May 18, 1965

The conference room is sparsely decorated, with only a wooden table and a few chairs. The window looks out to a commercial street in Hill Valley. Five people are inside the room. Biff Tannen sits on one of the chairs, and his wife Meg sits on another chair on the opposite side, holding their six-month old son, Cliff.

"I can live with that," says Meg.

"We're glad you're reasonable about this, Mrs. Tannen," says the man in the suit who is sitting besides Biff. "It is unfortunate that this had to happen."

"It is better if we do not fight this out," says a man sitting next to Meg.

Biff Tannen walks out of the conference room into the main office.

At 2:00 PM, he and Meg are divorced.

Oooooooo

August 26, 1965

"So let me get this straight, Mr. Tannen," says the blue-shirted man sitting at the table. "You want to buy properties over there."

"That's right, Mr. O'Neill," replies Biff, meeting with O'Neill in the conference room.

"You know what happened there earlier this month. It would be dangerous to open businesses there."

"The cops were just caught off guard. There can be real growth potential, if someone were to buy up the properties and develop them. I was successful in Hill Valley."

"Hill Valley isn't in the center of the ghetto," says O'Neill.

Just over a week ago, riots were sparked in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Many businesses had burned down. On this day, one can go to the area and see the husks of burnt-down buildings. Biff and the BiffCo executives flew to Los Angeles to meet with city officials about the redevelopment plan.

"If you could give us the permits," says Stan Cartman, the operations vice president, "we can hire crews by next week. We have enough equity to start construction, according to Mr. Leeds here."

"And what else could you do?"

"I am also the chairman of the Biff Tannen Foundation," says Biff, "which owns a huge share of BiffCo. We could set up vocational training for jobs like machine tool operators or nurses. Maybe we can give people scholarships to attend medical school or law school."

Oooooooooo

"This is a big gamble you're taking, Biff," says Clarence Leeds, the comptroller. "I hope you have the same sources you had when you bet on the sporting events."

"It's a long term investment, Leeds," replies Biff, sipping a Miller High Life beer as he sits down at the wooden table. He and his executives decided to spend some time in a lounge in Hollywood. The place is dim, and the song "A Hard Day's Night" by the Beatles plays over the speaker. People from their early to late twenties dance on the wooden dance floor in the corner.

"It's too bad things didn't work out between you and Meg," says George McFly.

"Things happen, McFly," answers Biff.

"Your divorce was the headline article on the Hill Valley Telegraph."

"Tannen!"

Biff turns and sees Carmine Ciccone and his two thugs. "What are you doing here?" he asks, his hand slightly trembling.

"The family had business to take care of here in L.A., and I flew down here from Reno. Now that business is taken care of, I want to have fun. Sure there's no gambling here, but the clubs still rock."

"What airline did you use?"

"Airline?" asks Ciccone. "I prefer to use chartered flights. More expensive, but I like the privacy."

"Maybe I should get a corporate jet," says Biff.

"You've made a lot of business for yourself, Tannen. Maybe we can make a deal." Carmine looks at the dance floor. "Your people sure know how to have fun; some of them might be staying at the motel down the street and renting rooms by the hour."

"What about your people?" asks Biff.

"I'm workin' here," says Ciccone's thug, Luigi. "I got to escort the boss everwhere I go."

Oooooooo

July 13, 1966

"I'm not selling!"

"If you could please reconsider….Hello?"

There is no reply.

Stan Cartman hangs up the telephone. He briefly glances around his office. It is at least three times as big as the old office. It has the typical office stuff- a desk, chairs, file cabinets, a typewriter, and a telephone that he had just been on. He looks at a cloikc mounted on the wall. It is 10:25, and there is a scheduled meeting at 10:30 with Biff and the other executives.

At 10:30, Stan sits in the conference room with the others. The wooden doors open, and Biff Tannen steps in. Usually Biff is late for his own meetings.

"Let us begin with our development proposal," says Biff as soon as his ass touches the leather chair. "Cartman, if you can give us the latest news."

"He doesn't want to sell the site," says Cartman. He and the others have driven by the proposed site of their next development project.

"The Lone Pine Ranch is the best site for our new shopping center," says the BiffCo founder. "Other sites won't be as good."

"I have some rough ideas about other sites. I can talk to George about the marketing."

"I remember something about the owner of Lone Pine," says Clarence Leeds. "Otis Peabody. He was once locked up in the asylum."

"So?" asks Mark Foster.

"Let's hear it," says Biff.

"He said an alien crashed into his barn back in 1955 and then mowed down a pine tree. It used to be called the Twin Pines Ranch. After he was released, he changed the name to Lone Pine Ranch. It was big news back then."

"Not much else happens here," says George McFly.

"Maybe we can scare him," says Clarence. "If someone were to dress as an alien, break into his home, and scare the shit out of him, we might be able to get the ranch."

"And if we get caught, we would be a big trouble, Clarence," replies George. "No one on our payroll should be involved in something like that."

"You're right, McFly," says Biff. "You're right. If someone on our payroll were to do something like that, the police, the press, the public would turn against us. None of our employees are to do anything illegal in regards to this project."

