The courtroom was filled with all of the inhabitants of Radiator Springs. It was also noisy with everyone talking and jabbering at once. Everyone had already agreed that this wouldn't be a real trial but merely just a gathering to talk over what is to be done with the recent troublemaker.
"Better look out, buddy. I hear that Markus has made a full recovery and is in a purty grumpy mood." Said Mater, pulling up beside McQueen.
"You'd think the bashing I gave him last night would have knocked some sense into him."
"You'd a think that, wouldn't ya?" Mater laughed. "I can tell he's one o' them hardheaded ones, though. So it's ta be expected."
"Yeah, I guess." McQueen sighed. "I don't know, Mater. That guy creeps me out."
"How do ya mean?"
"I dunno. The way he looks at me; the way he looks at everyone. I don't trust him. I feel like he just came here in hopes of stirring up trouble."
"Ya could be right 'bout that."
Lightning and Mater turned toward the door where Sheriff came in with Markus beside him. The black Thunderbird was in restraints and hobbled in the best he could. His whole right side suffered paint loss where McQueen had rammed him the night before. The once perfect red lines were barely recognizable and silver showed where the black used to be. Unidentifiable red splotches grazed the rest, which everyone knew was McQueen's paint.
McQueen eyed his enemy from across the room. It didn't take Markus long to spot McQueen and when he did, he gave him a long, hard look that clearly said 'revenge' all over it. Even when McQueen turned away he could feel Markus staring at him. It gave him the creeps. Why did Markus hate him so much? Until yesterday, McQueen didn't even know Markus existed, and as far as he was concerned they were still strangers. Did the old car actually find pleasure in driving around to innocent towns and stirring up trouble?
Doc Hudson soon rolled into the courtroom and took his place behind the judge's podium. He sighed wearily while eyeing Markus. He'd gone through all of this too many times and he was fed up with it all. After a few hesitant minutes, he finally honked his horn to get order and immediately everyone fell silent.
"This court is now in session." Doc began. Instead of going through the usual court process, he turned to the only attorney the town had. "Sally, you take it from here. I think we all know the drill by now and I've had just about all I can stand. I'm tired of trying these spoilt, smart aleck hot rods. As far as I'm concerned, the car in front of me is old enough to know better and therefore his actions within the past 24 hours are purely uncalled for. If he had any sense at all he'd act like a civilized, mature car and enjoy what this town has to offer."
Everyone in the courtroom voiced their agreement with what Doc said.
"Enough with the lectures, old man," Markus snapped. "Just get this thing started so I can get out of here!"
Doc turned his gaze towards the Thunderbird. "Did I give you permission to speak?"
"No."
"Then shut your yap until you're called on."
Markus brought his eyebrows closer together and peered at Doc Hudson.
"If I were you, I'd watch my mouth in the future." Doc continued, and then motioned for Sally to take the meeting over.
"We all know the damages and," Sally nervously glanced at Markus. "Emotional strain this car has placed on our town within the past day. Sheriff, Doc, myself and several others have already decided that Markus T. Bird will repair all damages done to the Cozy Cone Motel before he is allowed to leave Radiator Springs. Whatever happens after that will be left up to you, Sheriff and Doc Hudson to decide. Now, any questions or comments?"
"After he's done serving his work time, I think he should leave this place before he gets himself into anymore trouble and causes anymore trouble." Sarge blurted out from the back of the room.
"Hey, like, show some love, man." Fillmore turned to Sarge.
"Oh shut up!" Sarge snapped.
"I'll be more than happy to leave!" Markus shouted angrily. "Can I speak now?"
Doc nodded.
"You couldn't pay me to stay one more day in this crummy town."
A burst of tears and sobbing suddenly came from one of the far corners of the room. Everyone turned to see Red, an extremely shy fire engine and the silent one of the group, trying to make his way out and through the door. Markus watched the situation with great interest and McQueen noticed it. In fact, he didn't like the way Markus eyed Red.
