Chapter 4
Thursday, November 21st, 1985
Hill Valley
2: 20 P. M.
Doc was standing outside, looking very upset, as Biff's truck pulled into the driveway. "You're late," he curtly informed the driver as he got out. "I called and requested your services over an hour ago."
Biff smiled at him. "So sorry," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was busy." He didn't bother using his "customers come first" voice. He only used that with the important people, like George McFly.
Doc harrumphed. "Well, two coats of wax on the van is what I want." He strode into the garage, Biff following behind. "And don't try to cheat me, either. If I have to watch you for the entire time, you will apply two coats of wax."
"Sure thing, Dr. Brown." Biff set down his stuff and began to wax away. Doc stayed close by, making some adjustments to the mechanical arm which fed Einy. "You still seeing that Jones girl, Brown?"
"Yes," Doc replied shortly, focusing on the servos which operated the arm. "Ah, that's the problem. One of them has become jammed."
"How much do you have to pay her to be seen with you?"
"Just leave it alone, Tannen." Doc picked up a screwdriver and unscrewed some of the casing. Why did I listen to George and hire this overgrown bit of cytoplasm? I think George has become partially blinded to Biff's faults by sympathy. Last time I make this mistake.
Biff snickered. "She's some dumb b*tch to--"
"I said LEAVE IT ALONE."
Biff was briefly intimidated by Doc's tone, but quickly recovered. Ever since George had smacked the daylights out of him, Brown baiting was his only diversion. "You screw her yet?"
"That's none of your damn business, and frankly I don't like you talking about her like that. So shut up or I'll be forced to take action."
Biff rubbed a spot on the car. "Yeah, an old guy like you would 'take action' against me," he laughed. "'Course it ain't my business. Besides, I bet you're really screwing--"
Doc turned around, directing his "death glare" upon Biff. "Finish that sentence, Tannen, and you may be looking for a new home in the morgue."
Biff wilted under Doc's glare, as anyone with an I. Q. over 3 would. As soon as Doc turned his back again, though, he regained some of his nerve. "What do you need a chick for, anyway? Nobody thinks you're normal. Having a girlfriend's not gonna make 'em think anything different."
"I don't give a damn what other people think. I love Mysteria, and that's all that matters. Now will you kindly shut up and go on with your work?"
Biff snorted. "Yeah, a girl half your age loves you. Right."
Doc turned around again. His voice was calm, but his eyes held raging fire in them. "You know, Tannen, I don't believe I care for your attitude."
"Well, I don't believe I care for you stealing that girl away from me," Biff mocked. "But I guess when she saw you, she saw an opportunity. She'll drop you faster than an egg when she realizes you're broke."
Doc snapped. "That's it! Out of my garage! And if I ever catch you on my property again, I'll call the police on you for trespassing! Now get out before I do something I'll regret!"
"Fine!" Biff spat. "I don't need your business anyway, you stinking freak!" He grabbed his stuff and stormed out.
Doc shook with rage as he watched Biff go. How dare he make those comments? He had half a mind to chase after him and sock him one. Mysteria was a sweet girl, and he had no right badmouthing her like that! And that crack about him and what had to be Marty. . . . Hearing Biff's truck pull away, Doc kicked the van to relieve his feelings.
As he was holding his foot in agony, he noticed a small, leather-bound book lying on the floor. Curious, Doc picked it up. There was no title, and it was sealed with a clasp. Doc popped it open and looked at the first page. "November 20th, 1985," he read. "Today I--"
Doc immediately closed the book. The handwriting was unmistakably Biff's. "Heck, I didn't know he was capable of keeping a diary," he muttered. He looked at the cover as he resealed the clasp. "As much as I loathe the task, I'll have to return it to him." Sighing, he shut the book in a drawer for temporary safe-keeping and went out to buy some wax. By the time he had returned and had finished waxing both DeLorean and van, all thoughts concerning the diary had vanished from his mind.
Sunday, December 1st, 1985
Hill Valley
6: 02 P. M.
