History Recap / TalesFromTheCryptS4E9KingOfTheRoad

->'''Crypt Keeper:''' ''(wearing a tattered white shirt)'' [[Film/AStreetCarNamedDesire Stella! STELLA!]] ''(notices the camera)'' Oh! Hello, ''plague''-goers. I was just re-''hearse''-ing with my little theater group. I just love the ''slime-''light. For tonight's dreary drama, I thought we'd try an ex-''scare-''imental piece about a retired drag racer who's afraid of getting to the ''finished'' line a little sooner than he wants. I call this nasty nugget: '''King of the Road.'''

Billy Drake (Creator/BradPitt) is a cocky and arrogant hoodlum with a talent for drag racing. After "beating" his latest opponent, Billy sets his sights on local sheriff Joe Garrett (Creator/RaymondJBarry) and his rebellious teenage daughter Carey. Billy is drawn to the sheriff because he has heard rumors that Garrett was once a legendary drag racer known as "Iceman" in his youth, but Joe denies knowing anything about being a racer. That night, Billy finds Joe at the diner where Carey works and insists that Joe ''is'' "Iceman", who had an eight-year winning streak until he abruptly quit the racing scene. After Joe again brushes him off and leaves, Carey quickly strikes up a relationship with Billy.

Billy slips an envelope and a live tarantula into Joe's mailbox after he drops Carey off at home one night. The next morning, Joe finds and kills the spider, then sees the name "Iceman" written on the envelope. Inside are incriminating photos and news clippings detailing a horrific accident that occurred during "Iceman's" last race, where "Iceman's" opponent died in a car crash. "Iceman" was suspected of being involved, but the police never caught him. Distraught and angry, Joe tears up the evidence. That night, Billy baits Joe into a high-speed chase during his beat. Joe is forced to break off his pursuit to avoid an oncoming truck, leaving Billy to get away. Joe soon learns of Billy's relationship with his daughter when he comes across the two of them having recently had sex, and assaults the young racer, who threatens to destroy Joe's life by revealing his proof that Joe was once "Iceman". Billy offers to keep it all a secret if Joe races him, then leaves with Carey. Joe reluctantly agrees to Billy's offer, but then finds out that Billy never actually loved Carey, having taken her hostage as a bargaining chip. Billy vows that he'll kill her if Joe loses the race or if anyone else interferes with his plot.

After meeting his mechanic Mole and bringing his old racer out of storage, Joe meets Billy at his agreed-on time and place. Billy has brought Carey along at gunpoint, and he gives her his pistol to fire as the starting signal. Joe talks her out of killing Billy on the spot, promising to let Billy go free if he wins the race, or else he'll kill him if he loses. As the race begins, the two gradually become neck and neck on the straightaway. Joe suddenly slams on his brakes and lets Billy zooms ahead, who crashes squarely into a bulldozer parked on the road. When Joe walks up to the wreck, the barely-alive Billy flicks his lighter and drops it in a last attempt to get the upper hand, igniting a spill of gasoline. Joe runs to safety just before Billy and his car go up in flames. Joe embraces Carey as the two return home, their bonds strengthened by the experience.

!!Tropes:
* AbsurdlyHighStakesGame: At first, Billy threatens to kill Carey if Joe loses the race, or if he tries to cheat. After Billy lets her go, Joe offers to let Billy go free if he wins, or he'll kill him if he loses.
* TheAce: Joe was once a perpetual victor in drag racing for eight years running. His skills behind the wheel during his days as "Iceman" have cemented him as a local legend, Billy even telling the guy that he's heard all kinds of stories about him for years.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Kind and upstanding Carey is attracted to proud bad boy Billy and his reckless driving, which enrages Joe. She quickly gets second thoughts when the bastard kidnaps her and holds her at gunpoint.
* AsYouKnow: Joe's police radio clues him in on who Billy is and his charges, as much as it does for the audience.
* AxCrazy: Billy outright calls himself crazy during his and Joe's confrontation.
* TheBigRace: The episode opens on one, where we see Billy run his latest opponent off the road and watches with glee as his car overturns. The episode's climax is set at a similar one-on-one race between him and Joe.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Billy is a proud lowlife with an extensive criminal record (with charges such as reckless driving, assault, and at least one charge of manslaughter that didn't stick), who doesn't even blink at the idea of kidnapping Carey and putting a bullet in her head in order to force Joe to race him, if not killing Joe himself. On the other hand, Joe was once a proud racer who fled from his last race after his opponent was killed in a fatal crash, and has spent 27 years keeping it a secret from the police to avoid manslaughter charges... and he's now the town sheriff. The end of the episode hints that he may finally reveal his secret former life to the police and either retire or face his punishment, hoping to focus on protecting Carey.
* {{Blackmail}}: Once Billy is certain that Joe is "Iceman", he sends him incriminating photos and evidence of just why he retired, and then kidnaps his daughter at gunpoint in the hopes of a last race.
* {{Bookends}}: The episode begins and ends during a drag race.

