Collision Course (1989) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Oshima attempts to sell the turbo charger to Derek Jarryd's auto company but decides to back out at the last moment. When Scully and Kosnic torture him to force him to disclose the location, Oshima suffers a fatal heart attack and dies before he can reveal that he hidden the charger inside a rented car at an auto shop.

• oshima
• turbo charger
• torture
• death
• hidden location

Costas's captain removes him from the case once it's discovered that the junkyard manager killed by Scully has past connections to Costas. This conflict of interest leads to Costas being sidelined, though he continues investigating with his partner Shorty anyway.

• detective costas
• junkyard manager
• removed from case
• conflict of interest

Natsuo is officially sent by Kitao to investigate the murder of Oshima, but he carries a secret second objective: locating the stolen prototype turbo charger and monitoring Derek Jarryd, whose company was involved in the deal. He eventually reveals this dual purpose to Costas when they team up.

• natsuo
• turbo charger
• kitao
• jarryd
• secret mission

Madras, the crime boss, has extended a loan to Jarryd, giving him financial leverage. This loan binds Jarryd to Madras's criminal operation and explains why Jarryd remains under the control of Scully and Kosnic, who act on Madras's behalf to keep him in line.

• madras
• jarryd
• loan
• crime boss
• leverage

Oshima hid the turbo charger inside a car he had rented from an auto rental company. The car was parked at an auto shop when Costas and Natsuo eventually track it down, leading to the final confrontation at the rental company.

• turbo charger
• hidden
• rented car
• auto shop
• rental company

During the high-speed chase through Detroit, Madras ram his car toward Costas and Natsuo and shoots Costas. In response, Natsuo performs a kamikaze attack by kicking through the windshield of Madras's moving vehicle, delivering a fatal blow that decapitates Madras. Costas then pulls Natsuo to safety before the car explodes.

• madras
• natsuo
• kamikaze
• killed
• final confrontation
• car explosion

At the airport, Natsuo prepares to return to Japan with Oshima's body but without the turbo charger, as Costas had promised it to Jarryd's administration. However, Costas arranges for a policewoman to deliver the missing charger to Natsuo, allowing him to save face with his superiors in Japan.

• turbo charger
• airport
• delivery
• japan
• costas
• natsuo

Costas's pursuit of Madras becomes increasingly personal throughout the investigation. After directly confronting Madras in anger, Costas is temporarily suspended from the police force. Meanwhile, Natsuo is ordered to return to Japan in disgrace, though both men continue the investigation despite these setbacks.

• costas
• suspended
• madras
• confrontation
• police department

After crossing paths in Oshima's hotel room while both separately searching for the turbo charger, Costas and Natsuo realize their goals align despite different surface motivations. Natsuo eventually reveals his true mission, and the two form an uneasy alliance to take down the criminals controlling the conspiracy.

• partnership
• natsuo
• costas
• team up
• alliance

The junkyard manager accidentally stumbles upon the criminal scheme involving the turbo charger. Scully eliminates him with a rocket gun to remove this loose end and prevent him from revealing the conspiracy to authorities. This murder becomes the catalyst that draws Costas into the investigation.

• scully
• junkyard manager
• killed
• rocket gun
• loose end

While hiding in a train car during a gunfight with Scully's men, Natsuo realizes he has accidentally picked up a grenade. He passes it to Costas, who throws it out of the moving train car just in time. The explosion kills Scully and destroys his position, allowing Costas and Natsuo to escape and continue their pursuit.

• grenade
• train car
• scully
• explosion
• escape