《撞车》英文剧本

【英文剧本】撞车CRASHCRASHBASEDONTHENOVELBYJGBALLARDSCREENPLAYBYDAVIDCRONENBERGPRODUCEDBYDAVIDCRONENBERGDIRECTEDBYDAVIDCRONENBERGCASTLISTJAMESSPADERJAMESBALLARDHOLLYHUNTERDRHELENREMINGTONELIASKOTEASVAUGHANDEBORAHUNGERCATHERINEBALLARDROSANNAARQUETTEGABRIELLEPETERMACNEILSEAGRAVEEXTAIRFIELDDAYWEAREMOVINGTHROUGHASMALLAIRFIELDFULLOFPARKEDLIGHTPLANESTHEREARENOPEOPLEAROUNDWEMOVETHROUGHTHECLUSTEROFPLANESTOWARDSAHANGARONTHEEDGEOFTHEFIELDINTHANGARDAYWEARESTILLMOVINGTHROUGHLIGHTPLANES,BUTNOWWEAREINSIDETHEHANGARSOMEOFTHEPLANESHAVETHEIRENGINECOVERSOPEN,PARTSSTREWNAROUNDOTHERSAREPARTIALLYCOVEREDWITHTARPSORHAVESECTIONSMISSINGTHEREISEVENASLEEKEXECUTIVEJETPARKEDINONECORNERASWEFLOATPASTTHEPLANESWENOTICEAWOMANLEANINGAGAINSTTHEWINGOFAPIPERCUB,HERCHESTAGAINSTTHEWINGSTRAILINGEDGE,HERARMSSPREADOUTTOEACHSIDE,ASTHOUGHFLYINGHERSELFASWEGETCLOSERWESEETHATHERJACKETISPULLEDOPENTOEXPOSEONEOFHERBREASTS,WHICHRESTSONTHEMETALOFTHEWINGCLOSEUPBREASTONMETALCLOSEUPHARDNIPPLEANDRIVETSCLOSEUPWOMANCATHERINEEARLYTHIRTIES,DARK,SHORTHAIR,STYLISHEXECUTIVECLOTHESHEREYESAREWIDEOPENBUTUNFOCUSSEDAHANDGRIPSHERSHOULDERFROMBEHINDWEFOLLOWTHEHANDDOWNBEHINDCATHERINEANDDISCOVERAMANCROUCHEDBEHINDHER,KISSINGHERBACKCATHERINEISSTANDINGONALOWMECHANICSPLATFORMANDHERSKIRTHASBEENRAISEDANDHOOKEDOVERTHEWINGSFLAPSHEWEARSGARTERSANDSTOCKINGSBUTNOPANTIESTHEMAN,HANDSOME,CRUELLOOKING,RISESUPBEHINDHER,ENTERSHER,KISSESHERNECKCATHERINEHALFCLOSESHEREYESSHEROTATESHERPELVISGENTLYAGAINSTHISTHRUSTINGEXTFILMSTUDIODAYWEAREFLOATINGTOWARDSTHEMODESTGATESOFASMALLFILMSTUDIOTHESIGNABOVETHEGATESSAYS“CINETERRA“INARTDECOSCRIPTINTFILMSTUDIODAYWENOWFLOATTHROUGHAFILMSETONWHICHACOMMERCIALFORAMINVANISBEINGSHOTLIGHTSAREBEINGRESET,THEVANPOLISHEDFORABEAUTYTRACKINGSHOTWEPICKUPANASSISTANTDIRECTORASHESTRIDESTHROUGHTHEACTION,LOOKINGFORSOMEONEASSISTANTDIRECTORIMLOOKINGFORJAMESHASANYBODYSEENJAMESBALLARDYOUKNOWWHOIMEANTHEPRODUCEROFTHISEPICADOLLYGRIPWITHVERYCLOSECROPPEDHAIRLOOKSUPFROMASECTIONOFDOLLYTRACKWHICHHEISADJUSTINGWITHSMALLWOODENWEDGESGRIPITHINKISAWHIMINTHECAMERADEPARTMENTINTFILMSTUDIOCAMERAROOMDAYWEFLOATTOWARDSTHEDOORMARKED“CAMERADEPT“INSIDETHEROOMWEFINDAYOUNGWOMAN,ACAMERAASSISTANT,WEARINGATSHIRTANDHEAVYWOOLENSOCKSANDWORKBOOTSANDNOTHINGELSESHEISDRAPEDACROSSATABLESTREWNWITHCAMERAPARTS,STOMACHDOWN