In Limerick, 1913, young Angela experiences a bittersweet farewell as she watches her father depart for Australia, just before she has the chance to share a song with him that’s been weighing on her heart.
Fast forward two years to Christmas Eve, where Angela shares her heartfelt wish with Baby Jesus, dreaming of receiving a doll from the toy shop. However, the daily demands imposed by her mother, Ruth Negga, keep that wish at bay. As the children gather around, Mother regales them with a tale of a King and a Pauper who receive wishes from a Genie, yet the Pauper’s wish remains shrouded in mystery, merely spoken as "I wish, I wish, I wish...".
In a moment of introspection while tidying up, Angela begins to ponder her mother’s strict demeanor over the years. Her brother, Moe Dunford, sheds light on the matter, explaining that their mother deeply misses their father. Inspired by this revelation, Angela devises multiple plans to reunite their family, starting with the innocent endeavor of digging holes in search of a path to bring their father back.
With enthusiastic exuberance, Angela teams up with her brother, Pat, to dig in both their backyard and that of a neighbor, only to come up short. Their quest for knowledge leads them to a local library where they miscalculate the distance, convinced that Australia is merely a train ride away from Ireland.
Their adventure takes a turn when they encounter Pat Kinevane, known locally as Mr. McGinty, who shares his dilemma: his cow is about to give birth, but he lacks the funds for a vet. Eager to help, Angela attempts to earn the money in a bar, but her efforts go unnoticed. Then, in a serendipitous moment, Pat steps into the bar, and together they sing the very song Angela had longed to perform for their father; their sweet harmonies unexpectedly draw in a crowd and earn them generous donations.
Angela then seeks to assist at the vet’s house, where she meets a kind girl named Dorothy, who offers her insights. Unfortunately, when their father explains the impossibility of taking a train to Australia, the siblings find themselves at a crossroads. Undeterred, Dorothy lends her support, and they make their way to the ship dock, hoping to set sail for Australia.
In a nail-biting close call, they narrowly evade a dock worker’s vigilance. Although Angela manages to reach a waiting ship, it departs before she can board. Disheartened, she returns home and shares her ordeal with her mother, who comforts her by revealing that the Pauper wished for happiness from his heart. This spurs the family into a poignant moment of sharing their wishes.
In an extraordinary twist of fate, as Angela stands with a cherished picture of her father close to her heart, her wish materializes before her very eyes—her father comes home! Overwhelmed with joy, Angela can hardly contain her excitement, believing her heartfelt wish has brought him back.
In the days that follow, Angela proves herself by saving Mr. McGinty’s cow and learns more about Australia from her father, all while the family begins to rebuild their lives together. As night falls, Angela receives a tender goodnight kiss from her father, bringing her day to a close as she drifts into peaceful slumber.
