Big-city surgeon Michael (Hays) is still mourning his wife, who passed away four years ago. At Christmas, he returns with his daughter, Jilly (Gorrell), to his home town where his father, Bob (Palance), and the townsfolk want him to stay and run the local hospital. There's a problem, however. It's Sarah (Jillian), the local vet, town mayor - and Michael's ex-girlfriend. She thinks that Michael's far too high-powered to adjust to small-town life. But the wily old Bob has other ideas...