Some of you Car enthusiast will notice a mistake, because I did change one thing from the movie...can you find it?
Chapter 7: Wheel Well's secret
Sitting outside the Cozy Cone, a dazzling blue Porsche and a decal covered red race car continue to wait for a friend to come on a cruise.
"Where is he?" Lightning remarks, looking East up route 66, keeping an eye out for his best friend. "I told him to be here at noon, and of course he's late again!"
"You do know that Mater can't tell time, Right?" Sally replies, and Lightning just shows a smile.
"I know...that's why I gave him that digital dashboard clock!" The red car replies, knowing he had Ramone replace the old analog one that Mater had trouble with.
"Oh!" Sally remarks, now looking down the road with her boyfriend. "Then I wonder where he is?"
"I'm right here!" Mater barks, scaring the jeepers out of both Lightning and Sally, as they spin around to face the jovial tow truck.
"Geez Mater! Are you trying to drive us to an early grave?" Lightning barks, looking at the hood-less tow truck with a bit of anger, but quickly backing off as a tear begins to develop on his windshield.
"I'm sorry...I was just tryin' ta have a lil' fun is all, I didn't mean ta scare ya that much."
Mater begins to back away, tapping his rear bumper against the Cozy Cone's front awning, then slowly pulling away with depression.
Sally then smacks Lightning with her passenger door, and he does nothing to respond, knowing he completely overreacted, but mostly that Mater was upset with what his best friend said.
"I've never seen him hit anything while backing up before!" the red car remarks, staring at the small dent on Mater's rear bumper from this impact.
"I better go apologize to him now!"
However, before Lightning can move from the lot, a large convoy of blue Dinaco trucks begin rolling into Radiator Springs, followed by a now pristine blue Plymouth Superbird
"Hey kid..." The King remarks, pulling out from behind the last semi-truck with his station wagon wife, and entering the Cozy Cone lot. Both Sally and Lightning show complete shock in their eyes, as the last time they saw the King, he was a wreck.
"...how's the hottest new race car on the Piston Cup circuit!"
"We're fine Strip..." The young car replies with the racing legend's first name, as the blue Plymouth insisted Lightning never call him The King, especially after helping him off the track to his frightened wife. However, the fact this blue Suberbird shows no ill effects from that horrendous crash, is startling to Lightning and Sally.
"...but what about you?" Lightning asks in return, staring closely at the King's frame, and noticing how perfectly straight it is now. "How in the name of the Goodyear Blimp did you get fixed so fast."
"LIKE I SAID IN CALIFORNIA...I GOT A LOT OF POWERFUL FRIENDS!" A voice shouts out from above, forcing Sally and Lightning to look up at the blue helicopter lowering down to the ground.
A gold Cadillac with a pair of horns attached to the front of his hood rolls out, and straight up to the pair of love birds, making sure his smile is shown the entire way.
"and now I need to talk to another friend!"
Lightning smiles, as he quickly realizes the wealthy tycoon has come with the King to schmooze him again, and he turns his eyes to Sally.
"This is very flattering, Sir, but as Isaid in California..." McQueen returns his eyes sharply to the great owner of his one time favorite sponsor. "...I am going to stick with Rusteez for now, and there is nothing you can say that will change my mind."
"What! You said no already, and I respect that, so I'm not here to see you Lightning." Tex remarks, looking around and not finding the one he came for, then returning his eyes to the young race car.
"We actually came to talk to the Hudson Hornet"
"Oh!" McQueen replies, thankful his paint is red to cover the embarrassment on his face. "I believe he's in his garage Mr. Dinaco, and I didn't mean to sound like a jerk!"
"That's not being a jerk my boy..." Tex rolls up to the young race car, and shows a very smug grin, as he knows the world of negotiations inside and out.
"...that was just being confident in your abilities. Trust me Lightning, one day I will show you Dinaco is the best team to drive for, and I will get you to sign that contract."
Lightning's grin is almost permanently glued upon his face, as he did guess right, and Tex was showing off his power for the newest racing hero. He looks over at Sally whom rolls her eyes, knowing his ego can only get bigger from this, however, his attention is brought back to the gold Caddy as he chirps his tires, leaving in a big hurry.
