For Govan resident Rab C. Nesbitt, there’s little magic in Christmas when there’s no money to spare. While his long-suffering wife Mary and teenage sons Burney and Gash throw themselves into the festive spirit, Rab remains stubbornly cynical, delivering his usual caustic observations to camera about the commercial excesses of the season. The final insult comes when he discovers that his neighbour and best friend, Jamesie Cotter, has taken a job as a department-store Santa. A confrontation follows, landing Rab in gaol. Although he manages to make it home in time for Christmas, the atmosphere is so miserable that he decides he’d rather spend the holiday back inside.