Doc's New Invention

January 16, 1986
8:00 PM PST
BTTF Universe

Seventeen year old Marty McFly was lying on his bed, as he was listening to KKHV on the radio. The station was playing Heart and Soul by his favourite band, Huey Lewis and The News. Just then, his phone began to ring.

'Yo,' said Marty, as leaned over to pick up the phone. He was wondering if it was his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker. She had a sudden babysitting job to do that night, so they were not able to go to the theatre - as they had originally planned.

'Hey, Marty, is that you?' asked Dr. Emmett Brown, whom Marty referred to as 'Doc'. In spite the age difference between them, Marty considered Doc to be his best friend.

'Hey, hey, Doc,' replied Marty, as he wondered what his friend could be calling about this time. He had been rather busy the past few days. 'What's up?'

'Listen, Marty,' said Doc, 'could you meet me in my lab when you have a moment? I've made a breakthrough on another project, and I'll need your assistance.'

'You didn't make another deal with terrorists, did you?' Marty asked, concerned. This conversation sounded very familiar to him. A few months ago, Doc had revealed his time machine to Marty - and, unfortunately, he had also made a deal with a group of Libyan terrorists, which nearly cost Doc his life.

'Oh, no, no, no, Marty,' Doc insisted. 'Don't worry. We'll be fine. So could you come over in about fifteen minutes?'

'Um, yeah,' replied Marty, as he popped a piece of candy in his mouth, 'I'm on my way.' He then hung the phone, wondering what Doc's invention could be this time.

After washing up a little, Marty stepped out into his treasured 4x4 Toyota truck. He then thought of how he could only dream about owning that truck in the old timeline - back when his brother and sister lacked confidence in themselves, his mother was an alcoholic, and his father was subservient to Biff Tannen. His trip to 1955 nearly three months ago had changed the history of his family life dramatically, however - and, as a result, he now had two sets of memories to contend with. It had taken him a few weeks to get used to. Marty had to admit that, in some ways, he did miss his old life.

As Marty drove over to Doc's lab, he was anxious to find out what major project Doc came up with this time. It probably wasn't any bigger than the time machine, though. He wondered if it would be anything that Doc could release to the public - and, if so, what affect that would have on the future. After Doc had travelled thirty years into the future, Marty's son had managed to get his hands on the time machine - and he ended up travelling back to 1985, on the day after Marty returned from 1955. After Marty and Jennifer had travelled with their son to 2015, they got to briefly see what the future was like. They even got to meet their older selves.

Marty pulled into the parking lot of Burger King, which was located right next to Doc's lab. Doc used to own a mansion in that location - but he accidentally burnt it down in 1963, when he was working on a science experiment. He eventually sold off much of his land to the city. Marty was feeling a little apprehensive, as he slowly walked up to his friend's lab. Marty knocked on the door.

'Marty, you made it!' exclaimed Doc, as he opened up the door and hugged Marty. 'Come in, please. You'll have to see what I just invented.'

'So, Doc, what's up?' asked Marty, smiling. 'What did you need my assistance with?'

'Well, Marty,' replied Doc, 'I had been working on a device that would allow telepathic communication, and I was wondering if you would mind experimenting with me.'

'Sure, that would be great,' replied Marty, with interested. 'So what do I need to do?'

'Well,' explained Doc, 'we each put on one of these caps - and you should keep thinking a thought over and over, again. I'll see if I can read you.'

'Check, Doc,' replied Marty, as he placed a cap over his head. The cap was a little smaller then that on the mind reading device that Doc attempted to build in 1955.

Doc then placed a cap on his head, flipped a switch, and instructed, 'All right, Marty, now! Just think whatever phrase comes to your mind, and just focus your attention on that one phrase. Try not to think about anything else. Just repeat the phrase over and over in your head.'

Imagine if my life was a movie, thought Marty. Imagine if my life was a movie. Imagine if my life was a movie. Imagine if my life was a movie.

'Aw, dang it,' groaned Doc, taking off his cap. 'This damn thing doesn't seem to work. I thought for sure this thing should work by now. Honestly, if it wasn't for the obvious success of the time machine - I would probably just give up now.'

'So you weren't reading me?' asked Marty. He felt so bad for Doc, as he understood how much passion his friend had for his inventions. Marty sure had the same passion for music after all, and he hoped to become a successful rock star someday.

'No, I wasn't able to read you,' Doc said, sighing. 'Well, I guess I won't give up yet - but I really did expect for this thing to work by now. Maybe I just need to make a few more adjustments. Well, if I could tackle inventing something as major as a time machine - then I could certainly tackle this. I guess I'll just have to think positively.'

'Yeah, try not to lose all hope, Doc,' Marty said, as he gently laid his hand on Doc's shoulder. 'You know what you've always told me. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.'

'Isn't that the same thing your father says?' Doc asked, smiling a little.

'Uh, yeah,' replied Marty, 'but it's mostly because that's what I've been telling him, during the week that I was in 1955. Believe me, Doc - in the old timeline, he was very different. It was me who encouraged him to let other people read his stories.'

'Ah, so that explains it,' said Doc, smiling. 'Well, thank you for helping me, Marty.'

'Oh, that's not a problem, Doc,' Marty said, softly. 'Jennifer and I were planning on seeing a movie tonight, but she then had a sudden babysitting job. So I could stick around, if you'd like. I did miss spending time with you the past few days, y'know.'

'Yeah, I'll probably take a little break from my inventions,' Doc said, smiling. 'It sure is nice to have great friends in you and Jennifer. Sabrina is a great friend, too - but I haven't heard too much from her lately. I guess she is pretty busy these days - and she's married to Brad, now.'

'Oh, yeah, I remember Sabrina,' Marty said, smiling. 'I really miss her, too.'

Sabrina Palmer was ten years older than Marty - and she had been close friends with Doc that much longer than Marty was. Well, not counting Marty's week in 1955, that is. She currently lived in San Francisco with her husband.

'Say, Marty,' Doc said, smiling, 'why don't you play some tunes for us. I just bought you a new amplifier the other day. I once again apologize for not warning you about the amplifier beforehand. I guess I should have done that before I left town.'

'Aw, don't sweat it, Doc,' Marty said, smiling. 'Thanks so much for the amplifier.'

'You're very welcome,' replied Doc. 'Now come with me, and I'll show you where it is. It's even nicer than the one I gave you before. I hope you like it.'

Marty smiled, as he followed his friend towards the back of the lab. He then thought of how lucky he was to have such a good friend like Dr. Emmett Brown. He felt that it was a real shame that many in town considered Doc to be a 'crackpot' or a 'nutcase'. He figured that it was just their loss, though.