Minute 016: I’ll Take the Bus

A drunken Thornhill mumbles in the driver’s seat of the Mercedes, as Valerian starts the car. “Don’t worry about me, fellas,” says Thornhill, “I’ll take the bus.”Valerian puts the car in gear and aims it toward a cliff overlooking the ocean. Licht gets back into the Cadillac and follows. Thornhill groggily comes somewhat to his senses and kicks Valerian out of the passenger side door. Valerian rolls into the brush on the side of the road. The Mercedes accelerates toward the cliff edge. Valerian gets up and runs to Licht in the waiting Cadillac. Thornhill tries to steer, but he’s too insensible to drive. The car winds toward the ocean. Licht stops the car, and watch as events may make their mission complete. The left side of the Mercedes leaves the roadway. Thornhill haphazardly steers away from the cliff edge. The back left wheel of the car leaves the cliff edge, spnning in midair over the ocean. Thornhill tries to assess the situation. He sees the tire, spinning high above the crashing waves below. “Hmmm,” he says, downshifting and turning the wheel sharply to the right. The tire rejoins the road edge, and the Mercedes continues on the winding road. Licht and Valerian stare in disbelief at the sudden turn of events. Licht puts the Cadillac in gear and chases after Thornhill in the Mercedes. Bleary-eyed, Thornhill attempts to stay on the winding highway. The tires squeal as he makes sharp turns to avoid hitting trees. 1957 Ford Country Sedan beeps its horn as Thornhill strays into the oncoming lane. The cars pass each other to the left.