Drive Episode 104: No Turning Back

A man races to save the woman he loves and finds some help along the way... A newlywed hides the truth from her husband... Two long-lost brothers are reunited on the road... drives to protect her baby... And a woman betrays her friends --

And one recapper wonders what's up with the horrible voice-over dude?

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Rejected footage from The Dukes of Hazzard plays on the screen at the After Sunset drive-in. While Corinna and Alex really don't appreciate the irony, Wendy is being told to bugger off by the house hiding her son. In the Firebird, Rob's put on his base separation anxiety pants, but is distracted from trying to find a phone when the real entertainment begins. Mr. Bright, via the on-screen film, offers the racers a chance to get ahead. It's called a "Jump Start" in Drive, but it's known as a "Fast Forward" to anyone who has ever seen The Amazing Race. This opportunity only goes to the most improved racer -- Alex Tully -- and the racephone sends the Serenity crew to Sweetwater, Georgia.

All the others get another clue, which reads like what the Canadians said in the War of 1812 (which we won, no matter what anyone else says)
"Surrender, America."

In the Pimpala, Winstonis multi-tasking. He's brooding over the idea that his father might've helped him get away from the bounty hunter fugitive recovery agent and jealous that he didn't get the Fast Forward Jump Start.

Corinna's not too sure the Jump Start is that much of an advantage. She's afraid something bad will happen and she's concerned for the safety of both herself and Alex. Apparently, she because concerned about his welfare after the second time he saved her life. Wow, she is a hard date to impress.

Gavin Rossdale sings again. It's got to be my favourite original opening theme song this season.

On the open road, Tully's trying to lose the Pimpala, which is difficult to do on a long stretch of empty road. Letting the pursuers catch up, Tully and Corinna listen to Winston's deal -- if they share the spoils with this jump start, Winston will eventually repay the favour. Since that's an offer that is a little too close to Enigma Street in Vagueville, WTF?, Tully chooses to prove it's possible to ditch someone on an empty stretch of road in the middle of nowhere. The Pimpala pair look less than pleased.

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As Serenity drives off, Tully's surprised to learn that Corinna briefly considered taking Winston on as a partner. She'd read his file, an ex-com armed robber who was supposedly traveling alone. Taking a moment out to sulk, Tully isn't overly reassured by Corinna's reasoning, "You weren't driving this before." As if to prove her point, Tully takes off into the commercial break.

Rome, Georgia: Back at the drive-in, Leigh and Susan finally arrive. Susan quips to Mr. Bright that she's more than willing to take a penalty and is willing to suggest a person to be eliminated (Ivy Chitty). Mr. Bright certainly isn’t their little ray of sunshine and tells them they’ve been eliminated from the race.

Susan spouts off her tale of woe – shot out tires, no tires at the tire store and a meatless hamburger. She suffered through all of that for one reason: God told her she would triumph. Wow! All that suffering reminds me of what Jesus once said, “Suffer the little children to come to unto me, forbid them not your radials and processed beef.” (Luke 42.42)

“God was wrong.” Mr. Bright quips and takes the phone. Okay, I know this guy is bad, but he totally won me over with this comment. It bugs me when people give credit to God for the Grammy or when the Weavers credit him with helping on The Amazing Race. Somehow, I don’t think he cares about illegal road races.

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Outside Dalton, Georgia: Ivy Chitty can’t figure out the clue because she’s as dumb as a post, and pulls Wendy out her Sam-induced reverie to help. She suggests that perhaps it’s one of those weird town names like Ballstown, Indiana.

In the Firebird, Rob finds a payphone. Ellie's so screwed.

Sweetwater, Georgia (Known for its Sorghum): “Broad Street, oddly, not that broad.” Alex notices. After some more quick dialogue about the third most popular cereal grain in the US, Alex tells Corinna what they’ve been sent there for – to rob a bank. At that moment, the racephone delivers the message that they need “Vault 608.” He knows this as he wasn’t always a gardener. 

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After the commercial, Alex and Corinna do some reconnaissance and learn the vault is the safest room in the county. Except the safest room in the county only has a six number password.

In the Caravan, Ivy Chitty reads a list of stupid town names when Wendy gets a call from Sam’s no longer safe house. Someone’s been asking about him and Wendy has to come pick him up, right now. She tries to explain to Ivy Chitty that there are some things more important than money but Ivy Chitty disagrees and points a gun at her head.

"You ain't going nowhere but that finish line." Ivy Chitty demands.

I finally get it! Dumb as a post, addicted to money, bad grammar but can be useful in a pinch, Tim Minear has created a female version of Jayne Cobb!

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Back with the Firebird, Rob finally calls the base and finds out that he's been AWOL for two weeks. He also learns that his wife has been hiding all the messages and letters. The superior officer on the phone demands that Rob report to base immediately for a court martial. Somehow, neither Rob nor I are tempted by the offer. Maybe if there was cake before the court martial?

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With Leigh and Susan, Susan is ranting on about how God’s been talking to her since Katrina. I’m wondering why God didn’t warn her to get out of the state before the storm. Not only did God say Leigh and Ivy Chitty would help Susan with her patients, but also that “you will win.” Susan keeps saying this and looking at Leigh. Ouch! I think an anvil knocked me out.

