"Someone once told me we always are where we're supposed to be." "Now I believe it." "Life is a journey." "You know where it begins, you never know where it ends..." "Or how..." "It's not easy finding one's path." "Sometimes we get lost." "Sometimes we stumble and fall." "And if we are not in control of our own destiny then what is?" "Is it fate or Lady Luck?" "Random chaos or God?" "And if it is God and you were given the chance to become the instrument of providence..." "Would you do it?" "TEXAS SIX MONTHS EARLIER" " Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you, Ma'am." " Yeah, can I help you?" "I'm lost and I ran out of gas a Iittle ways down the road from you." " I was using my cell phone to navigate..." " Oh we don't have cell phone reception out here." "Yeah, no kidding." "I got to a fork, I had no idea which way to tum." "Honestly I can't even find your road on the map." "I have no idea where I am." "I don't think I'm where I'm supposed to be though." "We always are where we're supposed to be..." "But you know you're right about the gas station." "Ain't none up this road that's for sure!" "Oh honey, don't fee I bad, everybody gets lost around here." "Heck, I've been trying to get out of this place myself for fifty years!" "I wanted us to move to Florida to be closer to my sister but my husband, God rest his sou I, just didn't want to hear about it." "On account of all of his old cars." "Just look at this!" "What a mess!" "They're everywhere!" "You know, he nevercould see an old clunker without ending up buying it." "And when he'd come home from a business trip, he was a salesman you know, he'd be towing some piece of old junk behind him." "I sold the property last week and howin heaven am I supposed to have all this junk moved out by the end ofthe month?" "Well I sure hope the Japanese people buy them all tomorrow!" "I need to get all this junk out of here!" "Oh there you are!" "I found the gas." " Joann, are you selling all your cars?" " Oh you bet!" " Even this one?" " Yeah all of them." " Would you consider selling it to me?" " You're not one ofthose crazy car people are you?" " I'm a hot roadder, Joann." " Oh for heaven sakes..." "Look, I don't have a Iot of money and I'm sure your buyers tomorrow can offer you a Iot more than I can." "But this here, this is my dream." "My husband always did love this one, not really sure why..." "You should have seen it when he brought it home." "It was a mess!" "He worked on it fourteen years, fixed it up like new." "You think he ever drove it once?" "No..." "It's just been sitting here, gathering dust, just like the rest of'em." "Well, you know I'm sure your husband would prefer to see it stay closerto home..." "You reached Monk." "I'm busy doing burnouts right now, so leave a message." "Hey Monk, it's Faith." "Call me as soon as you get this message, okay, it's super urgent." "You'll never bell eve what I found here." "Um, no I'm not coming back with a script, but I'm coming back with inspiration." "I'll give you a hint:" "It's a car." "The lady is super nice, she's even throwing in an old trailer in the deal, so I'm going to be able to tow it back, the car is not running." "Anyways I need your help okay?" "I'm short two grand to close this deal and" "I'm heading back to Tyler right now, there's a Western Union up there.And... shit I sure hope you get this message." "I'm running out of time." "Okay call me okay?" "Bye." "Joann, thank you so much for everything." "Oh you're welcome honey and I hope you enjoy it." "Hey if that pink slip shows up while you're packing, will you mail it to me?" "Oh sure will Honey, sure will!" "And you have a safe trip back to LA!" " I will." " O.K" " Thankyou!" " Bye bye!" "What year is it?" "32!" "Wow, right on!" "Rex, Rex." "Checkthis out:" "Filthy, this is so him!" "This is you man, I'm buying this!" "Oh shit, I forgot my purse in my roadster." "I'll be back." "Is this your car?" " Yes!" " Really?" "It's yours?" " Yes!" " I mean, not your husband's?" " I don't have one ofthose." " Boyfriend?" "Don't have one ofthose either." "No, this is my Deuce." " Well you got a very nice roadster." " Thankyou." "I Iike your steering wheel." "53 Chevy, right?" "My dad was a hardcore hot rodderfrom the fifties..." "Had a sweet 34 roadster with a Hemi engine in it..." "When I saw that spade on your steering wheel reminded me of a story he to Id me about him and his buddies, back in the days." "Come on!" "Can't this piece of crap go any faster?" "Howlong do you thinkit's gonna take him to test drive the coup e?" " Oh the way he drives?" "Probably not verylong!" " Art's not going to do it anyway, Bob..." " He'll do it!" "OKTrust me!" " We'll see." "He's gonna marry my sister." "Trust..." "Hang a right, there." "Damn!" "Hey Daddy-o!" "Huh!" "What's up Bob?" "What's up guys?" " Hey is the Chief around?" " No, he went into town to pick up some parts." " Oh yeah?" "So he'll be gone fora while then?" " At least an hour." "Why?" "Why?" "Hey, can I talkto you fora second?" "You see, we came to see the Deuce of Spades and..." "I to Id the boys that you'd pop the hoodforus." "You know I can't do that, I'll be in deep shit if I show you." "So, you want me to tell pop about yourplans to marry Sandy then?" "Ornot?" "Bob!" "Why do you always got to be such an asshole?" "Whateverit takes man." "I want to gander at what's under that hood." "OK..." "But make it quick." " Wow!" " Give me that." "He's gonna kick my ass if he finds out..." " No one's gonna to tell him, right boys?" " No!" "No way!" "Holy shit!" "Hot Damn!" "Look at that thing!" "Look at the powerplant!" "No wonder no one can take him!" " What is it?" " It's a TURBO-FIRE V8..." " It's got a 162 horsepower right out ofthe box." " Oh man!" " How did he fit three carbs on there?" " He built that himself." "He's got to have at Ieast 250 horsepower." " Good Christ!" " Those are some strange looking drums..." " These are prototypes." "Something he's been working on with a buddy over at GM." " He's working with GM?" "This lad is only a yearolderthan me and he knows 10 times more about hotrods than any of us..." "Nothing is