History Recap / AreYouAfraidOfTheDarkSeason7TheTaleOfHighway13

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2021_01_09_at_024738.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"You can't run away, Ace! The car is yours now, and he's gonna keep coming back until you race him!]]

While Vange introduces Jerry, her pet rat, to Andy and Megan, Tucker arrives on Gary’s old bike, and laments the chain to have broken. Tonight, Quinn’s tale concerns second-hand goods, and such an item whose dubious history may prove to be fatal. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls this story “The Tale of Highway 13”.

One evening, Justin waits by Mamma’s Pizzeria. Lifelong friend Craig rolls up in Justin’s car.

-->'''Craig:''' I was just over talking to Ronnie at the -
-->'''Justin:''' Ronnie? My Ronnie? Why were you talking to her?
-->'''Craig:''' Why not?
-->'''Justin:''' Because… you know I -
-->'''Craig:''' Because you’re too chicken to ask her out yourself?
-->'''Justin:''' ...I can’t believe this. I lend you my car so you strand me here and go put the moves on the girl I wanna ask out? What kind of friend are you?
-->'''Craig:''' Best you got.

By the passenger seat, Justin is none too pleased to find a side-view mirror to be missing.

Next day, at the junkyard…

-->'''Craig:''' Hey, let’s find the nastiest wreck here.
-->'''Justin:''' Don’t be sick. We’re here to find a mirror.
-->'''Craig:''' I dunno why you hang out in that geek mobile, anyways.
-->'''Justin:''' It gets me from here to there.
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah, but… you need a ride that makes a statement, you know, something with power. A car like…
-->'''Bulldog:''' This one?

Bulldog sits on the bonnet of an old red V8.

-->'''Craig:''' Yeah! Now, that was a car.
-->'''Bulldog:''' It still is! Just a little dirt and rust, that’s all! The owner of this place has no idea what great shape it’s in. A smart guy could get it for a song.
-->'''Craig:''' So, why don’t you buy it?
-->'''Bulldog:''' Ah, I’ve had a couple of tickets, nothing serious. Bottom line, I got my license yanked.
-->'''Justin:''' How come the door doesn’t work?
-->'''Bulldog:''' You’re a funny guy. I like you. But this baby ain’t for you. ‘’{to Craig}’’ But you? You, Ace, I could see behind that wheel. You and your friend could fix it up with a little sanding, coat of paint. It’s gonna shine like new.
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah, we could, couldn’t we?
-->'''Justin:''' What’s this ‘we’ thing?
-->'''Craig:''' You know what? I’m gonna buy it!

While Craig goes to see the owner, Bulldog wanders off. A frustrated Justin is approached by mechanic Tony.

-->'''Tony:''' Thought I heard an engine.
-->'''Justin:''' You did - that one. My crazy friend’s gonna buy it. But I’m looking for a side-view mirror. A seventy-eight, not a seventy-six - the seventy-eights are more rounded.

Tony peers in alarm at the old red car.


-->'''Justin:''' Hello? Little help here?
-->'''Tony:''' Uh, yeah. Sure. Let’s take a look…

Across the rain-soaked mud, they pass an enormous, unmanned red truck. Its headlamps briefly flash…

Craig and Justin set to work refurbishing the V8. Some time later, in Craig’s driveway, they admire their shiny red handiwork.

Tony arrives with a seventy-eight mirror for Justin. While the three admire the car, they hear a woman’s blood curdling scream.

-->'''Craig:''' Think my mom just found my report card.
-->'''Craig’s Mother:''' Craig!
-->'''Craig:''' That ride’s gonna have to wait. Later!

With a somewhat troubled look at the car, Tony lets Justin have the mirror on the house. With Craig and Justin gone, Tony peers at the bonnet. He gingerly touches the bonnet - and the metal beneath his fingers ripples like liquid. He quickly withdraws his hand, and the bonnet solidifies. Unsettled, he leaves.

Next day, with his mother at work, Craig decides to take the V8 for a spin.

-->'''Justin:''' It’s not even registered!
-->'''Craig:''' So I’ll just take her round the block. You wanna come?
-->'''Justin:''' Forget it.
-->'''Craig:''' Okay. Maybe I’ll… take her to the Shop and Drop…
-->'''Justin:''' ...To show Ronnie?
-->'''Craig:''' ...Maybe.
-->'''Justin:''' You’re a piece of work, you know?
-->'''Craig:''' Just part of my charm.

They jump in.

Meanwhile, at the junkyard, Tony looks up from his work to see the six-wheel truck roll mightily across the mud and out of the yard.

Out on the highway, with an electric guitar solo on the radio, Craig revels in his new purchase.

-->'''Craig:''' Aw, man! Is this great our ''what''?
-->'''Justin:''' Hey, slow down - it’s getting foggy.

As the pale fog thickens, the heavy metal is smothered by static, and replaced by surfer music.

