Katonah, New York, 1949. Tony Cavelli, 9, wakes up in the cold, dark attic he shares with his brother, Sammy, 11. He has never felt poor despite going to a school where most of the children arrive in limousines. As Tony reads his only comic book, he discovers an ad for selling Christmas cards. Tony’s mother, Anna, tells him she’s so excited because it’s a Sunday Christmas this year.
Tony walks the long way to school to avoid going under the “troll bridge”. In Sister Redempta’s class, Tony explains his plan to sell Christmas cards during his presentation. Daniel rudely interrupts him and tells Tony he won’t sell any cards then the class chants, “One-shirt Tony, one-shirt…” Devastated, Tony gives up on selling the cards.
Tony’s father gets injured and can’t work. The family needs help so he decides to sell the cards. Tony manages to sell some. When his crying mother tells him they have to cancel Christmas, he promises her he’ll make enough to have the best Christmas ever.
Without knowing it, Tony walks up to Daniel’s mansion. Daniel sees Tony coming then pays his maid to tell Tony she will buy all of his cards if he can come back in a few days. When he returns to the mansion, Daniel tells Tony it was a prank and no one is going to buy his cards. Tony knows there is no time left to sell the cards so Christmas is ruined. Completely depressed he blames God and goes to his church to tell the priest he no longer wants to be an altar boy.
The wise words from the priest convince Joey he still has a chance though there are only two days left until Christmas. He trashes the script and uses what he has learned from family and friends to sell those cards.
Tony sells more cards but comes woefully short of what he needs. Facing failure he takes a chance and goes into the Elks Lodge where a huge party is going on despite the sign that says “absolutely no kids allowed”. A trick he performs with his dog impresses the exalted ruler of the Elks club and with his help, Tony sells the rest of the cards. On his way home, Tony chases his dog under the “troll bridge”. He’s attacked in the darkness and when his dog wakes him up all of his money is gone.
Tony sadly goes home without any money. He walks through the door and sees everyone is so happy because the doctor said his father was going to be fine. He understands his mother was worried about his father, not Christmas. Tony learns that the love of his family is what makes Christmas special, not money. Not the type to give up, Tony spends Christmas Eve convincing everyone he knows to spend Christmas at their house and it turns out to be the best Christmas ever.