as fast as the Deuce of Spades, man!" "Well why do they call it the Deuce of Spades anyway?" "Come on!" "Who brought this kid?" "There's a spade smack dab center in the steeringwheel." "Ain't you seen it yet dummy?" "No!" "Ah, well, Iet's show it to you!" "Come here." "You see, it's his trademark." "He puts it on every one of his cars." "You see it now?" "My dad said that the guy was running the first overhead valve Chevy V8 everbuilt." "He was running it long before the fifty fives came out ..." " Really?" " Yeah, when I saw that spade on your car..." "It made me wonder..." "Could this is be the Deuce of Spades?" "I don't think so." "This car's from Minnesota." "The woman who so Id it to me was pretty sure about it..." "I'm sorry..." "Well, you know, my dad, he was quite a talker." "Had a Iot of stories from the old days." "It's hard to tell how many ofthose were actually true." " I hear you." " It was nice meeting you." "Likewise!" "Thanks for sharing the story, I enjoyed it." " Have a good day." "Bye bye." " Bye bye." "DOES TRUE LOVE REALLY EXIST?" "YOU WILL COME TO THE HELP OF A STRANGER IN NEED" "Yeah yeah there's room..." "Monk said to put a remote booster between the seat and the trunk pane I..." "I've neverlooked, but I will today how's that?" "OK Rex, I'll talk to you later.." "Bye..." "Sunday, September 4th, 1955..." "My darling Bettle." "I know you're really mad at me right now but please hear me out." "I know what I did was wrong and I'm sorry." "I should have stopped you that night, told you that I love you when I had the chance." "Now I fear it's too late." "I've lost you and it hurts." "I can't sleep, I can't eat..." "I can't think straight..." "What have you done to me?" "Tommy keeps saying I'll get over it but he's wrong." "He's been going tothe Circus setting up races for me but my heart's not into it." "I don't want to do this any more." "You asked me how long I needed and I told you I didn't know." "Well I know now." "I'm ready." "They took my license but I don't care tomorrow I'm driving the Deuce all the way to New York." "I'll drive day and night if I haveto." "I'm coming to you Bettie and I'm gonna marry you." "So please forgive me and take back my ring." "Keep it close to your heart until I can hold you in my arms again." "Your Johnny." "The number you have reached has been disconnected." "Oh here you are!" " Is that a cigarette I'm smelling?" " Yes." "Why?" " You know what the doctors said, come on!" " Oh Doctors..." "What do they know?" "They're all floosies." "I'm 82 and I can still do bum outs!" "Hey Monk" " I wanted to pick your brains about something..." " Shoot!" "Everheard of a fifties joint calledthe Circus?" "I'm thinking maybe in Minnesota..." "Minnesota?" "Hell no!" "Piccadilly Circus was right here in Southem California, the cradle of hot rod ding!" "I used to go there all the time." "Set up street races." " In Southern California?" " That's what Ijust said!" "You want my hearing aid?" "Just a couple ofblocks up the street." "I'm gonna go check it out..." "It's all gone." "Bulldozed over a couple years back." "They built a shopping mall on it." "There's no thing's left Faith..." "Nothing." "Dear Faith" "I found this box when I was cleaning up the barn." "The Bill of Salewas in it along with a few other items my husband found in the trunk of the car when he bought it." "I hope you're enjoying the car." "Joann" "When I saw that spade on your car, made me wonder." "could this bethe Deuce Of Spades?" "There's a spade smack dab center in the steering wheel." "It's his trademark, he puts it on everyone of his cars." "Nothing is as fast as the Deuce of Spades man!" "MAKING ROADSTER HISTORY Johnny Callaway and his record breaking street roadster" "FAITH:" "BILL OF SALE" "SAUGUS SALVAGE SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1955" "SOLD WRECKED 32 FORD ROADSTER AS IS - $50" " PAID" "September 5" "Oh my God..." "September4rt h" "NEWS ARCHIVE SEARCH" "JOHNNYCALLAWAYCRASH" "ZERO MATCHING RESULTS FOUND!" "JOHNNYCALLAWAYCRASH SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1955" "ONE MATCHING RESULT FOUND!" "LOS ANGELES PRESS" " SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1955" "Shit." "HOT ROD STREET RACE ENDS IN TRAGEDY:" "TWO DEAD!" "LOCAL RESIDENT TOM MILLER WITNESSES FATAL CRASH AND ALERTS AUTHORITIES." "Come in please" "Dad, this is the lady that called yesterday." "She's here to see you." "She has some questions to ask you." "Mr. Miller?" "Yes..." "Sir, I wanted to ask you about a crash you witnessed 50 years ago involving a man by the name of Johnny Callaway..." "Yes..." "Johnny..." "Callaway..." "Sir, can you tell me about the crash please?" "What happened that night?" "The Deuce of Spades..." "They took it from Johnny..." "Theytook everything..." "You knew Johnny didn't you?" "Two quarts to go..." "Two quarts to go..." "Every Saturday..." "Every Saturday..." "Sir, the Deuce of Spades crash..." "The papersaid you witnessed it." "What crash?" "Johnny's crash..." "Who?" "Do you know anything about the crash?" "No." "He's never mentioned it to me..." "Johnny!" "God damn it Johnny don't you d le on me." "I need a sign." "You the girl asking about Johnny Callaway?" "Yes..." "This is for you." "SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND 1406 ELLIS STREET GLENDALE, CA91203 SUNDAY4 p.m." "Come in..." "You have been asking yourself lots of questions..." "Wondering what happened to Johnny." "I'm Sandy." "How do you know I have been looking for Johnny Callaway?" "My son sometimes goes to Bob's Big Boy." " People talk." " Did you know him?" "Oh yes." "I knew Johnny Callaway." "I knew him real well..." "Full throttle Johnny." "That's what they called him." "The fastest guy around." "A II the girls wanted to be with him and all the boys wanted to be him..." "He was a legend!" "The weather is great, it's great roadster weather..." "So how's the weather in Ohio?" "Yeah the roadster ran great the whole way out." "No but that's not why I called." "I'm stopped at a gas station you're nevergonna believe who the attendant knows." "Johnny Callaway." "Hey Johnny, what did you do to my