Unwanted Wedding (part 2)
- Why hadn't you tell me the compression was already too high?
- I'm sorry, father…
Gene was wrapping his son's right hand in a bandage:
- Yes, you've already told this four times.
- Is he okay?
- His hand will survive. But I wonder about brain damages…
Elijah suddenly seemed to wake up:
- Brain damages?
- Fine, you're saying something else…
Gene looked at his eyes:
- You're hiding something from me, son…
- It's true… But it will be better left unknown.
Gene smiled:
- Is it about Marlene?
- No! Yes… I mean Marlene is concerned, but not the way you'd think.
- Does she know it?
- Probably not. And I repeat it's better.
He turned his back, trying to pretend he was getting back to work…
But it was hurting him too much…
- Aw!
… Not his hand, but his stomach: Marty Junior's punches hadn't left him alone yet.
- Elijah, are you fine?
- N… No… Can I have a break?
- Of course… Take some rest…
Elijah lied down on the bed: it was so painful even after two days, that he had been vomiting after any food ingestion… And he felt it was coming again…
"No, Elijah, not now… Your father doesn't have to know…"
Too late…
- Elijah! You're sick?
- I'm sorry, father…
Gene forced him to stay on the bed and looked for a bucket and some sponges:
- It doesn't matter… Now, tell me: what's with you, exactly?
- No, father…
- Since we've left the McFlys, you've been absent-minded, sometimes terrified about nothing, most of the time in the worst moods ever, kinda anorexic…
- Stop it, please… Anorexic?
Gene grumbled out, washing the floor:
- You thought I haven't notice it? Everytime you eat, you run to the W.C. to vomit!
- I'm not anorexic, father… I swear I don't force myself to reject food…
- If you swear it… So, why can't you keep anything in your stomach?
- I'm just a bit sick…
- Just a bit sick… So, we're going to see a medical doctor…
- Your son is not sick, Dr. Brown. Something has hurt his stomach so hard that it had caused it to tolerate a really low quantity of food…
The doctor showed a dark trace:
- And that hasn't hurt him just a single time.
- You mean someone hit my son?
- Someone strong, yes… And look at his arms…
Gene raised an eyebrow:
- Has he been tied up?
- I think somebody was holding them while the first person was kicking him.
- My son… You've been beaten up, and you told me nothing?
- I can't…
- I'll let you have an explanation in private.
Gene payed the doctor and squeezed his son gently:
- Elijah… Who did this to you?
- I can't tell you…
- I will trust you, no matter who you'll tell me it was.
Elijah sighed:
- Right, then… It was Marty McFly Junior…
Gene couldn't believe it, that was true… But considering what Marty told…
- He's with Griff Tannen, right?
- Right… And he's Griff's right-hand man…
- It's worse than my rat imagined it… I should warn him…
- No! He would know who told it…
- Did he threaten you?
Elijah shrugged his shoulders:
- He just said I would regret…
- You had no reason to tell his parents or your parents he was with…
- No! He ordered me to forget Marlene!
- Marlene… He's definitely against your wedding…
- My what?
Gene shook his head:
- Forget that. Elijah, no one has the right to order you to forget Marlene, if you don't want to.
- I want to… But I can't…
- You want because he threatened you, not because you actually want it.
- What can I do?
- Do what your heart tells. I see how much this story hurts you… I can't stand this…
Elijah waved his head:
- I love Marlene. It's all my heart tells.
- And what's the best thing to do when you love someone?
Gene realized he wasn't the best advisor for this kind of things:
- You know, when I was younger… I wasn't able to unveil my feelings to your mother…
- How did you do it?
Gene smiled:
- My rat knew I was too shy, so he forced me to talk to her.
- You understand me…
- Of course, I do. You know Marlene since you're born. Anyone else would have tried to seduce her years ago, but not a Brown… We're all too shy… Even your grandfather…
Elijah shrugged his shoulders:
- I was planning on writing an anonymous note to her…
- That's perfect! Go on like this, my son!
- You think it will work if an unknown person asks her to join him late in the evening…
- It will be fine. Marlene loves dangerous situations, that's why you've been so close friends in your childhood: anything you've been leading her to do was crazy and dangerous.
