Maggie is an aspiring scientist who hopes to earn a full university scholarship. Her mother, who just applied for food stamps, and her father, who after months of unemployment took a job for half his previous pay, could never afford tuition. When she learns that her neighbor is considering leasing his land for gas drilling, Maggie studies the subject and finds herself becoming an activist. The dangers of hydrofracking are real, but in this small, rural, economically depressed town, will her neighbors believe the gas companys promises of prosperity and safe drilling?