Christmas draws near as Susan Walker, a divorcee, checks in with her daughter, Lisa, at the same time that Paul Manning is rehearsing his ingenious robot, Tim. Lisa decides Paul should marry her mom. Lisa kidnaps the robot then insists that Paul join them for Christmas Eve at Grandma's house, where Lisa's matchmaking is a success. Christine hires Nicholas Edmund, a jovial old codger, to play Santa Claus for guests. When he requests a small advance, she borrows a ten-dollar bill from Peter, who is later distressed because the ten-dollar bill carried a girlfriend's phone number. Serendipitously, Peter's ten-dollar bill later returns to him, having passed through several hands. Lonely schoolteacher Agnes Simpson seeks yuletide companionship and discovers her former schoolmate Mrs. Cabot, who moves the employee party to Agnes's room. Room service attendant Ray Follard is forced by his bullying brother, Pike, to cooperate in a burglary scheme. Pike invades Mrs. Cabot's penthouse suite and f

Travel magazine editor Myrna Dawson has an irreplaceable heirloom emerald pin stolen and threatens to publish an unfavorable story about the hotel unless it is recovered. Billy contacts Phil Kroger, a noted private investigator specializing in jewel thefts on an international scale. Kroger spots Trevor Harris in the lobby and identifies him as the jewel thief he's been unable to catch. The news is surprising to Christine because Trevor Harris, a very personable man, has already charmed her into considering a dinner invitation. Christine accepts the invitation in order to keep Trevor at the hotel, while Kroger secretly plots to frame Trevor. Ben Garfield and his adoring nine-year-old grandson Jason arrive fresh from a fishing excursion in Yosemite. Ever since Jason's father (Ben's son) lost his life in a skydiving mishap, the boy's mother, Susan Garfield, has resented Ben's influence on the child. Susan is about to remarry. Because Ben has spirited Jason away without her knowledge or pe