WITCH HUNT!

The story opens with Speed tied to a stake in a 16th century-type village. He tires to get the irate villages to listen to him. He's not a demon. He's a human named Speed Racer, his vehicle is a car called the Mach 5, and it's not evil, either.

The judge tells the townsfolk not to listen to the warlock. He implores them to burn the evil young man and his device before their minds are poisoned.

The flames nearly engulf Speed. The people in the village don't realize that when the flames hit the 'Five's gas tank, the explosion will kill them all. The villagers are all so puritanical, Speed feels as if he's gone back in time.

*****
Earlier that morning, Speed and Trixie stand on the beach at Olympia National Park. They hold hands admiring the beauty. They wish they could stay all day, but Speed needs to be in Seattle by that afternoon to test out the Mach 5's new tires.

Trixie notices somebody clinging to a large rock in the sea. Speed jumps in the Five in hopes of helping the man. He closes the canopy and dries into the rolling ocean. He can hear the jagged rocks scraping against the side of the car. It's a good test for the new tires. If he can over-inflate them he will be able to float back to the surface.

Moments later, the Mach Five is floating on the ocean. Speed climbs out to lend the man a hand. Calling Speed a demon; he refuses his help. Speed thinks he must be delirious from exhaustion.

A wave knocks Speed off the rock. He's lucky enough to land on the hood of the Mach 5. His foot accidentally hits a button on the steering column, closing the canopy. Another wave throws Speed into the churning waves. He tries to reach the car, but the cold water causes his muscles to cramp. Speed can hear Trixie calling out to him as he manages to scramble on the hood of the car. He ends up floating out to sea.

*****
After several hours in the blistering sun, Speed starts suffering from dehydration. He tries to stay awake so that he doesn't lose his grip on the car. He looks towards the horizon and sees an island. The current is taking him straight to it. He's saved!

Thirty minutes later, a revitalized Speed is in the water pushing the car ashore. He sees a group of people coming towards him. They stare at Speed as if they've seen a ghost. He wonders why they are wearing such old-fashioned clothes.

The town judge asks him who he is and what manner of sea serpent he has caught.

The young man says that his name is Speed Racer; the sea serpent is his car. He shows them the engine; it's just a machine.

A machine! The judge backs away. He tells the townsfolk to seize the warlock before he kills them all.

Speed is tied up and led into the village. He asks where he is. It looks as if he's in an 1800's tourist attraction. The judge tells him he's in New Salem, the last refuge of the uncorrupted.

The judge claims that the Outsider has broken the law. He was found with a machine and must surely be a practitioner of black magic. He blames Speed for the disappearance of a villager named Samuel. He's sure the Outsider used his machine to spirit the man away.

Speed demands to be released. The judge silences him. His authority comes from Mrs. Alcott, who owns the island. Her family has made the law, and as judge, he enforces it. Machines have always been forbidden in New Salem. They are evil; they destroy the land and the sky. Those who use them must pay the ultimate price. He sentences Speed Racer to be burned at the stake!

A short time later, Speed is tied to the stake. The Mach Five is wheeled next to him. Speed tries to tell them that he knows where Samuel is.

They villagers are too worked up to listen to him. They light the fires, the heat soon becomes unbearable.

*****
Meanwhile, back at Olympia Park, the young man has been brought to shore.

Trixie asks a police officer if he's heard anything about Speed. He hasn't yet, and it's too late to send out a search plane. They'll start looking first thing in the morning. She asks to use the radio to call Speed's family.

*****
At Seattle International Speedway, the Racers worry about Speed and Trixie. They should have gotten there hours ago. Trixie radios them. She asks Pops to find a helicopter she can rent to look for Speed.

*****

The next morning, Speed awakens in a very ornate bedroom. An older woman stands next to his bed. She tells him that she ordered him to be released. Her name is Laura Alcott; her family has owned and ruled the island for over a hundred years. All machinery has been banned from the island because of the way factories have polluted the air.

Speed asks if she is able to contact the outside world. Mrs. Alcott says that carrier pigeons keep her in touch with a law firm in Seattle that administers a trust fund to insure that her island is kept off maps and left undisturbed.

Speed just wants to be able get to the race in Seattle. Unfortunately, outsiders are not allowed to leave. Those who are healthy and intelligent enough are allowed to join her family. All others are executed. Their simple way of life must be preserved.

Calling her a barbarian, Speed makes an attempt to run from the room. Not watching where he is going he knocks into a young woman. They both fall, the girl dropping a tray onto the floor. She screams at Speed that the tea service he broke was irreplaceable. He's nothing but a stupid outsider!

