England, 1852: On the edge of self-destruction, William is a biologist who has chosen the mundane life of a seed merchant over higher callings of science and discovery. Unitd States, 2007: George, a beekeeper, has proudly preserved the family traditions passed down, even as he fights an uphill battle against modern farming. China, 2098: For twelve hours each day, Tao and countless fellow workers hand-paint pollen onto fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared.