crossover_chick | Preoccupied With 1955: Day Eight, Temporal Junction Point

November 12th, 1955: Okay folks, this is the big one! Since we have two Docs and two Martys running around, here’s the key:
Marty: Marty from Part I, original 12th
Doc55: Doc from Part I 1955, original 12th
Marty2: Marty from Part II, second go-round
Doc85: Doc from Part II, second go-round
At around 6 in the morning, Doc85 and Marty2 arrive over the future site of Lyon Estates from the Biffhorrific version of 1985. Doc85 lands the car behind the billboard and explains their mission to Marty2. Marty2 is to track down young Biff and follow him until Old Biff arrives to give Young Biff the almanac. “Under no circumstances must you interfere with that event! We must let Old Biff believe he’s succeeded so he’ll bring the DeLorean back to the future. Once Old Biff is gone, grab the almanac any way that you can.” Doc85 gives Marty some binoculars and a walkie-talkie so they communicate. Doc85 himself will remain with the DeLorean, both so he can fix the short in the time circuits and to ensure that no one else gets their hands on it. He’ll also avoid his other younger self that way -- Doc85 explains that there are two of each of them there now, and that Marty2 has to be very careful not to run into his other self. Doc85 gives Marty2 some money and tells him to get some 50s clothes -- something inconspicious.
We see Marty2 next in a black jacket, hat, and sunglasses. Methinks Marty2 needs a dictionary. Marty2 has found Biff’s house, but is at first unsure if Biff really lives there. To him, it looks like an old lady’s house. Well, it is -- Biff lives there with his equally-cranky grandmother. Marty2 reports to Doc and follows Biff into Courthouse Square, where he’s going to pick up his car from Terry the mechanic. Old Biff is also there, hiding behind a tree and waiting for the right moment to appear. Biff and Terry argue over the price of the fix and go inside the auto body store, allowing Marty2 to sneak into the back seat unseen. Biff and Terry return with some Valvoline and part on strained terms. Biff and Marty2 both spot Lorraine with her friend Babs exiting Ruth’s Frock Shop with the dress Lorraine intends to wear to the dance that night. Biff goes over and begins harassing Lorraine while Marty watches from the back seat, basically demanding that she go to the dance with him. Lorraine refuses and tells him that she’s going with Calvin Klein. Biff becomes angry and informs Lorraine that she’s his girl. Lorraine responds, “Biff Tannen, I wouldn’t be your girl even -- even if you had a million dollars!”
With that, she hits him over the head with her dress box, and she and Babs escape from the irate Biff. Biff swears that Lorraine will marry him someday -- then discovers Old Biff in his car. Old Biff and Biff trade some barbs (including calling each other butthead) then Old Biff starts Biff’s car, causing the teenager to ask, “How did you do that? Nobody can start this car but me.” Old Biff simply tells him to get in the car. “Today’s your lucky day.”
Old Biff, Biff, and Marty2 make it back to Biff’s house despite Old Biff’s driving. Old Biff claims that he’s a relative of Biff’s and that he has a present for him -- Gray’s Sports Almanac. He explains that the book tells the scores of all sporting events and gives it to Biff. Biff, obviously not believing a word from his older self, sarcastically thanks him and tells him to “make like a tree and get outa here.” Old Biff slaps him and informs him that it’s “leave” -- “You sound like a damn fool when you say it wrong!” Biff angrily tells him to leave and to take the book. Old Biff decides to prove that the book is what he says it is and turns on the radio to a football game -- UCLA versus Washington. The announcer says that UCLA is trailing 16 to 17, and with only 18 seconds left to play, it looks like it’s all over for UCLA. Old Biff confidently informs Biff that UCLA will win 19 to 17. Biff is incredulous, but as the game continues, UCLA scores a field goal and wins 19 to 17. Biff demands to know how Old Biff knew the score, and Old Biff tells him it was all in the Almanac. “All you have to do is bet on the winner and you’ll never lose.” Biff takes the book and says he’ll take a look at it before tossing it in the back seat. Old Biff angrily grabs it back out (luckily without seeing the hiding Marty2) and tells him that he needs to keep it safe -- he should get a safe, and until then, he should keep it on him (stuffing the almanac in his back pants pocket as he does so). He also warns Biff about “a kid, or a crazy, wild-eyed old man who claims to be a scientist” will come around asking about the book and if that ever happens, get rid of them. They exit the garage and close the doors. Marty2 gets out, intending to follow them -- only to realize that Biff locked the doors when he left. He’s trapped! Marty2 radios Doc85, asking for him to fly the DeLorean over to bust him out and gives him the address. Doc replies that he can’t take the DeLorean, but he’ll get over there somehow.
