Growing up in Chicago, Ryder dreams he is a cowboy driving cattle along the sidewalk, while his father, Tom, is selling dreams on the street. Ryder faces an adolescence where his dreams crash and he loses his father to the justice system. It turns out the dreams his dad was selling were also criminal fraud. These events cast him into deep cynicism about the lies we live. Then he must flee a rogue federal agent who threatens to destroy his future if he doesn't give up his father's ill-gotten cash. Ryder finally lands on his feet, after more lies, by becoming a cub reporter for the Anderson Valley Advertiser out in Mendocino County, California. Somehow, he fits into a community of people living improbable and wacky lives. Their dreams of freedom and invention are inspired by a series of accidents and culminate in a new revolution, California style. In the process they invent a new flag to represent the free state of Jefferson and Ryder becomes a real cowboy.