Christine

Dennis meets George at the motel where he’s staying, and George explains their family history: LeBay was the oldest, followed by Drew (who died in France during World War II), Marcia (their sister), and George. Their father had alcoholism, and LeBay was a violent bully.

A gifted mechanic, LeBay fixed various Army vehicles, but the Army didn’t promote him, and LeBay blamed the ambiguous “shitters” instead of taking accountability for his unruly behavior. He married a woman without much money, Veronica, and they had a daughter, Rita. Though he could have stayed in the US, LeBay chose to fight in the Korean War.

Back in the US, LeBay gave his money to Veronica so that he wouldn’t spend it all on alcohol. When she refused to give him money for alcohol, he threatened her. Nevertheless, he saved enough to buy the 1958 Plymouth Fury, and he worked on it himself at Darnell’s garage. At age six, Rita died in the back of the car, choking on a piece of hamburger. Six months later, Vernoica attached a hose to Christine’s exhaust pipe and died by suicide.

LeBay became a night watchman at a tire factory. When he retired, he put the car away and let it corrode. George believes that his brother knew when it was “time” to put the car away and when it was “time” to sell it. George doesn’t believe in “curses” but thinks feelings “linger” in the car.

Darnell expels Buddy and lets Arnie stay in the garage. However, Dennis warns Arnie about Darnell, worrying that Arnie will become Darnell’s “pet gofer.” Arnie’s main concern is Christine, who’s “hurting.” Dennis compares Arnie’s defense of Christine to how Freddy Darlington, a guy they once knew, stood up for his girlfriend while she was unfaithful to him.

At home, Dennis speaks to his father, Kenny, about Arnie and Darnell. Kenny was in charge of Darnell’s taxes and finances for almost 15 years and witnessed plenty of suspicious behavior. He left before he knew too much, and now Bill Upshaw is in charge of Darnell’s money. Concerning Arnie, Kenny says that people who don’t have a lot tend to develop harmful infatuations. Kenny went to college with a young person who was obsessed with a model train set before dying by suicide.

Arnie and his parents spend Labor Day weekend at a cottage in New York, and Dennis, at Michael’s request, goes to Darnell’s garage to gauge Arnie’s progress with Christine. Michael wants his son to “succeed.”

At Darnell’s, Dennis notes the rambunctious, sexist environment. Christine perplexes Dennis, since Arnie’s work doesn’t appear deliberate, but somehow, the cracks in the windshield are smaller, a large dent vanishes, and the doors lock when Dennis considers going inside the car.

Darnell confides in Dennis after realizing that he’s Kenny’s son. Darnell doesn’t understand what Arnie is doing with the car and confirms that LeBay used to work on the car there too but couldn’t get along with anyone. In addition, Darnell thinks Arnie should watch out for Buddy.

School starts, and the Libertyville High School football team struggles, so Coach Puffer, not used to losing, has extra-grueling practices for Dennis and the other players. Some of them get hurt, and Dennis dreams about getting knocked over and seeing Arnie on Christine’s roof. Arnie tells Dennis not to worry. Arnie claims (outside the dream) that he hurt his back helping Jimmy Sykes (a young person who assists Darnell) move clunkers.

Leigh Cabot transfers to Libertyville High School when her family moves to Libertyville from a town in Massachusetts. Dennis describes her as flawlessly attractive, and Leigh and Arnie share an attraction. Dennis notices that Arnie’s acne is gone, and he jokingly attributes his clear complexion to Christine. Dennis believes that most high school students, though they appear transgressive, are as conservative as Republicans.

In the smoking area, Buddy and Arnie fight. Buddy pulls a knife, and Arnie calls Buddy a “shitter”—what LeBay called his imputed antagonists. Arnie and Dennis fight Buddy, Moochie, and Dan until a teacher, Mr. Casey, arrives. After much prodding, Mr. Casey gets Buddy to show him his knife. Dennis is confident that the school will expel Buddy. After school, Arnie goes to the garage to work on Christine.

Darnell gives Arnie an inspection sticker and a dealer license plate, so Arnie drives Leigh to the away football game. Dennis notices that Christine has a new windshield, hood, and seat covers, and Arnie claims that he did the work himself. Dennis realizes that he’s falling in love with Leigh but is glad that Arnie and Leigh are in a relationship. When Arnie speaks to Leigh, Christine becomes just a car.

Dennis scores three touchdowns. After the game, Dennis inspects Christine. He senses that the car dislikes him. Underneath it, he sees a mishmash of immaculate and decaying parts. Arnie catches Dennis investigating the car and accuses Dennis, Regina, and Michael of spying on him and thwarting his development.

The story moves to mid-October, and Dennis and Arnie have lunch on the bleachers. Arnie jokingly stuffs six fig bars in his mouth before detailing how he got the courage to call Leigh and ask her on a date. He remembers having a beer with LeBay on the day he bought the car and still can’t fathom why he let Christine decay. That night, Dennis dreams that Arnie and LeBay’s rotting corpse are in Christine.

During another football game, three defensive players tackle Dennis all at once as he catches a pass. He has significant injuries, including two broken legs and a fractured skull. He’ll be in the hospital until Christmas. Dennis wishes he never knew Leigh, Arnie, and Christine.