Elijah smiled to his father:
- I forgot that.
- Glad if I helped you… Take all the time you need to write it. I promise I won't say a thing to your mother, Marty or Jennifer…
- About Marty Junior and Griff's band?
- Correct.
Elijah squeezed his father:
- Thank you…
- Come back home… Ask Carmine to bring you.
- Okay… You're going back to work?
- I almost know what's wrong with the new Atomic Matcher. Soon I will be able to build a prototype which could stand the level of compression we need to… Oh, give it up! Think about your note!
Carmine jumped to the Brown's mansion and followed Elijah to his room. He sat down on his bed, caressing her back:
- The note, the note… I don't even know what to say…
- Rrrraâôw…
- You're right, it's not saying, it's writing…
He opened bug eyes.
He looked at Carmine:
- Am I crazy, or am I able to understand what you say?
- Meôw.
- No… I understand… How…?
Then, a sort of memories popped in his mind. But it was Carmine's memories: his father was giving her a fully functionnal mobile phone.
Elijah couldn't trust it: Carmine was transferring her records to his minds…
- It's about the phone?
- Rrrraôw.
- Yes, that's it. But why am I the only one who can…
Our father built three communicators from the "second generation". The first was designed for you, but something wasn't working, so he gave it to me like a treat.
Elijah gasped:
- Now, you're speaking?
It's just the mobile phone's "call" function I'm using to talk.
- Okay… So, where are the two others communicators?
One has been given to you. The other to Marlene.
- So, you could talk to her too?
Carmine waved her head:
I guess I could. Our communicators' circuits belong to the same generation.
- Did you talk to me when we were at McFly's home?
It took time to integrate each function, so I've been using the easiest one when we were in your room and you were wondering about Marlene's feelings for you.
Elijah smiled:
- I guess the "call" function was the hardest…
Correct, as you would say. My program told me it was hundred per cent loaded in my primary features just ten minutes ago.
- Have you got an idea of what I could write?
I'm not a writer or a connoisseur of poetry… But I can suggest.
Elijah took a sheet of paper and a pencil:
- So, suggest me…
Then, some pictures of Marlene and him appeared in his mind… Including a scene he wished he could forget forever, but seen through Carmine's eyes:
- This timeline where she vanished because of me…
He felt again everything he had felt this day in the Stardust nightclub…
Carmine put a paw on his hand:
It never happened for her, but this represents what you feel.
Elijah waved his head:
- You're right! I know what to write, now!
Carmine purred and lied down on the floor…
- So, what's I wish…
He wrote for hours, thinking twice before anytime he had to put his pencil on the paper…
- Carmine…
The black cat stretched her legs:
Yes…?
Elijah felt he was disturbing:
- It's finished…
Carmine waved her tail, growling:
And…?
- I'd like you to give it to her and come back here.
Carmine glanced at Elijah:
Do I look like a carrier pigeon?
- Please, Carmine… Do this for me…
Carmine growled again:
And I will get the second broken Atomic Matcher?
- I think father will give it to you if you come to his lab.
She stood up:
That's enough for me. Give me your paper…
- Thank you…
She opened her mouth, and Elijah added:
- But don't let her see you…
Why?
- She would guess this note comes from me.
I get the idea.
Carmine took the paper in her mouth.
She jumped to the window:
I almost forgot: you can speak with me by thinking, if you want…
- Thinking?
Yes. Think you want to speak to me, it's like I'm carrying a communicator, too!
She jumped in the air and disappeared before she hits the ground…
Bat! Bat! Hey, Gene, do you hear me?!
Gene grumbled out on the bed:
Yes, I hear you… What's the matter… ?
Sorry to disturb you so late, but my child has disappeared!
You mean Marty Junior?
Him? No, I'm used to it! I'm talking about Marlene!
Gene scratched his head:
Do you see something that could let you know where she is…?
No… His room is too tidy… Hey! What's this…? A note…?
I bet it's anonymous.
Yes! How do you…
Look at the date.
Marty hesitated a moment and seemed to realize:
It's the night when Elijah will ask her to marry him!