As Craig slows the car to a halt, the mist recedes to reveal, before a broad expanse of concrete, a solitary diner.

-->'''Craig:''' Hey, when ‘d they fix that up?
-->'''Justin:''' Let’s check it out.

As Craig opens its door, the eerily whistling wind is joined by merrily twanging guitar strings. Inside the near-empty diner, memorabilia-adorned walls and smooth tables are moodily lit by overhead neon lights.

-->'''Craig:''' Blast from the past. Not very popular.
-->'''Bulldog:''' Ace! You made it.
-->'''Craig:''' You work here?
-->'''Bulldog:''' I do… a lot of things.
-->'''Justin:''' How’d you know we were coming?
-->'''Justin:''' ''{to a tall, stern-looking trucker at the jukebox}'' Hey, big guy! These boys are driving, now!
-->'''Trucker:''' Is that right?

He approaches the two, and stares icily at Craig.
-->'''Craig:''' If you’re talking about the monster V8 out there, yeah, we’re driving. You, uh, you got a problem with that?
-->'''Trucker:''' Only if you get in my way.
-->'''Justin:''' I know! Let’s leave.

He grabs Craig by the shoulders, and steers him back to the door.

-->'''Trucker:''' Yeah! Get back on the road.
-->'''Craig:''' Okay, look, pal…!
-->'''Justin:''' Craig, come on!
-->'''Trucker:''' See you out on Highway Thirteen.
-->'''Craig:''' Hey, nice threads, dude! They sell men’s clothing where you got those?

Justin nimbly drags Craig through the door.

-->'''Justin:''' Can’t you see when we’re headed for trouble?
-->'''Craig:''' Oh, that guy was all mouth.
-->'''Justin:''' Yeah, but it was a really scary mouth. Something strange is going on. I mean, this place was a deserted wreck yesterday. Let’s just get in the car and go home, alright?

They drive off. Behind them, the six wheel truck growls into motion…

Back on the road…

-->'''Craig:''' Ah! I must’ve missed the turn.\

They pass a sign marked “Highway 13”.

-->'''Craig:''' Highway thirteen? Didn’t the trucker guy say something about highway thirteen?\

Behind them, the huge truck looms close behind them.

Craig coolly prepares to lose him on the curve.

After a tense moment of pursuit, Craig swerves the car onto a sudden turn-off - which an unseen announces to be Highway Thirteen.

More pale fog descends. As some of it lifts, both boys are dumbfounded and more than a trifle alarmed to once more face the looming diner.

-->'''Craig:''' Whoa…
-->'''Justin:''' ...How did ''that'' happen?

Before them, the truck swerves hugely across the concrete, before speeding off.

In the diner, Bulldog, at a table, drinks from a straw.

While Craig approaches Bulldog, Justin hurries to a wall-mounted payphone. He suddenly drops the receiver - from which blares the sound of the truck’s horn.

-->'''Bulldog:''' It’s no big deal, Ace - just a little contest. All you gotta do is beat him to the bridge on Highway Thirteen.
-->'''Tony:''' ''{just arrived}'' You shouldn’t have brought them into this!
-->'''Bulldog:''' Hey, somebody’s gotta get us outta here! You sure ain’t got the juice.
-->'''Tony:''' But this is wrong! They didn’t know.
-->'''Craig:''' Know what?
-->'''Bulldog:''' Okay, here’s the deal. My buddy had the sweetest muscle car on the road, but he never let it out. Until one day…
-->'''Tony:''' One day, Bulldog here got this Trucker mad, and the next thing we know -
-->'''Bulldog:''' The next thing we know, he’s trying to run us off the road. We ended up on Highway Thirteen. There’s this little bridge - a tiny little thing. It’s not wide enough for two cars.
-->'''Tony:''' We ended up racing for it.
-->'''Bulldog:''' We didn’t have a choice. It was us or him. Side by side, headed towards the bridge. I kept telling tony to punch it, but -
-->'''Tony:''' I was scared, alright?
-->'''Bulldog:''' We could’ve beat him. He choked.
-->'''Craig:''' So what happened?
-->'''Bulldog:''' Wham! We hit the bridge at the same time.
-->'''Justin:''' Didn’t you guys get hurt?
-->'''Bulldog:''' Hurt? ...No. We all… [[WhamLine died]].
-->'''Tony:''' It happened in 1969. We’ve been racing the same guy ever since. Every day, same time, same thing always happens.
-->'''Bulldog:''' Boom.
-->'''Justin:''' So, you guys are like…? Like…?
-->'''Tony:''' Dead. Like two sorry [[Literature/AChristmasCarol door-nails]].
-->'''Bulldog:''' We need someone to beat that guy, and I figured you’re the man, Ace! All you gotta do is race him to the bridge, beat him, and we can all go home.

Craig looks meaningfully at Justin.

