For the Boyajian family, Christmas has not been the same since their son was killed in the Gulf War. There has been no reason or desire to celebrate, but George, the father, decides that it's time to start being a family again. He picks up a lonely hitchhiker who he talks into pretending that he knew his dead son, in order to bring some warmth and humanity back into his house, but both George and his family have their faith and humanity restored in ways that none of them expected.