Unwanted Wedding
- Number eight attempt…
- I need a little more compression!
- No more compression, this prototype isn't calibrated!
Erland insisted:
- I said I need it!
- If you want it to explode, then I agree!
Elijah was hardly maintaining the Atomic Matcher on the table: inside pressure was already making it growling and shaking.
- I can't proceed without a little more…
WOOF!
The Atomic Matcher smoked.
- ELIJAH!
Gene ran to his son and looked at his hands:
- You're not injured, thank God…
- I'm not, father… But you're A.M. is broken.
- Don't worry about the A.M, Elijah…
- What are we going to do, now…?
Gene sat down, tired.
Elijah sat next to him.
- Sleeping. And refreshing our minds…
- I'm sorry, Doctor Brown… I thought compressing was…
- This prototype was obsolete. I'd better build an other one.
He smiled, thinking about all the problems this "obsolete prototype" caused in the past when Clive first replaced it with its broken parts, then simply stole it.
He sighed:
- I need to talk to my rat…
He patted his communicator:
Marty… Marty, my rat do you hear me?
My bat! Glad to hear you again! You haven't turned your communicator on for months!
I've been busy… How's the McFly family doing?
Marty's voice seemed rejoiced but worried:
Well, well… And the Brown's?
Emmett Brown Junior will celebrate his second birthday soon, his mother keeps an eye on him… Elijah and I are working with Professor… I mean, Mr. Erland Vrömblad, on the Atomic Matcher… But it's broken…
Sorry to hear it. What do you think about a family meeting?
Gene thought: yes, it would be just great, but…
Come on, Gene… We haven't seen each other since Emmett Junior's first birthday!
You're right… Well, when?
I don't know… Do you have enough time now?
Let me call Sally, and I'll tell you if she's okay for a jump!
I stay online!
He patted his communicator again:
Sally… Sally, my love, do you hear me…?
Oh, Gene… Why don't you use phones…?
Too much expensive. Marty Senior asked me for a family meeting.
In Hill Valley?
Yes, I guess…
Sally's sigh rang in his head:
I miss Jen… And her adorable children…
So, you're okay?
I am. When will we go?
We'll pick you two with Carmine!
Okay, we'll wait for you, sweetheart…
Gene smiled:
- We're going to see the McFly family.
Elijah seemed terrified:
- N… Now…?
- Yes! Is there something wrong?
- I… I'm…
Elijah looked at himself in the mirror:
- Oh, for goodness' sake! I'm looking like a cat being stuck in a washmachine for ten hours!
- You're clean, at least…
- Oh please, don't moke me, father!
He tried to tame his red hair:
- I can't let Marle… I mean, the McFlys seeing me like this!
Gene smiled, paternally patted Elijah's shoulder:
- We've got all the time in the world, my son…
- Thanks, father… Where can I make myself… Presentable?
- Home. I told your mother we'll pick her and your brother.
Gene turned his head on a black cat sleeping on a pillow:
- Carmine, my beauty…
He was caressing the cat and scratching her ear.
- Rrrr… Rrrr…
- Wake up, please, we need a jump…
Carmine stood up and became a giant panther.
- Good girl… Take this…
He gave Carmine the broken Atomic Matcher, and she chewed it, purring…
Gene was used to give her some "treats" like this. She loved broken things, because she could integrate healthy circuits to her and become more powerful and efficient.
- Thank you, Carmine…
She had been rejecting the irremediably broken parts. Gene put them in the trash.
- Come, Elijah…
- And what am I doing, Dr. Brown?
Gene smiled at Erland:
- You? You've got a family here, no? Please, lock the lab when you'll leave…
Elijah was sitting on the passenger's seat:
- Could I drive Carmine one day, father?
- She's not a car, my son… Carmine, my beauty, can you jump home?
Carmine was sitting next to the radiator, purring and waving her cat tail.
- Elijah, are you ready?
- Not now, mother, just one minute!
- You told it ten minutes ago!
Elijah muttered:
- I know, I know…
Gene came from the room with Emmett Junior.
- Sweetheart, what's the matter with our little Elijah…?
- He happens to be not so little anymore…
- What do you mean?
Gene kissed Sally:
- I can't explain. He won't agree.
He knocked:
- Elijah… I know what's happening to you… Just try to relax…
- Father, I told you I didn't want to speak about this.
- A thousand times, I know. But we won't, don't worry.
Elijah opened the door: he was dressed up in a dark blue suit.
- My little baby, you are… Wonderful!
Gene shook his head:
- He's not a baby, Sally… But you're right: he's wonderful.
- Why, thank you… Do you think Marl… Erm, Marty's family will…
- Appreciate you like you are? I'm sure.
