Original air date: December 14, 1996

Written by: Juan Carlos Coto

Directed by: Thomas J. Wright

Now a member of the coroner’s unit, Jarod investigates a deadly hit and run involving a man all the homeless people knew as ‘Christmas George.’

Jarod’s Discoveries: Fruitcake, Candy Canes, Santa Claus, The Night Before Christmas

Jarod’s Occupations: Coroner, 911 Operator

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod Marley

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

As Christmas approaches…Jarod becomes a coroner in his effort to learn the truth about a man dressed as Santa Claus who was killed in a hit-and-run accident. 

In flashback, Young Jarod escapes from the Centre and makes his way outside, where he looks skyward and twirls slowly as snowflakes fall from above…if only for a moment.

In Baltimore, Jarod, now a member of a coroner’s unit, helps retrieve the remains of a man dressed as Santa Claus.  At the coroner’s office, Fugimore introduces Jarod to the chief coroner, Dr. Lisabeth Drake.  Fugimore tells the others that the dead Santa is really Theodore Hargrove, a stockbroker who played St. Nick at a Christmas party downtown.  Jarod believes Hargrove died of a variety of factors, but mainly of a heart attack.  By studying some eggnog found near the body, and the way it curdled, Jarod is able to deduce the time of death.  Shortly thereafter, Jarod receives a fruitcake from one of his other colleagues, Guerra.

Two kids playing in the snow find the body of a young woman.  Guerra labels the victim “LGL,” or “Little Girl Lost,” who will in all likelihood never by identified.  Jarod, however, empathizes with the girl’s family.  Later, Jarod approaches a homeless man, Harry, and mentions the name “Christmas George.”  It turns out that George enjoyed dressing as Santa around Christmas and volunteered his time at a local shelter.  That is, until he died.

Mr. Parker contacts his daughter and invites her to a holiday gathering at a club.  Miss Parker promises she will attend.

Jarod observes as Fugimora removes highly toxic poison from a puffer fish…one she intends to serve as Christmas dinner.  She explains that her uncle was a master fugu chef in Tokyo.  Later, Jarod makes his way to a room containing old coroner’s reports.  He also finds employment as a 911 dispatch operator, where he makes a copy of an audio recording.  The recording, it turns out, is of the call Harry made when he discovered George’s body.  As the recording plays, Harry describes how his friend was injured in a hit-and-run accident in front of the children’s shelter.  Shortly thereafter, Jarod pays Harry a visit.  As they converse, Harry states that he never left his friend’s side until the coroner showed up at the scene.  Jarod finds it interesting that the coroner arrived before the police.  According to Harry, George was still clinging to life.  The coroner gave him a shot, to no avail.  Jarod realizes George is describing Dr. Drake.

Jarod informs Guerra that he identified the dead woman found in the snow after he observed signs that parallel bars were her specialty.  Later, Jarod approaches Fugimora about some autopsies that were performed on Christmas Eve.  According to case files, there were only two people admitted: hit-and-run victim George, and an elderly woman named Edwina Morris.  Fugimora reveals that Dr. Drake arrived at the hospital on Christmas Eve to perform George’s autopsy…something Jarod finds extremely odd.  Jarod points out that according to toxicology reports, traces of phenotripticol were found in Edwina Morris’ blood.  The drug is used to sedate patients suffering psychotic episodes, and in stronger doses, produces a state of paralysis.  Jarod believes that Dr. Drake deliberately switched the toxicology reports.

In flashback, Young Jarod observes as Young Miss Parker takes an interest in some rabbits housed at the Centre.  Though Parker would love to have one as a pet, her father will not allow it.

Jarod strategically positions himself in front of Dr. Drake’s car, causing her to run into him.  Drake pulls out her doctor’s bag and tends to his wounds.  Later, Jarod breaks into Drake’s car, searches though her bag and locates a bottle of phenotripticol.

Jarod presents Drake with some homemade fruit cake, which she samples.  Shortly thereafter, she takes ill.  Jarod informs her that some puffer fish poison may have accidentally slipped into the batter.  Jarod refuses to call 911 for help, as paramedics would discover that he accidentally poisoned her, ending his career (paralleling Drake’s involvement with George a year earlier).  Jarod then recounts how Drake had a little too much to drink at a Christmas party, and as she was driving home, hit George with her car and left him in the snow.  When she heard a police report that George was still alive, she returned to the scene before police arrived and injected George with phenotripticol.  Jarod injects Drake with the same drug, causing paralysis.  He then tells Drake that he will declare she is dead, allowing an unsuspecting coroner to finish the job.  Later, however, it becomes apparent that Jarod notified Fugimora about the phenotripticol injection.

Mr. Parker contacts his daughter and announces that plans for their Christmas get-together have been cancelled.

Sydney makes his way to a convalescent home to visit his brother, who has been in a vegetative state for some thirty years.  One of the workers, Desmond, informs Sydney that Jarod, who had identified himself as Sydney’s son, had dropped by earlier to leave a gift.

Miss Parker receives her gift from Jarod: a pet rabbit.

Jarod reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to children at a shelter.  Later, he stands outside and twirls slowly as snowflakes fall from the sky.