Correct. Don't worry, they're together, under our younger selves watch, and you know nothing will happen to them…
True… Thanks, my bat… And sorry…
Don't be sorry: I know things are going to be alright, now…
- If you knew how long I've been waiting for this moment…
Elijah smiled, holding Marlene in his arms:
- I love you…
They kissed:
- I love you too, Elijy…
- Hey, I've got an idea! What about a little time jump?
Marlene raised an eyebrow:
- When?
- I'm sure you'll like it! It will be a surprise!
I know when you want to jump: 1931.
Correct, Carmine. Do you feel ready for this?
Of course, come aboard!
Carmine jumped in the square and recovered her initial form.
- Hey! It's the Continuum Jumper?
- Call her "Carmine". She's not just a space-time machine…
I can talk to her, if you want…
Of course! Let me explain a little, okay?
Fine.
Elijah managed to detail how Carmine and him get able to communicate, and assured Marlene she can talk with her too.
- So, I just have to think…
Correct, as Elijah would say.
- Crazy! I heard her!
- Let's go…
They came aboard, but as Elijah asked Carmine to close her flanks, she didn't answer:
- Carmine…? Carmine! Are you alright?
Sorry, Elijah. I think one of my driving circuits has been disconnected.
Is everything okay, now?
Yes… But this kind of malfunction is disturbing…
I'm sure you'll be fine. Let's jump!
Carmine closed her flanks, ran away before jumping, and landed next to the square:
- It's wonderful!
Carmine opened her flanks on the crepuscular Hill Valley.
Carmine, I didn't ask you to do this…
I guess the same malfunctioning driving circuit is disconnected again.
She closed her flanks again.
Elijah shrugged his shoulders:
- I think it's just a minor malfunction of the opening command. Open up, please.
Carmine obeyed.
- See? It was nothing at all… Just be discreet…
Okay, young lovers!
- Come with me, Marlene, I want to show you something…
They walked to the law office:
- That's amazing…
- My great-grandfather was a Judge. And he wanted my grandfather to be in Law, too…
- So, Emmett Brown Senior has been a law clerk?
- When he was really young… And guess what? I look like him, so…
- Emmett!
Elijah turned his head:
Wow, who's this?
I can extrapolate my DNA records and tell this is your great-grandfather: Judge Brown.
- What are you doing here? Where are the files I gave you in the courthouse?
- The f… Files…?
He thinks you're your grandfather Emmett Lathrop Brown who's supposed to work for him.
Elijah waved his head:
- Yes, the files! I just gave them in the law office!
- Don't be so absent-minded!
Judge Brown looked at Marlene:
- And put distractions away from work!
- O… Yes, father…
Judge Brown went back to the courthouse. Marlene smiled:
- Can we visit this law office?
- I think anybody could… No?
- Too much work, I'm late… AW!
- AW!
A young red-haired guy had just left the law office and ran into Elijah.
They hit the ground together and looked at each other:
- That's odd…
The other young man raised an eyebrow:
- Who are you?
- Hem, I'm Elijah… Elijah… Vrömblad.
He helped the other young man to stand up.
- Emmett Lathrop Brown. I knew anyone has a double, I didn't think mine would be a Swedish man.
- And mine an American…
- I'm busy, right now… I hope we'll meet again, Mr. Vrömblad!
- So, this was your grandfather?
- Yes… It's crazy how much we look like in the family…
He noticed a young woman riding a bicycle:
- Hey… She reminds me of someone…
The woman stopped in front of a building, drawing a notebook from her pocket.
- Be discreet… I think she's kind of a journalist…
- You're right: I'm a journalist. Edna Strickland…
- Glad… Elijah… Vrömblad.
Elijah tried to hide his surprise: she was his grandmother…
- Nice to meet you. I'm working on this disgusting speakeasy…
- That? A speakeasy?
- Everyone in town knows this is a speakeasy! But who cares?
- I agree with you. We've… Got to go…
He took Marlene's arm and walked away:
- It's my grandmother… Father told me she was crazy and dangerous…
The streets were desert. Even Edna was leaving.
- We'd better go back to…
Suddenly, they were rooted on the spot.
- Okay, now, you are just waiting in the square.
Something forced them to obey.
- You, Elijah, when Edna Strickland will be back, just wait until she'll leave the place and her tools.
