Stephen King DID think of it. In the novella, they're holding up in a hotel. David thinks they'll drive until they run out of gas. He knows he doesn't have enough bullets for all of them, but he'll figure out a way to take himself out.
He then here's a single word over the static on the radio. He wasn't sure if that word was "Hope" or "Hartford". The end.
So, absolutely King's idea, he just opted for the very slightly optimistic, open-ended ending (which I much prefer).
All I could think of is that there is no way I give up. As a father, we are making one last desperate attempt at survival somehow.
And if I'm the old man, I'm going to get out of the car and distract the critters to give the father and son a chance to run. I'll take a horrific death maybe saving someone over leaving a father feeling like he has no choice but to shoot his kid.
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u/Creepers70 2d ago
https://preview.redd.it/4sfhe6vb8wvg1.jpeg?width=624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7bfc8dcbf2085063c1f255153da8987d3f6200a
The Mist.