That night, Biff heads out to go to the dance. Marty2, having no other hiding place, is forced to hide in Biff’s back seat again. Biff gets in his car, puts the Almanac on the dashboard, and drives out. On his way, he nearly hits Doc85, who has bought a bicycle and a hat to get Marty2. He arrives right after Biff has left, and thus misses Marty2. Annoyed, he starts the ride back to the DeLorean.
Meanwhile, at the Clock Tower (7:55 P.M.), Marty and Doc55 are setting things up for Marty’s trip back to the future. The weather report calls for mostly clear with some scattered clouds. Doc55 asks if Marty’s sure about the storm, Marty counters with, “Since when can weathermen predict the weather, let alone the future?” Doc55 tells Marty that he’s made a real difference in his life -- that he’s given him something to shoot for, to know that he’s going to have the chance to travel through time. Marty suddenly becomes uneasy, remembering Doc’s death in 1985. Doc55 tells Marty that he’s really going to miss him -- Marty replies that he’s really going to miss Doc too. He tries again to warn Doc55 about the future, but Doc55 shuts him down again, telling him that he’ll find out whatever Marty has to tell him through the natural course of time.
Marty goes into Lou’s Cafe and gets some paper and a pen, and writes Doc55 a letter warning him of what is to come in the future. While he’s doing that, Doc85 rides into the Town Square on his bike. After receiving a failed transmission from Marty2 (who is still with Biff in his car), he realizes where he is and does a little poking around. Marty2 manages to contact Doc85 and tell him that he’s going with Biff to the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance. Doc85 considers the possibility that they may have to abort the mission -- Marty2 reassures him, saying that he can grab the Almanac as soon as they get to the dance. Doc85 warns Marty2 not to interact with his other self -- “Your mother is at that exact same dance with you! Yeah!” Marty2 admits this could get heavy, and Doc85 tells him not to let his other self see him -- the consequences could be disastrous.
Too bad Doc85 didn’t check to see if Doc55 was around. Doc55 promptly asks his older self to hand him a wrench. Doc85 complies, doing his best to keep his back to his younger self -- and correcting what wrench Doc55 needs. They talk for a moment about Doc55's “weather experiment,” and Doc85 assures Doc55 that there’s going to be one hell of a storm. Doc55 thanks Doc85 and says, “Maybe we’ll bump into each other again in the future.” “Or in the past,” Doc85 retorts, riding away. Doc55 watches him go, apparently realizing there was something weird about him, then goes back to setting up the lampposts. He’s approached by a cop, who asks him what he’s doing -- Doc55 replies that it’s a weather experiment and warns the cop not to touch the DeLorean, which he claims is new specialized weather-sensing equipment. The cop asks if he has a permit for that -- Doc55 replies that of course he does, and promptly sets about bribing the cop. Marty, back from Lou’s, slips his warning letter into Doc55's coat, and leaves for the dance.
