Ep 9. Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa

Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the TV show Monk. The episode originally aired on December 2, 2005, and follows the story of Adrian Monk, a private detective who has a phobia of germs, heights, and various other things.

The episode begins with the news that a secret Santa is giving cash gifts to everyone in the department. However, when Stottlemeyer, one of the police officers, opens his gift, he finds a note that says "You are a dead man!" Monk and Natalie, his assistant, investigate the case, but nothing seems to be adding up.

As they go on with their investigation, Monk and Natalie start to unravel the mystery behind the secret Santa. Meanwhile, the rest of the department receives their cash gifts and starts to speculate on who might be giving them.

Monk visits one of the earlier recipients of the gift, a pawnbroker who had recently been robbed, and discovers that the gift was his insurance money. This leads him to believe that the person behind the secret Santa is someone who wants to repay his victims.

As the investigation continues, the motive for the threat against Stottlemeyer becomes clearer. It turns out that the police officer had arrested the brother of a man named Jimmy Cusack, who had died in prison. The threat against Stottlemeyer originates from Jimmy Cusack's brother who is seeking revenge.

In a hilarious twist of events, Monk and Natalie are captured by Cusack's brother and held hostage. However, Monk is able to use his extensive knowledge of Santa Claus to eventually defuse the situation.

The episode ends with the apprehension of Cusack's brother and Monk's elaborate plan for the secret Santa's true identity. It turns out the person behind the secret Santa was none other than Harold Krenshaw, Monk's nemesis and former therapist. Krenshaw had come into money and wanted to help those he felt had been wronged by society.

Overall, Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa is a wonderful episode that captures the wit, humor, and teamwork that has made the series such a success. The mystery is intriguing, and the characters are as endearing as ever. This episode is sure to be a hit with fans of the show and anyone who enjoys a good detective story.