On the image of a swirling world that increases in size, a voice-over says: "On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas brings gifts to all the world's children. But Italian children are luckier because in Italy, on Epiphany Eve, they get other presents. They are brought by the Befana, an old crone who flies on a broomstick from house to house. But one January 5th many years ago, Italian children risked not getting any presents…"
In her toyshop the Befana is getting orders for gifts for January sixth. Her assistant, perfidious doctor Scarfoni, sends her to bed with ostensible flu so that he can take the situation in hand. His purpose is to get rich, serving only the children of wealthy clients. Francesco, poor and an orphan, knows he won't get his wish, the toy train “Freccia Azzurra”. But in the toyshop, getting wise to the situation, he decides to do something about it…