"Eliza!" Mrs. Alcott interjects, "Watch your tongue. That is no way to talk to your future husband!'

"Husband?" Speed and Eliza ask incredulously at the same time.

*****

Meanwhile, Trixie has rented a helicopter, she and Sparky fly over the Pacific Ocean in search of Speed.

Sparky notes that Trixie hasn't slept since last night. He's never seen her so worried. He tries to take her mind off Speed. He asks her how the guy she rescued is doing. She radios the hospital to find out. Pops tells them that the young man seems healthy enough, but he's petrified of the simplest things.

*****

Later that afternoon, the judge's wife berates him. He let Mrs. Alcott humiliate him in front of the entire town. Her husband accuses her of blasphemy. She counters back that folks won't be quick to heed his rulings now that they've seen he is not infallible.

The judge says that the demon from the sea has bewitched Mrs. Alcott. That is why she rebuked him. They must save her soul...even if her body must die!

*****

That evening, Mrs. Alcott leaves Speed and Eliza alone so that they can get acquainted. She tells them that she doesn't want to hear anymore arguing. Speed decides to pretend to cooperate until he can find out where they've hidden his car.

Eliza apologizes for being rude to Speed. She's worried about Samuel. They wanted to be married, but her mother forbade it. She said that marrying him would cause his relatives to argue over power and influence. But, Eliza doesn't care about any of that, she loves Samuel.

Though they have been taught to fear the sea, Samuel has been working on a raft so they could leave the island. He was testing it when he disappeared.

Speed tells her not to worry, he knows where Samuel is. He'll take her to him, if she'll help him find is car.

*****

Speed follows Eliza outside. The girl tells him that she heard voices coming from the old barn last night. She's sure that's where the car was taken. "Are you sure it won't hurt me?" she asks him. Seed reassures her that it only does what he asks it to.

They find the Mach Five in the barn. Speed is relieved that the car wasn't damaged too badly by the fire. He finds out that the manual canopy release underneath the car is jammed. He asks Eliza if she has a drill or a socket wrench. She has no idea what those things are. The only tools she has are a mallet and an awl. Speed's never used them to work on a car before, but there's always a first time.

*****

Down in the village the judge is riling the people into a frenzy. They believe that Mrs. Alcott has been bewitched by the demon and his machine. They have turned her into a demon and that is why she released him. He warns them that their families will be next unless they destroy all the demons, NOW!

*****

Eliza has opened the barn door. He turns on the radio and sends out a Mayday call. Trixie hears it and responds. Speed asks if the young man he tried to save was rescued. Trixie tells him the good news, he'll be fine.

Suddenly, Eliza cries out. Her house is on fire! Her mother was in the house.

Speed tells her to get in the car, it's the fastest way to get to the house. He picks her up and deposits her in the passenger seat. They get to the house in seconds. Speed grabs two fire extinguishers from the trunk of the car.

Laura Alcott stands outside the house. The judge threatens to throw her into the fire if she refuses to tell them where the demon warlock and his evil machine are.

"I am the ultimate authority here on the island!" she declares.

The judge insists that the demon has killed the real Mrs. Alcott, this being before them is an imposter. She must be destroyed. He attacks her with a pitchfork.

The Mach Five roars towards them, cutter blades engaged. The judge stabs at the blades with his pitchfork. He's no match for the 'Five. The blades destroy the pitchfork.

Eliza runs to her mother, thankful that she is safe. Speed tells her that she is alright for now, but seeing his car in action has probably convinced the villagers that she is in league with the devil. He can make sure she is safe even after he leaves...IF she'll let Eliza and Samuel marry and change the way the island is ruled. Mrs. Alcott agrees, she doesn't have much choice in the matter.

Speed stands on the hood of the Mach Five. He tells the townsfolk that not all machines are evil. Some of them can be used for good. To prove his point, he will have a flying machine bring Samuel home in the morning.

He radios Trixie that he needs three things by morning: A cable strong enough to hoist the Mach 5, Samuel, and a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

*****

The next morning a helicopter lands near the smoldering remains of Mrs. Alcott's house. Two young couples are reunited. Speed tells Trixie that he will tell her everything that happened once they are in the air.

Laura Alcott announces that the wedding of Eliza and Samuel will signal the beginning of a new era on the island. No longer will one man be judge, jury and executioner. From now on they will all share the responsibility of governing New Salem.

They helicopter takes off. Speed wonders if they did the right thing. It would be a shame to see the island spoiled by too much progress. He hopes they learn to use STEAKS instead of STAKES at their next cookout!