brother Eddie?" "He came home last night and started kicking the heck out of his coup e." " Put a big dent in the door!" " Yeah and then he tore his entire engine apart." " He was at it all night!" " Hey, Johnnywe're going to the bowling alley..." " You wanna come with us?" " No I can't." "I got something I got to do." "Well all right Johnny..." "Maybe some other time then..." "Soon?" "What did I tell ya?" "Like clockwork!" "Talk about the devil!" "Hey Johnny, 'two quarts to go'?" "Yeah.Two quarts to go!" "This fellah just moved here from Ohio." "Said everybody back there's been talking about you and your Deuce." "Is that right?" "So you're the famous Johnny Callaway?" "It's an ho nor!" "Myname is Gary, but everybody calls me ZIP." "I'm a CAM JAMMER." "A II right!" "A II right!" "Hey Zip, that is a nice beater you got there." "But what do you got under the hood?" " Enough to keep me away from trouble." " Why don't we head out to Paradise road and have a Iittle competition?" " Really?" " Yeah..." "Let's do it!" " Hell yeah!" "AI right!" "So Johnny, 'put it on your books'?" "Heymac!" "Can I get some service over here?" "A II right!" "Yeah, put in on my books." "Are you sure you should be doing this while smoking?" "You want gas or don't you?" "A II right Zip, this is it." "I'm gonna give you three carlengths." "Three carlengths?" "Are you sure?" " Yeah, I'm sure..." " Ok..." "Damn he's fast!" "There's Johnny and his roadster in 1954..." "And this here is mylate husband Art." "Him and Johnny were like brothers." "This here is the Callaway Speed Shop." "I have so many fond memories in that shop..." "That's where Art kissed me forthe first time!" " Who's this?" " Ah!" "That's Bettie Thompson, Johnny's girl." "Look at them, they were so happybackthen..." "Look at them, they were so happybackthen..." "It was so long ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday..." "The night they met" "August 20th 1953..." " This place's an armpit." " Yeah Johnnylet's shove off." "Come on you guys, I want you guys to meet my girl, Sandy..." "I'm gonna marry this girl, to hell with it!" "Oooh she's a dish!" "She's a dish alright!" "Adish with no meat on it!" "Hey Sandy!" "I want you to meet my best bud Johnny Callaway." "Johnny..." "I've heard so much about you..." " Oh Is that right?" " Yeah!" "We were just looking at your Deuce here" " Art says it's the fastest rod in town?" " You'd betterbelieve it!" "Hi!" "I'm Peggie..." "It's a nice roadster you got here." "You think you could give me a ride home later?" "I can't." "I'm going out to the desert." "He's gonna spend all night sleeping under his car just so he's first in line tomorrowmoming." "He's crazy!" "Well, I'm gonna cut out." "It was nice meeting you all..." "Excuse me..." "A II right, well..." "Guess we'll see you guys tomorrowmoming at EI Mirage." "Don't even think about it." "What?" "He'd breakyourheart..." "A II right!" "You broke your own record man!" "Fast as shit!" "Good day racing today, guys!" "Good day racing..." " Johnny you were flying!" " That was incredible Johnny!" " Man you were fast!" " Cheers!" " Here's to Johnny!" " To Johnny Callaway, the fastest guy!" "Overthe next two weeks, life resumed as usual." "Overthe next two weeks, life resumed as usual." "Johnnywas busy being..." "Johnny." "You guys OK?" "Go ahead and give it a crank now." "Wow!" "I don't knowhowyou did that, but thanks!" " Jeff Granger" " Johnny Callaway" "Tommy Miller" "Vic Wayne, nice to meet you." " Well, I guess we're off." " What do you say we run them?" " What on that road?" " That road is good as any." "A II right!" "Let's do it!" "I'm gonna hop in here to even out the odds" "Good luck fellahs!" "Let's go Ladies!" "Come on Ladies!" "Oh!" "Oh!" "His hood just popped open!" "He's out!" "He's out Johnny!" "One down, one to go!" "Damn it!" "God damn it!" "Oh shit Johnny we got a black and white on ourtail!" "Is there a problem Offcer?" "Johnny lived for speed." "Street racing, drag racing, Time Trials." "You name it, he did it." "And there was really no room in his life for anything else." "Til Bettle came along..." "Hey Art!" "Yah!" "That girl the other day," "Sandy's friend..." " Who?" "Peggie?" " No, not Peggie." "The brunette..." "What 'bout her?" " What's her name?" " Bettie." "Why?" "ONE MAN WOMAN." "BUD DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE WITH HER, BUT HE COULDN'T STOP TRYING" " So?" "What did you find out?" " He's hot for you." "Really?" "Is that what Art said?" "Heck no!" "But Johnny's definitely interested." "Art started asking me questions about you and why do youthink that is?" " You really think so?" " I know so." " So, what did you tell him?" " Well, I to Id him that you're one smart girl and that you're not like some ofthoseeasy girls that the hotrodders go for." "Really?" "You said that?" "Well, yeah, it's the truth!" "Hey Art?" "Yep?" "That girl Bettie, what's she like?" "Don't waste your time on her Johnny that girl doesn't put out." "She's tight." "She's tight?" "Yeah!" "Rea I tight." "Really..." "Great." "He's not gonna want to go out with me now..." "Well, I wouldn't be too sure if I were you..." "Today, Art asked me where you live." "I'm pretty sure Johnny's gonna offer you a ride in his Deuce!" "Oh my God..." "What am I going to do Sandy?" "I'm afraid of speed..." "Listen honey, you're gonna need a really strong stomach if you want to go out with Johnny Callaway..." "AI right, I'll mention it to Art." " So:" "Do you Iike the boy?" " Like him?" "I think I Iove him..." "Look Bettie, I have to warn you all the girls in town are chasing after Johnny..." "And all he has to do is just snap his fingers and they'll fall right into his lap." "Do you know what I mean?" "I know..." "AI right, Well then if you're really serious about him this is what you're gonna do..." "Have a good day, be a good girl." "OK sweetie?" "I Iove you!" "Love you too, mom!" "Hi there!" "Hi!" "Do I know you?" "We met a couple weeks ago..." "Remember?" " I'm Art's friend." " Oh..." "That's right..." "What's your name again?" "I'm Johnny..." "Johnny Callaway." "So..." "What are you doing out here Johnny