Mysteria smiled as she encountered Marty getting out of his truck. "Hi there Marty, Jennifer. How are you?"
"We're good," Marty said, shaking hands with Mystie. "We just stopped by to ask Doc to Dad's book signing this month, before I forget again."
"Oh, yeah, I'll have to remember that. When is it?"
"December 11th," Jennifer supplied, giving her new friend a quick hug. "You and Doc going on another date tonight?'
"Actually, Emmett just invited me over. Said it was important that he talk with me." Mystie frowned. "He sounded awfully nervous on the phone. I hope nothing bad's happened."
"Nervous? I thought he'd outgrown being nervous around you by now," Marty kidded. He had warmed to Doc's girlfriend after their night out at the play on Sunday. "Guess not, huh?"
Mystie smiled -- then abruptly had a horrific thought. "You don't think he's breaking up with me, do you?!" she gasped, turning to Marty and Jennifer with a desperate look.
"Mystie, don't worry. Doc adores you," Marty reassured her.
"Yeah, we've never see Doc so happy with somebody," Jennifer added with a smile and pat. "He's really in love with you."
"I hope so. I'm really in love with him too." With bated breath, she knocked on the door. "Emmett?"
Doc opened the door, looking fidgety. "Hi, darling," he said, kissing her. "Oh, hello Marty, hello Jennifer."
Thinking Doc wanted this to be private, Jennifer took Marty's arm. "Come on, Marty, we can come back later."
"No, wait." They paused. "I want you to see this. I want to share this with my friends. Please, stay."
Marty and Jennifer looked at each other, then followed Mysteria inside. Doc gently sat Mysteria on the couch and stood before her. "Mystie, I have to say something. I love you. I love you more than I've ever loved anything, including my Jules Verne books." Mystie hid a snicker. "Sometimes I think you must be an angel sent from heaven. I've felt like a young man ever since we've started dating. I love you with all my heart. That's why I need to do this."
"I love you too," Mystie replied, highly flattered. "Did you invite me over just -- to. . . ."
Her voice died as Doc dropped to one knew and pulled a small box from his pocket. "Mysteria Jones," he said, voice trembling as he opened the box to reveal an engagement ring, "will you marry me?"
There was utter silence in the house for ten seconds. Then an overwhelmed Mysteria gasped, "Of course I will! Oh, Emmett!" She threw her arms around him, beginning to cry. Doc gave her a hard squeeze, then pushed her away enough to slide the ring onto her finger.
Jennifer squealed and ran over to Mystie. "Let me see it!" Mysteria proudly showed it off to her. "It's beautiful."
Doc grinned at Marty, who was staring at the scene in amazement. "Best man at my wedding?"
"You bet, Doc! This is great!" He gave his best friend a hug. "I don't believe it. My best buddy's getting married."
"While we're on the subject, Jennifer, I would love for you to be my maid of honor," Mystie said, wiping away her tears. "I'm gonna be married. . . ." She hugged both Doc and Marty. "Emmett, this is the best day of my life! I wish I could relive it over and over!"
"You can!" Doc managed to twist out of their grips and take Mystie's hands. "If you really wanted to."
"What?"
"Mystie, my DeLorean -- it's actually a time machine."
Mystie stared at him, not comprehending. "A time machine?"
Doc nodded enthusiastically. "Everything on there is related to time travel, mein Liebe. It's been my driving passion for 30 years, and I finally achieved it this October. I've used it a few times since then. Marty, Jennifer and I have taken one or two short trips together to various time periods."
"Yeah, I was the first one to use the machine," Marty added, nodding. "Went all the way back to the 50's. He's telling the truth, Mystie."
Mysteria looked at their faces. "Emmett, this is all happening so fast. . . . A time machine? It just sounds so fantastic."
"I know. Why don't I demonstrate how it works by taking you on a temporal trip?" He led her over to the garage. "Hold down fort for me here, Marty," he called back. "We'll be back in ten minutes."
"Gotcha, Doc."
Sunday, December 1st
6: 13 P. M.