"Hey you two...if ya don't mind, my wife and I also wanna talk to The Hudson Hornet about the same thing..." The King remarks, slowly following his old boss, but looking back at his new friends.
"...I wanna meet up with ya later McQueen...I owe ya big, and I always pay up on my debts!"
"OK!" The red car replies loud enough for The King to hear, as he has already picked up speed to catch his boss, leaving his wife to follow at her fastest.
"That was weird!" Sally remarks with concern, rolling up alongside her red boyfriend, and watching all three cars pull directly into Doc's garage.
"And that is a lot weirder!" Lightning continues, knowing Doc never lets anyone in his garage.
"Should we find out!" They both say in unison, then smile before rolling down the street together.
The two sports cars slowly turn right down the side road heading to the Hudson's old dusty garage, keeping a snails pace as they proceed. The two cars are shocked hearing nothing as they approach, believing the Hornet would be throwing a tantrum by now with that many cars in his private garage. However, not a peep comes from the door. In fact, the eerie silence becomes sickening to both Sally and McQueen, whom pull into Flo's Cafe, and wait there for any sound.
"Do you think Doc is loosening up?"
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO TALKING ABOUT..."
Suddenly the Hudson's voice booms with anger, and he rolls up to the opened door, staring out at the two cars parked across the way. Both Sally and McQueen begin shaking, as they believe the Hudson is yelling at them. However, as Doc slams his door, and continues yelling at the cars that came inside his garage, the two sports cars settle down.
They can hear his voice getting louder, but are unable to make out what the argument is about.
"Should we..." Sally begins to say, but Lightning cuts her off knowing exactly what his girlfriend's crazy idea is already.
"What listen in on Doc?" He remarks with a sarcastic tone, staring deep into her eyes, and showing his fear.
"ARE YOU NUTS!?"
Both cars stare at the door for a moment, still hearing voices boom out in anger, and begin to move towards the garage. They can hear more and more yelling, and some words begin to become audible through the door.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE DIDN'T SHOW UP?" Doc yells louder, and Lightning can hear Tex Dinaco shout back with an angered response
"LIKE I'VE SAID TWICE NOW HUDSON...HE NEVER MADE IT TO THE INTERVIEW."
Both cars shrug with confusion, having no clue whom they are talking about. However, a sudden bump to McQueen's rear end makes the red race car jump.
"AHHH!" He yelps, turning around quickly to see the hood-less tow truck that drove off somberly before.
"I didn't mean ta scare ya...again." Mater remarks, showing pure regret in his eyes, and McQueen quickly rolls up to his friend.
"It's OK Mater!" The red car remarks, still trying to catch his breath, and looks up at the rusty truck, showing the same regret in his eyes. "I didn't mean to say what I said either. That was rude of me, and I'm sorry!"
Mater grins, however that smile does not last long, as Doc's voice booms in anger again.
"I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS?"
"What's goin' on in there?" The tow truck barks out with concern, and Doc can hear his voice just outside the door.
"Mater!" The Hudson says to himself with fear, as he opens the door to his garage, looking at the blue Porsche he's know for years, with a pair of terrified eyes.
"Sally could you come in here for a moment."
She gives her boyfriend an odd look before proceeding into the garage, and Lightning gives Mater the same odd stare.
"What is going on?"
"Shoot, how would I know, I just got here!" The tow truck replies, staring at the door Doc just slammed closed again. "Did you do something to anger him again!"
Lightning shakes his head no, however he suddenly looks up at Mater with a bit of concern.
"What do mean AGAIN?"
Mater smirks then looks up in the air, as if he was keeping a secret, when the door pops open and Sally rolls outside.
"Lets go Stickers..." She remarks, then turns her eyes to the rusty tow truck. "...you too Mater!"
Doc watches as Sally tears off down the street, leading both Lightning and Mater away from this conversation.
"I almost crushed his heart again..." Doc remarks, seeing the old tow truck looking back with concern in his eyes, before turning into the Cozy Cone lot with Sally and McQueen. "...it took years for him to forget."
Tex rolls up behind Doc, and can see the tears begin to form on The Hudson Hornet's windshield.
"You don't know what happened...do you?"
Doc's tears fall to the ground, as his eyes close tightly envisioning the red Mustang he last saw thirty five years ago.