Callaway?" "Well, Art mentioned you've been walking to school" "I thought I might come out and offer you a ride." "That's really nice of you but" "I enjoy the walk..." "Take care..." "AI right, see you tomorrow." "Hey that blistersure looks painful." "It looks worse than it is." "Heywhy don't you hop in the Deuce, I'll give you a ride to school." "I'll drive slow, I promise." "No thank you..." "It's a nice day fora ride in the Deuce." "No thank you." "Hey, we're a Iittle bit late today, aren't we?" "Hop in, I'll get you there right on time..." "Thank you!" "I can make it!" "You want to get a ride with me today Bettie?" "Or do you still preferwalking?" "Walking is good for you!" "Aren't you tired of coming here every day?" "No." "I reallylike the view." "You'll get tired ofthe view soon enough." "Come on Sandy!" "It's been four weeks." "He's gonna get tired ofthis and give up..." "When Johnnywants something, he never gives up." "Are you gonna followme all the way to school?" "Yep!" "Not any more!" "Johnny you never give up do you?" "Check out the gait on that rig!" "Heybaby!" "What you doing out here all alone?" "I'll take her home and showherto my mother!" "Come on baby don't be scared!" "Well hello there!" " Now, what's a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?" " Leave me alone!" " Don't play so hard to get!" " Let go of me!" "God Damn it!" "Hey!" "Knockit off, she's with me." "Oh yeah?" "It doesn't Iooklike it to me!" "Shit man, it's Callaway..." "Hey Johnny we were just having a Iittle fun." "We don't want any trouble." " Take it easy Johnny we don't want any trouble." " We didn't know she was your girl." "Get the hell out of here, assholes." "These God Damn jocks think they can run this town cause they go to that God damn uppity college!" "I'm sorry..." "So why don't you go to school Johnny?" "I used to." "I have to run my dad's shop now." "Where is your dad?" "He's dead." "I'm sorry..." "What about you?" "What do you go to school for?" "To become smart." "Why you not smart already?" " I want to be a famous writer some day." " Awritereh?" "You gonna write a book about me?" "Maybe..." " So how did your race..." " Look I don't know" "You go." "I was just asking howyourrace went yesterday?" "I dusted every last one ofthem..." "You're used to always winning, aren't you?" "I was til I met you..." "So what do you do when you don't get your way?" "Bettie, I don't know what people have toldyou about me, but I'm not how you think." "Just give me a chance to prove it..." "Please." "AI right Johnny." "I'll let you drive me to school today." "AI right!" "Thank you..." "From that day on Johnnywould drive Bettle to school every moming and take her home every afternoon." "Hewas always careful to stay clear of Bettle's house and her parents" "Hotrodders were considered hoodlums in those days you see..." "Oh!" "I'm Johnny Callaway!" "Every moment together was a moment they stole..." "And every day they lookedforwardto that little bit of time they got to spend together." "Let's go somewhere today, just you and me." " I have to go to school Johnny!" " Ah!" "School is always gonna be there." "I might not be, you know?" "I could crash and die and be gone in an instant!" "That's a horrible thing to say!" "Don't say things like that!" "So you do care..." "Some might say Johnny was a bad influence on Bettle but I think he was the best thing that could have happened to her..." "What are you doing here?" "Are you crazy?" "My mother's home, she'll see us!" "Go!" "Ear I?" "I think we have a problem!" "Damn Hotrodders!" "Johnny..." "Johnny stop..." "Johnny Stop!" "I'm sorry..." "I'll be more gentle." "It's just..." "I never..." "No, it's ok, you don't need to exp Iain." "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to." "I'll wait for you..." "Johnny please, you should go..." "My parents will be home any second." "Ifmy mom sees you, she'll have a cow..." "Oh my Godthey're here!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Don't try to deny it young lady, you have a hickey on your neck!" " I forbid you to see him you hear me?" " No ma!" "I Iove him!" " I forbid you to see that hoodlum!" " I Iove him!" "Earl, do something!" "Listen to your mother, Bettie." "You will not see that boy again, you understand me young lady?" "Ever!" "Now go to your room!" "Johnny heard everything and from that moment he knew that Bettie's mother would never approve of him." "Do you believe in True Love?" "I used to..." "I waited for it fora long Iongtime." "Finally, one day, I stopped waiting." "It's easier that way you see?" "No more disappointments." "Don't give up on True Love Faith." "It does exist." "But it's rare.And precious." "And only happens once in a lifetime..." "Ifyou're lucky." " Seems to me all that Johnny and Bettie found was heartache." " Well..." "Sometimes true Love and heartache go hand in hand." "True love can be a great blessing, and a great curse." "Well if it was true love forthem, why did it end?" "Who says it did?" "Theybroke up." "Why?" "When I think back, I think it probably all started with the Passion Pit, late spring of 1955..." "When I think back, I think it probably all started with the Passion Pit, late spring of 1955..." "Hey Art?" " Wasn't Johnny working on a red chevy today?" " Uh huh..." " That snake!" "He'd better not." " What?" "It's Johnny!" " Where?" " There!" " What's he doing here?" " What do you think he's doing here?" "Who is he doing it with?" "I don't know..." "Bettie?" "Bettie?" "No way!" "Bettie's not the Passion Pit type." "Ifthat son of a gun is cheating on her I swear to God I will kill him..." "Sandy!" "Get back here!" "Johnny I Iove you..." "Wait." " What?" " I heard something..." "It's OK..." "You are a psycho Sandy!" "He was with Bettie!" "Didyou know that they were going all the way?" "I mean I had no idea..." "She's been hiding it from me..." "Didyou know?" "Get in the car!" "Johnny gave Bettie his ring." "They had been going steadyfortwo years now but he never told her once that he loved her." "And he would not pop the question..." "Now that she had slept with him, Bettle started worrying that he