They make for the back door, open it - and find it blocked by the blaring truck. The trucker won’t leave until offered a race.

Craig sends Justin to check the phone again - and hastily sneaks outside.

Justin hurries outside - just as the V8 growls back onto the road.

-->'''Justin:''' '''''CRAIG! DON’T!'''''\

At the turn-off, the truck bears down on Craig. As he accelerates, Craig finds he has company on the backseat.

-->'''Tony:''' You gotta get to the bridge.
-->'''Craig:''' Straight ahead, Ace.

While they yell direction and encouragement, Craig gives it his all.

The arched steel bridge is now in sight. Behind, the truck catches up to drive alongside the V8. Craig floors the accelerator - and overtakes.

-->'''Bulldog:''' I knew we’d beat that guy! The second I saw him, I knew he could be taken!
-->'''Craig:''' Wait a minute, this race was your idea?
-->'''Tony:''' It was all his idea! He went after the trucker, he made me chase it, he challenged him! It was never the trucker’s fault! It was ours!

Craig swerves onto the grass, and floors the break, allowing the truck onto the bridge. As it breaches the metal archway, ethereal white light engulfs the structure, the air within ripples. The light, and the truck, fade from the mortal realm.

Outside the V8, all three watch.

-->'''Craig:''' Whoo!
-->'''Bulldog:''' You blew it! You coulda beat him!
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah, but you never should’ve raced in the first place! Either way, it’s over.
-->'''Bulldog:''' I don’t believe it! All these years and we '''''LOST!'''''
-->'''Tony:''' ... You had the guts to do what I couldn’t. Thanks!

He offers a hand, which Craig shakes.

-->'''Craig:''' So, uh - you want your car back?
-->'''Tony:''' She is sweet, isn’t she?
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah - ''{hands back keys}'' a little too sweet.

Tony and Bulldog drive across the bridge, and vanish in another flash of spectral light.

Craig walks back to the diner, to a relieved Justin.

With an ominously blaring horn, the truck looms back onto the concrete. Before the boys, it pulls to a stop. The Trucker winds down his window.

-->'''Trucker:''' Last thing I wanted was a race.
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah, we know that now.
-->'''Trucker:''' Thanks for letting me get home.

The boys each give an uneasy thumbs up. With a wink, the Trucker drives off.

-->'''Justin:''' So it was the two guys’ fault.
-->'''Craig:''' Yeah. I can’t imagine anyone being so irresponsible.

Justin looks at him - but says nothing.

Quinn closes with a caution against careless acceptance of second-hand goods.

Megan resolves to conquer her fear of mice, and asks to hold Jerry, and manages to do so - but on introduction to much larger pet rat Max, runs off in fright.

* DeadAllAlong: Junkyard workers Bulldog and Tony. [[spoiler: having raced a trucker to a bridge in 1969, seek a new driver to finish the race they failed to win]].

* GoodAllAlong: [[spoiler: The Trucker never meant any harm; what got him, Tony and Bullddog killed was Bulldog's reckless demand for a race]].

* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The second I saw him, I knew he could be taken!" Craig is appalled when he hears Bulldog say these words, alerting him that the big, scary Trucker [[GoodAllAlong didn't incite the race]] that killed him, Bulldog and Tony in the first place. In fact, Craig realizes the Trucker was the true victim of this race.]]

* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "The second I saw him, I knew he could be taken!" Craig is appalled when he hears Bulldog say these words, alerting him that the big, scary Trucker [[GoodAllAlong didn't incite the race]] that killed him, Bulldog and Tony in the first place.]]

* EverybodyHasStandards: The protagonist who takes up the drag race may be the rowdier of the two friends, but he is appalled when he learns that the truck driver didn't ''want'' to drag race with the two ghosts. It is because of these standards that he throws the race and lets the truck driver go through the bridge first.

* ShoutOut: Relentless pursuit by a foreboding truck recalls ''Film/{{Duel}}''.

* AnAesop: Road safety.

* AnAesop: A scary depiction of the perils of disregarding road safety.

-->'''Bulldog:''' I don’t believe it! All these years and we ‘’’’’LOST!’’’’’

-->'''Craig:''' Yeah - ‘’{hands back keys’’} a little too sweet.

→’’’Bulldog:’’’ We need someone to beat that guy, and I figured you’re the man, Ace! All you gotta do is race him to the bridge, beat him, and we can all go home.

-->''Tony:''' You gotta get to the bridge.

* EldtritchLocation: Highway Thirteen consistently leads Justin and Craig back to the haunted diner.

* EldtrichLocation: Highway Thirteen consistently leads Justin and Craig back to the haunted diner.

* EverybodyHasStandards: The protagonist who takes up the drag race may be the rowdier of the two friends, but he is appalled when he learns that the truck driver didn't ''want'' to drag race with the two ghosts. It is because of these standards that he throws the race and lets the truck driver go through the bridge first.