Marty2 and Biff arrive at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. Biff goes to head inside, but turns back and grabs the Sports Almanac, forcing Marty2 to follow him in. Scanning the room with his binoculars, Marty2 spots George dancing by himself. He slips in, dances his way around the room, then uses his binoculars again to see Biff and his gang huddled around the punch bowl. They're sneaking looks at a girly magazine, Ooh-La-La, and spiking the punch. They're suddenly spotted by Mr. Strickland, and leave the dance. Marty2 follows them out. Biff orders his cronies to go find Calvin Klein while he stays by the stairs and reads his magazine. As they leave, Marty2 notices a familiar yellow Packard -- it's Marty and Lorraine! Marty2 looks rather stunned for a moment, but then sees that the Almanac is in Biff's back pocket. He jumps down into the stairs behind Biff, and is almost able to reach it when -- Mr. Strickland turns up! Strickland and Biff exchange some barbs, Strickland smelling liquor on Tannen, then grabbing the magazine Biff is hiding. It's the Almanac. Strickland asks if it's homework -- Biff retorts that it isn't because he ain't at home. Strickland dresses down Biff and tells him he'll have him in detention one day, before going off with the Almanac. Biff heads back inside while Marty2 follows Strickland.
Meanwhile, Marty and Lorraine have "parked" outside the dance. Marty is understandably very nervous, while Lorraine is acting more flirtatious than usual. She produces a bottle of alcohol that she swiped and takes a swig. Marty tells her she shouldn't drink because she might regret it later. Lorraine accuses him of being a square. Marty takes a belt himself (probably figured he'd need it), but spits it out when he sees Lorraine light up a cigarette. "Jesus, you smoke too?!" "Marty, you're beginning to sound just like my mother!" Lorraine says that when she has kids, she's going to let them do anything they want. Marty quips that he'd like to have that in writing. Marty2 agrees, having had to sneak by the car while following Strickland.
The Starlighters, the band playing at the dance, go on break around now. George, having some punch, is horrified to see that it's one minute to 9. He rushes outside.
In the yellow Packard, Lorraine takes off her jacket and asks Marty why he's so nervous. Marty asks her if she's ever been in a situation where she had to act a certain way, but when she got there, she didn't know if she could. Lorraine says she knows what he's talking about, "and do you know what I do in those situations?" "What?" "I don't worry." With that, she kisses him.
Moments later, she breaks the kiss, looking shocked. Marty himself looks like a severely frightened puppy. Lorraine admits that this is wrong, and that kissing him is like kissing her brother. Marty tells her that it makes perfect sense to him. Lorraine says that someone's coming, Marty expects George --
But gets an angry drunken Biff instead, who tells him he's going to take the 300 bucks in damage to his car out of Marty's ass and throws him to his buddies. Lorraine tells Biff to let him go, but only gets Biff's attention. Biff gets in the car and starts trying to fondle Lorraine, telling his goons to take Marty away. The goons try to get a glimpse of the action, but eventually do as their leader asks and take Marty in back. They decide to throw him in a car trunk -- turns out it's the Starlighter's car trunk. One of the members demands to know what they did to his car. The gang tries to intimidate them, but quickly changes their tune as the rest of the Starlighters emerge, all smoking weed. The Starlighters chase the gang away while Reginald and Marvin stay to help Marty out. One problem -- the keys are in the trunk with Marty.
While all this is happening, Marty2 has followed Strickland to his office. Strickland is having a drink of his own (shame, shame) and has the Almanac on his desk. Marty2 sneaks in while Strickland is distracted and tries to grab it. Unfortunately, the sound of the door closing gets Strickland's attention, forcing Marty2 to hide under the desk. He tries again to grab the Almanac as Strickland wheels himself away to see something out the window, but instead gets his hand crushed when Strickland wheels back. Eventually, Strickland gets up and leaves -- throwing the Almanac in the garbage. Marty2, estatic, grabs it.
Only to discover it's the Almanac over on OH-LA-LA.
Furious at himself, Marty2 calls Doc85 to report that he's only got the almanac cover and that Biff must still have the Almanac. Doc85 asks him where Biff is, Marty2 replies he doesn't know.