never would." "[FAITH]" "But he loved her..." "[SANDY]" " Oh yes, he loved her." "But the wheels offate were already in motion." "[SANDY]" " Oh yes, he loved her." "But the wheels offate were already in motion." "If you are not going to do something about it, I will." "She's having sex with that hoodlum, you know that, don't you?" " Well..." "How can you be so sure..." " I know she is!" "I can telljust by looking at her." "This has got to stop." "What do you want me to do?" "She's not a chi Id any more, Helen." "She's not even 18!" "She doesn't know what she's doing!" "And I will not let her make a mistake she'll regret forthe rest of herlife." "I'm sending her to College in Attica." " Attica?" "Where in the hell is Attica?" " New York, Ear I, Attica's in New York." "That's all the way on the other side ofthe country!" "Exactly." "Johnny!" "Comedown here!" "Could you hand me that wrench?" "AI right." "Now, the engine is running kinda rough." "So what do you think we should do?" "Check ignition system, fuel lines and carburetor." "That's good Johnny!" "That's really good." " Sir?" " Yes son." "Is it true that you are going away tomorrow?" "Yes." "But you'll be back sir, right?" "Yes, Johnny, I'll be back." "Promise?" "Yeah..." "I Promise." "Hey and when I get back, you and I we're gonna put the 32 body on and then one day soon, she'll be all yours..." "You take good care ofyourmother while I'm away, you hear?" "I will sir." "Rememberto start the roadster everyday." "Keep this forme, til I get back Johnny..." "OK." "Johnny!" "Come back!" "Don't go." "What?" "Tomorrow..." "Don't go." " Johnny, I have to..." " Why do you have to go to college all the way in New York?" "Tell your parents you're not going." "It's not that simple..." "You think I don't know what you want?" "I know what you want..." "What are you saying?" "I don't know..." "Just be patient with me..." "Ijust need more time..." "Bettie..." " Tommy sent us." " What's up?" "He wanted to warn you." "There's a new cat with a mean heap at Saugus." "He's looking for you." " He's been laying rubberall overtown, telling everybody he's gonna cream you." " Oh yeah?" "He's got the fastest hotrod in Fresno." "Oh yeah." "Tommy said you got triple trouble heading your way." "He's real fast Johnny." "You'd better get your ass down there quick." "What's he running?" "Dunno, but it sounds nasty!" "He means business." "Oh, one more thing." "Watch out for John Law." "There's a black and white on White Oaks, parked behind the hedge, waitingforyou." " Yeah thanks." " You got it" "You're not thinking about going down to Saugus ourlast night together are you?" "Johnny please don't do this." "I have a reallybadfeeling about this..." "You don't understand!" "Everybody in town knows that he's looking forme." "I have to go." "Hey what's cooking?" "What did I miss?" "This Fresno guy, man he's a turkey, he just jumped the gun." "Thinks he's a real bad ass but he's a rookie." " So..." "What do you guys think?" " I think Johnny's gonna whip his ass!" "Ehhh..." "I don't know guys I mean this guy's green, but he tears ass." " I think Johnny's could be up shit creek this time." " Hey guys shut up, shut up!" "Tommy is about to flag." " You're out." " What do you mean I'm out?" " You're out!" " This is bullshit!" "This is bullshit!" "You tipped him off." "I saw you move your foot asshole!" "Watch your God Damn mouth you dumb wop!" " Who are you calling a wop, asshole?" " Hey what's going on here?" "Oh this God damn wop thinks he can run ourdragstrip." "Hey Buddy!" "If Tommy said you're out, you're out!" "So take your piece of shit and get it out of here?" "This ain't Raisin City!" "No!" "I'm not going anywhere until I get a fair chance to race this guy!" "You had three chances already asshole!" "Move yourcaroffmytrack now!" "What, is this a set-up?" "Huh?" "You guys asshole buddies?" "This ain't over you son of a bitch!" "I'm not done with you either!" " Name your time and place asshole!" " Hey!" "Look out Johnny he's got a knife!" "Son of a bitch!" "Fight!" "Fight!" "Knock it off." "Knockit off!" "Go back to Fresno, Ioser!" "Hey meet me at Sepulveda blvd tonight, Culver City." "We're gonna settle this once and for all damn it!" " I'll be there!" " You'd better be there, asshole!" "Ifracing this kid is so important to you if it's more important than us, then go ahead, go race him!" "But don't expect me to be here when you come back." "Ifyou come back." "And so Johnny drove out to Culver City that night to race Fresno." "Dozens of Police cars raided the place." "They arrested everybody!" "Johnnywas detained overnight..." "It's 6AM Bettie, he's not coming." "You're gonna miss your train..." "But Bettle didn't know." "She was hoping until the last minute that he was going to show up at the train station to stop her and make up." "Give this to Johnny." "He'll understand." "Tell him if he wants to work this out, to call me Sundaynight 8 p.m. New York time." "If..." "If I don't hear from him, I'll assume it's over." "Here's the number he can reach me at." "Sweetie I to Id he would break your heart..." "But you didn't listen..." "Look, you're betteroffwithout him." "He wasn't good enough for you anyway." "You kids stay out oftrouble, you hear?" "Yes Officer!" "Sure..." "God damn fuzz!" " Oh man..." " Yep..." "Johnny's definitely gonna lose his license overthis!" " Yeah, I heard they impounded his car!" " Shit!" "Hey Johnny!" "Where you go in'?" "God damn it!" "Shit!" "She doesn't want to see you again for as long as she lives." "Get it?" "Is something wrong with the food Johnny?" "You haven't touched your food." "I have a message from Bettie." "She said to give you this, that you would understand." "Did she say anything else?" "No..." "I'm so sorry Johnny..." "Johnny spent the next two weeks in his shop, working night and day." "Johnny spent the next two weeks in his shop, working night and day." "It was like he was using work as a pain killer." "He always said his brains worked best when he was wrenching..." "Well, he must have been doing a Iot of thinking." "Hi Johnny!" "You hurt yourselfJohnny." "It's nothing." "I think