Norman, a popular staff member at the Greenwood Children's Home, takes the resident orphans to school one morning. Pausing to look into a shop window, the children see a costly toy motor car. One boy, Jimmy, is particularly impressed by it.
At the school, Norman leaves the children in the hands of Iris Gibson, their teacher and the object of Norman's affection. But she is more interested in Alec Bigby, the son of the owner of the land on which the orphanage is built. Back at the orphanage, Mary, another employee, yearns for romance with Norman, though he does not notice her.
Alec Bigby's father is also chairman of the orphanage committee. He meets with and persuades its members that the Greenwood Home should be shut down so that he can sell the land in order that his business associate, Mr. Carter, can build a new factory there. The elder Bigby plans to send the orphans to be boarded in private homes.
Later, Jimmy, excited at the prospect of a day out with his aunt, is upset when she does not arrive. To cheer him up, Norman unthinkingly promises to buy him the toy car he saw earlier in the shop window, though he does not have enough money. The orphanage cook reprimands him for making promises he cannot keep.
One of the older orphans tells Jimmy that Norman will never be able to buy the car. That night, Norman overhears Jimmy as he prays to God to make Norman keep his promise.
The older Mr. Bigley arranges a day trip to Brighton for the orphans in order that he can visit the site to arrange for its sale. Never having seen the sea, Norman is disappointed to be told by the orphanage matron that he cannot go on the trip. However, when the orphans refuse to go without Norman, she relents and Norman is allowed to go.
On the train to Brighton, a wasp crawls up Norman's trouser leg. He takes his trousers off in the toilet and shakes them out of the window, losing them in the process. Embarrassed, he finally sneaks off the train and is chased by a policeman. Stripping down to vest and undershorts, he pretends to be a participant in a walking race to Brighton. He wins the race, but is rushed off on a stretcher before he can see the sea.
Still attempting to raise money for the toy car, Norman next works as a sandwich man, advertising a restaurant, dressed in top hat and tails. He is mistaken for an orchestra conductor, dragged into a theatre, and proceeds to cause chaos on stage.
The next day, Iris arranges to see Norman at a cinema cafe. Norman thinks it is a date, but she merely wants to warn him of Bigley's plans. Norman begins to confess his love for her, but she leaves to meet Alec at the funfair.
At the funfair, Norman attempts to raise money in a boxing contest, but fails. Iris offers to lend him the money he needs, but he cannot bring himself to accept. Later, the orphanage cook and Mary club together to lend him the money.
The following day, Norman buys the toy car. Jimmy, standing outside the shop window and unaware that Norman is the purchaser, is upset to see it vanish and runs away.
Mr. Bigley and his associates visit the orphanage to finalise the sale. But the orphans and staff see off the visitors, pelting them with flour bombs and spraying them with water. The potential buyer decides not to go ahead with the purchase.
Iris brings back Jimmy, having bought him an expensive toy aeroplane that has caused him to forget all about the toy car. Norman finally accepts that Iris loves Alec, and walks back inside the orphanage, hand in hand with Mary and Jimmy.