We do, though -- Biff is right behind him! George has arrived in the parking lot and is ready to put their plan into action. He walks up to the car and starts his line -- only to find Biff inside instead of Marty. Biff tells him to just close the door and leave, while Lorraine pleads with him to help her. George listens to Lorraine and tells Biff to leave her alone. Biff, angry, goes after George, deflecting George's first punch and bending his arm behind his back painfully.
Over at the Starlighter's car, Marvin manages to free Marty by opening the lock with a knife -- in the process though, he slices open his hand. Marty gives Reginald his keys and runs back to the Packard.
At the Packard, Lorraine tries to get Biff to leave George alone and gets shoved to the ground. George sees Biff laughing at all this and gets PISSED. His left hand forms a fist, he pulls it back, and --
WHAM! He socks Biff, knocking him out and sending him to the ground. Both Martys are present to see this -- Marty2 heard the altercation and realized he had a chance when George decks Biff. "Talk about deja-vu," he mutters upon seeing his other self. George helps Lorraine up, and together they go back to the dance. Marty checks his picture and discovers that Linda is still fading out -- the all-important kiss hasn't happened yet. He pushes his way through the gathering crowd to find the Starlighters again.
Marty2 however, goes into the crowd, advising everyone to back up and explaining that he knows CPR. One kid asks what that is as Biff awakens. Marty2 punches Biff out again, grabs the Almanac, and flees. The kid, Lester, thinks Marty2 took Biff's wallet.
Marty finds the Starlighters bandaging Marvin's hand and tells them they have to go back in and finish the dance. They explain that they can't play without Marvin -- Marty begs with them to play, but Marvin tells him that the dance is over -- "unless you know somebody who can play the guitar."
That would be Marty. He joins the Starlighters in playing "Earth Angel." Checking his photo again, he discovers Linda is gone -- he is the only one left. He watches George and Lorraine nervously -- they still haven't kissed. Dixion, the red-haired bully, suddenly cuts in, dragging Lorraine away from George. Marty suddenly feels sick and loses his ability to play the guitar. Lorraine calls to George, but George only turns away. Marty looks at the picture to realize that he's fading out -- and that his hand is becoming transparent. Lorraine calls again -- and this time George responds, knocking Dixion to the ground and kissing Lorraine. Marty springs back up, completely better. The photograph is completely restored, and the dance ends with George and Marty giving each other a wave.
Marty2 arrives around this point. He contacted Doc85 and told him that he had the book -- Doc85 replied that he'd refill Mr. Fusion and meet him on the roof of the High School Gym. Unfortunately, Marty2 promptly runs into Biff's goons and is forced to flee into the gym to avoid them.
BTW, at the DeLorean, Doc85 has refueled and is getting ready to fly over -- but during takeoff he accidentally hits the billboard and snags the string of flags attached to it. He flies off dragging them, not noticing the short is back and that the display is showing January 1st, 1885, 12:00 A.M.
Back at the gym, Marty2 is forced to hide under the refreshments table as Biff's goons come inside. Marty, on the stage, has been persuaded by Marvin to stick around for another number, and starts up Johnny B. Goode. Biff's goons spot Marty and decide to jump him.
PROBLEM!
Marty2 calls Doc85 and explains the situation. Doc85 realizes this could cause a paradox if Marty doesn't reach the Clock Tower and go back to the future, and tells Marty to stop them at all costs, without being seen by his other self or his parents. Marty2 manages to sneak around to the stage, and sees Biff's goons waiting for Marty with some of the equipment. He realizes that there's a set of sandbags dangling right over their heads. He promptly heads up the ladder and starts climbing along the "catwalk" above the stage.
While he's doing that, Marty is wowing the 1955 teens with Johnny B. Goode. Marvin is so impressed he calls his cousin Chuck Berry to let him hear Marty's sound. Unfortunately, Marty starts to go a little crazy, incorporating 80s styles into the music and completely confusing everyone. He finally realizes his mistake after a particular heavy riff and admits that maybe they're not ready for that yet. "But your kids are gonna love it."