* CardCarryingVillain: Billy is an unrepentantly vile hoodlum who relishes his life as a punk and a wanted criminal, has no problem killing other racers, and vows to ruin Joe's life and kill his daughter if he doesn't race the guy.
* CoolCar: Joe's old racer (a fuel-injected V8 '57 Chevy), faithfully polished and tuned up by his trusted mechanic and friend, Mole.
** Billy's got a pretty sweet ride himself, complete with a skull with glowing eyes he keeps on his dashboard.
* CrazyPrepared: Mole, Joe's mechanic friend from his racing days, turns out to have kept his old car in storage, just in case Joe ever wanted to get back behind the wheel.
* DamselInDistress: In order to force Joe to agree to their race, Billy takes Carey hostage and keeps her BoundAndGagged with bondage gear in the trunk of his car.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Twenty-seven years ago, Joe quit the racing scene and gave up his "Iceman" persona after the opponent of his last race crashed and died. He's kept it a secret for nearly three decades out of fear for being charged with manslaughter.
* DarkIsNotEvil: The '57 Chevy Joe drives in his showdown with Billy is matte black and he wears a plain black leather jacket while driving it. This contrasts to Billy who's driving a bright yellow Camaro and has a HotPaintJob (although its applied to his jacket rather than his car). This Trope isn't played completely straight though as Joe's car heralds back to his days when he was an illegal street racer.
* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Billy manages to seduce Carey with his reckless way of life, and she's rather attracted to him during their time together, much to Joe's ire. Too bad Billy never actually loved her and was using her as a bargaining chip to entice Joe to race him, kidnapping the poor girl and holding her at gunpoint to force Joe to agree to his demands.

* DrivesLikeCrazy: Considering that the main characters of the episode are a pair of drag racers (one active, one retired), you can bet that there's gonna be some pretty wild driving.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Joe manages to save his daughter's life and reunite with her, getting rid of his tormentor in the process. It's even hinted that he may finally spill the beans about his former life to the police and retire, hoping to be a more active presence in his daughter's life.
* EnemiesList: Billy is shown to have the names of every racer who he beat/killed tattooed on his right arm. He's seen tattooing Joe's name on the list, the tattoo appearing freshly bloody, just before their big race.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Billy is first seen in a race against another dragster, which violently overturns. Billy hollers in celebration and kisses his skull ornament, showing that the suffering of other people, and them dying in his favorite hobby, means nothing to him.

* EvilWearsBlack: Billy only wears black in all of his scenes, emphasizing how much of a wicked punk he is.
* FormulaBreakingEpisode: This episode has absolutely no horror or supernatural themes, instead presenting itself as an action-packed story centered around a former drag racer being forced out of retirement to save his daughter's life.
** The episode is also one of the few in the series to feature an original soundtrack by a guest singer. In this case, Music/WarrenZevon.
** It's not only one of three episodes made for the failed "Two-Fisted Tales" series, but it's the only episode to feature an original story not based on a pre-existing EC Comics tale.