- Can I just… Talk with…
- Marlene…? Sure. You still have your communicator, right?
Elijah had it since the day his father gave him and Marlene two of his communicators, and never took it from his temple… He was missing Marlene, but he was too shy to tell her that…
- Just say we're coming… The rest will pop.
Gene's hand was holding his son's shoulder.
- Right, father… Leave me a moment…
- We'll wait for you with Carmine.
Carmine wasn't a simple invention of Gene anymore. She became a real pet, like a living member of the Brown's family… She spent most of her time turned into a domestic cat, sleeping on a pillow…
Marlene… Oh, for goodness' sake…
Elijah?
The young woman's voice rang in a mixed form of surprise and joy…
Oh… Yes, it's me, Marlene…
Elijah whispered, forgetting she could hear it too.
What's happening, Elijah…?
I… I just wanted to tell you… We're coming…
"We"? Who "we"?
My family and I… Your father didn't tell you?
I'm currently at work, but I'll leave in ten minutes…
Elijah gasped:
Oh, God! I didn't want to disturb you…
After almost seven months without at least hearing your voice, you can't disturb me.
Elijah felt his heart quickening: was she telling that…
Sorry, Elijah, but my employer requires my assistance… See you later… I hope.
Elijah calmed himself down and came aboard Carmine.
- You spoke to her?
- She was busy.
- Okay…
Gene patted his communicator:
My rat, we're coming!
Marty's voice rang in his head:
So glad you could come so soon! Marlene will be so pleased too!
Gene raised an eyebrow:
Marlene? You mean she's not…
She's at work. But she'll come home soon.
- Carmine, my beauty, will you please jump to Marty's house?
Carmine jumped in a green flashing circle… And landed in front of a big mansion.
- Good girl…
He looked for a broken stuff in his pocket and found an old mobile phone.
- We're leaving, family!
As Sally and the two sons were ringing the bell, Gene gave Carmine the phone:
- For you, my beauty…
She ate it, and Gene scratched her ear:
- Good girl…
She rejected nothing: the phone was perfectly working, but too obsolete and useless for Gene.
- Sally! Gene! Elijah, you're a young man now… And Emmett Junior… So cute…
Gene came with Carmine turned into a cat:
- Good evening, Jennifer… Where's Marty?
Jennifer shrugged her shoulders:
- He told he was picking Marlene up at her work.
- Oh, I see… Is Marty Junior already here?
- No… I don't know where he is…
This tone was the same Marty had while Gene was communicating with him.
- What's with Marty Junior?
Jennifer sighed:
- He'll be back soon. I informed him you'll be there.
She obviously preferred not to tell anything about it.
- My bat!
Gene turned his back to Jennifer:
- My rat!
Marty and Gene squeezed each other:
- I've been missing you…
- I like you too, my rat… Elijah, come… Elijah…?
He was still and a bit white. Marty and Gene turned their heads: Marlene was still, too.
- Why aren't you welcoming our visitors, Marlene?
- And why aren't you thanking our hosts, Elijah?
They were teasing their children: of course they knew why.
- Our… Our customers… Yes, father…
- Y… Yes, father… Our ho… Hosts…
The young people approached themselves, and Elijah oddly smiled:
- Thank you… Maar… Lene…
Marlene smiled in return:
- You've been calling me Maar-Lene for years when we were babies…
She gently posed her fingers on Elijah's fingers:
- Elijy… Welcome.
She left him:
- Welcome, Brown's family…
She looked around:
- I see my brother is not here… Again.
- Seriously, Marty, what's the matter with your son?
- Come inside, I'll explain you.
They came to the living room, and Jennifer served them some drinks.
- I've seen Jen and you were worrying about him…
Marty scratched his neck:
- Junior gave school up ten months ago… Then, he started getting up for lunch, getting out without telling us where he goes, or when he could come back… And most of the time, he shows up in the middle of the night…
- Do you know if he has some friends?
- He refuses to tell me anything about it. I fear he's with Griff's band.
Gene raised his eyebrows:
- Griff? Griff Tannen, you mean?
- Yes. I've warned him about Griff, but I think he ignored me.
- He doesn't wear his communicator?
- No. He says it's a way to spy on him.
- Makes sense to me…
The dinner had been animated, forgetting a bit the previous conversation…
- Hey! Is this a time to come home?!
Marty Junior was climbing inside his room thanks to a hidden scale.
- Dad…? Why are you here?
- I could ask you the same question.
- Okay, what do you want?
Marty stood up:
- Nothing. Your mother and I worry about you, you know…
- Stop it, so. I'm not a baby.
