The Go-Getter 2008

Drama

Comedy

Box Office

$12K

Runtime

93 min

Language

English

Directed by

Martin Hynes

Made by

Peace Arch Releasing

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The Go-Getter Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Go-Getter (2008). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Mercer White, a 19-year-old with a restless impulse, steals a Volvo station wagon from a car wash in Eugene, Oregon and sets off to locate his estranged half-brother, Arlen, who does not know that their mother has recently died. Soon after he leaves, a cell phone in the car starts ringing, and Mercer speaks with the car’s owner, Kate, who lends him her vehicle on one condition: he must call regularly to describe his journey.

Mercer heads to Shelter Cove, California, a bohemian pottery community where Arlen once lived, only to discover that his brother has moved on to Reno, Nevada. His route takes him through Fallon, Nevada, where he encounters his middle school crush, Joely. In Reno, they share a night of ecstasy and flirtation, but Mercer stays focused on continuing his search for Arlen. His path then leads him to the set of a pornographic film, where the director informs him that Arlen left that life to work at a pet store in Sacramento, California. Along the way, Joely asks Mercer to drive her cousin Buddy and his friend Rid to Mojave, California, where they are attempting to build their own car.

During the drive, Mercer discovers Kate’s YMCA card tucked in the trunk of her car. With this realization, he envisions a dream where he, Joely and Kate dance together in a re-enactment of Bande à Part’s famous sequence. He tries to move on without being pulled off course, but when Buddy threatens to steal the car, Mercer asserts that the car belongs to his girlfriend, and Buddy, Rid, and Joely depart. Mercer then hitchhikes to Mojave and locates the salvage yard where Buddy and Rid work, reclaiming the car.

Back in the car, Mercer speaks to Kate while driving and imagines her sitting in the back seat; she grows jealous when he mentions Joely, and she eventually ends the call. He reaches Sacramento and finds the pet store where Arlen once worked. The store owner asks Mercer to sing in a children’s band as part of a probation agreement. When he returns to the car, he finds someone attempting to break in; it turns out to be Kate. They spend the night in a hotel, but Mercer leaves the next morning and catches a train to Los Angeles. With the help of a translator, he calls Arlen’s last known residence and learns from a Hispanic woman that Arlen is working at a hotel in Ensenada, Mexico.

Mercer eventually meets Arlen at the Ensenada hotel, but Arlen assumes Mercer is after money. In a brief confrontation, Mercer tackles his brother to the ground and is kicked out. Later, Kate finds a bloodied Mercer by the side of the road and drives him to a hotel. She confesses that she let him take her car because she was attracted to him, and the two share a night of intimacy. The following day, Mercer encounters Arlen again, and the two part more amicably after Mercer explains that he and Kate are planning to drive to Louisiana to spread their mother’s ashes.

The Go-Getter Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Go-Getter (2008) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Mercer steals the Volvo in Eugene and starts a fateful road trip

Mercer White steals a Volvo from a car wash in Eugene, Oregon, kicking off his cross-country search for his estranged half-brother Arlen. The trip carries the weight of their mother's recent death, which Mercer wants to acknowledge but cannot yet face. To complicate things, Kate—the car's owner— calls him and offers the vehicle if he keeps her posted on every mile of his journey.

morning Eugene, Oregon

Shelter Cove detour reveals Arlen's whereabouts

Mercer travels to Shelter Cove, California, a bohemian pottery commune where Arlen once lived. He learns that Arlen has moved on to Reno, Nevada, changing the target of his search. The detour shows how loose leads and shifting directions characterize his quest.

early in trip Shelter Cove, California

Fallon stop and Reno encounter with Joely

While making his way north, Mercer passes through Fallon, Nevada to reconnect with Joely, his middle-school crush. In Reno, they share ecstasy and flirtatious tension, but Mercer keeps his sights on finding Arlen. The encounter gives him a personal distraction amid the search.

mid-trip Fallon, Nevada; Reno, Nevada

On the porn set and Sacramento clue

Later, Mercer finds himself on the set of a pornographic film, where the director reveals Arlen left to work at a pet store in Sacramento. The revelation pivots his journey toward California's Central Valley. The moment underscores how little direction his trek has.