* ForTheEvulz: Billy aches to ruin Joe's life, seduces his daughter, and threatens to kill her unless he races him, solely so he can beat the former racing legend and become the greatest drag racer alive.
* HateSink: Billy, who has no morals whatsoever and nearly kills Joe's daughter to force him into a last race.
* HostageSituation: Billy quickly takes Carey as a hostage to get Joe to race him, not afraid in the slightest to kill her if he loses, refuses, tries to cheat, or notifies the cops.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Billy ultimately forces Joe to let him go free when he finds him and Carey together by bragging about what will happen when the police find out that he's been dodging manslaughter charges for 27 years, especially what could happen to Carey.
* KarmaHoudini: Though he does rescue Carey and gets Billy out of his and her hair, Joe still remains unpunished for manslaughter over the death of his final opponent back in his racing days. Though if the end is any indication, he may tell his colleagues down at the police station and will either face the music or retire from the force so he can protect Carey more.
* LoonyFan: Billy is shown to be an admirer of Joe's former identity as "Iceman", and will do ''anything'' for the chance to beat him in a race... even kidnapping his daughter.
* MandatoryUnretirement: Joe retired from the racing life after his last opponent was killed, but is forced to get back behind the wheel to save his daughter.
* ManiacTongue: Billy is shown flapping his tongue like a dog when he's having a good time or anticipating a great victory, a testament to how deranged the man is.

* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: The old and respected sheriff Joe is pitted against the wild upstart crook Billy: their age difference is critical to both the plot and overall emotional themes of the episode.
* OneLastJob: Though he's left the world of racing behind him, Joe is forced to compete in a last race against Billy, with his daughter's life on the line.
* OutrunTheFireball: Joe does this when Billy makes his car explode with him in it, aching to take Joe with him.
* PapaWolf: Joe is fiercely protective of his daughter Carey, so much so that he psyches himself up for a last race to save her with the punk who's been blackmailing him and kidnapped her with the intent to kill.
* RetiredBadass: Even though he hasn't raced in 27 years, Joe's race with Billy proves that he's very much kept his skill behind the wheel all these years.
* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: Billy has beaten or even killed every racer who's challenged him. He sets his sights on former racer Joe and aches to beat him so he can finally be the best racer there ever was.
* ShoutOut: The Crypt Keeper plays the role of [[Film/AStreetcarNamedDesire Stanley]] in his opening segment.

* SignificantWardrobeShift: When Joe shows up to race Billy he's wearing denim jeans and a leather jacket like a young greaser, signifying that for the sake of this race he's returned to his old persona.
* SpecialGuest: Music/WarrenZevon provides the soundtrack to this episode, providing some heavy electric guitar for the action scenes, and even a few new tunes for the emotionally powerful moments.
* StockSoundEffects: These can be heard on the TV Billy watches when Joe comes to visit him.
* TakingYouWithMe: Billy tries to do this to Joe after he crashes into the bulldozer, igniting his lighter and dropping it into the fuel leaking from his car. Thankfully, Joe runs to safety in time to avoid the car's explosion.
* ThatManIsDead: For most of the episode, Joe argues with Billy that "Iceman" is long gone. The truth comes out when Joe sees what's in the envelope
* TriumphantReprise: [[Music/WarrenZevon Warren Zevon's]] song "Roll With the Punches" plays as Joe spruces up his old wheels and meets Billy. The episode ends with the song playing again, after Billy has gotten himself killed, and Joe and Carey are reunited.
* VillainRespect: Even through all the grief he puts Joe through and the underhanded means he uses to get him to accept a race, Billy has a great deal of respect for Joe and his former life as "Iceman", even telling him that upfront when he says he'll kill Billy if he loses.
* WatchOutForThatTree: Billy is so distracted by Joe's sudden stop during their race that he doesn't notice a ''bulldozer'' sitting smack in his way until it's too late.

->'''Crypt Keeper:''' ''(now dressed in Shakespearean attire and reading a copy of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'')'' Well, that certainly gives new meaning to the term "''burn'' rubber." ''(cackles)'' As for me, I've got to get back to work. The group has decided to do something classical. We're trying to choose between "A Midsummer Night's ''Scream''" and "''Ghoul-''ius Caesar." ''(cackles)'' Care to watch from ''hack-''stage? ''(cackles)'' You know what they say kiddies: "The ''slay's'' the thing!" ''(cackles)''

* CoolCar: Joe's old racer, faithfully polished and tuned up by his trusted mechanic and friend, Mole.

