Disclaimer: I do not own Back to the Future.
October 26, 1986
1:00 PM PST
Marty McFly was in the house alone with Dr. Emmett Brown, as Clara took Jules and Verne swimming at the YMCA. Marty could hardly believe that one year has passed, since Doc had unveiled the time machine last year. With all the trips that Marty took through the fourth dimension, he had to be at least a couple months older.
"Marty, do you know what day this is?" Doc asked, smiling. "Of course, I'm really about nine years older than I'm supposed to be - but this actually is the one year anniversary of the time machine. What year would you like to visit today?"
"Well, we were talking about going back to the year 1855," Marty suggested. "It will be nice to actually see the founding of Hill Valley. It's ironic to think we might travel exactly a hundred years back from the year I travelled to, originally."
"Let's go for it," Doc agreed, enthusiastically. "It will only be fitting to celebrate our one year anniversary by going back to the beginning of Hill Valley. Even if some of the more uptight people from the town might regard me as a 'crackpot', there sure are plenty a lot of nice people in this town. It feels so nice to call this town my home."
"Well, there really is no perfect town," Marty pointed out. "We really do have a rich heritage, with a historical monument of our beloved clock tower. Of course, there's also this fact that my ancestors moved here over a century ago. What is especially interesting is this fact that we all know who the mayor of Hill Valley is. The thing is, none of my cousins even know know who the mayor of their own hometown is."
"Gee, now that's pretty interesting." Doc said, quietly. "I suppose there are people even in this town who really don't feel as attached to it, because they don't have a family heritage that spans way back. Then, there are these people who are new in this town themselves. I wouldn't expect them to have much of an appreciation."
"Hey, Doc," Marty asked, as he was deep in thought, "were there ever times when you felt like giving up on this town, and considered this idea of moving elsewhere? After all, not everyone in this town are as tolerant as they should be?"
Doc was silent for a few minutes, as he thought deeply, then he finally replied, "You know, there have been moments when I felt like I hated this town - because of how some of the uptight people in this town would look down on me. So, yes, there were times when I wondered if I'd be more accepted - if I moved to a different town."
"But there are a lot of nice people in this town, too, right?" Marty asked, smiling. "I mean, I'm pretty sure that my father was never all alone, even during those years when Biff Tannen would bully him around. At least, Lester and Billy stood with him - and I remember seeing these kids in school who would be friendly to everyone. Of course, Goldie Wilson definitely had a heart of gold - and he liked everyone."
"Yeah, this whole town loves Goldie Wilson," Doc commented, smiling, "even though many people in this town do strongly disagree with how he actually wants to replace the clock. Other than that, most of the people in this town do strongly agree with his other policies. So Goldie is certainly a well-respected man in this town."
"I remember how Goldie has a rather practical view on clocks," Marty recalled. "The time when Jules and I were in the year 1946, Carol found this discarded clock in the trash bin at Goldie's house - and she berated him for throwing that clock away."
"I agree with Carol that clocks can be beautiful," Doc replied, "and I sure adore the animal collection of clocks that I have with the wagging tales. My absolute favourite would have to be the one with Howard Lloyd hanging from the minute hand. It does remind me of that time back in the year 1955, when I was sending you home."
"You know what the funny thing is, Doc?" Marty asked, smiling. "You had this Howard Lloyd clock even in the original timeline, when I never showed up in 1955. Whenever I see the clock now, I always tend to laugh at the irony of the whole situation."
"Anyway, Marty," Doc suggested, "why don't we go out to the lab, and we will try to find some appropriate clothes for the year 1855. We could arrive on September the fifth, and we should probably try to show up at six in the morning. That will quite an awesome experience, to be able to witness the birth of our new town."
"I'll race you out to the lab," Marty shouted out, as flashed Doc a lopsided smile. He wondered how long the two of them decided to stay in this year. He knew how none of his ancestors would would be in Hill Valley, yet. Marty felt so excited.
oooooooooo
"How do I look, Doc?" Marty asked, as he smiled at his older friend. "Was 1855 a lot like 1885, just smaller and with less people around? I'm a little worried how we may run into some Tannen, or maybe the Needles. How old was Buford, anyway? This is, I mean, the time that I went to rescue you from him in the year 1885?"
"I think he was about twenty-something," Doc replied. "From what I've heard, he was born in Hill Valley. His father, Beauregard, moved to Hill Valley in 1850. At the time, he was only about twelve or thirteen. I heard that he used to be a nice guy, until he lost his family in a house fire. I guess actually that's turned him into a very bitter man."
"That's real sad," Marty replied, sighing . "I wonder if, after a while... if he became a typical school bully, like Biff was - or if he was more dangerous? I mean, do you think Beauregard became an outlaw, as well? If so, around what age do you think he..."
"I believe he was the same age as Marshal Strickland," Doc explained. "The marshal told me all about how Beauregard used to bully him around, when they were young. From what I was told, it seems to me that he used to be a lot like... like your father used to be."
"Whoa, this is heavy," breathed Marty. "I wonder who it was that finally encouraged Marshall Strickland to take a stand to Beauregard. I mean, he just seemed to be much nicer than his grandson - who was, of course, the principal of my old high school. Of course, I didn't really get much of a chance to interact with him."
"He was nice most of the time," Doc explained. "He was real big on laws and stuff, though. I know that his grandson never did like me, when I was in high school. He was really the worst teacher that I have ever had. Sometimes, I wonder if that man even likes anyone. He never did call me a 'slacker', but he sure called me worse names."
"I believe we need to get packing," Marty suggested, as he glanced at that clock on the wall, "and then leave. We should make sure to leave before Clara and the boys come back. Otherwise, the boys might want to come along, as well."
"Yeah, I want this to be a trip between just you and me," Doc replied, smiling. "Well, then, let's go throw our luggage into the DeLorean - and then we'll leave. I just want this to be our very special trip. It's really hard to believe that it's been a year, now."
"By the way, Doc," Marty pointed out, "you never answered my question. Was Hill Valley much like 1885 back in 1855, just that this town was smaller? Did this town resemble more what you would see in a Western, or was this town much closer to being a Spanish civilization? I mean, when did California even become a state?"
"California joined the union back in the year 1850," Doc explained, "and it was on September ninth. I would say cowboys were real rampant in this town. Of course, our beloved clock tower didn't exist, yet - and even the courthouse wasn't there."
"Yeah, it's so strange to think about," Marty commented. "I wonder if we'll even be able to recognize downtown Hill Valley. I suppose even the saloon wasn't there."
"I pretty well doubt it," Doc replied, as threw a couple bags in the DeLorean. "Well, let's head get into the DeLorean now - and we'll head off to Hill Valley Park."
Marty felt very nervous, as he stepped into the DeLorean. This would be the farthest that he travelled back in time thus far. This would feel strange to him to be in an era where there would be no McFly ancestors around. It would seemed so surreal.
"All right, Marty," Doc said, as he stepped into the DeLorean. "Are you about ready to travel back in time? We'll head to Hill Valley Park, and we sure should be able to find a good place to hide the DeLorean. I don't foresee anything wrong happening."
"Right, Doc," Marty replied, as he smiled at his friend. He took in a deep breath, as Doc pulled out of the garage. It was nice to have a friend with a time machine.
"All right, Marty," Doc warned, as he began hovering the DeLorean, "brace yourself for temporal displacement." Marty slowly took in a deep breath, as Doc accelerated the DeLorean to 88 miles per hour. The DeLorean then broke the time barrier.