Fifteen-year-old Moonie Pottie (Liane Balaban) dreams of leaving her sheltered Nova Scotia community for New York City. Moonie's teacher (Andrew McCarthy) sees her potential and arranges a scholarship to a Manhattan arts school -- but her parents promptly scotch the idea. When high-spirited Lou Benzoa (Tara Spencer-Nairn) moves in next door, the two girls hatch an escape plan to exit New Waterford for good.