Ep 2. Poppy's By the Tree (2)

Poppy's By the Tree (2) is the second episode of the second season of the iconic American sitcom Married...with Children. This episode picks up where the previous episode left off, with the Bundys trying to sell Christmas trees in their driveway to make some extra cash for the holidays. However, competing with the local Christmas tree lot owner, Poppy, proves to be more difficult than they initially thought.

The episode begins with Al Bundy (played by Ed O'Neill) and Steve Rhoades (played by David Garrison) trying to come up with a new plan to sell Christmas trees when they hear the sound of a chainsaw. They then discover that Poppy's tree lot is right across the street from their driveway. Poppy (played by Tim Conway) is a quirky, boisterous man who loves to taunt Al and his family. He is determined to put them out of business and will do whatever it takes to sabotage their sales.

As the day carries on, the Bundys realize that they are not getting any customers, and Poppy is stealing all their business. Al becomes desperate and decides to try and steal some of Poppy's customers by putting up signs advertising "Al Bundy's Christmas tree giveaway." However, when a customer comes to collect their free tree, Al realizes that he cannot afford to give them away for free and lies about a donation drive for the homeless.

Meanwhile, Peg Bundy (played by Katey Sagal) is trying to make extra money for Christmas by entering a recipe contest. She enlists the help of Kelly (played by Christina Applegate) and Bud (played by David Faustino) to come up with a unique recipe. However, their attempts at cooking are less than successful, and Peg ultimately decides to enter a recipe for ants on a log, which she thinks may have a chance of winning.

As the episode continues, tensions rise between the Bundys and Poppy. Poppy is constantly taunting Al and even lets his dog urinate on their Christmas tree lot. The situation reaches a boiling point when Al decides to retaliate by spraying Poppy with a hose, causing a water fight between the two of them.

In the end, the Bundys realize that they cannot compete with Poppy's Christmas tree lot and are forced to shut down their operation. Peg's entry in the recipe contest ends up being a flop, and Kelly and Bud end up eating all of the prize money. Despite the setbacks, the family still manages to have a nice Christmas together.

Overall, Poppy's By the Tree (2) is a classic episode of Married...with Children that showcases the show's trademark irreverent humor and absurd situations. It highlights the struggles of a working-class family trying to make ends meet during the holiday season and the lengths they will go to in order to provide for each other. The guest appearance by Tim Conway as Poppy adds an extra layer of humor to the episode, and the water fight between Al and Poppy stands out as a particularly memorable moment.