Red Line 7000

Thank you, Tom.

See you later, Bud.

Hello, Mike.

You too busy to say hello?

James Loomis. I was wondering when you'd get here.

Just barely made it. Plane was late.

Well, Pat was right.

What does that mean?

Well, he had Larry Frank qualify your car.

How did he do?

You're in the fourth row.

He did alright.

I hear you did all right in California.

How did you know? Oh, you mean racing.

Yeah, I meant racing.

Well, I won one,

came close in a couple.

Well, what was it you thought I meant?

Well, I guess you'll find out soon.

I met a girl.

Is that it?

I've got news for you. We've got them here, too.

Yeah, but not like this one.

You sound serious.

Right off the deep end.

You going to marry her?

All I have to do is persuade her.

Well, with her in California and you here...

I left her a plane ticket. She'll be here in a day or two.

Hi, Jim. Glad you made it.

- Hi, Pat. - Have a nice trip?

Except for being late.

Uh, by the way, we have a pit board with a yellow border

for your signals, and

you use the same old black one.

You think you fellas can keep that straight?

Alright, Papa.

All drivers report to their cars immediately.

You better hurry. You don't have much time.

You ready?

All set.

Shall we?

The cars are pulling onto the track.

In a few moments, you're going to see the start

of the annual Daytona 500,

40 of the fastest cars in the country.

On the pole, Paul Goldsmith in a Plymouth.

His qualifying time a new track record,

179.910 miles per hour.

On the outside, Richard Petty in car number 43.

Row two, on the pole,

car number 26, Bobby Eisigs,

and on the outside, Mike Marsh in the 28 car.

All of the great ones.

Alright, the pace car is leading the way.

It's near the end of the pace lap.

They're starting to pick up speed faster and faster.

We may see a start on the first final round.

Watch the starter.

They're coming onto the straightaway.

The pace car is heading for the apron.

Here they come.

The race is under way.

500 miles to go.

500 tough, grueling miles for man and machine.

All 40 cars are taking the green flag

and jamming into the first turn.

It's Mr. Petty, former national champion,

taking the lead.

On his tail is Mike Marsh in the 28 car.

Running third is Bobby Eisigs.

Look at Jim Loomis go!

Pat, Jim's going too fast.

Slow him down.

Loomis must be trying to prove a point.

He's driving way over his head.

Loomis has blown his engine.

He's heading for car number 63,

rolling clear over car number 63,

slamming into the wall,

sliding down the straightaway,

parts all over the racetrack.

And now he has burst into flames.

There is confusion all over the race track as 10 cars

try to avoid the crack up.

Race fans, this is one of the worst fires we have ever seen.

At Daytona International Speedway.

Here's the driver coming out of the car,

and the fire crews are hurrying toward him.

Pat, I don't know.

All I know is just before the race,

Jim was talking about this girl.

Expecting her here in a couple of days, he said.

You know her name? It might help.

No, no. No name, no address.

Did you go through his things?

Yep. Nothing.

- Not even a little black book? - Yeah, sure.

You've called every number in it.

You and every other joker around here.

I guess we'll just have to wait till she gets here.

Come on in.

Imagine that...

A girl gets on a plane, flies clear across country

expects to marry a guy. I hope she can take it.

4:30, fellas.

Jim will raise hell if we're late to his funeral.

Let's go.

- Car out front? - Yep.

Mike. Pat.

Boys, that girl you told me about is here.

You know, Jim's girl.

She got in about an hour ago.

There wasn't anything I could do.

I had to tell her that Jim was dead.

Oh, she got all...

Her face got white.

I asked her if I could help,

but she said she'd like a drink, so I gave her one.

It seemed to do some good.

Then I told her you fellas were at the funeral,

there was probably still time, I could drive her over there.

She just got a funny look on her face, she said that, well,

she didn't want to go. Says it was her fault that Jim was dead.

I don't know what she meant by that.

So, I took her over to your room, Mike and found another drink for her.

She's over there now.

I, uh, I hope that was OK.

Oh, sure. Thanks, Pop.

Well...

Hey, Mike, I'm not too good with crying women.

I think I'm going to cut out.

What makes you think I'm an expert?

Come on. You, too.

What did you say about crying women?

Sometimes this kind of music is better than a hymn to some people.

Hello?

Anybody in there?

Hey...

Hey.

- Come on. - No.

Uh, she's asleep.

Out cold.

Well, I guess you can't blame her.

No.

Suppose there's nothing we can do until morning.

I'll see you then. Come on.

- Good night, Mike. - Yeah.

Yeah? What is it?

Can I come in?

OK, come on in.

Uh, I'm Mike Marsh.

I was a friend of Jim's.

Hi.

- This your room? - Mm-hmm.

- Who put me to bed? - Oh, uh, I did.

Where are my things?

Out here. I took them.

I'd like to have them, please.

Sure.

Here you go.

- There you go. - Why'd you take them?

Um, I didn't want you to go before I had a chance to talk to you.

Look, I'd feel more like talking if I had a minute to pull myself together.

Sure.

I'll, uh, fix you some breakfast.

All I want is coffee.

Alright.

Well, you look a little better.

- I don't feel better. - Here.

Thanks.

Uh...

I... I don't even know your name.

Holly Macgregor.

What did you want to talk to me about?

Uh, a number of things.

One is that, uh...

Jim said he was in love with you and wanted to marry you.

He told me that, too.

Well, then why is it your fault that Jim is dead and

why weren't you at the funeral?

Why don't we just drop it.

No, we won't just drop it. I'd like to know. He was a friend of mine.

Can't you just let it go?

Alright, I'll tell you.

He's dead because he was in love with me,

because I'm bad luck.

That's why it was my fault.

That's crazy.

Is it? Are you so sure?

Twice before, the same thing happened.

And, each time, I wound up going to a funeral instead of a wedding.

Do you want to hear how the other two died?

Uh, no, no. Not necessarily.

Well, anyway, I met Jim.

And we had fun.

A lot of fun.

And, when he asked me to marry him, I thought why not?

Then I remembered, and I said no,

and I told him why...