Elijah, do you hear me?
Carmine was trying to communicate, but Elijah was focused on this voice… He knew this voice… But something was preventing him from…
- Then, just pick those tools after Edna and wait for the police to arrive…
- I swear it, Marlene! They're mistaken!
- They found you with the fuel tank and the matches, and the only fingerprints on them were yours…
- Why would I do anything illegal and uselessly dangerous?
- I don't know…
- Think twice, Marlene! We're in… Not in our original year…
- And…?
Elijah sighed:
- You don't know how Carmine can get you back in 2016. And she won't obey you.
- I'm sorry, Elijah, but…
She took the ring off her finger.
- No, Marlene… Please…
- I told you I couldn't marry a criminal.
She gave him the ring and turned her back:
- Good luck, Elijah… I will try to make my way here…
- Do you realize you can't marry anyone here?
- I know it. It's you I wanted to marry, Elijah… Goodbye.
She walked away. Elijah looked at the ring for a minute and, in rage, threw it away.
- How did this happen…? And why…?
Someone appeared from the square and picked the ring:
- Hey! You! It's mine, could you…
The young man stood up, smiling, and Elijah gasped:
- Marty McFly Junior!
Marty Junior approached:
- Hello, Elijah Vrömblad…
- It was a trap! I don't know how you did this, but I know I haven't burned that speakeasy!
- You're right… But no one would trust you, even your grandma…
- What do you mean… Oh!
Marty Junior was showing him a newspaper.
A picture of Elijah being arrested was in the first page.
- And this face…
- It's Danny Parker, my own mother grandpa. Be sure no McFly will be friendly with any Brown in the future after this!
- You're crazy, Marty Junior! You're stuck here just as I am!
- For the simple pleasure to see you'll never marry my sister, I don't care!
Elijah growled:
- Your own sister is stucked here. And guess what? She said it's me she wanted to marry!
- You're lying. She'll find someone else… Am I right, Griffy?
- Griff Tannen? What's this delinquent doing here?
- I'm here to marry my Macky's sister, of course!
Elijah felt his heart stopping:
- What?!
- I've helped Macky, because he promised me I will get her.
- She will never marry you! She doesn't want to marry a criminal!
Griff took a stick from his belt, smiling.
- My father's weapon! I understand, now…
- Carmine…? What's up, my beauty?
She jumped from the bed to the desk and found a picture:
- Elijah? What's with him?
Carmine found a box and put the photo in it.
- Elijah is stuck? Where?
Carmine looked around.
She ran to an old calendar and put her paws on it.
- "Better ask when"… Okay… So, when?
She scratched the calendar and put four numbers together…
- 1… 9… 3… 1… What?!
Carmine waved his head.
Carmine put some letters together:
- M… A… R… T… Y? Who's this?
There was no picture of Marty or the McFly family…
- No time for riddles, Carmine!
Carmine recovered her original form, and let Gene come aboard…
Gene was following Carmine in downtown Hill Valley. She stopped next to the Soup Kitchen:
- Meôw!
Gene approached the police station, anguished about what he was going to find there…
- Elijah…?
Elijah popped behind the bars:
- Father?!
Gene raised his eyebrows.
- Why are you here?
- I could ask you the same question, my son!
- I wanted to make a wedding present to Marlene, and visit the law office when grandfather worked.
- You know futile time jumps are dangerous…
- Listen to me, please! Marty Junior and Griff trapped me!
Gene didn't seem to understand:
- Marty Junior…?
- You don't remember him?
- Carmine tried to tell me something about a Marty… But I don't know him.
- He's a bad guy from 2016 who forced me to do something that make policemen think I was the speakeasy arsonist!
Gene shook his head:
- They're wrong! Your grandmother did it, we all know it!
- My grandmother…?
- She had second thoughts when she was up to die… She told it, you don't remember it?
- Father, we're not from the same timeline, you get it?
- Obviously… By the way, who's Marlene?
Elijah stayed silent for a moment:
- Marlene is… I mean she was… My fiancee…
- My poor son… I didn't know you had a girlfriend…
- In my timeline, we were born in the same time, in the same hospital. Her father and you were the closest friends in the entire Space-Time Continuum…
Carmine talked to Elijah:
No time for messing with timelines. Tell him that Marty Junior has mesmerized Marlene and you with his special weapon, and told you to take the fuel tank and the matches your grandmother left behind her after she burned the speakeasy down…
Elijah repeated Carmine's explanation.
