Jack Clayton can only escape after his partner in crime Harry Zordich messes up a Christmas sales department store robbery in a Santa suit. Stuck in a rural small town, he finds himself forced to accept a menial job under the alias Oscar Burton as Santa in Sarah Gibsons nursery. Jack relaxes when invited in their home and proves a good substitute father for Sarahs frustrated fatherless daughter Noelle. Widow Emily Suttons nostalgic Christmas shop completes his nostalgia, and becomes crucial when his ex-con cahoot turns up to plan a bank robbery. Sarahs admirer keeps warning the sheriff against Oscar, who meanwhile teaches the town how to fight off competition from the city mall.