RAY: Many years ago, I received a late night phone call from my brother: I knew it was one of two things - either his wife threw him out and he needed a place to sleep, or his car had broken down.

TOM: Or both.

RAY: Right. This time, though, it's his car. He says, "I need help. Do you have a rope to tow with?" I say, "Yeah. Sure. I'll be right there." So, I watch Ted Koppel and the "Tonight Show," I take a shower and I make a sandwich-and then I decide to head out and give him a hand.

I arrive with my car, tow rope in hand. He's asleep in the car, snuggled up with one of his favorite raccoons. He wakes up, and tells me what's wrong. I say, "I can't tow you, you knucklehead." And Tommy says, "We only have a few blocks to go. I'll tow you."

I say, "Huh?" But he's right. The question is, what's wrong with his car? Now, don't forget: Tommy's the one that broke down and he's going to tow me back.

TOM: How could this be?

RAY: The reason he can tow me and I can't tow him is that his brakes have failed and because I have a rope if I tow him when I stop, he's going to slam into me. But, if rather he tows me when he needs to stop, he can signal me and by my stepping on the brakes --

TOM: You stop me.

RAY: I will stop him as well. Pretty cute. Huh?

TOM: That's very good. Do we have a winner?

RAY: Yes. Who is our winner?

TOM: OK. Here it is. Ooh. Another name I can't pronounce. Marian Fruehwald from Philadelphia, Phen-sylvania.

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]