later in trip Reno, Nevada

Joely asks Mercer to drive to Mojave; trunk surprise

Joely asks Mercer to drive her cousin Buddy and his friend Rid to Mojave, California, where they’re building a car. While driving, Mercer discovers Kate's YMCA card tucked in the trunk, triggering a dream of a Bande à Part-like dance with Joely and Kate. The discovery hints at the complicated ties between his passengers and his mysterious car.

during drive en route to Mojave, California

Motel confrontation and group split

Mercer tries to leave the others behind in a motel room, but Buddy threatens to steal the car. Mercer asserts the car belongs to his girlfriend, prompting Buddy, Rid, and Joely to depart with Kate's car. Mercer remains with Kate's car and continues the journey alone.

during stop motel along the route

Mercer retrieves the car in Mojave

Mercer hitchhikes to Mojave and finds Buddy and Rid working at a salvage yard, where he retrieves Kate's car. He resumes driving and keeps Kate on the line in his mind, bridging the gap between his detours and his goal. The exchange keeps the emotional thread of Kate's involvement alive.

after motel Mojave, California

Sacramento arrival: pet store and children's band

Mercer arrives in Sacramento and finds the pet store where Arlen had worked. The owner asks him to sing in her children's band, a probation-related opportunity that gives him a rare moment of normalcy. The city becomes a new waypoint in his increasingly tangled mission.

after Mojave Sacramento, California

Kate breaks in and hotel night; departure to LA

When Mercer returns to the car, he discovers Kate attempting to break in; they spend the night at a hotel. The next morning he leaves and catches a train to Los Angeles. The evolving relationship with Kate becomes an anchor amid the upheaval of his search.

night to morning Sacramento, California

Ensenada beckons: translator helps locate Arlen

With the help of a translator, Mercer phones Arlen's last residence and learns that Arlen is working at a hotel in Ensenada, Mexico. The new location shifts his plan from California to the Mexican coast. The step marks a new leg of the journey.

after Los Angeles Ensenada, Mexico

Confrontation with Arlen in Ensenada

Mercer finally meets Arlen at the Ensenada hotel, but Arlen suspects he’s there for money. The confrontation escalates until Mercer tackles Arlen and is kicked off the premises. The reunion is abrupt and unsettled, leaving their relationship precarious.

soon after arrival Ensenada, Mexico

Kate finds Mercer bloodied and they connect

Later, Kate finds a bloody Mercer by the roadside and takes him to a hotel. She admits attraction to him and they end up having sex, bonding in the aftermath of the upheaval. The moment deepens their complicated connection amid the cross-country trek.

following Arlen confrontation Ensenada, Mexico

Final meetup: plans to drive to Louisiana

The day after, Mercer meets Arlen again and they reach a warmer understanding. He reveals that he and Kate are planning to drive to Louisiana to spread their mother's ashes. The siblings drift toward reconciliation as the journey continues.

the next day Ensenada / en route to Louisiana

The Go-Getter Characters

Explore all characters from The Go-Getter (2008). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Mercer White

A 19-year-old whose impulsive drive to find his estranged half-brother fuels a cross-country quest. He uses charm and wit to navigate shifting allegiances, often acting before thinking. Mercer is desperate for family and belonging, yet his choices reveal a longing for control over his life and its chaos.

🚗 Impulsive 🧭 Restless 🔎 Determined

Arlen

Mercer’s estranged half-brother who has already moved on from their family ties, first in Reno and later in Sacramento and Ensenada. He’s wary of Mercer’s motives, quick to guard his own interests, and slow to trust. Arlen’s guarded demeanor hides a deeper ache for connection and stability.

🧍‍♂️ Estranged 🗺️ Wanderer

Kate

Owner of the Volvo Mercer borrows, who agrees to lend the car in exchange for regular updates. She oscillates between attraction and jealousy, appears both intrigued and wary of Mercer, and re-enters the story at crucial moments. Kate’s presence adds a charged, unstable layer to Mercer’s journey.

💋 Seductive 🗝️ Guarded

Joely

Mercer’s middle school crush who reappears as a catalyst for distraction and temptation. She becomes a companion on part of the road trip, complicating Mercer’s mission with flirtation and a spontaneous, reckless streak. Joely embodies the lure of easy connection versus the harder pursuit of his actual goal.