Ooooooooooo

July 16, 1966

Otis Peabody wakes to a loud shrieking sound. The first thing he notices is a pattern of colored lights coming through the window into his dark bedroom.

"What is it?" asks his wife.

"I think they're back," replies Peabody.

He flips the switch on the wall; the room remains dark. He grabs his Remington shotgun- he remembers where he put it. Tying a flashlight to the shotgun, he walks down the stairs. His heart races, memories of that strange morning nearly eleven years ago surface to his mind.

Leaving his front door, he can see an orange light.

"My barn!" he yells. The barn that is about thirty feet from the house, where the strange vehicle had crashed that early Saturday morning, the barn is now consumed in a blaze.

Then a white light shines upon him, revealing him to be a man in his late fifties with a gray beard. The bright colors of his pajamas are now clearly visible. The white light is replaced by colored lights, and then he sees where the lights are coming from.

The lights come from this strange, silvery vehicle. A shrieking sound blares from the vehicle. Immediately, Peabody's bowels loosen, releasing their contents into the back of his pants.

"This farm will be our base of operations for the invasion!" yells a voice.

"No, it can't be," replies Peabody. "Oh God no!"

"If you want to live, sell your land and move to Alaska."

"Alaska?"

"Alaska is a neutral zone. We will not attack Alaska as long as they stay neutral."

Ooooooooo

Biff Tannen sits inside his Ford convertible; its top down. He can feel the warm night air. He rarely uses the Ford convertible, preferring his newer model Cadillac. In the rear view mirror, he can see lights approaching. A man in his late twenties walks out of the vehicle.

"How did it go?" asks Biff.

"We scared the shit out of him," says Match. "If you could have seen the look on the old man's face."

"Yeah," says 3-D. "Good thing you have those Hollywood connections."

"It was like old times," says Biff, recalling his youth.

Ooooooo

July 19, 1966

A new billboard is placed at the Lone Pine Ranch, near the road.

Future Site of Lone Pine Mall.

Oooooooo

February 16, 1968

After eating a breakfast of bagels, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal, scrambled eggs, and sourdough toast, Biff Tannen gets into his Cadillac and starts the engine. He pulls off the driveway of the home he lived in for three years, from the time he and Meg separated. The home is located on the fringe of Hill Valley, right next to Clayton Ravine. It is an old home that BiffCo purchased for remodeling and resale. Biff decided to buy the home for himself, when he and Meg were headed for a divorce.

Biff drives to the BiffCo building on 1640 Riverside Drive. Inside his office- a huge room with fantastic views and expensive furniture-, he reads the latest updates on BiffCo's projects, including the construction of the Lone Pine Mall here in Hill Valley, a residential tower complex in the Watts section of Los Angeles, a gas station/fast food complex off the Hill Valley exit on Interstate 80, and the opening of a restaurant in San Francisco's waterfront district. He is fortunate to at least be able to spend the day in Hill Valley, since he goes on business trips half the time.

He reads the Hill Valley Telegraph and the Sacramento Bee. He reads about the civil rights movement as well as a border clash between Israel and Jordan. He glances at the sports section, which has been a habit ever since he got Gray's Sports Almanac.

At noon, Sherry brings him the mail. Biff usually reads the mail in his office before going to lunch, either at the grill in the building's lobby or the Burger King next door. He reads one particular letter.

I might have to make another business trip soon.

Ooooooooooo

February 22, 1968

Biff sits inside the BiffCo conference room , with his executives and some guests.

"Gentlemen," he says, looking at everyone in the room. "I have this proposal. I am going to put a ballot initiative to legalize gambling in the state of California."

"Legalize gambling?" asks Stan Cartman. "Like casinos and shit?"

"Yes," says Biff. "BiffCo will officially support this initiative."

"How do we do it, Biff?" asks George.

"Our guests here know the details about putting initiatives on the ballot."

"If we're lucky," says a man in his mid-forties who is a Sacramento lawyer, "we can have the initiative on the ballot by June. November's the latest. The most important thing is to gather signatures."

"So we could start now?" asks Cartman.

"There's some paperwork that has to be done," says the lawyer. "Once it's filed, the signatures can be collected and mailed to the secretary of state. My aide will give you all the text of the proposed initiative." A man in his early twenties with short blond hair passes out papers, which have many small letters printed on them. "This is a state constitutional amendment, which means that we have to gather a number of signatures equal to 8 of those who voted in the last election for governor."

"So we will gather the signatures once everything's ready?" asks Cartman.

"We're contracting it out professional signature gatherers," answers Biff.

"One more thing," says the lawyer. "An initiative needs a political action committee. BiffCo can not actually gather the signatures or write the initiative."

"Maybe we can call it Californians for a Better Future," suggests George.

"Good idea. I'll take care of the paperwork necessary. You, Mr. Tannen, will need to sign it if you want to be the founder of this Californians for a Better Future."