"I guess I could stay a little while longer and actually enjoy what your town has to offer. That is, if you will have me." Markus turned back to Doc.
McQueen exchanged glances with Mater over Markus's sudden change. What was the old Thunderbird up to?
"In fact I'm willing to pay a little money for the damages. I pay for the damages to be fixed and that way I wouldn't have to do it. It'll give me more time to enjoy your friendly hospitality." Markus flashed one of his grins. "How much do you want?" Markus turned to the crowd of cars. "Name your price."
Doc Hudson narrowed his gaze. "Are you trying to bribe this court?"
"I betcha he don't have a cent on 'im." Mater blurted out.
"No, no! I'm not bribing." Markus continued as if Mater wasn't even there. "I'm just offering to pay for the damages. That's all."
"Sounded like a bribe to me!" Said Sarge. "He's doing it so he won't have to work!"
"And what's wrong with that?" Markus shot Sarge a threatening look.
"A bribe is a bribe and I will not have it in my courtroom. In fact I've had enough." Doc turned. "Sheriff, get this loudmouth troublemaker out of my sight. Lead him to the Cozy Cone where he can begin his work immediately."
Everyone piled out of the courthouse and off to do their daily activities. Sheriff, however, led Markus, still in restraints, to the Cozy Cone. Guido was waiting at the motel with a new glass for the office window and all tools needed to replace it. Markus sighed when he saw the job that lay ahead of him.
"How about removing this thing?" Markus said, lifting up the tire that had the restraint on it.
"Get over there and begin your work!" Sheriff sharply replied. "I'm going to keep an eye on you. And don't think you can try anything funny."
Meanwhile, at Flo's café, McQueen and Mater settled themselves down for an afternoon of relaxing. Although the trial's events still haunted McQueen's mind.
"What's tha matter?" Mater asked, noticing the troubled expression on his friend's face.
"I don't like the way Markus acted in that trial. I mean, why did he say that no one could pay him to stay here another day and then just up and change his mind and say that he would stay if we would have him?"
Mater shrugged. "Beats me. Sometimes you jus' can't figure some cars out."
"And I don't like the way he kept eyeing Red. He had that mischievous look on his face like he's up to something. Right after that is when he said that he would stay. You know, I hope he's not planning to hurt Red."
"Why would he wanna hurt Red?"
"Maybe because he's shy and sensitive. He'd be an ideal target for someone like Markus. Seems like bullies always love picking on individuals who may be shy or different than everyone else."
"I never thought of that." Mater turned to Lightning. "Jumpin' jackalopes! Maybe you're right!"
"I hope I'm not. And just between you and me, I think we need to keep a close eye on Red and make sure Markus doesn't go anywhere near him."
"Right."
After two hours, Sheriff drove up in front of the café, weary and frustrated. McQueen and Mater eyed him as he pulled up in front of them and stopped.
"Ya look terrible, Sheriff." Mater drove up beside the police car.
"I feel terrible. That Markus is nothing but a pain in the back bumper."
"You didn't leave him alone!" McQueen gasped.
"No, I didn't leave him alone. As much as he hated to, Doc took over watching him for me."
"What happened over there?" Flo asked; concerned at the way Sheriff looked.
"He broke two new glass windows trying to put it in. Kept claiming and complaining that he didn't know how to put in a new window. So he spent half an hour cleaning up the broken glass."
Flo shook her head.
"And after that, he complained even more."
"About whut?"
"Anything and everything! He's tired, he's hot, he needs something to drink," Sheriff sighed. "I think he spent four minutes complaining how crummy this town is."
"He sure does have an attitude problem." Flo huffed.
"I've never seen anybody so unhappy." Mater sadly added. "I bet he doesn't have any friends."
"Who'd want him for one?" Sheriff said, pulling up into the shade of one of the roofs.
"Everyone needs a friend."
"You're right about that, Mater," said McQueen. "But the way Markus is acting, he obviously thinks he doesn't need any friends."
"Somebody I know used to think tha same thing."
McQueen eyed Mater thoughtfully before a smile formed on his lips.