In 1976, two centuries after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, twenty-one-year-old Dave Norman is searching for his own version of freedom. As he daydreams his way through final exams, the college sophomore makes preparations for a trip with his fraternity brothers to Europe, where they plan to live out of backpacks and travel by train, exploring anything and everything they can.

But before embarking on this adventure, Dave pays a visit to a much more familiar place. While enjoying the peace and solitude of Eagle Lake, he becomes immersed in the nostalgia of childhood memories, recalling the time spent with his grandfather in a much different era of Mississippi's history.

From there, nostalgic introspection gives way to a whole new search for meaning as Dave contemplates his future and explores his personal truth. Through an intense encounter with a woman from his past, and one final weekend of Gulf Coast adventures, he begins putting together a picture of who he is and who he would like to be-until the long-awaited trip to Europe brings even more opportunities for self-discovery.