- We told you Brown's family was coming here.
- The eggheads?
- They're not eggheads, and stop using this term!
Marty Junior shrugged his shoulders:
- They're a bunch of brainies, that's all.
- Junior, they're still at home, we invited them to sleep…
- You invite anybody without wondering if I wish it?
- Yes, because you're never there and you leave you communicator, and I am the master, here.
- Leave me alone. I don't want to see them.
Marty took his son's arm:
- Oh, yes, you'll see them!
- Hey!
He leaded him to the living room, and Jennifer sarcastically smiled:
- Thank you to honor us by your presence, my son…
Marty Junior growled out:
- Yes, yes, can I go to bed, now?
- No, Junior. You're staying here and welcoming all our visitors…
- Okay… Welcome, Mrs. Brown, welcome Doc Brown, welcome the baby Brown. Happy?
Marty shook his head, crossing his arms:
- You forgot someone.
Marty Junior turned his head to Elijah: he was looking in Marlene's direction.
- I think he's too busy.
- Junior…
- Okay, okay… Elijah Brown?
- Oh! Oh, forgive me… Yes, Marty Junior?
- Marty Junior McFly, egghead.
Marty took his son's ear:
- What did I say?!
- Okay… I apologize…
- That's nothing at all. Thanks for welcoming us.
- Can I go, now?
- No. You're staying here with us.
Marty Junior sighed:
- Dad, I had a busy day today…
- I have an idea! Why won't you tell us about your "busy days"?
- No.
- Junior…
- I won't tell anything, but I'll stay if he stops making goo-goo eyes to my sister!
Elijah and Marlene turned their heads to Marty Junior at the same time:
- Goo-goo eyes?
- Don't you denie it! I see how you're looking at her!
- But… But I don't…
- Brother, leave him alone.
- Oh, I'd be pleased if he'd stay alone… That would mean he wouldn't be with you!
Marlene stood up:
- Marty Junior!
- Marlene…
- What did he do to you? Elijah is nice, funny, a bit clumsy when he speaks, but that's his attraction…
- Attraction? You find this brainbox attractive?
- What would it matter if yes?
Marty Junior turned red:
- I don't understand you, girls… This guy is a looser, those guys waste their lives!
- Maybe I'd like to "waste my life" with him…
- Girls are stupid. Okay, I've heard about enough…
- Junior!
But Marty Junior climbed the stairs to his room, ignoring his father.
Elijah didn't say a word before coming to the room prepared for him.
- Oh… It's so tidy… And this perfume… I know it…
- I made the room myself…
Marlene was looking at him, smiling.
- You made it… For me? So, it's your perfume…
Marlene waved her head:
- Well guessed.
- Marlene… Thank you.
- It's nothing at all…
- I'm talking about when your brother bullied me…
- I was talking about it, too… It's my job to have the last word…
Elijah raised an eyebrow:
- I'm sorry to ask this, but… What's your job, exactly?
- I work in a law office. But I'm just a law clerk for the moment.
- Just like grandpa when he was young.
- I know, Elijah.
She was smiling:
- I'd like to be an advocate.
Elijah shivered: Marty Junior was walking in the corridor. Marlene didn't seemed to notice him :
- But that means I couldn't allow myself to marry a criminal.
- Sure you couldn't. Why do you…
- My own brother isn't so clean… I'm sure he's involved in Griff Tannen's businesses…
Elijah was up to ask her something that had been burning his lips for hours…
- Time to go to bed! Nighty-night!
- I'm coming, mother!
Marlene smiled:
- Sleep tight, Elijy…
- You too… Maar-Lene…
She left a kiss on his cheek, and felt like his heart stopped for a second. She walked to her room.
- She's so…
- Rrrr…
- Carmine?
The cat was rubbing her head on his legs.
- Come with me, Carmine…
He closed the door after her and sat down on the bed:
- Carmine… Can you keep a secret?
- Rrrr?
- Of course, you can't speak… You know… I think I'm in love… And the girl I love…
He shrugged his shoulders:
- I think she loves me too… But I'm not sure…
Carmine walked to the chair where Elijah's suit was hanged up. She found a pencil and a piece of paper on the desk, and put them on his knees:
- Rrrroââow…
- You mean I could write to her?
Carmine waved her head. Elijah looked at the paper:
- Not a bad idea… But…
He took the pencil:
- Oh, I don't know what to write down on this… What if she doesn't love me…?
Carmine shook her head.
- What… Oh, I see! Let's write it without giving my name!
- Rrrââoow.
- Thanks, Carmine. Father is right: you're not a car…
- Time to get up!