,HEADRESTINGONABLACK,CRACKLEFINISHCAMERAMAGAZINE,HERLEGSSPREADCAMERAPARTSANDCASES,TRIPODS,CHANGINGBAGSEVERYWHEREAMANISBEHINDHER,KISSINGTHEBACKSOFHERTHIGHSWEHEARTHESOUNDOFTHEASSISTANTDIRECTORAPPROACHINGWITHDELIBERATELYHEAVYFOOTSTEPSTHEASSISTANTDIRECTORPAUSESJUSTOUTSIDETHEDOORASSISTANTDIRECTOROSJAMESJAMES,AREYOUINTHERECOULDWEPLEASEGETYOURSTAMPOFAPPROVALONOURLITTLETRACKINGSHOTTHEMAN,JAMES,LOOKSUPFROMTHEWOMANSTHIGHSJAMESOFCOURSEBETHEREINAMINUTETHECAMERAGIRLTWISTSAROUNDONTOHERBACKANDTHROWSHERLEGSOVERJAMESSSHOULDERSCAMERAGIRLITLLTAKEMORETHANAMINUTEEXTBALLARDAPTBALCONYNIGHTCATHERINESTANDSATTHERAILINGOFTHEBALCONYOFTHEBALLARDAPARTMENT,WHICHOVERLOOKSABUSYEXPRESSWAYNEARTHEAIRPORTHERARMSARESPREADWIDEASTHEYWEREINTHEAIRPLANEHANGAR,ONLYNOW,ITISJAMES,HERHUSBAND,STANDING,WHOISBEHINDHERTHEYAREBOTHHALFNAKED,ANDHEISINSIDEHERTHEIRSEXMAKINGISDISCONNECTED,PASSIONLESS,ASTHOUGHITWOULDDISAPPEARIFTHEYNOTICEDITANURGENT,UNINTERRUPTEDFLOWOFCARSSTREAMSBELOWTHEMJAMESWHEREWEREYOUCATHERINEINTHEPRIVATEAIRCRAFTHANGARANYBODYCOULDHAVEWALKEDINJAMESDIDYOUCOMECATHERINENOWHATABOUTYOURCAMERAGIRLDIDSHECOMEJAMESWEWEREINTERRUPTEDIHADTOGOBACKTOTHESETCATHERINETURNSTOWARDSJAMESANDPULLSOPENHERBLOUSE,EXPOSINGHERLEFTBREASTSHEPULLSJAMESSFACEDOWNANDPRESSESHERNIPPLEAGAINSTHISCHEEKCATHERINEPOORDARLINGPAUSEWHATCANIDOABOUTKARENHOWCANIARRANGETOHAVEHERSEDUCEMESHEDESPERATELYNEEDSACONQUESTJAMESIVEBEENTHINKINGABOUTTHAT,ABOUTYOUANDKARENINTDEPARTMENTSTORELINGERIEDAYJAMESLINGERSAMONGSTRACKSOFNIGHTDRESSESOUTSIDEACHANGECUBICLEMONITOREDBYABORED,SEENITALLMIDDLEAGEDSALESLADY,JAMESGLANCESNOWANDTHENTHROUGHTHECURTAINSTOWATCHKARENHELPCATHERINETRYONUNDERWEARKAREN,CATHERINESSECRETARY,AMOODY,UNSMILINGGIRL,ISMETHODICALLYINVOLVEDINTHESOFTTECHNOLOGYOFCATHERINESBREASTSANDTHEBRASSIERESDESIGNEDTOSHOWTHEMOFFKARENTOUCHESCATHERINEWITHPECULIARCARESSES,TAPPINGHERLIGHTLYWITHTHETIPSOFHERFINGERS,FIRSTUPONTHESHOULDERSALONGTHEPINKGROOVESLEFTBYHERUNDERWEAR,THENACROSSHERBACK,WHERETHEMETALCLASPSOFHERBRASSIEREHAVELEFTAMEDALLIONOFIMPRESSEDSKIN,ANDFINALLYTOTHEELASTICPATTERNEDGROOVESBENEATHCATHERINESBREASTSTHEMSELVESCATHERINESTANDSTHROUGHTHISINATRANCELIKESTATE,GABBLINGTOHERSELFINALOWVOICE,ASTHETIPOFKARENSRIGHTFOREFINGERSURREPTITIOUSLYTOUCHESHERNIPPLEINTUNDERGROUNDPARKINGLOTDAYJAMESSITSINTHECARBESIDEHISWIFESHEWATCHESASHISFINGERSMOVEACROSSTHECONTROLPANEL,SWITCHINGONTHEIGNITION,THEDIRECTIONINDICATOR,SELECTINGTHEDRIVELEVER,FASTENINGHISSEATBELTASTHECARMOVESOFF,JAMESPUTSHISFREEHANDBETWEENCATHERINESTHIGHSINTFILMSTUDIOJAMESSOFFICENIGHTJAMESSTUDIESSTORYBOARDSFORANAUTOMOTIVEBATTERYCOMMERCIALWHICHARESPREADOUTOVERABROADARCHITECTSTABLEHEMAKESNOTESONEACHPANELOFTHEBOARDSWITHASHARPPENCILASWEMOVEAROUNDHIM,WEREVEALHISSECRETARYRENATASITTINGANDWATCHINGHIMINTENTLYFROMTHEVANTAGEPOINTOFHERCORNERCHAIR,HERHANDPOISEDTOWRITEDOWNANYTHINGHEMIGHTSAYINASMALL,LEATHERBOUNDNOTEBOOKFROMHERPOINTOFVIEW,WEWATCHJAMESFROMBEHINDASHEWORKSEVERYMOVEMENTHEMAKESBENDINGOVERTOCORRECTAPANEL,MANIPULATINGTHEPENCIL,TOUCHINGTHESHARPPOINTOFTHEPENCILTOHISLIP,STRAIGHTENINGUPAGAINPROVOKESADIFFERENTTINYRESPONSEFROMRENATA,SOATTUNEDTOHIMISSHEBUTHESAYSNOTHINGTOHER,ANDSHEREMAINSPOISEDANDVIGILANTEXTFILMSTUDIOPARKINGLOTNIGHTJAMESSETTLESINTOHISCARABORINGAMERICANFOURDOORSEDANRUNNINGTHROUGHHISCONTROLPANELROUTINELIKEAPILOTBEFOREDRIVINGOFFTHISTIMEHISROUTINEENDSWITHTHESWITCHINGONOFTHEWINDSHIELDWIPERSBECAUSEITHASBEGUNTORAINHEAVILYEXTRAINSWEPTROADNIGHTDRIVINGHOMEFROMTHESTUDIO,JAMESHITSADEEPPUDDLEAT60MILESANHOURANDSUDDENLYFINDSHIMSELFHEADINGINTOTHEONCOMINGLANETHECARHITSTHECENTRALRESERVATIONWITHATHUMPANDTHEOFFSIDETIREEXPLODESANDSPINSOFFITSRIMINTJAMESSCARNIGHTINTHECAR,JAMESFIGHTSDESPERATELYFORCONTROLEXTRAINSWEPTROADNIGHTTHECARHURTLESACROSSTHERESERVATIONAND,BOUNCINGANDSLAMMINGDOWNONITSSUSPENSION,HEADSUPTHEHIGHSPEEDEXITRAMPTHREESEDANSAREBARRELINGDOWNTHERAMPRIGHTTOWARDSJAMESINTJAMESSCARNIGHTJAMESPUMPSTHEBRAKESANDSAWSAWAYINEXPERTLYATTHEWHEELHEMANAGESTOAVOIDTHEFIRSTTWOCARS,BUTTHETHIRDHESTRIKESHEADONATTHEMOMENTOFIMPACT,THEMANINTHEPASSENGERSEATOFTHEOTHERCARISPROPELLEDLIKEAHASTRESSFROMTHEBARRELOFACIRCUSCANNONTHROUGHHISOWNWINDSHIELDANDTHENPARTIALLYTHROUGHTHEWINDSHIELDOFJAMESSCARTHEPROPELLEDMANSBLOODSPATTERSJAMESSFACEANDCHEST,HISBODYCOMINGTORESTHALFINSIDEJAMESSCAR,ITSHEADDANGLINGDOWNINTOTHEDARKRECESSOFTHEPASSENGERFOOTWELLJAMESSCHESTHITSTHESTEERINGWHEEL,HISKNEESCRUSHINTOTHEINSTRUMENTPANEL,HISFOREHEADHITSTHEUPPERWINDSHIELDFRAMEASTHESETHINGSHAPPEN,JAMESISVAGUELYCONSCIOUSOFTHESAMETHINGSHAPPENINGTOTHEWOMANDRIVINGTHEOTHERCAR,ASTHOUGHSHEISABIZARREMIRRORIMAGESLAMMEDBACKINTOTHEIRSEATSAFTERTHEINITIALIMPACT,JAMESANDTHEWOMANLOOKATEACHOTHERTHROUGHTHESHATTEREDWINDSHIELDS,NEITHERABLETOMOVETHEWOMAN,HANDSOMEANDINTELLIGENTLOOKING,SUPPORTEDBYHERSEATBELT,STARESATJAMESINACURIOUSLYFORMALWAY,ASIFUNSUREWHATHASBROUGHTTHEMTOGETHEROUTOFTHECORNEROFHISEYE,JAMESCANSEETHEHANDOFTHEDEADPASSENGER,NOWHISPASSENGER,CAUGHTONTHEDASHBOARDANDLYINGPALMUPWARDSONLYAFEWINCHESAWAYFROMHIMJAMESSQUINTSASHETRIESTOFOCUSONAHUGEBLOODBLISTER,PUMPEDUPBYTHEMANSDYINGCIRCULATION,WHICHHASADISTINCTTRITONSHAPEJAMESSHIFTSHISFOCUSTOTHEHOODORNAMENTOFHISCAR,TWISTEDUPINTOTHECOLDMERCURYVAPORGLAREOFTHEROADWAYLIGHTSBUTSTILLINTACTITISTHESAMETRITONIMPRINTEDONTHEPALMOFTHEDEADPASSENGER,THECARMANUFACTURERSLOGOEXTRAINSWEPTROADNIGHTTRAFFICISBEGINNINGTOBACKUPBEHINDTHEACCIDENTANDAGROWINGCIRCLEOFSPECTATORS,SOMEOFTHEMPEDESTRIANS,SOMEDRIVERSWHOHAVELEFTTHEIROWNCARS,BEGINSTOFORMTHEMOREADVENTUROUSMEMBERSOFTHECROWDPAWHESITANTLYATTHESEIZEDDOORSOFTHETWOCARS,AFRAIDTOREALLYYANKTHEMOPENINCASETHEVIOLENCEOFTHATACTMIGHTTRIGGERSOMEFURTHERUNNAMEDCATASTROPHEINTJAMESSCARNIGHTNUMBLYWATCHINGJAMESASSHEFUMBLESTOUNDOHERSEATBELT,THEWOMANINTHEOTHERCRASHEDCARINADVERTENTLYJERKSOPENHERBLOUSEANDEXPOSESHERBREASTTOJAMES,ITSINNERCURVEMARKEDBYADARK,STRAPLIKEBRUISEMADEBYHERSEATBELTINTHESTRANGE,DESPERATEPRIVACYOFTHISMOMENT,THEBREASTSERECTNIPPLESEEMSSOMEHOW,IMPOSSIBLY,ADELIBERATEPROVOCATIONINTHOSPITALDAYWEARECLOSEONAFACEHAVINGMAKEUPAPPLIEDTOITITISAVERYPALE,BLOTCHYFACE,ANDTHEMAKEUPISSMOOTHINGIT,MAKINGITAPPEARHEALTHYANDEVENSLIGHTLYTANNEDTHEREAREALSOSOMECRUDEBLACKSTITCHESINTHISFACE,ANDWEREALIZETHATITISJAMESSFACE,ANDTHATITISCATHERINEWHOISAPPLYINGTHEMAKEUPWITHAVERYSERIOUSDEMEANORJAMESSLEGSAREUPINASLING,DRAINAGETUBESCOMINGFROMBOTHKNEESWOUNDSONHISCHESTBROKENSKINAROUNDTHELOWEREDGEOFTHESTERNUM,WHERETHEHORNBOSSHADBEENDRIVENUPWARDSBYTHECOLLAPSINGENGINECOMPARTMENTASEMICIRCULARBRUISE,AMARBLEDRAINBOWRUNNINGFROMONENIPPLETOTHEOTHERSTITCHESINTHELACERATIONACROSSTHESCALP,ASECONDHAIRLINEANINCHBELOWTHEORIGINALUNSHAVENFACEANDFRETTINGHANDSCATHERINEISDRESSEDMOREFORASMARTLUNCHWITHANAIRLINEEXECUTIVETHANTOVISITHERHUSBANDINHOSPITALCATHERINETHERE,THATSBETTERJAMESTHANKYOUJAMESEXAMINESHIMSELFINHERHANDMIRROR,STARINGATHISPALE,MANNEQUINLIKEFACE,TRYINGTOREADITSLINESCATHERINELOOKSAROUNDHERASSHEPUTSHERMAKEUPAWAYTHEREARETWENTYTHREEOTHERBEDSINTHEBRISKLYEFFICIENTNEWWARD,ALLOFTHEMEMPTYCATHERINENOTALOTOFACTIONHEREJAMESTHEYCONSIDERTHISTOBETHEAIRPORTHOSPITALTHISWARDISRESERVEDFORAIRCRASHVICTIMSTHEBEDSAREKEPTWAITINGCATHERINEIFIGROUNDLOOPDURINGMYFLYINGLESSONONSATURDAYYOUMIGHTWAKEUPANDFINDMENEXTTOYOUJAMESILLLISTENFORYOUBUZZINGOVERCATHERINECROSSESHERLEGSANDTRIESTOLIGHTACIGARETTEWITHAHEAVY,MECHANICALLYCOMPLEXLIGHTERWITHWHICHSHEISOBVIOUSLYUNFAMILIARJAMESREFERRINGTOTHELIGHTERISTHATAGIFTFROMWENDELITHASANAERONAUTICALFEELTOITCATHERINEYESFROMWENDELTOCELEBRATE,THELICENSEAPPROVALFOROURAIRCHARTERFIRMIFORGOTTOTELLYOUCATHERINEFINALLYSUCCEEDSINLIGHTINGTHECIGARETTESHETAKESADEEPDRAGJAMESPROPSHIMSELFUPONHISELBOW,BREATHINGWITHTRANSPARENTPAINJAMESTHATSGOINGWELL,THENCATHERINEWELL,YESPAUSEYOUREGETTINGOUTOFBEDTOMORROWTHEYWANTYOUTOWALKJAMESGESTURESFORTHECIGARETTECATHERINEPUTSTHEWARMTIP,STAINEDWITHPINKLIPSTICK,INTOHISMOUTHCATHERINETHEOTHERMAN,THEDEADMAN,HISWIFEISADOCTORDRHELENREMINGTONSHESHERE,SOMEWHEREASAPATIENT,OFCOURSEMAYBEYOULLFINDHERINTHEHALLWAYSTOMORROWONYOURWALKJAMESANDHERHUSBANDWHATWASHECATHERINEHEWASACHEMICALENGINEERWITHAFOODCOMPANYADARKHAIREDSTUDENTFEMALENURSECOMESINTOTHEWARDSHEWAGSAFINGERATJAMESSTUDENTNURSENOSMOKING,PLEASEASCATHERINERETRIEVESTHECIGARETTEFROMJAMESANDSTUBSITOUTINAGLASS,THENURSEEXAMINESCATHERINESGLAMOROUSFIGURE,HEREXPENSIVESUIT,HERJEWELRYSTUDENTNURSETOCATHERINEAREYOUTHISGENTLEMANSWIFEMRSBALLARDCATHERINEYESSTUDENTNURSEYOUCANSTAYFORTHIS,THENTHENURSEPULLSTHEBEDCLOTHESBACKANDDIGSTHEURINEBOTTLEFROMBETWEENHISLEGSSHECHECKSTHELEVELAND,SATISFIED,DROPSITBACK,FLIPSOVERTHESHEETSAGAINBOTHCATHERINEANDJAMESWATCHHERCLOSELY,HERSLYTHIGHSUNDERHERGINGHAM,THEMOVEMENTOFHERBREASTSASSHEBENDSTOCHECKTHECHARTATTHEFOOTOFTHEBED,THEPULSEINHERTHROATTHENURSECATCHESTHEMWATCHINGHER,SMILESENIGMATICALLYBACKATTHEM,ANDLEAVESCATHERINEPULLSOUTAMANILAFOLDERFROMHERBAGANDSLIPSASETOFSTORYBOARDSFORACOMMERCIALOUTOFITCATHERINEAIDATELEPHONEDTOSAYHOWSORRYSHEWAS,BUTCOULDYOULOOKATTHESTORYBOARDSAGAIN,SHESMADEANUMBEROFCHANGESJAMESWAVESTHEFOLDERAWAYCATHERINEEXAMINESHISBODY,ALOOFLYCURIOUSJAMESWHERESTHECARCATHERINEOUTSIDEINTHEVISITORS,CARPARKJAMESWHATTHEYBROUGHTTHECARHERECATHERINEMYCAR,NOTYOURSYOURSISACOMPLETEWRECKTHEPOLICEDRAGGEDITTOTHEPOUNDBEHINDTHESTATIONJAMESHAVEYOUSEENITCATHERINETHESERGEANTASKEDMETOIDENTIFYITHEDIDNTBELIEVEYOUDGOTTENOUTALIVEJAMESITSABOUTTIMECATHERINEITISJAMESAFTERBEINGBOMBARDEDENDLESSLYBYROADSAFETYPROPAGANDA,ITSALMOSTARELIEFTOHAVEFOUNDMYSELFINANACTUALACCIDENTINTHOSPITALHALLWAYSNIGHTJAMESISTAKINGHISWALKTHROUGHTHEHALLWAYS,TRUNDLINGHISIVSTANDALONGWITHHIMLIKEANAWKWARDPETAWHITECOATEDDOCTORVAUGHANSTEPSINTOTHEWARDFROMAROOMATTHEENDOFTHEHALLHEISBARECHEATEDUNDERHISWHITECOATHISSTRONGHANDSCARRYABRIEFCASEFILLEDWITHPHOTOGRAPHSWHICHHEPAUSESTOSHUFFLETHROUGHASTHOUGHCHECKINGAMAPASJAMESAPPROACHESTHISNEWVISITOR,VAUGHANSPOCKMARKEDJAWSCHOMPONAPIECEOFGUM,CREATINGTHEIMPRESSIONTHATHEMIGHTBEHAWKINGOBSCENEPICTURESAROUNDTHEWARDS,PORNOGRAPHICXRAYPLATESANDBLACKLISTEDURINALYSESHESPORTSCOPIOUSSCARTISSUEAROUNDHISFOREHEADANDMOUTH,RUMPLEDANDPUCKEREDASTHOUGHRESIDUESFROMSOMETERRIFYINGACTOFVIOLENCEVAUGHANLOOKSJAMESUPANDDOWN,TAKINGINEVERYDETAILOFHISINJURIESWITHEVIDENTINTERESTVAUGHNJAMESBALLARDJAMESYESVAUGHANCRASHVICTIMJAMESYESVAUGHANSHUFFLESHISPHOTOSAGAINJAMESMANAGESTOMAKEOUTTHESHAPESOFAFEWCRUSHEDANDDISTORTEDVEHICLESCAUGHTINLURID,FLASHLITNEWSSTYLEVAUGHANFLIPSTHROUGHTHEMDISTRACTEDLY,THENWITHANUNEXPECTED,ALMOSTFLIRTATIOUSFLOURISH,SLIDESTHEMBACKINTOHISBRIEFCASEANDTUCKSITUNDERHISARMVAUGHANWELLDEALWITHTHESELATERHEFLASHESJAMESANENIGMATICSMILE,ANDTHENWALKSOFFDOWNTHEHALLWAYASJAMESTURNSTOCONTINUEON,AYOUNGWOMANCOMESOUTOFTHESAMEROOMTHATVAUGHANDIDANDMOVESTOWARDSHIMUSINGADARKWOODENWALKINGSTICKSHEPRESSESHERFACEINTOHERRAISEDSHOULDER,POSSIBLYTOHIDETHEBRUISEMARKINGHERRIGHTCHEEKBONETHEWOMANISDRHELENREMINGTON,WHOSEHUSBANDDIEDINHERCARCRASHWITHJAMESJAMESSTOPSASSHEAPPROACHESHESPEAKSWITHOUTTHINKINGJAMESDRREMINGTONTHEWOMANLOOKSUPATJAMESASSHECONTINUESHERAPPROACHSHEDOESNOTFALTER,BUTCHANGESHERGRIPONTHECANEASIFPREPARINGTOTHRASHHIMACROSSTHEFACEWITHITSHEMOVESHERHEADINAPECULIARGESTUREOFTHENECK,DELIBERATELYFORCINGHERINJURYONHIMSHEPAUSESWHENSHEREACHESTHEDOORWAY,WAITINGFORHIMTOSTEPOUTOFHERWAYJAMESLOOKSDOWNONTHESCARTISSUEONHERFACE,ASEAMLEFTBYANINVISIBLEZIPTHREEINCHESLONG,RUNNINGFROMTHECORNEROFHERRIGHTEYETOTHEAPEXOFHERMOUTHJAMESISACUTELYAWAREOFHERSTRONGBODYBENEATHHERMAUVEBATHROBE,HERRIBCAGEPARTLYSHIELDEDBYASHEATHOFWHITEPLASTERTHATRUNSFROMONESHOULDERTOTHEOPPOSITEARMPITLIKEACLASSICALHOLLYWOODBALLGOWNJAMESSTEPSASIDEDECIDINGTOIGNOREHIM,HELENREMINGTONWALKSSTIFFLYALONGTHECOMMUNICATIONCORRIDORPARADINGHERANGERANDHERWOUNDINTHOSPITALDAYCATHERINEWASHESJAMESSBODYASHELIESINHISHOSPITALBED,GENTLYEXPLORINGHISBRUISESANDHISWOUNDSCATHERINEBOTHFRONTWHEELSANDTHEENGINEWEREDRIVENBACKINTOTHEDRIVERSSECTION,BOWINGTHEFLOORBLOODSTILLMARKEDTHEHOOD,STREAMERSOFBLACKLACERUNNINGTOWARDSTHEWINDSHIELDWIPERGUTTERSCATHERINERESOAPSHERHANDFROMTHEBARINTHEWETSAUCERONTHEBEDTRAY,ACIGARETTEINHERLEFTHANDJAMESSTROKESHERSTOCKINGEDTHIGHASSHECONTINUESHERMONOLOGUECATHERINEMINUTEFLECKSWERESPATTEREDACROSSTHESEATANDSTEERINGWHEELTHEINSTRUMENTPANELWASBUCKLEDINWARDS,CRACKINGTHECLOCKANDTHESPEEDOMETERDIALSTHECABINWASDEFORMED,ANDTHEREWASDUSTANDGLASSANDPLASTICFLAKESEVERYWHEREINSIDETHECARPETINGWASDAMPANDSTANKOFBLOODANDOTHERBODYANDMACHINEFLUIDSJAMESYOUSHOULDHAVEGONETOTHEFUNERALCATHERINEIWISHIHADTHEYBURYTHEDEADSOQUICKLYTHEYSHOULDLEAVETHEMLYINGAROUNDFORMONTHSJAMESWHATABOUTHISWIFETHEWOMANDOCTORHAVEYOUVISITEDHERYETCATHERINENO,ICOULDNTIFEELTOOCLOSETOHEREXTROADHOMEFROMHOSPITALDAYCATHERINEANDJAMESTRAVELHOMEINTHEBACKSEATOFATAXILEANINGAGAINSTTHEREARWINDOWOFTHETAXI,JAMESFINDSHIMSELFFLINCHINGWITHEXCITEMENTTOWARDSTHEAPPROACHINGTRAFFICSTREAMS,WHICHNOWSEEMTHREATENINGANDSUPERREALCATHERINEWATCHESHIM,AWARETHATHEISOVEREXHILARATED,HERSELFVERYEXCITEDBYHISNEWSENSITIVITYTOTHETRAFFICINTBALLARDAPTDAYJAMESSITSINARECLININGCHAIRONTHEBALCONYOFHISAPARTMENT,LOOKINGDOWNTHROUGHTHEANODIZEDBALCONYRAILSATTHENEIGHBORHOODTENSTORIESBELOWCARSFILLTHESUBURBANSTREETSBELOW,CHOKINGTHEPARKINGLOTSOFTHESUPERMARKETS,RAMPEDONTOTHEPAVEMENTSTWOMINORACCIDENTSHAVECAUSEDAMASSIVETAILBACKALONGTHEFLYOVERWHICHCROSSESTHEENTRANCETUNNELTOTHEAIRPORTINONEOFTHEM,AWHITELAUNDRYVANHASBUMPEDINTOTHEBACKOFASEDANFILLEDWITHWEDDINGGUESTSJAMESGAZESRAPTLYDOWNATTHISIMMENSEMOTIONSCULPTURE,THISINCOMPREHENSIBLEPINBALLMACHINECATHERINECOMESONTOTHEBALCONY,KNEELSDOWNBESIDEHIM,BEGINSTOTOYLOVINGLYWITHTHESCARSONHISKNEESCATHERINERENATATELLSMEYOUREGOINGTORENTACARJAMESICANTSITONTHISBALCONYFOREVERIMBEGINNINGTOFEELLIKEAPOTTEDPLANTCATHERINEHOWCANYOUDRIVEJAMESYOURLEGSYOUCANBARELYWALKJAMESISTHETRAFFICHEAVIERNOWTHERESEEMTOBETHREETIMESASMANYCARSASTHEREWEREBEFORETHEACCIDENTCATHERINEIVENEVERREALLYNOTICEDISRENATAGOINGWITHYOUJAMESITHOUGHTSHEMIGHTCOMEALONGHANDLINGACARAGAINMIGHTBEMORETIRINGTHANIIMAGINECATHERINEIMAMAZEDTHATSHELLLETYOUDRIVEHERJAMESYOURENOTENVIOUSCATHERINEMAYBEIAMALITTLERISINGJAMES,IVEGOTTOLEAVEFORTHEOFFICEAREYOUGOINGTOBEALLRIGHTINTBALLARDAPTGARAGEDAYJAMESSTANDSATTHEENTRANCETOHISAPARTMENTBUILDINGSUNDERGROUNDGARAGEONLYABOUTADOZENCARSSTANDTHERE,MOSTOFTHEMHAVEBEENDRIVENTOWORKJAMESWALKSAMONGSTTHEM,ABSORBINGTHEDETAILSOFTHEPERSONALTHINGSLEFTINTHECARSASILKSCARFLIESONAREARWINDOWSILL,APAIROFSUNGLASSESHOOKEDOVERACARPETEDTRANSMISSIONHUMPJAMESSTOPSINFRONTOFTHEEMPTYBAYMARKED“BALLARD“HESTARESATTHEFAMILIARPATTERNOFOILSTAINSMARKINGTHECEMENTINTRENTEDCARDAYASTEERINGWHEEL,ANINSTRUMENTPANEL,AWINDSHIELDRENATASHIPSGRIPPEDBYTHEFABRICOFTHEPASSENGERSEAT,HERLEGSSTOWEDOUTOFSIGHTBENEATHHERREDPLASTICRAINCOATJAMESDRIVESRENATAINARENTEDCAR,HISFIRSTDRIVESINCETHEACCIDENTEXTFIRSTCRASHSITEDAYTHERENTEDCARSLOWSANDSTOPSONTHECONCRETEVERGEAFEWYARDSFROMTHESPOTWHEREJAMESCRASHTOOKPLACEINTRENTEDCARDAYRENATAAREWEALLOWEDTOPARKHEREJAMESNORENATAIMSURETHEPOLICEWOULDMAKEANEXCEPTIONINYOURCASEJAMESUNBUTTONSRENATASRAINCOATANDPLACESHISHANDONHERTHIGHSHELETSHIMKISSHERTHROAT,HOLDINGHISSHOULDERREASSURINGLYLIKEANAFFECTIONATEGOVERNESSJAMESTHERESSTILLAPATCHOFBLOODTHEREONTHEROADDIDYOUSEEITRENATAISAWTHEBLOODITLOOKSLIKEMOTOROILJAMESYOUWERETHELASTONEISAWJUSTBEFORETHEACCIDENTDOYOUREMEMBERWEMADELOVERENATAAREYOUSTILLINVOLVINGMEINYOURCRASHANAIRLINECOACHPASSES,THEPASSENGERSBOUNDFORMILANSTARINGDOWNATTHEPAIRRENATABUTTONSHERCOATEXTFIRSTCRASHSITEDAYJAMESSTEPSFROMTHECAR,HISRIGHTKNEEGIVINGWAYAFTERTHEEFFORTOFDRIVINGATHISFEETLIESALITTEROFDEADLEAVES,CIGARETTECARTONSANDSMALLDRIFTSOFSAFETYGLASSCRYSTALSAHUNDREDYARDSBEHINDTHEMADUSTYOLDAMERICANCAR,ALINCOLN,ISALSOPARKEDONTHEVERGETHELEATHERJACKETEDDRIVERWATCHESJAMESTHROUGHHISMUDSPATTEREDWINDSHIELD,BROADSHOULDERSHUNCHEDAGAINSTTHEDOORPILLARASJAMESCROSSESTHEROADHEPICKSUPACAMERAFITTEDWITHAZOOMLENSANDPEERSATJAMESTHROUGHTHEEYEPIECESPOTTINGTHEMAN,RENATAOPENSTHECARDOORFORJAMESRENATAWHOISTHATMANISHEAPRIVATEDETECTIVEJAMESGETSBACKINTHECARINTRENTEDCARDAYRENATACANYOUDRIVEJAMESICANDRIVEJAMESSHIFTSTHECARINTOGEARANDCRUISESSLOWLYTOWARDSTHEMANWITHTHECAMERAASTHEYAPPROACHHIM,HEGETSOUTOFHISOWNCAR,IGNORINGTHEM,ANDKNEELSDOWNTOSTUDYTHEHIEROGLYPHICSOFTHESKIDMARKSONTHEROADSURFACEASJAMESANDRENATADRIVEPASTTHEKNEELINGMAN,THES