When a boy is turned into an ugly nutcracker, Marie is his only key to freedom. He, in turn, holds the key to her heart. Marie longs for a friend who understands her, so when she gets a nutcracker for Christmas, she is immediately captivated by its sad eyes. Her empathy, passion and loyalty for the ugly toy lead to a series of strange dreams, ending with heartbreak when she wakes up to find the nutcracker gone. But waiting downstairs is the friend of her dreams...