It's lucky for Marty2 he got so crazy, though. Marty2 is able to pull the sandbags free, knock the goons out, get down, and escape before being seen by Marty (who wonders at the goons under the sandbags). Marty2 promises to meet Doc85 on the roof before exiting the building. He turns to see Marty talking to Lorraine. Lorraine tells Marty that George asked if he could take her home -- Marty says that's great and that he had a feeling about them. George thanks Marty for all his advice, and Marty says goodbye, turning to add that if they ever have kids, and if one of them accidentally sets the living room rug on fire at 8, to go easy on him.
It's a good thing he turned -- Biff, after being woken up by Lester and put on Marty2's trail, has finally caught up to Marty2. He offers to fight Marty2, but Marty2 says no thanks. Biff calls Marty a little chicken, raising Marty2's ire. He turns and tells Biff, "Nobody calls me chic--"
And Marty bursts out of the doorway, smacking Marty2 in the face and leaving Biff briefly baffled. Biff then sees that Marty2 has the Almanac and reclaims it, kicking Marty2 in the gut twice for good measure. He then goes to his car and leaves the dance, tossing the Almanac in the backseat. Marty2 tries to follow, but then goes to meet Doc85 on the roof. He admits that he blew it and that Biff's got the Almanac. Doc85 asks what direction Biff went in and ushers Marty2 into the DeLorean. The chase is on!
They catch up to Biff on River Road, flying over him. Marty2 suggests landing on him, but Doc85 nixes it, saying Biff would tear through them like they were tinfoil. Doc has another plan, involving Marty's hoverboard from 2015. They sneak up behind Biff, and Marty2 hovers out, catching a ride on Biff's car. Doc85 flies off, leaving Marty to it. Marty2 tries to grab the Almanac from the back -- unfortunately the sports scores have come onto Biff's radio, and Biff has grabbed the Almanac to check. He leaves it on the front passenger seat. Marty2 tries to grab it, but Biff spots him, and they begin fighting over the book. The book flies from their grasp onto the windshield, while Biff tries to force Marty2 to let go of the car. He finally resorts to scraping the side of the car against the River Road Tunnel. Marty2 is able to slip to the back and tries an assault from the other side. Biff punches him a few times, then the both of them are nearly run over by a manure truck. Biff tries to squish Marty2 against the side again, but Marty2 is able to do a sort of cartwheel over the car, grabbing the Almanac. Now Marty2 has to outrace the furious Biff to the other end of the tunnel. It's a close one, and Biff nearly hits Marty2, but Doc85 appears just in time, dangling the line of flags and towing Marty2 out of harm's way. The stunned Biff ends up crashing into the manure truck again. Poetic justice.
Doc85 takes Marty2 back over to the Lyon Estates billboard, and drops him off, intending to go around and land from the south. He tells Marty2 to burn the book. Marty agrees and goes over to the billboard. He uses Doc's trash-collecting bucket to burn the Almanac in, using a match from Biff's Pleasure Paradise matchbook. As the Almanac burns, Marty2 sees the writing on the matchbook change to Biff's Auto Detailing. Realizing what this means, he checks the paper stating George's murder. It changes beofe his eyes to a story about George being honored. Marty2 joyfully calls Doc85 with the news -- Doc85 sees the paper stating him committed change to one stating him commended. Mission accomplished. The future is back, so Marty2 and Doc85 can go home.
However, a bolt of lightning striking a tree interrupts their festivities. Marty2 warns Doc85 to be careful, they don't want him struck by lightning.
Of course, the DeLorean is struck by lightning and disappears. Marty2 is horrified when Doc doesn't answer his call, and when the flags drift down. Doc85's gone, leaving Marty2 to stand alone in the rain.
Until a mysterious car and driver show up. The driver demands to know if Marty2 is Marty McFly. Marty2 replies yes, and the man tells him he has something for him -- a letter. The man is from Western Union, and is hoping Marty2 can explain things. The letter has been in their possession for 70 years! Marty2 opens it to discover it's from Doc85, who has been living in 1885! Marty2 is ecstatic to find that Doc85 is alive, albeit in the Old West. The Western Union Man asks if Marty needs help -- Marty tells him only one man can help him.
