Nine-year-old Jessica believes in Heaven, Santa Claus and flying reindeer.  One day, she finds a wounded reindeer in the snowy woods. Believing it is the real Prancer, she wants to nurse it back to health so she can 'return it to Santa.' Her effort to save it brings about wonderful changes in the lives of everyone: her father (Sam Elliott), their unusual neighbor (Cloris Leachman), a crotchety veterinarian (Abe Vigoda), a department store Santa (Michael Constantine), and the people of the town.