Loud music blared down the desert road as the townspeople clustered around the makeshift starting line marked out on a deserted stretch of dirt road. Luigi had brought a radio out… "to provide exciting music-a for zee race," he had declared emphatically. Well… it was exciting all right, that much Sally could agree with. Too rocky for her taste though. And Luigi's, for that matter. It had started out playing Italian pop songs and then Lightning had changed the channel to "real racing music", as he had told Luigi with a smirk.
Well, this neighborhood's changed, it's all been rearranged,
We left that change somewhere behind…
Slow down, you're gonna crash,
Baby you were screamin', it's a blast, blast, blast…
Look out babe, you got your blinders on…
Everybody's lookin' for a way to get real gone.*
Doc's ancient car rolled up to the starting line and Sally groaned internally. She didn't understand… Doc's challenge made no sense. What on earth did the old doctor know about racing anyway? And what did that car of his have against Lightning's state-of-the-art machine? But then, Doc had never wanted Lightning to stay around anyway, maybe this was just a way to get rid of him.
Lightning's racecar had been hauled from Mater's junkyard that morning and Luigi had, in great delight it must be added, toiled over it for hours before proudly pronouncing it ready. It was still rather scratched and dented up from Lightning's wild entrance into the town, but it surely was running well, and that was what Sally was concerned about.
There's a new cat in town, he's got high paid friends.
Thinks he's gonna change history.
You think you know him so well, yeah, you think he's so swell,
But he's just perpetuatin' prophecy…*
"I gotta git me one of them there fancy outfits, Miss Sally," Mater whispered loudly, nodding in the direction of Lightning who stood leaning lazily against his racecar. "Jes' imagine me lookin' like that, eh?"
Sally looked from Mater to Lightning and tried to imagine it. The racer had ditched Mater's second-hand overalls for a bright red racing suit sporting giant golden lightning bolts. He held an equally bright-red helmet tucked under his arm as he grinned disdainfully at the audience. An entirely foreign wind of culture seemed to have swept into Radiator Springs with him and seeing him decked out in full racing regalia, Sally felt a twinge of… what was it? It felt like being left out… like she had somehow lost touch with life. She shook herself to get rid of the feeling. She had chosen this small-town life because she loved it. Because it was a welcome refuge from the life she had gladly and willingly left behind her.
"Hey Doc, where'd ya get that rattletrap old thing?" Lightning laughed as he ran his eyes over Doc's car. "Sure it'll hold together long enough to finish the race?" Doc ignored this and Lightning tossed his head carelessly.
…Here I come, and I'm so not scared,
Got my pedal to the metal
Got my hands in the air…
Look out, take your blinders off,
Everybody's lookin' for a way to get real gone…*
"Speed," he grinned, slipping on his helmet. "I am speed. Float like a Cadillac, sting like a Beemer. Ka-chow!" he snapped his fingers and winked at Sally. "Just watch me win this race, baby."
"I hope you lose," Sally shot back before thinking about it and wished she hadn't said it. There was no sense in encouraging that sky-high attitude of his.
"Aw, you don't want me to leave, do you? Sorry to disappoint!" and he swung himself into his car in one smooth move.
You don't want me to leave, do you?
Sally realized with a start that he was right. She didn't want him to leave. And she had to admit to herself that it wasn't just because she wanted him to finish fixing what he had destroyed. It was because he had brought color and life to a town that was dying. Even as arrogant and impossible and destructive as he was being… he had already helped them… and he didn't even realize it. But no, she wasn't being completely honest… there was something more than that… wasn't there…? Something wrapping itself round her heart somehow… She shook her head. Impossible.
"Wait! McQueen…" Luigi rushed up to the racecar, Guido on his heels. The door of the car opened slightly and Sally raised her eyebrows in surprise that Lightning was even deigning to listen to Luigi. "My friend Guido," Luigi went on. "He dream to give a real racer a pit stop."
"Peet stop!" Guido cried enthusiastically.
"Uh…" Lightning laughed condescendingly. "The race is only one lap, guys. Uno lappo! Don't need any help. I work solo mio."
"Fine," Luigi snapped, his face falling. "Race your way." And he stepped back, but Guido remained in place, hopeful and expectant. Lightning sighed.
"No pit stoppo," he said firmly. "Comprendo?"
"Okay," Guido shrugged in resignation and followed Luigi to the sidelines.
"Gentlemen…" The sheriff took his place. "Start your engines!"
Doc's car sputtered slowly into life. Lightning waited a moment or two for full effect before revving his racecar furiously, the loud roar of the engine echoing down the road.
"Great idea, Doc," Sally muttered to herself. "Now the road will never get done."
"On your mark, get set," Luigi did something of a happy little dance and instead of giving the signal continued in a sing-song, "Uno for the money, due for the show, tre to get ready, and quattro to…" he giggled in delight and spun a circle. "I can't believe it! Go!"
The racecar vanished in a cloud of smoke. And when the smoke cleared, it revealed Doc's car sitting motionless at the starting line. Confusion erupted in the audience as Doc rolled his window down and leaned his arm casually on the sill.
"Oh dear," he drawled. "It would seem I'm off to a poor start. Well… better late than never. Got your truck, Mater? Follow me, that young fool's gonna need a little help."
"Uh… okay?" Mater ambled off towards the tow truck he had left parked on the sidelines. On a sudden impulse, Sally scrambled after him. There was no way she was missing this, whatever it was that Doc had in mind.
Disclaimer: I do not own the song lyrics to Real Gone. This song belongs to Disney/Pixar.