Ernie, a teenager in rural North Carolina, has been licking toads and tripping out. It's gotten to the point where he can't tell fantasy from reality. After accidentally cutting off his fingers in a lawnmower accident, his mother sticks him in a mental hospital. There, Ernie befriends a young psychiatrist who is experimenting with neurofeedback therapy to treat his patients. The treatment helps Ernie, but the institution, doubtful of neurofeedback's effectiveness, cuts off the experiment. After a failed escape attempt, Ernie makes peace with his memories, and finally leaves the mental hospital.