A poor boy and his terrier busk on Vienna's streets and shelter in St. Stephen's Cathedral on Christmas Eve, hoping for charity until a kindly white-haired gentleman arrives and changes their fortunes. Parallel scenes at the imperial palace follow a young archduke who faces a long-anticipated chance to walk and his sister as they celebrate the holiday. Through interwoven episodes of hardship and comfort, the narrative contrasts street life with courtly warmth and emphasizes small acts of generosity, communal celebration, and the ways the season draws different lives together.