Chapter 8

In the TARDIS the doctor is inputting the co-ordinates in the console.

"That's right, Doctor. 28th September, 1968. Unbelievable, that old Susan could have chosen that particular date. It's seems like an amazing coincidence."

"Or it could just be that Susan hit the Fast Return switch when she stole the TARDIS and it took her back to our previous destination in 1968." The time display changed to 01 JAN 1889 12.00AM. "Dear me, must fix this thing!" He banged it and it changed back to 28 SEP 1968 06.00AM. "All right, time co-ordinates set."

"Doctor, what if we don't succeed?"

"We must succeed!"

Coopers Plains, 1968

The TARDIS materialized outside of where they were beginning to build a housing estate. The Doctor and Nita stepped out of the time machine.

"Ah, this is wild, Doctor. I mean it's like I was just here yesterday."

"You were here yesterday, Nita. You were. Amazing, isn't it? All right, sunrise should be in about 20 minutes. You go to the shops, and track down young Susan and tail her. Sometime today, old Susan will show up and give young Susan the almanac. Above all you must not interfere with that event. You must let old Susan believe she's succeeded so she'll leave 1968 and return the TARDIS back to the future."

"Right."

"Once old Susan has gone, grab the almanac any way you can. Remember both our futures depend on this!"

"You don't have to remind me of that, Doctor!"

"Here's some binoculars and your mobile phone so we can keep in contact. I'll stay here and do some repairs on the TARDIS console. That way we don't risk anyone else stealing the TARDIS, and I won't risk accidentally running into my other self."

"Your other self?"

"Yes! There are now 2 of me here, and there are 2 of you here. The other me, is my second incarnation, the younger me, that helps the younger you get back to 1986! Remember?"

"Yeah."

"That event doesn't happen until tonight, so you must be very careful not to run into your other self. Let me give you some money." He pulled a velvet bag out of his copious pocket and opened it. Inside were various money bills from different times, countries and planets. He found an Australian note from 1968 and gave it to Nita. "Have to be prepared for all monetary possibilities! Get yourself some 60's clothes."

"Check Doctor."

Nita headed down the street, then the Doctor called after her.

"Something inconspicuous!"

Nita walked down the street, wearing a black suit and tie and sunglasses. Very Men In Black. She called the Doctor on her mobile phone.

"Hello Nita."

Nita looked through the binoculars. She was looking at a house, filled with garden ornaments and a sign – No Trespassers – Violators Will Be Prosecuted. This means You!

"Hi Doctor, I'm at the address." She looked at the front door. "I don't think it's Susan's house. It looks like some old man lives here."

Then to prove Nita wrong, Susan came out of the house. But to prove Nita right as well, the voice of Grandad Jones could be heard.

"Susan!"

"Yeah?"

"Where're you going Susan?"

"I'm going to get my car Grandad!"

"When are you coming back? My feet hurt and I want you to rub my toes some more."

Susan mumbled to herself "shut up you old fart."

Susan walked a few metres down the street when a red ball landed at her feet. She picked it up and five children came along to her.

"Give us our ball back!"

"What ball?"

"That ball!"

"What ball are you talking about?"

"Give us our ball back!"

"Oh, is this your ball?"

"Yeah!"

Nita crouched behind a car to avoid being seen.

"Is this your ball, you want it back?"

"Yeah!"

She threw it into a gutter on a house. "Well go get it! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha." She walked off.

"Doctor, it is Susan's house, I'm on her. Talk to you later."

Susan walked down the street to the shopping centre. Nita followed, hiding behind cars. She was not seen by Susan. Susan walked between some kids throwing a ball around.

"Hey!"

Susan walked over to her car, where Jeff the mechanic had fixed it.

"Looking good, Jeff."

"Hey, Susan, she's all fixed up just like you wanted, but I couldn't get it started! You got some kind of a kill switch on this thing?"

Old Susan was hiding behind a tree. She watched as young Susan opened the car door and got in.

"No, you just got to have the right touch. Nobody can start this car but me."

"The bill comes to $302 and 57 cents…"

"300 bucks?" She got out of the car. "300 bucks for a couple of dents? No, hey, that's rubbish Jeff."

"No Susan, it was a rubbish truck, the whole car was filled with it."

Old Susan nodded her head as she remembered this.

"I had to pay Old Man Smith 80 bucks to haul it away!" complained Jeff.

"Old man Smith? He probably resold it too! Now I ought to get something for that."

"Wanna get something for it? Well, go inside, you can call Old Man Smith and if you want us to give you a refund…"

"It's 300 bucks Jeff! If I catch the sheila who caused this, I'll break her neck!"

Nita got into the back of the car unseen and covered herself with a sheet. Susan and Jeff entered the auto shop. Old Susan watched them go in. "The rubbish truck! I remember that!"

As Old Susan walked off, young Susan and Jeff came out of the shop. Susan pushed past a child on a bicycle. Jeff was holding four cans. They were in the middle of a conversation.

"Four cans of oil," said Jeff.

"Four cans for a $300 job?"

"I can't even have lunch."

"I should be getting a case or more out of you for a 300 buck job."

They kept arguing as Susan threw the cans in the back of the car, where they landed on Nita.

"It's the last time I ever do you a favour!" cried Jeff. "Last time!"

Across the road, John and his sister Barbara were leaving a menswear shop. They had a box and were laughing happily. John opened the box and pulled out the suit he was planning to wear to the drive-in that night. Susan was watching them.

"It's perfect John!" cried Barbara.

"Oh, look how good it is, it looks so good!" agreed John.

Jeff drove off as Susan went over to the pair.

"Well, lookie what we got here. Nice suit, John." She pinched John's bottom. "Although, you'd look better wearing nothing at all."

"Susan, why don't you shoot through like a Bondi tram?" John suggested.

"Hey listen, John. 2001: A Space Odyssey is showing at the drive-in tonight. Right now, my car's all fixed. I'd figured that I'd do you a favour and give you the honour of going with the hottest girl in town."

"Well, I'm busy tonight, Susan."

"Doing what?"

"Washing my car."

"Oh, that's hilarious."

"Look Susan, someone already asked me to the drive-in."

"Who, that bogan Margarine?"

"I'm going with Doctor Marten, ok?"

"Doctor Marten?" She grabbed John by the shoulders and turned him to face her. "No, that's not ok. You're going with me, understand?"

"Get your sleazy hands off of me!"

"When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours John, you're my guy!"

"Susan Jones, I wouldn't be your guy even if…even if you had a million dollars!" He kicked Susan in the leg.

"Argh!" Then he hit her over the head with the box. "Oh!" John and Barbara ran off. Susan ran into the middle of the road, causing a car to swerve slightly to avoid hitting her. "Yes you will, John! It's you and me, John!"

A car narrowly missed Susan. "Watch out girlie!"

"It's meant to be! Someday I'll marry you! Someday I'll be your wife!"

Susan turned to her car after John and Barbara ran off, to see Old Susan in her car. Young Susan didn't recognize her future self.

"You always had your way with men, Susan."

"Get the hell outta my car, old woman!"

"Do you want to marry that guy, Susan? I can help make it happen."

"Oh yeah. And who are you? Miss Lonely Hearts?"

"Just get in the car, boofhead."

"Who are you calling boofhead, boofhead?"

Old Susan started the car. Young Susan was surprised. "How did you know how to do that? Nobody can start this car but me."

"Just get in the car, Jones. Today's your lucky day."