A female voice summarizes the events in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Then the audience sees actual children, but it appears the children are in a real situation. Then it is revealed the children a re rehearsing a presentation of "A Christmas Carol". Heather is in charge. Her young daughter June plays a cat. Her son Oliver has Jimmy in his shoulders and they are covered by a robe, portraying the Ghost of Christmas Future. Oliver is not happy because Jimmy has smelly feet. He also points out he has professional experience a toothpaste commercial.Heather's husband EB comes to pick up the kids. EB and Heather are currently separated but there is a chance they will get back together. EB and Heather get in an argument because he is so busy with work it EB Savings & Loan that he will not be able to take the kids at a later date. Before EB leaves with the kids, Daryll shows up with his friends and makes fun of Oliver. As EB exits the auditorium, he is approached by former business partner Manny who wants EB to give to a charity. EB says no, explaining that he can't give to every charity. EB later tells the kids Manny's charitable attitude is why he is now a former partner.Before they can go to EB's house, EB has to do something work-related. He takes the kids to the home of Bill and Pam Woodsley, who take care of numerous animals. Pam is reading "A Christmas Carol" to some of them. The kids love the animals, but then EB gives the couple the bad news. He has to foreclose and they have two weeks to get out before an auction. They protest that he said they had until Christmas to make their payment, and EB says no, they had until December, and it's December. Christmas is just another day. In the car, EB explains to the kids that people have to be responsible, and there is a real world out there that they have to be ready for, where there are consequences for actions.EB also visits his father in assisted living. They get into an argument as they always do, and EB explains this is why he won't bring his kids to see their grandfather.At their father's house, the kids see some of the animals from the Woodsley place, who have come to get the kids to convince their father to change his mind. Connie the Bunny explains that the Woodsleys once took care of Blitzen the Reindeer and Santa Claus was so grateful he gave them the ability to talk.The first step is to find a "Marley". Clark the Dog goes to where Manny lives and wakes him up. Manny, surprised to see a dog talk, thinks he is dead and that he is now a ghost. Clark lets him believe that, and says only certain people can see him, and takes him to where EB works. EB is startled to find Manny in his car, and Manny explains that EB will be visited by a series of ghosts.Back at his house, EB stays busy. Nester the Llama knocks him out and when he comes to, Nester tells EB he is the Ghost of Christmas Past. The other animals go through some old stuff and find home movies which they then show EB. The first movie is the wrong one, because it shows EB as a child rather than Oliver. EB is so happy to see himself enjoying Christmas with his mother. Then his father spoils his fun, the the adult EB is upset again. Oliver and June remember their father lost his mother at Christmas and that's why he hates the holiday, and their grandfather's treatment of EB even as a child didn't help. Their grandfather hasn't been the same since losing his wife.Daryll shows up to bully Oliver again, but he behaves like Eddie Haskell with Heather when she picks up the kids. During a meal at a restaurant, Oliver sees Manny and realizes Manny hasn't figured out he's not a ghost, so he tells everyone to play along. Manny plays pranks on the people he believes can't see him.Clark teaches Daryll a lesson by arranging for Daryll to go into a restroom where someone lost a wallet full of money. Clark won't let Daryll out and he gets frightened and promises to be nicer to people. He sees Clark when Clark finally lets him out. Later at a stop light, Daryll sees Clark in a car and is scared all over again.EB is visited by the second ghost, and the animals take him in the car to the Woodsley place, where EB is told the couple take care of sick and disabled animals. EB realizes they aren't being irresponsible with their money, and he is willing to consider not foreclosing.At work, Barb wants EB to close for the holidays like everyone else. EB won't do it because he gets an advantage over the others by staying open.It is time for the kids' play. EB had promised to be there, but he blames Barb for being sloppy and says he has a lot of work to do. The animals have to take drastic action. Oliver puts on music to help his father work, and the animals bring in Raffi the Rat, whose one interest is biting people, which is why he is kept in a secure box. The sound system EB is listening to is set up so he hears Raffi, and Raffi manages to hypnotize EB. The animals take him to the theater where everyone is arriving to watch the play. Manny is there too, still thinking he can't be seen and still playing pranks. Glenn, who directed last year's play, is hoping it will be a flop because that will mean he is better than Heather.While the curtain is still down, the Ghost of Christmas Future shows EB what will happen if he doesn't change his ways. But before EB sees all this, the curtain goes up and the audience sees everything and thinks they are seeing the real play. His kids are disappointed, and EB sees this, and then he realizes he is being watched by an audience. He is so embarrassed he storms out with an even worse attitude than ever. The audience applauds, thinking they saw the real play, and they praise the play afterward.Judge the Goat has one last shot at getting EB to change his ways.On Christmas morning, the kids are delighted to smell pancakes, which their father always makes on the holiday because it's all he knows how to make. EB is in fact there, and there are signs the family will get back together. EB has invited the Woodsleys, who think EB is doing something especially cruel. In fact, EB is explaining that with Manny's help he made a change in their deed so they can accept donations because they are running a charity, and they will not have to worry about paying the rent any more. The grandfather arrives and enjoys meeting the kids. Manny joins the family, realizing he is not a ghost after all, and the family has a good time.