"No...I don't!" His voice is so defeated, that Tex immediately stops talking about the car that has always been in the back of his mind, since he started his Racing Team the year Winston disappeared.
"I'm so sorry then Hudson..." The old Caddy remarks, now showing a few tears himself. "...I was hoping you knew where Winston went, because I've missed my friend for so long, and never knowing what happened has been very painful to me."
Doc Hudson opens his eyes again, after remembering a vision of the worst moment of his life, the day he had to tell his younger sister, that her son had vanished without a trace.
"I only wish I knew what happened Tex!" He says somberly, staring outside at Mater, and the young race car that reminded him so much of his nephew, that he tried to get him out of his town the day he arrived.
Meanwhile, across the street at the Cozy Cone, the three cars that were chased off look for any way to keep their minds from the angered conversation taking place.
"Hey guys, I got an idea!" McQueen suddenly says, looking over at Mater and Sally with a forced smile.
"Why don't we take that cruise we planed. Maybe we can find out what is going on later, instead of just sitting here guessing."
Sally, still staring across the street, slowly nods her head, and turns around to face her boyfriend. Mater also nods with acceptance, allowing Lightning to smile a little wider.
"Good!" The red car remarks, then looks up towards the abandoned Wheel Well Hotel. "I want to show you guys the something special."
Mater follows his best friend's eyes and notices exactly what Lightning is looking at.
"I can't go up there!" Mater remarks, and Lightning balks with confusion, However, Sally quickly nods her head, as she has never seen the tow truck venture up this mountain...EVER.
"What do you mean you can't go up there, buddy." McQueen says with concern, suddenly seeing the tow truck shaking with nerves.
"I just don't like that place is all Lightnin'..." He replies, then looks back to Doc's garage. "...It holds a very bad memory fer me, a memory I'm never susposed ta tell anyone I remember."
Mater returns his eyes to his best friend, picturing the red Mustang that he could never forget, and knowing that Wheel Well was the last place anyone ever saw him.
"So if you two don't mind...I'm just gonna sit out this cruise!"
Sally can hear the same fear that Mater has expressed before about Wheel Well, and places a gentle tire against his side.
"It's OK Mater..." She replies, looking back at McQueen with a desperate set of eyes, hoping her boyfriend can figure out a way to ease the tow truck's emotions. "...we don't need to go on a cruise up there right now, do we Stickers?"
Lightning sinks on his tires with depression, knowing he wants to tell his girlfriend about the purchase he just made, but won't leave Mater by himself so depressed. However, his eyes lock on something that may make this cruise work after all, and a smile fills wide upon his grille.
"How about you and I cruise up there, Sally..." Lightning says with confidence, then taps his best friend with a tire, while pointing at Rotor.
"...and if you wish, you can meet us up there...after you finish your ride!"
"My what!?" Mater asks with confusion, until he notices the helicopter sitting across the street.
"NO WAY!" He screams with joy, completely forgetting about his depression, and looking back at his best friend. "Ya mean I get ta ride in the HELLYCOPTER!"
Lightning turns his eyes to the blue Dianco air ship, and smiles wider.
"HEY ROTOR!" He barks, and the helicopter looks over to McQueen. "Can you give my friend that lift now?"
The blue helicopter winks a single eye, knowing the promise his boss gave to the Rusteez car, then fires up his engine. Mater's smile increases hearing Rotor's powerful motor hum to full speed, and rolls over to the blue whirlybird with excitement, as the side door opens wide for him alone.
"So what's was all that about?" Lightning remarks, and Sally shrugs her fenders
"I think he thinks the old hotel is haunted...but I'm not exactly sure!" The blue Porsche remarks with concern, looking at her boyfriend with a set of bewildered eyes.
"However, we are talking about Mater here, so who really knows!"
McQueen shows his friend a smile, as Mater yelps with joy when Rotor lifts of the ground. Both cars watch happily as the simple-mindded tow truck leaves, feeling better about his mood.
"So Stickers...what is this big surprise, huh?" Sally asks, knowing he has been anxious about heading on this cruise, and McQueen just shows a smug smile.
"You're gonna have to keep up with me to find out!" The race car replies smugly, then leaves a trail of rubber as he pulls off quickly towards the west.