Elijah woke up really painfully: he had spent all the night in thinking about his note. But the paper was still desperately blank…
- I'm coming…
He put his suit on and left his room.
- Hi, egghead.
Elijah shivered: Marty Junior was younger than him, but he felt actually scared beside him…
- Hi, Marty Junior… McFly…
- You learn your lessons fast enough, brainbox.
Marty Junior came down the stairs.
- Carmine… Isn't he terrifying…?
- Meôw…
Of course, she didn't know what terror is…
- You haven't slept, my son…?
- He's scared of me, Doc Brown.
- Junior!
- No, Master McFly… He's right…
Marlene turned her head on Elijah, surprised.
Elijah looked Marty Junior directly in the eyes:
- It's true I'm scared of you, Marty McFly Junior. Because I can feel when a person is evil, and I can guarantee you are!
Gene stared at Elijah:
- My son, how dare you…
- "Evil"? Wow, thanks for the tribute!
Marty Junior stood up:
- So long, egghead!
- Junior! Come back here, right now!
But Marty Junior had already left the house.
- I'm so sorry for this.
- I told you, father, he's in Griff's band…
Marty sighed:
- I know you're right, Marlene. But what could I do?
Elijah stood up:
- I'll do something.
- You?
- Me.
He walked to the door and left the house.
- Oh no, I fear something terrible…
Gene turned on Carmine:
- My beauty, come here…
Carmine obeyed:
- Meôw?
Gene caressed her:
- Can you please discretely follow Elijah…? And… Please… If anything wrong happens to him, help him without injuring anyone…
- Rrraôw!
Carmine ran to the door…
- Morning, McFly… Hey, hey, what's up?
- Paws down, Griff.
- Wow, you're angry, Macky?
- You said! The egghead and my sister are in love.
- Shame!
- Yes. I feel sick.
Griff put his hand on Marty Junior's shoulder:
- Hey, Macky… Tell your pals everything.
- Yes, Macky, we'll do anything for you!
- Thanks… But I don't know what we could do…
- Hep, hep! Who said you'd have to do something?
- Okay… Remember eggheads' family, guys?
One of the Griff's band waved his head:
- Yes! They live in Europe, no?
- That's it. So guess what? They've arrived yesterday!
- In your house?
- Yes. And this "so-nice-and-funny-Elijy" was ogling my sister!
- Elijy? Elijah Brown? Not him?!
Marty Junior waved his head:
- Him.
Griff's guys whistled.
- Yes. But guess what? He's scared of me, and he told I'm evil!
- Wow, great!
- Macky, we all like you, and we won't allow this brainbox to enter your family!
Marty Junior shrugged his shoulders:
- Thanks, pals… But what could we do?
- I got an idea!
- You? An idea? I would be flabbergasted to hear that!
- Ssssh! You heard that?
They stayed silent for a while.
Griff smelled the air:
- I smell the odor of terror…
- I smell it too, Griff…
- Here! Get him!
The Griff's guys caught Elijah before he could run away:
- Speak of the devil and we have pears!
Elijah raised an eyebrow:
- Isn't it more exactly: "Speak of the devil and he appears"?
- Shut up! My right-hand man told me you hade seduced his sister?
- What? He told you tha t?
- No! I can't believe it!
- What are you talking about…?
Griff laughed:
- Do you hear that, guys? The egghead doesn't even know she loves him!
- Marlene loves me…?
- Well done, Griff… Now, he knows it…
- Is that true…?
Marty Junior gave a punch in Elijah's stomach.
- Aw!
- No! Get it out of your mind, brainbox! My sister is not in love with you!
- Okay, okay, I get out of my mind that Marlene is not in love with me… AW!
Marty Junior had given a stronger punch:
- Shut up! You know what I meant!
Marty Junior growled:
- You're lucky… I won't hurt you anywhere else, 'cause it would leave too much "suggestive" traces. But I kindly warn you: forget my sister…
- Or…? You were warning me, but you haven't tell what will happen if I don't forget your sister… AW!
Marty grumbled out, massaging his fingers:
- You know what I meant! Forget her, or you'll regret it!
- RRRRAOOOOOR!
A giant panther jumped between Marty and Elijah:
- Carmine…?
Griff raised his eyebrows:
- What's this?!
- The Jumper thingy, an invention of his father!
- Rrrrraow…
- Release me, or she will be bad with you!
- Okay, do as he said…
The Griff's guys obeyed, and Elijah ran behind Carmine:
- Please, Carmine, let me come aboard!
Her flank opened up, and he climbed up:
- Let's jump to Marty's house!
- Rrraôw!
Carmine jumped and disappeared in a green bolt of lightning…