That man is Doc55. While Doc85 and Marty2 were busy with Biff, Doc55 was waiting for Marty at the Clock Tower. Marty arrives, back in his 80s clothes, passing off his lateness as needing to change. He tells Doc55 the plan worked and that George has punched out Biff -- "He's never stood up to Biff in his life." Doc55 recognizes that history may be changed, but realizes its too late to do anything and goes straight into his plan. He sets Marty's destination time as the exact time he left, then explains that he painted a Start line way down the street and set up an alarm clock to go off right when Marty needs to hit the gas. He winds the clock and leaves it on the dashboard. With that, it's time to say their goodbyes. Marty spontaneously hugs Doc55. "In about 30 years?" "I hope so!"
Doc55 tells him not to worry -- as long as he hits the wire at 10:04, all will be fine. However, right then he discovers the letter hidden in his pocket. He freaks out and tells Marty that they talked about this, that having future knowledge could be disasterous. Marty tells him that he has to take that risk, his life depends on it. Doc55 rips up the letter, saying he refuses to accept the responsibility. Marty threatens to tell him straight out, but before he can, a limb from a tree falls on the cable, severing the connection. Doc55 grabs some rope and tells Marty to get the cable while he goes up the Clock Tower. One up there, he throws the rope to Marty, who ties it to the cable. Doc55 tows it up. Marty tries to yell the information to him, but is drowned out by the striking clock, which nearly knocks Doc55 off the ledge. Doc55 forces Marty to go, then starts climbing out along the ledge to get to the socket plug.
Marty drives the DeLorean down to the start line, sets up the hook, then bemoans not having enough time to warn Doc55 of his impending death. It hits him -- he can use the time machine to go back early and warn him! He sets it 10 (actually 11) minutes earlier and prepares to go -- only to have the engine die. Trying to start it just turns the headlights on and off.
Back on the Clock Tower, Doc55 has made it to in front of the clock and reaches for the socket plug. He misses, and the ledge abruptly crumbles out from beneath him. He grabs onto the hour hand of the clock, the plug catching on his trousers. Doc55 makes a few more grabs at the socket as the minutes tick away, finally grabbing it on his third try. He also manages to catch the plug before it falls off his trousers.
At the DeLorean, the alarm rings -- it's time to go. Marty tries again to start the DeLorean, then smacks his head into the wheel in frustration. Amazingly, that brings the engine back to life, and Marty tears down the road.
On the Clock Tower, Doc55 is straddling his gap and prepares to replug the cables together. Only problem -- the plug side is caught in the branch and this won't reach. Doc55 tries to pull it free, but pulls too hard, yanking out the other side. For a moment, he doesn't know what to do. Then he sees Marty coming up fast, and gets an idea. He plugs in the plug, then loops the cable around the clock hands and slides down. He wrestles the other end free from the branch as Marty hits 88 in his car, and makes hastes to the other cable. Marty sees this and closes his eyes as it comes down to the wire.
10:04 -- a huge bolt of lightning hits the Clock Tower and speeds down the cable. Doc connects the cable just in time, getting knocked to the ground by the power. Marty is sent back to 1985, leaving a pair of fire trails up to the Town Theater. Doc55 examines the scene in amazement, then gives a happy cheer, looks proudly at his handiwork, and prepares to leave.
Cue Marty2 coming out from behind a car. Marty2 grabs Doc55, who is absolutely stunned to see him. Marty2 tries to get him to calm down -- Doc55 insists he just sent him back to the future. Marty2 explains he's back from the future. Doc55 faints. Marty2 tries to wake him, then apparently goes to get the hoverboard and takes Doc55 back to his house.

GAH! An hour and a half's worth of writing, even with the head start up to Marty leaving for the dance! Gah!
-M: Well, you did it!-
-D: Good show, Vicky!-
*all toast me*
:) Thanks guys.