Gene waved her head:
- I see… Okay, we need a plan…
- And quickly! I think Griff Tannen is up to force Marlene to marry him!
- Carmine has recorded everything, right?
- Right… I know! Carmine, can you…
The guardian knocked:
- Who are you talking with, young delinquent?!
- Nobody, officer!
He looked at Carmine:
Carmine, can you create a tape with your records of what happened?
Carmine waved her head and rejected a tape in Gene's hands.
- Emmett, please…
- I'm far too busy, right now…
- A friend of my son is in jail, now… And he's not guilty…
- Oh, that's unfortunate…
He was not up to listen to him.
- I know you're busy because of this speakeasy arsonist…
Emmett turned to Gene, suddenly interested:
- You know something about it?
- Yes… Here is a record that proves he's innocent.
Emmett took the tape, a bit surprised:
- How could you film anyone in town?
- Everything you will see on this will look much weirder than my explanations.
Emmett waved his head:
- What's the link between your son's friend and the arsonist?
- The suspected arsonist is my son's friend.
- Oh, I see…
- Just think about it: an innocent young man will spend several years of his life behind the bars… Unless someone proves his incarceration was a terrible mistake…
Emmett shrugged his shoulders.
- … And the person who proved it…
- Hmmm… Yes, I could be influent… I mean, this person could be influent!
Emmett smiled:
- Okay, I'll submit this tape. But how could I explain…
Gene patted his shoulder:
- Don't worry… I know your eloquence… You'll make those overblown bags of gas forget asking you about how this tape could even exist…
- That's odd… You speak like you've known me for years…
He raised his head, but Gene was already gone.
- Let's just try… How wrong could it be…?
He went to the courthouse.
- Way to go, father…
Hid behind a wall, he patted his communicator:
Elijah!
Father? Where are you?
In the square. I gave your grandfather the tape Carmine made…
Elijah sighed:
I hope this evidence won't be rejected…
Considering what you told me about the use of my mezmerising weapon, that's the risk.
Gene turned his head to the police station:
I love you, my son… I'll do anything possible to rescue you.
Thanks, father… But Marlene needs to be rescued more than me.
Gene waved his head:
You told me this Marty Junior and a guy called Griff are here?
Yes. Griff wants to marry Marlene, and I'm practically sure he will use your weapon to do it.
Why won't Marlene do it without that?
Because she's a law clerk! She couldn't marry a criminal!
- Are you sure they are here?
Carmine waved her head.
- Okay.
Gene took his weapon and knocked.
- Who's there?
- Gene Brown.
Someone yelled out:
- Holy shit! It's Elijah's father!
- I know what you're planning! Release the woman you're holding as hostage!
- Hostage? Nobody here is kept…
- Don't give me that! I know you've got one of my weapons!
The door opened up:
- There's just one woman, here, and she's my fiancée…
- Marlene…?
- Yes, it's me… That's odd, you remind me of someone…
- You don't know him, honey…
- You do know me! I'm Elijah Brown's father!
Marlene seemed to think really hard:
- Elijah Brown… This name…
- You don't know him…
- And her…?
Gene showed Carmine.
Marlene opened bug eyes:
- I know this cat… It's… It's… Carmine!
- Rrroâow…
- Yes, I understand you…
- Mêow!
- What? Elijah's in jail?
Griff growled out:
- You don't know this Elijah!
- Meôôôw!
- My brother did what?!
"How did Carmine get able to communicate with Marlene…?"
She turned on her brother:
- Marty McFly Junior! How dare you do this to my Elijah! And you…
She slapped Griff's face:
- Disgusting character! I knew something was abnormal! And this ring… It's the ring Elijah offered me when he asked me to marry him! You were lying when you told me you offered me it!
She turned on Gene:
- Please, get me back to my Elijah, Mr. Brown…
- With pleasure, Miss…
- McFly.
- Of course… Come, Carmine!
Carmine explaining Marlene what happened, they walked to the police station…