Days of Thunder Page #4

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The lead car has to floor it

to hit 200 mph.

The car behind doesn't. He can go

just as fast with power in reserve.

When these two cars

come off that last turn, -

- the car at the back

can move out of the draught, -

- slingshot past the lead car

and beat it to the finish line.

He goes straight to Victory Lane.

- You and Harry work on that?

- More or less.

Yeah, right. Is there anything

you want to do besides racing?

- Anything you say.

- You must want something else ...

... eventually.

l can tell you what l don't want

to be in life, and that's a fraud.

l want to know it's not just luck

that gets me round that racetrack.

- But that's not what you're asking.

- What am l asking?

- How can l be in bed with this guy?.

- l know the answer to that one.

How could a brilliant brain doctor

be in bed with a racing driver?.

What's your response to that,

by the way?.

Do something to make me respect you.

Tell me what you love

so much about racing.

The speed.

To be able to control it.

To know that l can control

something that's out of control.

I'd really have to show you.

Show me.

It's funny. When l grew up, all l

wanted to do was work on race cars.

Now all l want to do is to make

enough money to work on a farm.

- Hi, Claire, I'm Jennie.

- Nice to meet you.

We're going to build

our permanent home up there.

- Does it cost much?

- About $10 million.

Jennie's doing the building.

She's designing the house.

We just want a place

that no one's lived in but us.

- What is it?

- I'm just seasick.

You didn't forget

about the physical.

Nobody in my family goes to a doctor

unless they're dying.

- I'm just not feeling good.

- Stand with your feet together.

Put your arms out.

Close your eyes.

Take it easy. I've got you.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Go back to Daytona.

The head of neurosurgery is my boss.

He's as good as they come.

- Did you get sick in there?

- No.

He did, he got sick.

You're one hell of a candy-ass.

It's imperative that you get back

to Daytona and see Dr Wilhaire.

There's another new Winston Cup team

sponsored by Hardee's.

The driver is Russ Wheeler, -

- the young man who subbed

so superbly for Cole Trickle.

Listen to this horseshit.

With these two competitive spirits,

will there be any conflict?

We believe we can maintain the

integrity of these two race teams.

Who will you be rooting for, Tim?

I'll wave to Cole

every time l lap him.

- These new tires are terrible.

- You're doing good, Cole.

I'm too loose.

- The car feels all wrong.

- Cole's upset.

- What about?

- About being in that race car.

Wheeler just passed the eight car.

He's coming up on your inside.

Jesus!

- The engine blew.

- How?.

I'm not a mechanic, Harry.

I'm in Georgia.

Rowdy's in North Carolina.

Somebody better

talk him into coming down here.

The longer he ignores it, the more

damage will be done to his brain.

- Where's Cole?

- He's on the phone.

We could use a little privacy.

- What's wrong with him?

- What's wrong is you, Tim.

- Two race teams is one too many!

- It doesn't bother Russ Wheeler.

No, with Cole's reputation Wheeler

knows he can bump him all he wants.

l don't see Russ doing anything

like that, neither does NASCAR.

It ain't happening then, under

the watchful eyes of you experts!

l tell you what is happening:

Cole's not running good

and now he's got sponsor trouble.

- But you don't?

- No.

But l want to keep the sponsor

and Cole. He made this all happen.

Right!

Were you on the phone with the doc?

Fighting?

She's too busy to talk right now.

Here's your owner, Tim Daland.

Russ ran a great race today.

I'm very pleased.

caution here at North Wilkesboro.

- Cole hasn't seen Rowdy yet.

- Cole's just like any other driver.

He doesn't want to see Rowdy.

Drivers don't like to be reminded of

what can happen to them out there.

The only time a driver goes to a

funeral is when he's actually dead.

- He's blocking me.

- That's right.

Move the son of a b*tch!

Son of a b*tch!

Trickle at the bottom of the track

with both right-side tires flat.

Wheeler takes the chequered flag.

Wheeler doesn't deserve to win.

That's low-down sh*t-assed racing.

It's just racing. Cole overreacted.

- Change my tires.

- l don't know what for. It's over.

There seems to be a little post-race

activity just outside the pit lane.

You sh*t!

He's destroyed both my cars!

He's fired! You're all fired!

- Are you heading off to Daytona?

- Where are you going from here?

I'll take you to the airport.

I'll catch a flight to Charlotte.

- You want me to come with you?

- What about the hospital?

We could try to see Rowdy.

- Is there anything wrong with that?

- Of course not.

- l guess l forgot about that.

- Yeah, l know.

Let me out of the car.

Let me out.

- Let me out or I'm getting out.

- Hey!

Claire! Wait.

- Get away or I'll call the police.

- I'm not leaving until we talk.

- I've got nothing to say.

- Well l do!

That's it? Fine.

You shouldn't be driving a car,

not on a road or a racetrack.

You're selfish, you're crazy

and you're scared.

You and Rowdy have a sickness.

It's called denial.

And it's probably

going to kill you both.

You want to control something

that's out of control, right?

I'm going to let you in on a secret

that most other people know.

Control is an illusion. Nobody knows

what's going to happen next.

Not on a freeway, -

- and certainly not on a racetrack

with 40 other infantile egomaniacs.

Nobody controls anything. You've had

a glimpse of that and you're scared.

You might not have the courage

to race anymore.

l hate you for this.

You make me sound like a doctor.

Jennie ...

Why are you here?

Where is he?

- l hear you're out of a job.

- Yeah.

You're not looking too good.

- How many of these do you take?

- What did you come here for?.

To take you to the hospital.

lf it wasn't for that woman doctor,

I'd be back on the track.

- Is that right?

- Yeah, that's right.

I've raced with my legs broken,

heart bruised and eyes popping out.

This is going to go away.

I'm going to live forever, -

- unless l go to some damn hospital

where you just lay down and die.

What did you win this for?.

This one right here.

- Doesn't it say?.

- Yeah, it's the Winston Cup.

What's your name?

Or has that slipped your mind, too?

- Screw you, man.

- Okay.

We can go down there and fix your

head or we can fix it right here!

Rowdy would like to see you.

- How is he?

- He's okay.

- How are you?

- Good.

- Will he make Daytona?

- He'll make it out of the hospital.

But he'll never

drive a race car again.

This is Dr Wilhaire.

He's going to be doing the surgery.

Cole Trickle.

How is he?

The doc says

l need minor brain surgery.

Any surgery on his brain

is bound to be minor.

- Can l talk to this guy a second?

- Of course.

A blood vessel in my brain busted.

They want to drill a hole in my head

and get rid of the blood.

- Should l let them do it?

- Yeah.

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