In 1930, eight-year-old Buddy lives an idyllic existence in rural Alabama with his cousin Sook. But all that is about to change when he is sent to New Orleans to spend Christmas with his estranged father, a con artist more intent on scamming than building a relationship with his son. Although his dad has terrible problems to overcome and is busy pursuing the niece of wealthy Cornelia Beaumont, Buddy and his father take the first steps towards becoming a real family during this one Christmas they will never forget.
