Plot Synopsis

Parshall, North Dakota is isolated and frigid, like most northwestern American communities, but surveyors recently discovered crude below the tiny town, causing an oil boom that has made millions for some residents while simply causing problems for others. Like so many other similar towns across America, Parshall has been in steep decline for many years. As manufacturing and farming jobs have moved overseas, town residents have sought greener pastures and a better life. But recently, surveyors discovered crude oil below the wheat fields and the grocery store and the high school football field. Now, domestic oil and gas industries are exploring every option here on U.S. soil and many of Parshall's residents and landowners are transformed from ordinary folks into millionaires. But not everyone gets rich quick, and not everyone thinks this new development will end well for the residents of the town. Parshall's mayor and only grocery store owner, Richard, has struggled for years to keep his store afloat to support his family, but now he's leased his land to an oil company and it looks like he may become one of the lucky ones. However, town rancher Donny has wells being drilled all over his property, but he owns only the surface rights to his land, which means he gets the inconvenience, but not the money from the oil. To others, the oil only means more traffic, noise and pollution.