Saturday, March 19, 1988
2:00 p.m.
Hill Valley, California
CALPURNIA felt out of place having to spend the past three days in the 20th century. Not only was she in a world where all those who cared for her were dead, but the people she was seeing here haven’t been born yet as far as she was concerned.
The woman blamed herself for this mess. Had she let Marty just place the order for the bracelet and allowed him to jump one week ahead in time to pick it up then go back to the future everything would’ve been fine. But no, she was obsessed with motherhood and when she saw Doc’s two sons with Marty, she wanted them to spend the week in her time.
Because of that idea, she, Jules and Verne were kidnapped by Brutus and his companions forcing Marty to attempt a rescue that resulted in him being wounded and the DeLorean being badly damaged.
Calpurnia tried to make the best of it trying to adapt to the style of the era. Clara had been busy teaching her English so that she could communicate without a translator, teaching her the names of certain objects to use in the time she was in, what to wear, that she had to learn to cook and clean since the Browns don’t have servants in 1988.
And finally, Calpurnia realized that people in this time do not worship the gods that she and her people do in her era. They only worship the one God that the Jews worshipped in her time. And that the non-Jewish people who worship this singular God were called Christians named after someone who, in her own time, would not be born until forty years later.
It was a lazy Saturday afternoon. Calpurnia was on the porch sitting in a lawn chair wearing sunglasses, a tank top, shorts and some sandals reading a magazine when Biff pulled up to wax the Browns’ family car.
Getting out of his tow-truck Biff approached the house and noticed the woman reading something. He was about to introduce himself when Doc came out.
Biff noticed him and said “Doctor Brown.”
“Now Biff.” insisted Doc, “Let’s have two coats on the car this time not just one.”
“Doctor Brown.” said Biff, “I did put the second coat of wax the last time I was here.”
“Biff.” demanded Doc, “Don’t rip me off.”
“Oh, alright.” said Biff, “I’ll do that even if I have to spend the whole day here.” Then, noticing the woman, he asked Doc. “Hey Doctor Brown. How about introducing me to the lady?”
Noticing Calpurnia, Doc said “Oh her. This is my cousin Calpurnia. She came here from Italy on a visit to see me and my family.”
Calpurnia looked up from the magazine she was reading and noticed Biff. Peering over her sunglasses, she said “Bru…” and then realizing that she wasn’t in her own time at all she stopped herself.
Biff heard her blurt out something. Doc, noticing this said to Calpurnia “Calpurnia, this is Biff.”
Calpurnia got up, put the magazine in her left hand and extended her right as Biff did likewise. “Glad to meet you, sir.” she said with a smile.
After they both shook hands, Doc told Biff “Biff you’d
better get started.”
“Oh, alright.” said Biff. And he went off to do his business.
With Biff starting to wax the car, Calpurnia turned to Doc who whispered “That was close.”
“I know.” said Calpurnia, “I keep forgetting that I’m now in what you call the 20th century and that Brutus and the conspirators are all dead now as are my friends and servants.”
“You won’t be here forever.” said Doc, “I’m working real hard to get the DeLorean repaired for your return trip to your own time.”
“Yet I feel guilty trying to be kind and gentle to the descendents of one of my husband’s murderers.”
“I know.” said Doc, “But you don’t have a choice. I cannot risk someone else gaining knowledge of the fact that time travel now exist.”
Realizing that Doc was referring to the fact her near refusal to shake hands with Biff might result in her explaining herself, Calpurnia said “You’re right.” The two turned to enter the house as Calpurnia went onto say “At least I’m getting some insight into my distant future. And the fascinating things that I see. The box that sings and talks…”
“That’s the radio.” said Doc knowing what Calpurnia was talking about.
“…the box with the window in which I see people inside it…”
“The television set.”
“Oh yes. And that thing underneath it in which you put something in it and…”
“You mean the VCR?”
“Yes!” Then, she asked “And what is those things that you and your two sons work with? You know, the small boxes with the window and they have this thing you put your fingers on.”
“You mean the computer?” asked Doc.
“That’s the one.”
“In a few years from now, there will be something called the internet in which computer will be linked to computer and messages will be sent long distances by something that will be called e-mail.”
“Just as that something called the telephone is being used for talking without the two participants having to approach each other.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s a pity that once I get back to my own time I won’t be able to share this knowledge with anyone.”
“I know, Calpurnia. Divulging such information could have a profound effect on history. That’s why when we’re able to return you, it’ll have to be almost the precise moment you left. That way it’ll be like you never did.”
After some pondering, Calpurnia said “Sounds good to me.”
Then, Clara came in.
“Emmett.” she said, “I’m going shopping .”
“Clara.” said Doc, “Biff’s waxing the car. You’ll have to walk into town.”
“Alright.” said Clara, “Calpurnia care to come?”
Doc paused over this suggestion by he wife. But Calpurnia said “Please, Doctor Brown. I feel so cooped up not being able to go out. And besides I saw the future of this Hill Valley. And as always, I won’t tell anyone once I get back to Rome.?
“Go right ahead.” said Doc.
“Good.” said Calpurnia.
“I’ll see you later.” said Clara as she and Doc kissed.
“Take care.” said Doc.
“Wait a minute.” said Calpurnia, “I think I’d better change.”