Mater watches intently from the sky, as Lightning and Sally begin their ascent of the small mountain, making great speed all the way to the top, then pulling into the old hotel after only a minute.
"Can we just sit here in the air for a little while...Mr Hellycopter!" Mater remarks still worrying about his friends inside the abandoned hotel, hoping they'll come out soon.
"The name is Rotor, My friend..." The helicopter replies through a set of speakers inside the compartment, then hovers perfectly still. "...and I will do what ever you ask me to."
Mater smiles, and focuses his eyes back to the door of Wheel Well, waiting patiently for his best friend to emerge.
"Please don't disappear, Lightnin'! I can't take losing two of my friends here!" He says with fear, and the blue helicopter becomes a bit concerned. A small display lowers from the roof of Rotor's interior, directly before Mater's eyes, showing an inferred visual of both cars inside.
"They're right there!" Rotor remarks, moving in closer to give the tow truck a better view. "Do you want me to land so you can see for yourself?"
"No thanks Mr Rotor...this is fine!" Mater replies, happy to see the two cars circling inside with the special display, and more so as Lightning and Sally suddenly reappear in plain sight. He can see the smiles on both their faces, and Mater finally relaxes himself.
"In fact...I think I got an idea fer a funny joke."
Mater gives a command for Rotor to lower himself out of the sky, and sneak up the face to the lookout. The hood-less tow truck begins to laugh, seeing Lightning and Sally on radar, approaching the ledge directly above.
"NOW!" He barks out, and Rotor pops up just as Lightning is ready to plant a huge kiss on Sally's lips.
"Lightnin and Sally sittin' in a tree...K, I, S, S, ahhhh somethin', somethin', G"
"Very funny Mater!" Lightning yelps from below, and rusty old tow truck finally begins laughing.
At this moment, Rotor can hear the joy in his passenger's voice, and begins to give Mater the ride he was waiting for. The helicopter banks hard to the right and drops down towards Radiator Springs, heading directly over the place this tow truck has called his home for as long as he can remember.
Fillmore, The Sarge, and Ramone look up from the V8 Cafe with Flo and they smile as Mater flies over head, his voice yelping with great joy.
"Yahoooooo...I'm happier then a tornado in a trailer park!"
Upon the ledge, Sally and McQueen finally enjoy that kiss in private, however, their moment is short lived, as Mater and his new best friend pop up again..
"I can't leave you two alone fer a minute!" He says, and McQueen does not stop his kiss, not caring who sees his love for Sally.
However, both cars stop kissing, as Mater yells with total shock in his voice.
"HOLY SHOOT ROTOR!" He screams to his pilot. "GO DOWN...GO DOWN...GO DOWN!"
The helicopter adjusts his radar, unable to see directly beneath himself, and quickly notices the large chunk of metal that has caught Mater's eyes from above. He drops quickly from the sky with precision, hovering directly above the now pulsing image on his scope.
"Hang on Mater!" Rotor barks out before lunging upward, sending a huge gust of wind down from his spinning blades, and clearing half of the dirt and debris that smothered a young Mustang.
Mater stares at the face of a ghost, as Winston's faded front end is finally exposed after thirty five years under sand, and his heart breaks seeing no life.
"No!" The tow truck cries softly, feeling the loss of his friend all over again. "He's really gone!"
However, Rotor sees it differently, and immediately radios to his boss.
"MR DINACO...THIS IS ROTOR! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION!" The helicopter barks into his communicator, and Tex quickly replies.
"What is it Rotor?"
"SIR, WE HAVE A '67 MUSTANG HALF WAY DOWN THE LEDGE OF WHEEL WELL'S LOOKOUT!" He replies with a tone of anxiousness, and Doc Hudson, sitting next to the Dinaco Tycoon, drops his cup of warmed oil. But what he hears next, sends a deep chill down the chassis of the old Hornet
"YOU BETTER HURRY...BECAUSE THIS CAR'S LIFE SIGNS ARE FADING OUT!"
"What did he just say!"
Did anyone notice what I changed...Sally was not waiting at Wheel Well for Lightning. It is a very subtle difference, and I don't think anyone will really care too much...I hope.
Anyway, Winston has been found, and he is not dead...yet Stay tuned to see what Radiator Springs can do to help a friend they had lost long ago