There was a triple sonic boom above the Brown garage, and the DeLorean reappeared. Mystie was bursting with excitement. "What an amazing machine! You have to tell me all about how you invented it," she commanded Doc. "Oh, that was so cool to see Hill Valley in 1974 and 2000 and 1937. Even if we couldn't stay too long."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Doc smiled. He landed the car as discreetly as possible and drove it back inside. They re-entered the house part to find Marty holding a book. "Marty, I didn't know you enjoyed reading my books. Or even that you could read my books," he kidded.
"Doc, this isn't one of yours. I was looking for a piece of paper when I found it in the drawer. It looks like a diary," Marty said, thumbing the pages. "You guys have a nice trip?"
"Oh, fabulous! Did you feel that excited when you went back to the 50s?"
"Actually, I was terrified. It's a long story."
"A diary?" Doc said, taking the book from Marty's hands. "I don't keep a -- Damn! Damn damn!"
"What's wrong?" Jennifer asked, trying to look at the writing.
"This is Biff Tannen's diary. He dropped it here when I banished him from my house. I meant to give it back to him, but I forgot I had it." Doc did a few mental calculations. "I've had it in my possession for approximately one week, four days, and two hours."
"Did you read any of it?" Marty asked, interested.
"No. I'm not particularly interested in what goes inside Biff's head." Doc sighed as he closed the diary and stared at the cover. "I'm going to have to return it to him. He'll probably accuse me of reading it, but I can handle that." He smiled at Mystie and tossed the book in a chair. "But not tonight. You wanted to hear about how I created the time machine."
Monday, December 2nd, 1985
Hill Valley
3: 40 P. M.
Doc knocked on Biff's door, looking with disgust at the yellowed lawn. "All right, all right, hold on!" Biff yelled from inside. A moment later, Biff appeared in a stained undershirt and a pair of tattered jeans. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his breath smelled of alcohol. "What the hell do you want, Brown?" he demanded, squinting against the afternoon sun.
Doc handed over the diary. "I believe this is yours."
Biff took one look at it and went very pale. "That's my diary. What are you doing with my diary?"
"You dropped it in my garage. Rather than risk your contaminating presence on my grounds, I decided to return it in person."
"It's been a week since I 'left' it there," Biff noted suspiciously.
"Unfortunately, I concealed it in a drawer and forgot about it. Well, Tannen, my mission is complete. Good day to you." Doc turned to leave, only too happy to get away from the broken-down old house.
"Brown!" Biff sounded nervous. Doc turned back to see the auto detailer fidgeting in the doorway. "If you read any of it, I'm gonna need some time to explain it."
"I assure you, I have no desire to listen to your petty ramblings."
"I know you read my diary. Just give me a minute to tell ya why I wrote that stuff, okay? Two hours, I talk, you listen, we never see each other again."
Doc narrowed his eyes, suspicious. Biff was far too nervous about what had transpired. Sweat stains were appearing on his shirt, for Newton's sake, and he had no idea what to do with his hands. There was something in that diary Biff didn't want anybody to know. It might be propitious to seek out that information. "If you're that paranoid, fine. When?"
"The -- tenth would be good for me. Sometime in the evening."
"The tenth it is then. I'll see you, Tannen."
"Bye, Brown." Doc, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, walked back to his van. Biff looked after him, his expression unreadable.
Monday, December 9th, 1985
Hill Valley
10: 14 P. M.
Biff paced in front of his table for a moment, then slammed his hands down and glowered at the person in front of him. "This is a damn big job, butt-head. You sure you're up for it?" The person nodded. "Dr. Brown knows about us. He read my diary. He's gotta know what I'm plannin'. He's a threat." The person nodded again, more eagerly. Biff shook his finger at him. "I want him dead. Not transformed. Dead. When he comes to the house tomorrow night, I want you to be there to watch him. Tail him, and make sure he don't find nothing. Then, when he's ready to go, jump him and kill him. We'll get rid of the body later."
The person grinned evilly, revealing long fangs. "Sucker won't disappoint you," he said in an inhuman hiss. "Sucker'll take care of it."
"You'd better."