Episode #409 "DIII: Judgment Day"

Mary's busy planning her annual New Year's fondue party, but Dick can't understand why this holiday is such a big deal. Mary says it's a time to remember everything you've accomplished in the past year. Harry's having a huge New Year's bash at the bar, and Tommy volunteers his services as party coordinator. Harry also gets jobs at the bar for Larry and Mrs.DeGuzman, his old night school buddies, but it soon becomes clear that they have no idea what they're doing. Dick's becomes depressed when he realizes that everyone he knows has had a productive year, but he's accomplished almost nothing. Sally sweet talks Don into trying to get tickets to the Starlight Room for the hottest party in town, but when he gets the tickets Sally wants to scalp them and go to Harry's party instead. Don puts his foot down, and even Sally's tears won't change his mind; he's sick of being played like a cello. Dick tries to think of something signficant to do before the end of the year realizes it's too late. He brings everyone down and ruins Mary's party by talking relentlessly about what a loser he is; everyone leaves including Mary. Nina tells Sally she'll lose Don if she continues to be so manipulative. Back at Harry's party, Tommy goes crazy when Larry fires the confetti cannon, the pianist starts playing Auld Lang Syne and the party spins out of control at two minutes before midnight. And Dick apologizes to Mary and talks about the endless possibilites of the new year that's just begun; then the bells ring and they realize that Dick's optimism actually started in the old year, so it wasn't a loss after all.