Author's Note: The comics show how Joey ended up in prison in a timeline where Biff no longer could intimidate George albeit I wonder how Marty and Professor Irving might have changed that; and the Biff to the Future comics gave a brief explanation for the Biffhorrific timeline. However, I still wonder how it happened in the original timeline.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Back to the Future franchise or any characters from the franchise.
Joey Baines - The Original Timeline
Chapter 1: June 24, 1972
"Biff, I'm surprised you're involved with this." Skinhead commented. "Don't you make big bucks at your workplace?"
"Hello? Hello?" Biff angrily asked and started beating Skinhead's head with his knuckles. "Anybody home? Think, Skinhead. Think. I need the Irish bug, George McFly, to do my work for me or I'll be fired. You don't want it to happen, do you?"
"N-no, Biff." Skinhead fearfully said.
"With my share of the loot, I'll be closer to an early retirement and, once I no longer need a job, I'll finally rescue Lorraine from McFly without having to worry about him retaliating by refusing to do my work." Biff explained his plan.
"Lorraine never wanted you, Biff." Match commented, prompting Skinhead and 3-D to back away in fear.
"What did you just say?" Biff asked with an expression that suggested Match would replace George as Biff's personal punching bag.
Match was trying to stammer an answer when Joey Baines showed up, interrupting them. 'Saved by the bell.' Match thought in relief.
"So, what's the score?" Joey asked.
"Joey, do you remember how Doctor Brown's mother withdrew 85 thousand dollars from the bank after the crash?" Biff asked.
"Yes." Joey eagerly answered.
"Well, Brown burned down his family's mansion for the insurance so we know she didn't give him that money." Biff explained his reasoning. "We'll break into her home and take that dough for ourselves."
"Wait a minute." Joey protested. "How do you know she still has all that cash at home after all those years? She might have deposited it back into the bank."
"I know she still keeps that cash at her home because Match's cousin knew a guy whose brother worked at the bank and he said the money never went back into her account." Biff explained.
Once that was settled, Biff's gang and Joey went to Mrs. Ellsworth's (Doc's Mom remarried after his father's death) house. Under the belief she hid the cash in some cigar box, they were looking for it. "Found it." Skinhead whispered.
Biff smiled at this until he noticed Joey picking some painting. "What do you think you're doing, butthead?" Biff asked Joey.
"Just taking a souvenir, Biff." Joey answered while the other burglars left.
"Are you stupid?" Biff asked. "We already got what we wanted. Drop it."
"No." Joey defiantly replied.
"I told you to drop it." Biff insisted and tried to pull the painting away from Joey. As a result, Joey got a piece of the painting while Biff got most of it and the whole frame.
To their surprise, the two of them were spotted by Doc Brown, who was at the house to help his mother moving back to Hill Valley after his stepfather's death. Biff was quick to use the painting to block his face from Doc's view. Because Doc's dog barked at the robbers' presence, Mrs. Ellsworth had already called the cops and, while Biff and his gang still escaped, Joey was caught.
Back at Biff's home, he and his gang were upset upon learning the cigar box was empty. "All that trouble for nothing?" 3-D asked in frustration.
"Not necessarily." Biff replied while smirking. "Lorraine is probably suffering with the news of her brother's arrest." He then noticed something at the painting. "And the 85 thousand dollars aren't out of reach yet."
That caught his gang's attention. "What?" They asked.
"The painting has a map." Biff said. "Mrs. Ellsworth hid her cash somewhere. Probably wouldn't trust her son after his insurance scam."
"Where is it?" Match eagerly asked.
"I don't know." Biff replied while showing the incomplete map. "Joey took a piece of it."
"We're not waiting until Joey Baines leaves prison, are we?" Skinhead asked, wondering if Biff was that stubborn.
"Of course not." Biff answered. "We'll just follow Mrs. Ellsworth. With her map stolen and her son having informed her that there was a thief other than Joey, she'll probably move the cash from her hiding spot."
"Not worth it, Biff." 3-D replied as he and the rest of the gang left.
"More loot for me." Biff told himself.
June 25, 1972
It was a Sunday morning and, as usual, Biff Tannen was sleeping in. As unusual, an unexpected visitor interrupted his sleep. "McFly, how many times must I tell you not too soon..." Biff started ranting until he got over his initial assumption it was George knocking at the door. 'Did Joey tattle?' He wondered in fear. Taking a peek through the window, Biff was relieved (and pleased) to learn that it was George's wife Lorraine at his door. "Lorraine, how can I help you?" Biff asked, hoping she's leaving George for him.
"Biff, it's so horrible!" Lorraine said between tears. "My brother Joey is in jail."
"What?" Biff asked, feigning shock. "How could this happen?"
"Joey broke into Mrs. Ellsworth's house to steal the 85 thousand dollars she was rumored to keep at home." Lorraine sadly answered.
"Do you need help with bail or some other thing?" Biff asked, eager to have an excuse to be the one to get Joey out of jail.
"The officers said Joey cannot be bailed out until a judge sets bail, which cannot happen until tomorrow, Biff." Lorraine replied. "Unfortunately, Mrs. Ellsworth's son, Doctor Brown, said Joey had an accomplice and the police said that, because Joey refuses to disclose the accomplice's identity, it's unlikely the judge will allow him to bail out. Could you please talk some sense into him? Joey won't listen to George or me."
"Lorraine, I can talk to him but I can't promise he'll listen to me." Biff stated.
"That's all I can ask." Lorraine replied.
"Isn't George here with you?" Biff asked, surprised that she came alone.
"I told him I was visiting Joey." Lorraine answered. "I didn't say how long I'd stay out."
"I like that about you, Lorraine." Biff commented. "Let's go."
Together, the two of them went to the jail to visit Joey Baines, who was surprised that Biff was there. "Biff, what're you doing here?" Joey asked out of worry.
"Your sister asked me to come and try to convince you to inform your accomplice's identity." Biff answered while chuckling. "Of course, I don't expect you to actually do that but I had to try for appearances' sake."
"Don't worry, Biff." Joey said. "I'm not telling."
"Good." Biff replied. "Now excuse me while I tell you sister the 'bad' news."
After their conversation ended, Biff talked to Lorraine. "I'm sorry, but Joey refuses to say who was with him."
"I should have known he'd end up like that." Lorraine sadly commented. "As a baby, he made a fuss whenever somebody tried to take him out of his playpen. "What do I tell the kids? Especially Marty."
"Tell them he tried to steal a million dollars." Biff suggested. "It's more impressive than 85 thousand and it's the amount of money you said you wouldn't be my girl even if I had it."
"That's not time for jokes, Biff." Lorraine said and angrily left, oblivious to the fact he's glad she still had some spunk.
Biff then went home and readied himself for tomorrow.
June 26, 1972
As George McFly showed up at work, his supervisor Biff Tannen eagerly approached him. "George, any news about Joey?" He asked with barely contained joy. "Lorraine was so distraught when she asked for my help."
"She went to you?" As Biff expected, George didn't know.
"I guess she wanted a real man to help her." Biff commented and then thought about something. "Hey, George, your shoe's untied."
"Is it?" George asked while directing his sight to his shoes, prompting Biff to react as usual whenever George fell for that trick.
"Don't be so gullible, McFly." Biff said and then noticed other workers looking at them. "What're you looking at, buttheads?"
End chapter