you should go." "What?" "You heard me!" "You should go." "Can't wait to see the look on Fresno's face when Johnny whips his ass!" "I should have backed right up in his piece of shit you know that?" " Yeah!" " I can't stand that son of a bitch!" " So I can pick it up in a couple hours then?" " Yeah it'd be just fine." "Great.Thanks so much for doing this on Labor Day I really appreciate it." "Hey you're welcome Mr. Wilson!" "[TOMMY]" " What kind of name is Crosciato?" "[ART]" " I think it's Italian for"slow"." "[ART] Hey Mr. Wilson!" "Ah, don't worry, Johnny's gonna show him." "Right Johnny?" " What you guys up to?" " Fresno." "Can you believe that asshole's still in town?" "He pulls in at Tips, blocks me off..." "Me and Art we're ready to bust out so now we're stuck with this wop getting in our face." "He's wound tight, man!" "He's going on and on how he's not going back to Fresno until he has a chance to stomp your ass." "Stomp my ass, eh?" " That's what he said." " I set a race up for you man." "Saugus tonight, midnight." " So let's give him a real good ass whipping Johnny, what do you say?" " I gotta get this done." " Finish it tomorrow!" "I can't." "I'm leaving tomorrow and I'll be back in a couple weeks." "What about the race?" "You can do both Johnny!" "You can do the race and then come back and finish the car." "What's the big deal?" "You know Tommy you just don't get it!" "I'm done with this racing shit" "It's been nothing but trouble." "You what?" "You heard me, I'm done." " You can't hang it up Johnny!" "Not now!" " Yeah Johnny..." "Just do this last race!" "Listen you guys!" "There's always going to be the next race!" "There's always gonna be the next asshole coming into town just wanting to prove something." " Yeah Johnny this is our town we should do something about it!" "It's nevergonna end!" "I don't want to do this any more." "What the hell man?" " You know ever since that broad left you..." " Heywatch it Tommy!" "Just watch it!" "Wow oh!" "Come on Johnny!" "Stop being such a jerk!" "Just do the race!" " I already set up the race for you." "You can't make me Iookbad Johnny!" "It's a matterofhonor." "What do you say?" "I'll think about it..." "OK, Johnny you think about it and we'll see you at Saugus at midnight." "See you there buddy." "He's late." "I don't think he's gonna show." "He'll show." " Yourbuddy's a chicken!" "He's gonna be a no show." " Shut up you dumb wop!" "Johnnywill show." "Johnny always shows." "Oh yeah well maybe he realizes he's not the hot shit around here any more." "Yeah, yeah..." "We're gonna find out soon aren't we, asshole!" "Jerk!" "He'd bettershow..." "There he is!" "I toldyou he'd show." "Get ready to get your ass whipped, shit head!" "Johnny's here." "Let's just get this over with, OK?" " AI right!" "Line 'em up!" " Do I Iooklike a stupid ass?" " We'll do a toss." "Fairand square." " Fine!" "I got a wrench." " Hell no!" " Nowwhat?" " Have him do it!" "Will you just let him do it?" " I'll do it." " Asshole!" "Line them up!" "Bring it forward..." "Come on..." "Stop!" "Johnny, bring it forward..." "Stop!" "AI right!" "Are you ready?" "Are you ready?" "On three..." "One!" "Two!" "Three!" "Johnny..." "Johnny!" "Hop on!" "Art!" "Overhere!" "Careful!" "Oh shit!" "Is he alive?" " Is.." "Is he.." "Is he breathing?" " I don't know..." "Johnny can you hear me?" "Go get help!" "Now God damn it!" "Damn it Johnny don't you die on me..." "Hang in there OK buddy..." "Help is on the way alright?" "It'll be here soon..." "You knowhowthis accident happened, son?" "No sir, we were driving down Soledad and we saw a fire..." "So we stopped to check out what was going on..." "So what do we have here Detective?" "Two dead and the third kid isn't likely to make it." "Step over here fora moment please." "Hello?" " Mrs. Callaway?" " Yes!" "Yourson survived the surgery." "But he's in a deep coma..." "Will Johnny live?" "He was hurt bad." "We are doing everything that we can for him." "I..." "I don't want to give you anyfalse hope." "Doctor, there is a Detective here to see you..." " Tell him I'll be with him in just a few minutes." " AI right." "I got to go." "Tommy deserted Johnny and Art." "Went down to Mexico and laid low there forthe next few years waiting forthis whole mess to blow over." "He was scared." " Howfast was he going?" " Probably as fast as he could go!" " I want you all out ofthe hallway!" " Tell us what's going on!" "God Damn it he's seizing!" "Ho Id him!" "Doctorcheck his vita Is!" "Restrain him!" "Ho Id him!" "Administering one milligram Epinephrine." "Nurse!" "Get the door!" "Get that door!" "Bettiecame back to town to visit her family during Spring Break." "She was still in love with Johnny." "She was still in love with Johnny." "Are you sure you want to do this Bettie?" "Yes." "It's gonna be real hard on you Bettie..." "I have to see him..." " But he won't know you're there..." " Hasn't there been any improvement?" "It's been six months..." "I'm so sorry sweetie..." "It's time you move on with your life." "Sandy said you met a nice boy in college?" "Yeah, maybe..." "But he's not Johnny." "Well I've got to warn you" "Johnny's not Iike you remember him..." "You'll see what I mean when you see him." "Young lady get off of him!" "You could seriously injure him, he has a feeding tube in his abdomen!" "Is she OK?" "Here why don't you sit down?" "Are you injured miss?" "You have blood on your arm!" "It's not herblood..." "Bettie please don't cry..." "Look, I didn't want to tell you this because I knew it would hurt you but I think you should know." "Johnny had already moved on." "I saw him having sex on the back of his roadster just a couple days after you left." "What?" "I swear to God Bettie..." "You should move on..." "Give that Boston boy a chance." "Give him a chance." "A long year in the coma." "The Doctors wanted to pull the plug but Jeannewouldn't let them." "She just wouldn't give up on him." "All her savings were gone so she had to sell the shop and her house just to keep Johnny alive." "On the outside, life went on." "Anotherfast guy came along and became the new hero." "Everyone forgot about