Vision Quest

In Spokane, Washington, Louden Swain, an 18-year-old aspiring wrestler, demonstrates his fierce ambition to excel in high school wrestling. Despite his coach's objections about competing in a lower weight class, Louden remains resolute in his desire to conquer his rival.

After a successful sparring session with teammate Kuch, Louden becomes even more determined to shed weight. This determination is driven by his secret goal of wrestling against his rival Shute, who weighs significantly less than him.

Kuch shares with their classmates that Louden is on a humorous ‘vision quest’ to find himself, claiming to be of Native American descent. This adds an element of intrigue and light-heartedness to Louden's focused and intense training.

Louden visits his father, Larry, at his car dealership following an incident involving a street-smart customer named Carla. Larry steps in to defend her during a dispute, leading to an unexpected moment of camaraderie between him and his co-workers.

To ease tensions after the dispute, Larry invites Louden to take Carla out to dinner. During their time at the diner, Carla shares her dreams of becoming an artist in San Francisco, capturing Louden’s interest and admiration.

As Louden trains rigorously for wrestling, his feelings for Carla deepen. However, he learns about her plans to move to San Francisco, which worries him about the potential distance in their budding relationship.

While working part-time at a hotel, Louden shares his feelings for Carla with his co-worker Elmo. This conversation reveals Carla's emotional distance, complicating Louden’s feelings further as he increasingly prioritizes his wrestling goals.

During a grueling practice, Louden collapses from dehydration, prompting a critical discussion with his English teacher, Mr. Tanneran. This incident serves as a wake-up call about the dangers of his obsessive training and neglect of health.

Carla grows concerned about Louden's single-minded focus on wrestling, causing her to question the strength of their connection. Despite moments of intimacy, Louden's obsession with weight loss begins to strain their relationship.

At an important wrestling match, Carla cheers for Louden, but he faces a setback and must forfeit due to a severe nosebleed. This moment forces him to confront both his physical limits and his feelings for Carla.

A road trip creates an opportunity for Louden and Carla to engage in heartfelt conversations, where they share their fears and dreams. This leads to a significant moment of intimacy as they kiss, deepening their emotional bond.

Just before his crucial wrestling match, Carla mysteriously disappears, leaving Louden feeling distressed and confused. This adds pressure and uncertainty as he prepares for the showdown with Shute.

In a rush before the weigh-in, Louden finally achieves his goal weight of 168 pounds, a culmination of his grueling training. However, the anxiety of Carla's absence weighs heavily on him as he faces his rival.

Moments before the match, Carla finds Louden in the locker room to express her regret for leaving and her fears of being a distraction. Her heartfelt support revitalizes his confidence as he prepares for the competition.

Despite facing significant challenges, including a resurgence of nosebleeds, Louden enters the match with renewed vigor and support from his coach. Against the odds, he triumphs in the wrestling match, earning respect and admiration from his peers.