Lo Gunderson feels trapped in her small midwestern hometown until she sees an ad for a free car in the local paper. To maintain her staunch anticapitalist values, she refuses to spend money on what she can find for free, so this car is the perfect ticket out of the town. Though it doesn't cost any money, it still comes with a price. Blanche Peterson is dying and asks that Lo track down her estranged son. But before she can decide whether to fulfill Blanche's dying wish, she needs to get the car started with the help of a mechanic who's looking for a fresh start.