Johnny Callaway and the Deuce of Spades." "Everyone, but Art." "Everyone, but Art." "I'm done with this racing shit, it's been nothing but trouble." "You can't hang it up Johnny!" "Not now!" "Yeah Johnny just do this last race..." "Come on man it's a matter of ho nor..." "What do you say?" "Nurse!" "Nurse!" "Oh my Good Lord in Heaven!" "Doctor!" "Well Mrs. Callaway, he sure surprised all of us." "His coming out ofthe coma is nothing short of a miracle." "But we ran some tests on him and... yourson has some brain damage." "Right now he is unable to talk and his right side is non responsive." "Now some of it may come back with time..." "But..." "It's not very likely." "Three months went by with little to no improvement." "He was now coherent and able to talk and starting to understand what had happened to him." "How are you doing darling?" "I'm OK..." "Why don't you write to her?" "I can write it for you..." "Take a look at me Ma'..." "Take a really good look at me..." "Johnnywas a strong kid but no matter how strong something is there's always a breaking point..." "Johnny, you didn't eat anything..." "I'm not hungry." "I know you're not hungry, but you have to eat something." "You have to get your strength back..." "Leave me alone." "Please eat this." "What do you want from me Peggie?" "Huh?" "What do you want from me?" "You're not her..." "You're nevergonna be her!" " Now, get out of my room!" " Why are you doing this?" "Get out ofmyroom!" "Get out!" " Why are you doing this?" " Get the hell out of my room!" " Get the hell out of my room!" " Why are you doing this?" "Goodluck to you, Johnny!" "I got to give it to him:" "He had a lot of will power." "He couldn't stand being on a wheelchair so he got rid of it." "Had Art toss it down a ravine if you can imagine that!" "He was such a stubborn, unreasonable boy." "Struggled for months trying to walk on crutches." "Droveeverybody crazy!" "But in the end, he did it." "Here." "Put it back." "Put it back!" "You know what Johnny?" "You need to stop being so God Damn hard headed!" "I don't needyourhelp." "I can do this myself." "It's getting late..." "I gotta cut out." "Sandy's waiting for me..." "Oh Sandy's waiting for you eh?" "Oh then betterhaul ass!" "You've been at it for hours!" "Let me just help you get it done." "Just leave my sticks by the car" " OK?" " Come on!" " I'll be just fine!" "You're nevergonna be able to get up without myhelp." "You know that, right?" "Just get out of here." "Just get!" "Fine!" "Nowthat Johnny was wrenching again, they were able to make rent." "And fora brief moment, it seemed that maybe he was going to be able to bounce back from all this..." "But Johnny's ordeal was far from over." "He was summoned to appear in court, now on trial forinvoluntary man slaughter." " Are you serious?" " Oh yeah!" "Two people were dead because of him, including an innocent farmer who left a wife and kids behind him." "Oh, the authorities wanted to make an example of Johnny." "Theythrewthe book at him." "They gave him everything he deserved..." "And then some." "What about Art and Tommy?" "Tommy was gone and Art was too scared to step forward and confess." "So he lied and Johnnytookthe fall." "The Court hereby sentences the Defendant Johnny Michael Callaway to three years in the State Penitentiary." "We all thought they would go easy on Johnny because he was crippled." "But we were wrong..." "When Art heard the verdict, he could not handle the guilt." "Art?" "It's me, Sandy..." "It's me baby, come on, open the door..." "Don't do that to yourselfArt, it wasn't yourfault!" "Yes it was!" "Please just open the door?" "We're all worried sick about you ..." "This is all myfault..." "I'm so sorry baby..." "He was my best friend..." "My best friend..." "And I betrayed him." "But baby, you can't tum your back on him now, OK?" "You have got to go visit him!" "I'll never be able to face him..." "I'll never be able to tell him how sorry I am..." "Johnny was a great frlendto all of us but in the end, we all turned our backs on him in his time of need." "And so when he came out of jail in the spring of 1959 he left everything behind." "Johnny walked away and none of us ever saw him again." "What about Bettie?" "Bettie married that nice boy from Boston and became a novelist." "Look up her book "Deuce of Hearts"." "She wrote it in the Seventies, afterherdivorce..." "She changed the names and some ofthe details but basically it was herstorywith Johnny..." "She was still in love with him." "Did you ever try to get in touch with her?" "My dearchild, afterall these years" "I would not know what to say or where to begin..." "Sandy, do you think Johnny is still alive out there, somewhere?" "I don't know..." "I am afraid no one can answer that question." "There was a rumorin the late sixties..." "But it was just a rum or." "There was this well known movie actor who bought a fast car from a customizer" "and guess what was painted on the firewall?" "Aspade?" "Yeah." "There's a lady here to talk to you about Johnny." "Yes, Johnny did a carforme." "I don't know where he is though, I haven't seen him since." "Didn't Johnny do a carforwhat's her name?" "No, no..." "Johnny turned that job down, remember?" "Johnny didn't want to do the car, because of me and my big mouth." "I happened to mention that the ownerwantedto street race it." "That was it." "Johnny wanted nothing to do with it." "He wouldn't budge on that either!" "He was a v er y stubborn man." "Diffcult to deal with." " Yeah.." "That's what I hear..." " I ended up traileringthat car all the way up there and backfornothing." "It was a good three hour drive one way!" "Do you happen to remember where the shop was located?" "No, not exactly..." "I was onlythere that one time and that was over 15 years ago." "But do I remember it was in the desert, next to a dry lake and that Johnny guy, he had over a hundred old cars sitting in the back on his property!" "That was a pretty awesome sight to see!" "I think Johnny knew Winfield so why don't you check with Winfield" " maybe he knows..." " Yeah, he's right!" "Winfield might be able to help you." "He's been racing