“You’re fine the way your are.” said Clara.
“Quite right.” said Doc, “In this era people go out wearing what they wear around the house. Just get a coat or a sweater. It might be a bit chilly.”
Clara handed her a coat to put on. After which the two women left.
As he watch the two ladies leave he heard some music coming from his boys room. It was playing Huey Lewis’ Happy to be Stuck With You. Angrily, he went in there to shut it off.
“Jules.” he said, “Verne. You were told no radio for a week as a part of your grounding.”
“But Dad.” protested Jules, “We can’t concentrate on our homework without the music.”
“Well you should’ve thought of that when you not only failed to stop Marty from going back in time but went along with him.” said Doc, “Had you just stopped him, you two and Calpurnia wouldn’t been kidnapped, Marty wouldn’t be in the hospital, and Calpurnia wouldn’t be in our century.”
“I know, dad I know.” said Jules.
“And by the way.” said Doc, “Have you finished cleaning up the walkways?”
“Yes we did.” said Jules.
“No we did…” said Verne before he stopped in mid speech.
At that, Doc went out and saw the walkways weren’t clean at all.
++++++
Calpurnia finally got to see the Hill Valley that Doc and Marty saw: the Hill Valley of the 1980’s. The town square was not the same as it was in 1955. It was a bit run down. The store that Doc and Marty took her to buy that dress in 1955 was gone. The place that was called “Café ‘80s” in 2015 and “Lou’s Café” in 1955 was now a dance studio.
“This place has gone through some changes over the last thirty years.” said Calpurnia, and “More to come in the next thirty.”
“That’s nothing.” said Clara, “You should see how the Hill Valley me, Emmett, and my two boys grew up in during the 1880’s.”
“Perhaps I should.”
“Do you really want to?”
“Of course.”
“Well, as soon as we’re through shopping, we’ll come home and talk to my husband.”
“Now wait a minute. I thought the time machine was damaged.”
“We have two others.”
“Oh yes. That huge horseless chariot you call a train and that multi-seat chariot you call a limousine.”
“That’s right.” said Clara, “And Calpurnia, we don’t use the word ‘chariot’ here in the twentieth century. It’s so ancient.”
“I’m sorry.” said Calpurnia, “The term is ‘car’ or ‘automobile’. Clara, before I return to Rome, I would like to know how to drive one.”
Clara gave Calpurnia a studied look before saying “You know that’s impossible. You’re starting to learn too much of your future already.” Calpurnia gave Clara a sad look so Clara said “When we get home, you could take it up with Emmett but I assure you he would say the same thing to you that I did.”
“That sounds good.” said Calpurnia, “Clara, do you know how to drive?”
“Not at first.” said Clara, “But when Emmett moved us here to the 20th century, I had to take driving classes to get my driver’s license.”
“Driver’s li… Oh well, I probable won’t have time to take such a class. My place is in my time not yours.”
They both smiled at each other and continued their way through town.
++++++
Doc continued to watch the boys from the window of his lab knowing that they would soon be finished so they could go back to their room and sit out their grounding and he himself would go back to fixing the time circuits in the DeLorean.
Just then, he thought of something. What about Calpurnia? He knew the longer he delayed in repairing the time machine the longer she stays in this time period and the longer she stays in this time period the more she is exposed to the knowledge of future events. He knew that she promised not to tell a soul about what she knew, but how much knowledge can she keep a secret? There was always that irresistible urge to tell somebody something.
He also knew that Calpurnia shouldn’t be cooped up in the house which was reason enough for Clara to take her shopping but that wouldn’t be enough. She had to get out more often.
Jules and Verne were finished and returned to their rooms. That gave Doc a chance to go back to work on the DeLorean. But before he did, he went through the file cabinets. There was one for future events and the other for historical events. Doc recalled one time receiving tickets to a Beatles concert during the 1960’s. He was hoping to save them for Marty in case he ever wanted to go back there to see them again. But now, with Marty in the hospital and Calpurnia’s need to get out more often, these tickets should be useful.
There they were. They were dated August 15, 1965, and the place Shea Stadium which was situated in Flushing, New York. Now all he had to do is tell her and get someone to go with her. But who? Both Marty and Jennifer were still in the hospital, the Doc himself was busy. So it had to be Clara which wouldn’t be bad knowing that she has never visited the 1960’s.
++++++
Clara and Calpurnia came home and were putting what they bought away when Doc came in.
“How was shopping?” he asked.
“It was fine.” said Clara as they both kissed.
“Clara.” said Doc, “I’ve got something for you and Calpurnia.”
“Oh?” asked Clara, “What is it?”
“I’ll tell you after dinner.”
“Oh, it’s a surprise.”
Doc smiled as he said “It sure is.”
“I can’t wait to find out.” said Clara, “Now if you excuse me, I’ve got to get dinner ready.”
Calpurnia was standing nearby. Clara came over to her and said “Emmett has a surprise for us after dinner.”
“He does?” asked Calpurnia.
Clara smile and nodded affirmatively.
“Then, I gather that the best way to find out is to get dinner on and get it done.” said Calpurnia.
“Which is why I’m going to get started right away.” said Clara.
“I’ll help.” said Calpurnia.
Immediately, they both got started.