George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls, while using his family’s modest building and loan company to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. But on Christmas Eve, George’s Uncle Billy loses the business’s deposit, and the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night. George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Mr. Potter to take over Bedford Falls. Thinking of his wife, Mary, their four children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in his guardian angel Clarence coming to Earth to help him by showing George what things would have been like if he had never been born.