After a global disaster reduces Earth's human population to pre-industrial levels, survivors of western civilization divide into two groups: one recreates society following pre-disaster norms, while the other modifies human emotions to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophe. Those in favor of recreating society, referred to as the "Randoms," migrate to Western Europe, while the proponents of a redesigned human existence, known as the "Modifieds," settle in North America. Centuries after the division, two young women from the Modified faction are given the opportunity to visit the Random community. After their exploration, they each face a pivotal decision: whether to remain on Random or return to their homeland, Modified.