🎭 Charismatic 🌪️ Capricious

Buddy

Joely’s cousin who joins the trip for a stretch and embodies pace with danger—willing to threaten the car for a chance at freedom. His presence introduces tension and a reminder of the precariousness of Mercer’s choices on the road.

🛠️ Handy ⚡ Reckless

Rid

Buddy’s friend, a participant in the makeshift car-building journey and a foil to Mercer’s cautious planning. Rid adds an element of camaraderie mixed with improvised risk, reflecting the road’s unpredictability.

🧰 Loyal 💨 Impulsive

The Go-Getter Settings

Learn where and when The Go-Getter (2008) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Eugene, Oregon, Shelter Cove, California, Reno, Nevada, Fallon, Nevada, Mojave, California, Sacramento, California, Ensenada, Mexico, Los Angeles, California, Louisiana

The story unfolds across a string of West Coast towns, beginning in Eugene, Oregon, and moving through Shelter Cove’s bohemian milieu before crossing into Nevada and California. Mercer’s quest then takes him through Reno, Fallon, Mojave, and Sacramento, with detours to Ensenada, Mexico, and finally Los Angeles. The settings range from a pottery commune to salvage yards and hotels, each place shaping Mercer’s decisions and slipping him deeper into his search for Arlen and his sense of belonging.

🚗 West Coast journey 🗺️ Road trip vibe 🎨 Bohemian locales 🏜️ Desert towns 🌎 Cross-border travel

The Go-Getter Themes

Discover the main themes in The Go-Getter (2008). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🚗

Road Trip

Mercer’s journey is a moving maze across the West, where each stop tests his resolve and broadens his circle of influence. The road acts as both escape and catalyst, pulling him toward new faces and new risks. Encounters along the way blur the line between search and escape, pushing Mercer to redefine what he’s seeking.

🕯️

Grief & Loss

The death of Mercer’s mother casts a long shadow over the trip, driving him to reconnect with a fractured family. Grief intensifies his impulsiveness and craving for connection, influencing how he reads people and situations. The journey becomes a way to process loss, even as it complicates relationships and compromises judgment.

💘

Desire & Temptation

Mercer’s interactions with Joely and Kate introduce romance and sexual tension that threaten to derail his mission. Jealousy and longing complicate loyalty, revealing how attraction can distract from a painful truth. The film uses these entanglements to explore how need and desire shape choices on the road.

🤝

Family Bonds

The pursuit of Arlen centers on reclaiming family ties and confronting past wounds after their mother’s death. The half-brothers’ uneasy interactions expose trust issues, yet also the longing for reconciliation. The road toward mutual understanding remains imperfect, ending with a fragile plan to honor their mother together.

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The Go-Getter Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Go-Getter (2008). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the wake of a personal loss, Mercer White, a restless nineteen‑year‑old, abandons his Oregon hometown and embarks on a meandering journey across the American West. Fueled by a yearning to reconnect with his estranged half‑brother, he roams through a landscape of desolate highways and sun‑bleached towns, each mile a quiet attempt to outrun grief and find a sense of belonging. The film’s tone is simultaneously wistful and buoyant, blending the melancholy of a road‑movie pilgrimage with the off‑beat humor of chance encounters.

Early on, a voice over the phone offers Mercer a lifeline: Kate, a calm and enigmatic presence whose soothing words become a compass of sorts, inviting him to share the details of his wanderings. Their unseen bond injects a gentle, almost therapeutic rhythm into the narrative, turning each detour into a moment of introspection. Along the way, Mercer meets a variety of eccentric characters who embody the quirky spirit of the places they inhabit, each interaction prompting him to question the distance he’s putting between himself and the people he cares about.

Among those he reconnects with is Joely, a former crush whose reappearance adds a layer of nostalgic tension to his trek. Their brief reunions hint at the lingering pull of past relationships, even as Mercer’s primary focus remains the elusive quest to locate Arlen, his brother who has drifted far beyond the familiar borders of their shared childhood. The film captures the subtle dance between longing and liberation, suggesting that the road itself may hold more answers than the destination.

Through its sun‑drenched vistas, understated humor, and intimate dialogue, the story paints a portrait of a young man learning that the true measure of a journey lies not in the miles traveled, but in the human connections forged along the way.

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