he’d like to spend Christmas Eve with them. Howard uses the Santa in the front yard who is malfunctioning as an excuse to get Fonzie to their house because he needs to fix it.

In the end Fonzie fixes Santa but still insists he needs to get going. He also manages to fix the Christmas lights on their tree.

Marion asks “What would we do without you, Fonzie?”

And Richie adds, “Our car would be stuck in the snow, our tree would be out and our Santa would be mugging the neighbors.”

Howard points out that it’s three minutes past nine and Fonzie has missed his last bus and Marion insists he spend the night. As they’re roasting marshmallows by the fire, Fonzie turns to Richie and says “Thanks for having all your freckles in the right place” because he knows Richie is the one who figured out the truth about Waukesha. And he’s truly grateful for his friendship.