Facts of Life Season 1 Episode 12 Molly's Holiday
- June 4, 1980
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7.1 (89)
Molly's Holiday is the twelfth episode of the first season of the popular sitcom, Facts of Life. The episode starts with Molly receiving news from home that she won't be able to spend the holidays with her family. Disappointed and sad, she decides to stay back at Eastland College during the Thanksgiving break. Blair, who's feeling a bit homesick herself, offers to invite Molly over to her family's luxurious beach home so she can have a change of scenery.
While Blair's mother is happy to have Molly, Blair's cousin Geri is not too pleased with the new guest. She believes Molly is too dull and that she's bringing the mood down. Eventually, Molly overhears Geri's unkind words and decides to leave. However, she ends up getting lost on the way back to college and ends up spending the night at a gas station.
Back at Eastland, the other girls start to worry for Molly's safety. They decide to band together and go looking for her, but end up getting sidetracked when they spot a group of boys nearby. Meanwhile, Molly has a heart-to-heart with the gas station attendant, Mr. Culpepper, who convinces her to call home and sort things out with her family. When the girls finally find Molly, they realize that they should have been there for her instead of getting distracted by the boys. They hug it out and return to Eastland together.
The episode was very well-received by audiences when it first aired, mostly due to the heartfelt conversations regarding family, friendship, and being there for each other. It was also considered one of the more comedic episodes of the season, with Geri's snobbish attitude providing several humorous moments. All in all, Molly's Holiday is a beautifully crafted episode that showcases the importance of compassion and empathy, especially during the holiday season.