The Gift

**The Gift** is the eleventh episode of the second season of *Matlock*, and the thirty-fourth episode overall.

## Plot

When Brian Emerson is arrested and charged with his wife's murder, Matlock takes the case waiving his usual fee. His efforts to get the father out on bail fail when he lands a judge who has lost his Christmas spirit. Ben then takes the young girl in with him.

## Cast

### Main

* Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock
* Nancy Stafford as Michelle Thomas
* Kari Lizer as Cassie Phillips
* and Kene Holliday as Tyler Hudson

### Guest Stars

(in alphabetical order)

* Bryan Cranston as Brian Emerson
* Jason Evers as Dr. Jim Lord
* Howard George as Phillip Tracy
* Lise Hilboldt as Dr. Maggie Crowley
* Wolf Muser as Peter Bono
* William Shallert as Judge Elliot Franklin
* Jandi Swanson as Wendy Crowley

## Summary

Matlock defends a Santa accused of murder — Brian Emerson (Bryan Cranston); his ex-wife, Maggie Crowley (Lise Hilboldt), was murdered at 5 minutes past 10:00 PM, while hosting a Christmas party populated by Santa Clauses. Matlock also plays Santa to their daughter, Wendy (Jandi Swanson), and spreads some Christmas cheer on a judge who has lost his Christmas spirit.

After Tyler was hit in the head, Philip Tracy, whose wife left him seven years ago, confesses that he made all those threatening phone calls to Maggie because of what Maggie had done to his wife. He adds that he'd gone to the party that night to have it out with Maggie, and he was so mad, he could have killed Maggie himself, but someone beat him to it, and says he got a good look at the guy who committed the murder. Tyler then brings back Philip's wife Miriam as a Christmas gift. Her husband asked Miriam why she came back, and Miriam replied that Tyler said Philip still loved her. Philip replied that she left him, and Miriam responded that Philip had sent her away. Finally, Philip tells Miriam he thought she didn't want him anymore.

Mr. Bono is soon revealed as the culprit who killed Maggie; as he was in a Santa costume when he entered the room while she was on the phone talking to 911, she mistook him for Brian, but Mr. Bono's dog Toto knew better (because, as Mr. Bono explained, Toto never barked at Maggie or Mr. Bono).

## Quotes

**Brian Emerson:** I have to go now.

**Wendy Crowley:** Oh, thank you.

**Brian:** I have to go.

**Maggie Crowley:** *(is heard knocking on the door before she opens it and walks in, only to find Brian there with Wendy)* I’ve got a court order against you.

**Brian:** For God’s sakes, Maggie.

**Maggie:** The restraining order says you shall not come within 500 feet of my home until visitation, which doesn’t start until next week.

**Brian:** Maggie, please.

**Wendy:** No!

**Brian:** You are also disturbing the peace, which is what I’m going to tell the police.

**Brian:** Maggie, I was trying to give her her Christmas present.

**Maggie:** It’s one minute past 10, Brian. The local 911 number takes approximately three minutes to reply, which is exactly how long you have to vacate the premises. *(to Wendy)* And as for **you**, young lady, you’d better stay right here till I get back!

**Brian:** *(turns to see Wendy weeping)* Oh, honey.

**Wendy:** I didn’t tell her, Daddy.

**Brian:** *(hugs Wendy)* I know, I know. It’s okay.

**Wendy:** I didn’t tell.

**Brian:** I know you didn’t. Everything’s gonna be okay, all right? I promise you.

**Ben Matlock:** She wouldn’t... She wouldn’t even let you see your own daughter at Christmastime?

**Brian:** That’s Maggie.

**Ben:** Excuse me. Uh... w-why did you marry this woman?

**Brian:** I was in love with her. She was bright and beautiful... and so determined to become a doctor. So I put aside my postgraduate studies, used the rest of my trust fund, and I put her through medical school.

**Ben:** Heh.

**Brian:** By the time I realized what Maggie was all about, Wendy was born and most of my money was gone. She was sleeping with a doctor who had a plastic surgery clinic she wanted to join. And then **she** filed for divorce.

**Ben:** You did fight for custody.

**Brian:** For all the good it did me. And she even got a court order against me... said I was harassing her, when all I was trying to do was to see my own daughter. Mr. Matlock... I don’t have much money.

**Ben:** Well... I don’t always take cases for money. And it **is** almost Christmas. *(smiles)*

## Trivia

* The courthouse is a different one from the usual one seen in other episodes.