on the lakes since the Forties." "If you go to the SC TA Meet tomorrow, you'll probably catch him there." "He's still racing." "Damn it!" "I don't have time forthis shit!" "Yep..." "Fuel pump!" "Great..." "Out on the rook le line folks you haveto stay under 150 mph and if you're driving a roadster, you have to stay under 150 mph and spin..." "Ok I'm gonna call this a good record." "You guys are all set to go, congratulations." "Excuse me!" "I'm IookingforGene Winfield..." "You'll find him in his pits, a blue roadster, a couple of bellytanks." "Thankyou!" "Excuse me." "Hi there.Are you Gene Winfield?" "Yes I am..." "Is this?" "I'll be damned..." "Ijust can't believe it!" "The last time I saw this car was July of55!" "Howthe hell did you end up with Callaway's car?" "It's a Iong story..." "Didyou know Johnny?" "Yes, everybody knew Johnny." "Do you happen to know where he is?" "Ifhe's still alive?" "No..." "Nobody's seen Johnny since he crashed in 55." "I was to Id he lives on a drylake..." "Somewhere around here..." " I was thinking maybe here, at EI Mirage?" " No..." "I've been here for25 years and if Johnny was around here, I would know it." "Well how many other dry lakes are there around here?" "Oh many many!" "This is a big desert!" "He's got like a hundred jalopies sitting in his backyard." " You'dthink somebody would know about it." " Well..." "I have to find him." "OK.There's a hangar overthere, the guy's name is Pete." "He flies all around this area and if anyone can see a hundred jalopies in a back yard, he would see it from up there." "You go see Pete and tell him I sent you, he owes me." "Thankyou." "You're welcome." "MEET BET TIE THOMPSON BOOK SIGNING TODAY2 p.m. TO 4 p.m. "WITHOUT LOVE"" " Thankyou so much and it was a pleasure to meet you." " Thank you for coming." "Hello, couldyou make this out to Selma?" " Sure." " Thankyou very much." " You're welcome." "Couldyou address this to Gloria please?" " Thankyou it was a pleasure to meet you." " Thankyou." "Does she still love him?" "Yes..." "More than anything..." "Excuse me." "Sorryto interrupt Mrs Thompson." "Could you please come by my office before you leave?" "I have some papers that I need you to sign." "Oh..." "Well, could you give me a moment please?" "Oh sure, sure take your time..." "BET TIE:" "YOU NEED TO KNOWTHETRUTH PEGGIE LIED TO YOU." "Oh..." "I'm Johnny Callaway" "I'll wait for you..." "Oh God...." "Oh God..." "Just be patient with me please..." "Why?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "HARPER LAKE" " JALOPIES" "Anybody home?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Anybody home?" "Hello?" "I have decided to write so maybe I won't lose my sanity." "What's left of it." "If hell exists it's here and I'm in it." "Theywould not let me keep my crutches so I'm back to being bedridden pretty much." "I'm in isolation somewhere on the third floor in Block D." "August 20th, 1957." "An inmate was stabbed to death yesterday." "They found him in a 10 foot pool of blood." "If I am to survive in here that damn leg of mine better heal fast." "I don't care what the doctors said." "I swear when I come out of here" "I'll be walking." "August 25th, 1957." "I know I died that night." "I remember hovering above the tree..." "I keep thinking about that kid." "He's been haunting me in my dreams..." "I never saw the tractor his roadster was in the way." "Why didn't we give up and slow down whenwecame to the end?" "Why couldn't we?" "I got to watch out for Yates." "He's been looking for a reason toget me." "He's a mean son of a gun and from what I hear there isn't an inmate in here who hasn't been tore-up by his club at least once." "I have yet to have anyone come visit me." "Every Sunday, I hope..." "But no one." "October 10th" " The horrible seizures and headaches are back." "Sometimes, I just want to slam my head against the walls just to make them stop." "Thedrugs they're giving me aren't working." "I feel and look like shit." "November 27th 1957." "I'm worried about my mother." "How will she manage without my help?" "How will she be able to pay the hospital?" "Another year and a half ofthis." "I don't know if I have it in me." "I think about Art, hewas like a brother to me." "I would have laid down my life for him." "And I watched him standing thereat my trial lying tothem..." "I should have hit the brakes when I crossed the finish line." "Why didn't I?" "Dear Johnny" "I finally heard from Bettie." "She called me yesterday and we talked fora long time." "I am sorry to tell you this but she got married last month." "Ijust thought you should know." "Two people are dead because of me." "I haveto live with that guilt forthe rest of my life." "Lordforgive me for what I've done." "Have mercy on my soul." "I saw how the farmer's family looked at me how they hated me." "Andthe face of his kids" "I'll never forget their faces." "I still love her." "Why?" "Why can't I just stop?" "Callaway!" "You have a letter." "Callawayknockit off!" "I said knock it off!" "January 13th, 1959" "My mother d led." "I can't even describe the pain or put it into words..." "Theangerthat consumes me" "I couldn't keep it in any longer." "They beat me really hard." "Maybe I deserve it for what I've done to her." "The hole was cold and dark." "Part of me d led in there." "Mywhole life feels like a bottomless hole right now and I keep falling deeper and deeper in it." "I don't think I'll ever be able to come out ofthis." "Johnny!" "DO" "YOU" "BELIEVE" "IN" "SECOND" "CHANCES?" "JOHNNY" "And when I get back you and I aregonna put the32 body on and then one day soon, she'll be all yours!" "Man you were fast!" " Cheers!" " Here's to Johnny!" "To Johnny Callawaythe fastest guy!" " Hi Johnny, two quarts to go?" " Yeah two quarts to go." "Said everybody back there's been talking about you and your Deuce." "So you're the famous Johnny Callaway?" "It's an honorl." "Johnny..." "I love you..." "Theytook my license but I don't care." "Tomorrow I'm driving the Deuce all the way to New York." "I'll drive day and night if I haveto." "I'm coming to you Bettie and I'm gonna marry you." "BET TIE STILL LOVES YOU"