Ooooooooo

April 13, 1968

Lenny Powell takes a walk in the courthouse square with his wife Cassie and his five-year-old daughter and his infant son. It is a beautiful day. The layer of snow that had concealed the grassy areas had finally melted away, revealing the green grass. The place is quiet; this is not the case in the big cities where college students protest the war in Vietnam. While the air is cool, necessitating the wearing of sweaters, it is not the bitter cold of the previous month.

Lenny briefly reflects on world events and world history. The Vietnam War is not the first war that had great controversy; the opposition is getting plenty of positive media attention. Already the war is dragging down the popularity of the Kennedy administration, just as the Korean War had dragged down the popularity of the Truman administration.

"Excuse me," says a squeaky female voice.

Lenny and Cassie look at a red-haired girl with freckles. She is about nineteen, and she wears a rainbow shirt with the peace symbol on it.

"What would you like?" asks Cassie Powell.

"Ma'am, I would like you to sign this petition," says the girl. "It is for a ballot initiative to legalize gambling. This will create jobs and generate tax revenue for our schools and roads."

"Interesting," says Lenny, taking a pen and signing his name on the petition. "Tell me more about this."

A few minutes later, Lenny is inside one of the stores inside the Courthouse Square, that is being used a s a temporary volunteer center for Californians for a Better Future.

"So you really want to bring casino gambling to California?" asks Lenny.

"Absolutely," replies Goldie Wilson, a thirty-five year old man with tightly-curled black hair and a wide, bright grin. "We want to bring gambling here to create revenues for parks, schools, and roads."

"That's what the lady told me."

"We already gathered three thousand signatures," says Wilson, referring to a huge pile of papers on the desk. "We could get it on the June ballot; if not, we'll definitely have the signatures by November."

"Who is behind this Californians for a Better Future?"

"I can get you a list of the committee members, Mr. Powell."

"I know about your history, Mr. Wilson; your brother is my boss. You were in the civil rights marches, right?"

"Yes, I was. And now we have all those protests against the war in Vietnam. I wonder if many of those kids really understand what's at stake there. Don't get me wrong; I believed King when he said that Kennedy's train to the future was derailed in Vietnam. But do those kids understand? How many of them simply want the attention?"

"They were inspired by the civil rights protests. Too bad what happened to King, though. Still, campaigning to legalize gambling is hugely different from marching for equal rights for Negroes."

"We all drive the same roads, and go to the same parks and schools now that we are beating back segregation. But we need funding for the schools and roads and parks. We certainly did not fight segregation so that everyone would be attending a poor school."

Lenny soon leaves with a few papers in his hand.

"Do you really have to work today, Lenny?" asks Cassie.

"It only took a few minutes. How about I take you all to that steakhouse on the corner?"

oooooooo

May 6, 1968

The sights of students in colorful clothes marching down concrete pathways and chanting slogans and holding picket signs has become as familiar a sight as the buildings where the classes are held. Many of the students of University of California Berkeley cheer the protestors. Draft cards are being burned every day.

A young man in his late teens sits behind a table. He wears a multicolored shirt and a necklace with the peace symbol on it.

"Slot machines not machine guns!" he yells.

"What's this?" asks a young lady with red hair; her miniskirt revealing shapely legs.

"I'm from Californians for a Better Future," he says. "We're gathering signatures to put an initiative on the ballot to legalize casino gambling."

"Like in Reno and Las Vegas?"

"Yes. Gambling will bring revenues for schools and parks and roads."

"Okay." The girl takes a pen from her purse and signs the petition.

Ooooooo

June 8, 1968

The news media in America has been very busy lately. Aside from the ongoing war in Vietnam, the media also reported on the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who is the brother of outgoing President John F. Kennedy. One media interview is on another subjects. Millions of Americans watch, as they want to focus their attention on something other than the assassination of the president's brother- even if it is only for an hour.

"So you want to legalize gambling in California?" asks the host. "Isn't it true that you are doing this so that you can open your chain of casinos here?"

"Quite frankly, yes," replies Biff Tannen, sitting inside a television studio in Los Angeles. "I do want to open casinos for my business. But I ask viewers who live here in California, what does it mean for you. It means more jobs, more revenues for schools and roads and parks. More money for police and firefighters. The California Teachers' Association has just endorsed my initiative."

"You made a lot of money betting on sporting events."

"I was just the luckiest man on Earth." Biff smiles.

"What did you do before you founded BiffCo?"

"I was a young man back then, so I traveled a lot and partied a lot. I remember this one time, when I was in the Bahamas and there was this guy who stopped breathing and I got him to start breathing again. Anyway, I felt that I needed to do more than travel the world, so I founded BiffCo back in 1961. I founded the Biff Tannen Foundation in '63, to share my luck with those who don't have it. I should add, that the Biff Tannen Foundation owns forty-five percent of BiffCo."

"Any opinions on the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy?"

"A terrible tragedy," says Biff. "I met his brother, President John Kennedy, a few times. Californians for a Better Future was seeking his endorsement."

"And your personal life?"

"I'm divorced, sadly. I still keep contact with my son, Cliff- he's three now. I am dating."

"Good luck with that, Mr. Tannen."