In a small American town during the 1920s, a young idealist named Joe faces the harsh reality of working life. Burdened by debt and the monotony of his factory job, Joe decides to become a "nickel-hopper," a coin collector at the gambling machines. Using his cunning and quickness, he becomes an expert at slipping through the shadows and claiming coins forgotten by unsuspecting players.
As his life becomes entangled in this activity, Joe strikes up an unusual friendship with a dreamer named Mary, who works as an assistant at a local theater. Mary dreams of a more exciting life and longs to escape the town, but her aspirations seem limited by her circumstances. When she learns of Joe's antics, she sees in him an opportunity to break free from the routine and decides to join his small coin-recycling business.
As the two dive deeper into the underworld of gambling and corruption, they must deal with the consequences of their actions and the imminent threat of a sinister local gangster determined to reclaim his territory. Amid romance, betrayal, and the pursuit of the American dream, the pair must find a way to move forward before their life as nickel-hoppers completely consumes them, testing their loyalty and love.