* EnemiesList: Billy is shown to have the names of every racer who he beat/killed tattooed on his right arm. He's seen tattooing Joe's last name on the list, the tattoo appearing freshly bloody, just before their big race.

->'''Crypt Keeper:''' ''(now dressed in Shakespearean attire and reading a copy of ''Literature/{{Hamlet}})'' Well, that certainly gives new meaning to the term "''burn'' rubber." ''(cackles)'' As for me, I've got to get back to work. The group has decided to do something classical. We're trying to choose between "A Midsummer Night's ''Scream''" and "''Ghoul-''ius Caesar." ''(cackles)'' Care to watch from ''hack-''stage? ''(cackles)'' You know what they say kiddies: "The ''slay's'' the thing!" ''(cackles)''

[[caption-width-right:350:On your mark... get set...]]


Billy Drake (Creator/BradPitt), an arrogant hoodlum with a talent for illegal street racing, arrives at the home of town sheriff Joe Garrett (Creator/RaymondJBarry) and his teenage daughter Carey. Billy is searching for a legendary racer who was known as "Iceman" in his youth, but Joe denies knowing anything about him. That night, Billy finds Joe at a diner where Carey works and insists that Joe is Iceman, who had an eight-year winning streak until he abruptly stopped racing. After Joe again brushes him off and leaves, Carey quickly strikes up a relationship with him.

Billy slips an envelope and a tarantula into Joe's mailbox after dropping Carey off at home one night. The next morning, Joe finds and kills the spider, then sees the name "Iceman" written on the envelope. Inside are photos and news clippings about a car accident resulting from a race, in which a teenager was killed; Iceman was suspected of being involved, but the police never caught him. Distraught and angry, Joe tears up the items. That night, Billy baits Joe into a high-speed chase, but Joe has to break off pursuit in order to avoid an oncoming truck and Billy gets away.

Joe soon learns of the relationship and assaults Billy, who threatens to destroy Joe's life by revealing proof that Joe actually was Iceman. Billy offers to keep the secret if Joe will race him, then leaves with Carey. Joe reluctantly agrees to the offer, but finds that Billy has taken Carey hostage and will kill her if Joe loses or if anyone interferes.

Bringing his old racer out of storage, Joe meets Billy at the agreed-on time and place. Billy has brought Carey along at gunpoint, and he gives her his pistol to fire as the starting signal. Joe talks her out of killing him on the spot, then promises to let Billy go free if he wins or kill him if he loses. As the race begins, the two are neck and neck on the straightaway; when Joe suddenly slams om his brakes, Billy zooms ahead only to crash squarely into a bulldozer parked on the road. When Joe walks up to the wreck, the barely-alive Billy flicks his cigarette lighter and drops it, igniting a spill of gasoline. Joe runs to safety just before the car explodes, and he and Carey return home.

