The Big Bus

During the final integration of nuclear-fueled propulsion, a bomb detonates, critically injuring Professor Baxter, the Cyclops project’s lead scientist. The bus itself remains undamaged, but the company loses its driver and co-driver.

Kitty Baxter seeks out Dan Torrance, a former driver who was disgraced after the Mount Diablo crash. Torrance is recruited to drive Cyclops despite his past and the cannibalism rumors surrounding him. He is aided in his return by the mysterious Shoulders O'Brien during an earlier assault.

A sinister tycoon known as Ironman, encased in an iron lung, intends to destroy Cyclops using time bombs planted by his brother Alex. He plots to sabotage the bus to derail its maiden voyage and discredit the project.

Before the maiden voyage, Alex sneaks aboard Cyclops and hides a bomb inside the bus. The plan sets the stage for disaster once the journey begins.

Cyclops leaves New York as the public celebrates the historic non-stop service dream. The passengers include the Cranes, Father Kudos, Dr. Kurtz, Emery Bush, and Camille Levy. The voyage promises progress, but danger lurks beneath the surface.

Early in the trip, Torrance pilots Cyclops to 90 mph, earning the headline moment as the wind barrier is broken. The crew and passengers sense the machine’s power and potential. This moment marks the peak of the initial voyage.

Dan investigates a mechanical problem and discovers the hidden bomb. He disarms it just seconds before detonation, preventing a catastrophic explosion elsewhere on the bus. The crew realizes the danger has not passed.

With the bomb neutralized, Dan remains determined to achieve Cyclops's non-stop run to Denver. He must contend with a treacherously curvy road that mirrors the danger of his father's fatal crash. The mission becomes a test of nerve and skill.

A truck slams into the upper deck windshield, sending the bus toward a cliff. To save Cyclops, Dan and Shoulders jettison the passenger luggage and flood the galley with carbonated beverages to shift weight to the back. The bus precariously balances on the edge.

Alex convinces Ironman to unleash the earthquake, hoping to ruin Cyclops in one blow. However, Alex's misdirection sets the quake to Ironman's own house instead, foiling the villains' plan. The heroes’ fate now hinges on surviving closer to Denver.

Cyclops resumes the road toward its destination, but just 25 miles outside Denver, the front and rear halves of the bus separate.