Ep 1. Poppy's By the Tree (1)

In Poppy's By the Tree (1), the first episode of the second season of Married...with Children, Al gets a job as a security guard at a local toy store called Poppy's Toy Land. He is excited to finally have a job that doesn't involve selling shoes, but his enthusiasm quickly turns to boredom as he realizes that nothing ever happens at the store. Meanwhile, Peggy is having trouble deciding on a Christmas gift for the family and ends up buying a Christmas tree instead, which the family promptly hates.

As Al sits at his post, he begins to realize that the only excitement he will get is from the customers who come in and out of the store. One such customer is a little girl who asks to see a particular toy. Al goes to fetch it for her but accidentally drops it, shattering it into pieces. He tries to fix it but only makes it worse, leading to the little girl crying and her mother getting angry. Al tries to explain that accidents happen, but the mother is having none of it and demands that Al pay for the toy.

Back at home, Peggy is still struggling with what to give her family for Christmas. Her initial plan was to buy them all sweaters, but she quickly changes her mind once she realizes how boring that would be. She decides to buy a Christmas tree instead, which she thinks will be a hit with the family. However, when she brings it home, the family is less than impressed. They criticize the tree for being too small, too flimsy, and for having a hideous tinsel garland.

As the episode progresses, Al becomes increasingly fed up with his job. He spends most of his time playing with the store's toys and annoying his co-worker, who is a stickler for the rules. When another little girl comes in looking for a specific toy, Al is determined not to mess it up again. He goes to great lengths to make sure the toy is safe, but in doing so, ends up locking himself and the little girl in the store overnight.

Meanwhile, Peggy is still trying to make the Christmas tree work. She enlists the help of her neighbor, Marcy, who suggests they decorate the tree with all of the family's old ornaments and decorations. This turns out to be a success, and the family is overjoyed with the final result.

As morning comes, Al and the little girl are finally rescued from the store. The little girl's mother apologizes for her earlier behavior and thanks Al for taking care of her daughter. Al is still not happy with his job but realizes that at least he can make a difference in a child's life. The family gathers around their newly decorated Christmas tree and celebrates the holiday together.

Overall, Poppy's By the Tree (1) is a heartwarming episode that showcases the Bundy family's unique brand of humor and shows the importance of family during the holiday season.