----

* AbsurdlyHighStakesGame: At first, Billy threatens to kill Carey if Joe loses the race. Later, after Billy lets her go, Joe offers to let Billy go free if he wins or kill him if he loses.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: On the one hand, Billy is a lowlife with an extensive criminal record, who doesn't even blink at the idea of kidnapping Carey in order to force Joe to race. On the other hand, Joe fled the scene of a wreck that killed his opponent in a street race and has spent 27 years keeping it a secret from the police - and he's now the town sheriff.
* CoolCar: Joe's old street racer, faithfully polished and tuned up by his mechanic.
* DamselInDistress: In order to force Joe to agree to the race, Billy takes Carey hostage and keeps her BoundAndGagged in the trunk of his car.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Twenty-seven years earlier, Joe quit the street racing scene and gave up his "Iceman" persona after his opponent in a race crashed and died. He's kept it a secret for fear of being charged with manslaughter.
* FormulaBreakingEpisode: This episode has absolutely no horror or supernatural themes, presenting itself as an emotional, action-oriented epic centered around street racing and family, featuring a soundtrack by singer Music/WarrenZevon. Not only that, it's the only episode of the series to feature an original story not based on a pre-existing EC Comics tale. The Cryptkeeper lampshades the episode's vast differences from the rest of the series by presenting it as "an ex-''scare''-imental piece".
* SpecialGuest: Related to the above trope, Music/WarrenZevon provides the soundtrack to this episode, most of which are rehashes of his earlier songs.
* TakingYouWithMe: Billy tries to do this to Joe after crashing into the bulldozer, by igniting his lighter and dropping it into the fuel leaking from his car. Averted when Joe runs to safety just in time to avoid the car's explosion.
* WatchOutForThatTree: Billy is so distracted by Joe's sudden stop during the race that he doesn't notice the bulldozer sitting smack in his way until it's too late.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: This episode has absolutely no horror or supernatural themes, presenting itself as an emotional, action-oriented epic centered around street racing and family, featuring a soundtrack by singer Music/WarrenZevon. Not only that, it's the only episode of the series to feature an original story not based on a pre-existing EC Comics tale. The Cryptkeeper lampshades the episode's vast differences from the rest of the series by presenting it as "an ex-''scare''-imental piece".

Billy Drake, an arrogant hoodlum with a talent for illegal street racing, arrives at the home of town sheriff Joe Garrett and his teenage daughter Carey. Billy is searching for a legendary racer who was known as "Iceman" in his youth, but Joe denies knowing anything about him. That night, Billy finds Joe at a diner where Carey works and insists that Joe is Iceman, who had an eight-year winning streak until he abruptly stopped racing. After Joe again brushes him off and leaves, Carey quickly strikes up a relationship with him.

* BlackAndGrayMorality: On the one hand, Billy is a lowlife with an extensive criminal record, who doesn't even blink at the idea of kidnapping Corey in order to force Joe to race. On the other hand, Joe fled the scene of a wreck that killed his opponent in a street race and has spent 27 years keeping it a secret from the police - and he's now the town sheriff.

Bringing his old racer out of storage, Joe meets Billy at the agreed-on time and place. Billy has brought Carey along at gunpoint, and he gives her his pistol to fire as the starting signal. Joe talks her out of killing him on the spot, then promises to let Billy go free if he wins or kill him if he loses. As the race begins, the two are neck and neck on the straightaway; when Joe suddenly slams om his brakes, Billy zooms ahead only to crash squarely into a bulldozer parked on the road. When Joe walks up to the wreck, the barely-alive Billy flicks his cigarette lighter and drops it, igniting a spill of gasoline. Joe runs to safety just before the car explodes, and he and Carey return home.

Billy Drake, an arrogant street punk with a talent for illegal street racing, arrives at the home of town sheriff Joe Garrett and his teenage daughter Carey. Billy is searching for a legendary racer who was known as "Iceman" in his youth, but Joe denies knowing anything about him. That night, Billy finds Joe at a diner where Carey works and insists that Joe is Iceman, who had an eight-year winning streak until he abruptly stopped racing. After Joe again brushes him off and leaves, Carey quickly strikes up a relationship with him.

Joe soon learns of the relationship and assaults Billy, who threatens to destroy Joe's life by revealing proof that Joe actually was Iceman. Billy offers to keep it secret if Joe will race him, then leaves with Carey. Joe reluctantly agrees to the offer, but finds that Billy has taken Carey hostage and will kill her if Joe loses or if anyone interferes.

Bringing his old racer out of storage, Joe meets Billy at the agreed-on time and place. Billy has brought Carey along at gunpoint, and he gives her his pistol to fire as the starting signal. Joe talks her out of killing him on the spot, and Joe promises to let Billy go free if he wins or kill him if he loses. As the race begins, the two are neck and neck on the straightaway; when Joe suddenly slams om his brakes, Billy zooms ahead only to crash squarely into a bulldozer parked on the road. When Joe walks up to the wreck, the barely-alive Billy flicks his cigarette lighter and drops it, igniting a spill of gasoline. Joe runs to safety just before the car explodes, and he and Carey return home.