Grorley, a recently divorced man living alone, sets out on a search to find people to spend Christmas with. He has lived in many different homes throughout his life. He and his wife Eunince fell in love because of their mutual attraction to the others' free-spirit, without realizing that this freedom would disappear with the responsibilities of marriage and children. Grorley begins to spend only weekends and holidays with his family, as his career as a journalist picks up during World War II. Yet, after the war Eunice grows tired of this schedule, insisting that he must come home for good. The couple decides to take a six month separation as a trial before their actual divorce. Grorley quickly recognizes how much he hates spending holidays alone. After a particularly miserable Thanksgiving Day, he vows that he will not be spending Christmas alone. He fails to find others to spend the day with, and so Grorley attempts to buy his wife a present in hopes that she will forgive him. Grorley arrives to his family's home on Christmas Eve, with gifts for his children and Eunice. Grorley informs her that he is ready to stay for good, and the couple makes up.