As the Santa Crawl loomed on the horizon that evening, Eve (Jess Salguiro) honed her act as a melancholy single mother, hoping to garner more generous tips. Upon catching wind of her intentions, Doctor Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) insisted that she join them for the Crane family Christmas Eve dinner, to which she assented. Meanwhile, Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst) confided in Frasier about his strained relationship with Nora Cornwall (Rayne Bidder), while Olivia Finch (Toks Olagundoye) seized a private moment to confer with Freddy Crane (Jack Cutmore-Scott) regarding Frasier’s gift.
Returning casually to the table, Freddy and Olivia found that Holly (Patricia Heaton) had already imparted the disappointing news to Frasier about her inability to attend the dinner. Alan’s absence prompted Frasier to unburden himself about his estrangement from Nora. Despite Freddy’s insistence that they stay out of his personal affairs, Frasier had conjured an entire scheme within moments. Serendipitously, Nora was staying at the hotel where Holly worked. Olivia, who had put considerable effort into finding the perfect gift, was anything but pleased when she discovered a misplaced bag addressed to her, containing a pair of slippers.
David Crane (Anders Keith) fared no better as he, Eve, and Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin) struggled to agree on a gingerbread house design for their contribution to Frasier’s plan. This brief encounter abruptly came to an end with Eve and Roz storming off in frustration.
In the meantime, Frasier briefly met with Holly before Freddy arrived for his role in Frasier’s scheme. By the time Alan joined them, Frasier was in the lobby with Olivia, whose sarcastic comments about her aching feet hinted at her lingering resentment over her unexpected gift. Despite her demeanor, Frasier’s meticulously crafted plan nearly unraveled when an overzealous receptionist named Thomas (Alec Mapa) took note of their prolonged presence in the lobby. To keep the plan afloat, Frasier was forced to book a room.
Roz and Eve, consumed by guilt over their desertion of David, arrive the next day, each bearing a meticulously crafted gingerbread house as a gesture of atonement. Little do they realize that David had spent an entire sleepless night constructing an impressive gingerbread village, far surpassing their individual efforts.
The narrative shifts to the hotel bar, where Freddy struggles to cobble together coherent sentences, his faculties drowned in alcohol, while Alan remains as sharp and composed as a judge in his sobriety. A lively procession of Santas catches Freddy's wandering attention, prompting Holly to inadvertently confess her lie to Frasier about having work commitments. Frasier's insistent pursuit had evidently unsettled her. Meanwhile, growing weary of lingering in the lobby, Frasier attempts to wrangle Thomas for her room number, but to no avail; Thomas, a stickler for rules, refuses assistance. Fortunately for Frasier, Nora enters the lobby moments later.
From the moment Frasier introduces himself, Nora feels ambushed, a sentiment that intensifies as each of Frasier's accomplices arrives one by one. By the time Alan unexpectedly joins them, her irritation peaks, and she declares unequivocally to him that she does not desire him in her life. The encounter abruptly terminates with Alan storming off in a huff. Later, Frasier seeks him out in his office, not only to apologize but also to ensure his attendance at the dinner. Though Alan does not explicitly commit, his silence hints at an affirmative answer.
David takes delight in making Eve and Roz feel guilty over their humble offerings, just as Frasier returns and insists on demolishing the houses lest Alan show up for dinner. As they set to work, Freddy returns to Nora at the hotel bar, where they engage in a heartfelt exchange of tales about their less-than-stellar fatherhood. He ultimately confides in her that his relentless efforts to keep Frasier at arm's length had only caused him pain. Nora acknowledges the validity of his sentiment but admits she has not yet reached that point of realization herself.
The ambiance at Frasier's gathering falls far short of jubilant, even with Alice Doyle's (played by Greer Grammer) graceful entrance. David's contribution does little to elevate the spirits, but Olivia strives to infuse some cheer by initiating a gift exchange with Frasier. It transpires that indeed, he had procured her slippers, albeit intended as part of a lavish three-night, all-inclusive package at the Plaza Hotel. Soon thereafter, Alan arrives on the scene, accompanied by Holly. Not long after, Nora makes her entrance, Jude in tow. The episode concludes on a note of introduction, as Alan introduces Nora and Jude to the assembled crowd.
