An act of questionable heroism has bought Oyster Bummins a decade of praise and loads of easy money as he washes windshields on his favorite street corner in the sleepy town of Burgaw. Life is grand... until idealistic outsider Artie Flannigan comes to town to open the latest in his chain of Squirts-4-Less car washes. The two come to blows and eventually square off in a battle for mayor of Burgaw that will change this town forever.