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Tully wants to hightail it out of Sweetwater but Corinna practically laughs it off, as this Jump Start is “nothing.” I don’t think I ever want to see her idea of something. Insisting that it’s impossible to rob a bank with fewer than three people, plus, he was only the wheel man, Alex figures it can’t be done.

Corinna’s not quite as certain as she knows where to find some experience with armed robbery.

The Pimpala pair is bickering again as Sean wants some respect and Winston is posturing that Serenity isn’t everything Sean thinks it is. Of course that old '72 couldn’t catch up with the Pimpala, except it does as Corinna gives the Salazar brothers an offer they can’t refuse.

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Susan is looking for a sign from God and Leigh is looking for a motel vacancy sign. I don’t know if this is a ploy to make her more tolerable for viewers, but Leigh’s essentially calling Susan batshitinsane, that is, until Susan spots the Firebird and does a u-turn in pursuit.

In the Caravan, Wendy is trying to explain to Jayne Ivy Chitty that she has to go to Sam and that she’s not really necessary. Like Jayne would, Ivy Chitty points out the obvious; they’re in Wendy’s vehicle. After offering her money and the car Wendy learns something surprising about her partner – she can’t drive. Okay, and she thought the road race was a good idea how?

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In the Firebird, Rob and Ellie are finally having it out. He’s angry that she tore up the letters and that, as a wartime deserter, he could be executed. Ellie gets all insistent that she was trying to save his life, and that he doesn’t care if people call him a coward, as long as he’s alive. “I don’t believe you,” Rob snaps and I agree except he’s talking about her reasoning and I’m referring to her acting.

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Grabbing the phone from Ellie, Rob tosses it out the window, yet another sign from God for Susan as she picks it up off the road.

Sweetwater: Winston lays out the plan, which involves grabbing the manager and shooting those who resist. It sounds all tough until his order comes up – Chai Latte, no foam, ironically, exactly the same drink I’m having at the moment I watch this. How’s that for a sign from God, Susan? Does that mean I’m supposed to win the race?

Alex kyboshes that idea and says that since the door is old and easy to get into, they should break in at night but Winston doesn’t like that idea either. It’s Sean, after he solves the clue that the rest of the drivers are headed to Appomattox, who comes up with the best plan. As the code is only six digits, Sean wants to break in at night and search the manager’s computer for a six digit file code. Winston looks impressed and this is a prime example how felony can bring a family closer together.

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Leigh still isn’t buying the whole “God wants you to win” plan, despite the evidence of the Firebird and the phone. She’s all but given up until Susan points out what a lovely day it is, even if they are in the South with Confederate / Civil War markers all over the place. This triggers Leigh’s “yes, I’m smarter than a fifth grader” moment as she realizes that the rest of the racers are heading to Appomattox.

For Susan, this realization is yet another sign and she happily declare, “there are no accidents!” At this point God (or Tim Minear) gives us the best moment of irony ever, as Susan and Leigh’s car is rear-ended by a truck and spun around, in yet another spectacular crash sequence. Just as Susan affirms everything’s okay, the truck comes back, and rams the driver’s side door. I guess God’s talking to her the way he did to Job; she can expect boils next.

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Sweetwater: Alex is impatiently waiting as Corinna, Winston and Sean break into the bank, looking for the code. To fill his time, he hallucinates a conversation with his missing wife and this whole hallucination thing is starting to make me worry about Tully’s sound mind; sound body he’s got but the mind’s in doubt. At least he recognizes that he’s talking to himself, but the guilt of returning to his old ways is clearly overcoming him, even though Kathryn’s disappearance justifies it.

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Security pulls up outside and Tully sits powerlessly and watches. That seems to be a reoccurring theme with this character. He sits powerlessly while those around him control his every move.

Winston and Corinna flirt discuss their partners for a moment, until Sean cracks the code. Sean’s so worried about hurrying up that the security guard takes him by surprise. Rent-a-cop goes on a power trip, making racist comments at Winston and inappropriate comments at Corinna. Winston stands up for her and I think I just found my ‘ship for this show.

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The grand-standing is totally ruined by Tully tackling the rent-a-cop. A fight ensues in which the security guard’s gun goes off. After Corinna, Winston and Tully are all taken down, Sean shoots the guard with the gun he’s had with him since Florida. Getting back into Serenity, Winston reassures Sean he did the right thing but there are unforeseen consequences; Sean’s been shot.

At the crash site, Leigh awakens, only still and slightly cut. Susan’s situation is far more dire. It's even worse than boils!  As she passes away, we get the revelation that the anvil implied earlier; God told Susan that it would be Leigh who wins the race.

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Later, she gets picked up by a good Samaritan and continues her way to Appomattox. So, God wants someone who ditches the body of her friend on the side of a highway to win the race? God has one hell of a wicked sense of humour.

On the highway, Tully drives as Corinna is trying to keeps Sean's insides as insides, while Winston trails them in the Pimpala. So, eventhough his brother is dying, he takes the time to pick up the car? Somebody needs to explain to him about priorities!

Pulling off at a motel, Alex orders Corinna out of Serenity to wait with Winston. He hands over the safety deposit box and then speeds off into the night, leaving both Corinna and Winston without their respective partners.

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And we wait until next week.