Video;

[shifting]

[ Sam is wearing one hell of a grin as he makes sure his video is steady. He backs up, and in view behind him is a small pick-up truck with a high cap over the bed. It may have once been powder-blue, but those days are clearly well behind it.

But hey, it has tires. Honest to god tires. ]

It was hard enough findin' one that doesn't hover, but throw stick-shift in the mix and you'd think I was askin' to buy the first printing press. [ his grin widens. ] Hell, I feel like a hunter showin' off a trophy.

But bein' able to avoid public transportation? Or just go campin'? That's priceless.

She's gonna need a name though, for good luck. [ Sam levels a playfully serious look on the camera. ] Can't go drivin' a cursed truck. So, any suggestions?

Comments

[airshow]

Yeah, I saw a midair traffic collision on the news a while back. Not pretty.

She runs okay, then? Enough to get you wherever it is you wanna go?

[shifting]

I mean not that regular car crashes are a breeze, but you at least don't always drop an addition ten feet.

Yeah. Yeah, I think she will. Long as I don't curse myself leavin' her nameless.

- Sorry, I don't think we've met before, have we? I'm Sam Merlotte.

[airshow]

James Jesse, nice to meetcha. Call me James or JJ, never Jim. You serious about the curse thing?

[shifting]

James it is.

And not really. Mostly I was just hopin' to use this to talk to new folks and show off my truck. But I'd probably still name her regardless.

[airshow]

Hey, you never know. I've seen way, way weirder things than car curses. Any good contenders yet?

[shifting]

Here or at home?

And "Carla" seems to be the front-runner.

[airshow]

Ha! I like it. Short and punny. Carla, Carlotta, Carmen... man, there are no cute girl names that start with Truck.

[shifting]

...Yeah, Trudy's the closest I'm comin' up with, and even that's not exactly cute.

[airshow]

Not at all. Total old lady name. Sounds like she'd hang out with a Mildred and a Gladys.

[shifting]

But not like in a classy Golden Girls way. Which I'd be all right with. If the truck was white you'd bet your ass I'd name her Blanche.

[airshow]

Hey, it's not too late for a paint job in honor of Rue McClanahan.

[shifting]

I like the way you think.

[airshow]

Hey, that makes two of us! So, got any big summer roadtrips planned with this thing?

[shifting]

I don't know how well she'd do on "long" yet, so we'll have to see. But maybe Louisiana, eventually.

[airshow]

What's in Louisiana? Besides shrimp and Mardi Gras.

[shifting]

Well, it's... where I live, in the world I'm from. I know it's not there, but I think I need to see where my town would be. Just to get it in my head.

[airshow]

Ah, jeez, I'm in the same boat, kinda. Place I'm from back in Missouri doesn't exist here at all, and I don't know what is there.

[ He raises an eyebrow, thoughtful. ]

You don't think that'd be weird? If you get there and there's nothing?

[shifting]

Oh I think it's gonna painful as hell. But knowin' something's gonna hurt me never seems to keep me from doin' it anyway.

I'll bring you back a tacky magnet if I go. Long as you do the same for me if you ever drop in to see Missouri.

[airshow]

Tacky magnets in exchange for emotional masochism? What a steal!

[shifting]

You won't find a better offer.