Determined to write the great American novel, Nick (Joe Flanigan) returns to his small hometown of Winslow, located on an island in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  There, tucked away in a run-down hat factory, he rediscovers a forgotten time and a bunch of lost souls including Harry Wyle (William Hall, Jr.), the current owner of the factory.

From the first moment they meet, Nick is drawn to Harry:  he’s an aging man who seems to have lived at the factory his whole life.  He managers a rag-tag team of seniors who still make beautiful hats even though they’ve been out of style for decades.  Harry walks through life like a shost:  when he’s not watching his factory slip further into decay, he drinks whiskey by the bottle, dances with pretty women and lets his imagination run wild.  When it becomes clear to Nick that Harry’s story and the factory’s story are and the same, the adventurer in him simply can’t resist.

He forgets about writing his novel and instead sets out to restore the factory and help his good friend Harry.  Nick convinces a creditor to give Harry some extra time, he helps Harry prepare the factory for a night of music and dancing and he even enlists the help of one of Harry’s old loves Louie (Lysette Anthony).  Ultimately, by letting go of the past, both Nick and Harry are finally able to create a better future for themselves, solidifying their most unexpected friendship.