Monday, October 12, 1987
7:30 p.m.
Hill Valley, California
ALMOST a year had passed since Marty and Jennifer traveled back to 1978 to the day of their first meeting. It was intended to help Marty get his mind off a woman who was being abused by her husband. However, upon arriving at that year, the two met the same couple who were at the time teenagers. Later in that day, they went to the café to see their younger selves enjoy a shake only to see the couple come in there too. The boy tells everyone to stay away from his girlfriend and everyone is intimidated. But not Marty. He tells the man off only to be chased out with the man’s girlfriend in tow. With Marty borrowing a skateboard for an escape, the man gets into his car and chases the two down the street only to be victimize by Marty’s ability to maneuver. The man crashes into a row of motorcycles owned by the Hell’s Angels and gets beaten up. After returning to 1986 (after realizing that the 1978 Biff had stolen the time machine and gave his younger self another Almanac in which they had to go back there and get it back) they discover that, thanks to Marty’s intervention and the accident with the motorcycle gang, the man was now a more peaceful one and a pushover to boot. And his wife was now a very fortunate woman.
Unfortunately, the altering of the destinies of Jim and Jan Jandick was about to cause a downfall to another relationship.
Marty and the Pinheads were invited to perform for the grand opening of a new art gallery run by Jan. In attendance that night was Jennifer and her parents and Marty’s parents. Doc and Clara were also there. Mayor Wilson gave Jan the keys of the city. After the performance, she talked to Marty.
“Marty.” she said, “That was very interesting music.”
“Why, thank you.” said Marty with a grin on his face. They both went to the buffet table where Jennifer was.
Jennifer stood there watching Marty chatting with Jan. It’s been nearly a year since she made the decision to take Marty back in time after that tussle with Jan’s husband Jim. How did she know that he was going to help the woman’s past self as well?
As the two were helping themselves to some food, Jennifer asked “Marty. Can I have a word with you?”
“Sure.” said Marty, “As soon as I’m through talking to Jan.”
Jennifer began to be more frustrated over this. Not only did Marty alter the destinies of Jim and Jan Jandick but he seems to be admiring his work and this seems to anger Jennifer.
“Right now.” she said.
“Hey, Jen.” said Marty, “Lighten up. What’s wrong?”
“You know what’s wrong.” said Jennifer. Then, in a whisper she asked “Do I have to broadcast it to everyone about our time traveling and how you made off with Jan back in 1978 and got Jim in a mess with those Hell’s Angels and changed everything that had to do with them?”
“So that’s what this is all about.” said Marty, “Jen. Don’t even think about telling everyone about Doc’s invention.”
Turning to Jan, he said “Can you excuse us a minute.”
“Sure.” said Jan with a smile on her face.
Jennifer looked at this with anger.
Taking Jennifer aside, Marty asked her “Jennifer. What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong?” exclaimed Jennifer, “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You and Jan, that’s what’s wrong.”
“Jennifer.” said Marty, “You think I’m flirting with her. She’s married.”
“I know she is.” said Jennifer, “To someone who used to beat her up until you went back in time and led his younger self on that big chase.”
“Well, it did change his life.” said Marty, “And look at his wife now.”
“I am.” said Jennifer looking at Jan, “Admiring what you did, Marty?”
“Jennifer.” exclaimed Marty, “Do you think I altered Jim and Jan’s destiny on purpose just to make Jan good looking instead of beat up? Is that what this is all about. Who’s idea was it for me to go back to that date with you in the first place despite me saying it was crazy?”
“Are you blaming this one on me?
“Well, it was your idea to take me back in time to that date, not me.”
“I did that to get your mind off of what Jim was doing to his wife.”
“Well, that’s was one hell of a way to do it. Wanted to relive the day we first met forgetting that Jim and Jan were in the same building we were when we were sharing that shake.”
Then, he looked at where Jan was standing, saying to Jennifer “Why don’t you go over there and say that you were the one who did her a favor.”
Jennifer did not like this. Not one bit. Immediately she slapped him.
“How dare you accuse me of helping you change her life.” she said as she was near tears.
The slap was heard around the room. And so was Jennifer’s words. The other guests turned to see Jennifer ready to push Marty into the buffet table. The nearest guests grabbed her by the arms before she could do it. Hanging onto her long enough the McFlys, Parkers, and the Browns were able to get to her.
“What’s going on?” demanded Mr. Parker.
“Your daughter just slapped Marty across the face.” said one of the guests.
Mr. Parker turned to his daughter demanding “Jennifer, why did you do that?”
Jennifer paused for a second. Then, she turned to Marty saying “Are you going to tell them or do I?”
Marty said nothing. But his mother did. “Jennifer.” she asked, “What did my son say to you to get you this upset?”
“You don’t know.” she said, “And you don’t want to know.”
“What does that supposed to mean?” demanded Mr. McFly.
Jennifer looked at Marty. Then, she looked at Doc. Then she said “Marty’s flirting with Jan Jandick.”
There was a gasp from the guest in the gallery. Then Jan’s husband Jim said “That can’t be.”
“It is.” said Jennifer, “My own ‘boyfriend’ thinking that he was only helping your girl escape from you…”
“I haven’t hit her since 1978 when I gotten beaten up with a bunch of Hell’s Angels for knocking over their motorcycles."
“Yeah. You were chasing some teenager down the street with your car because he had your girl.”
Upon hearing this, Doc realized what was going on: This had to do with Marty and Jennifer going back to 1978 and Marty’s intervention that resulted in the Jandicks’ destiny being altered. He also realized that only he, Clara, the boys, Marty and Jennifer knew about time travel but no one else.
He also knew what happened when Old Biff found out about time travel. Fearing that she was about to tell everyone else about it, he whispered to her “Jennifer, no. You can’t tell to anyone else about the time machine.”
Turning to Doc she whispered “It’s all your fault, Doctor Brown. You and that stupid invention of yours ruined everything for me and Marty.”
“Jennifer, you mustn’t say that.”
“Why? Because it’s your crowning achievement? Well, it sure was. It changed a lot of lives without anyone knowing it.”
Realizing that things were about to get out of hand, Doc turned to the Parkers saying “You’d better take your daughter home.”
“We will.” said Mrs. Parker, “As soon as she apologizes to Marty.”
“Me apologize to Marty?” exclaimed Jennifer, “No way. He had it coming.”
“You don’t mean that.” said her father.
“Yes. I did.” she said, “I want to go home now.”
At that, she turned to leave the gallery with her parents following.
++++++
Once outside, the Parkers caught up with their daughter. She stood at the car crying.
“Jennifer.” asked her mother, “What happened in there?”
“I don’t want to discuss it.” she said, “Just take me home.”
Realizing that she was heartsick, both parents agreed.
++++++
The trip home was quiet for the McFlys. Upon entering the house, George told Marty “Let’s face it, Marty. It’s better off that you stay away from Jennifer for awhile. At least until she cools off.”
“That’s right, Marty.” said Dave, “The last thing you need are headaches.”
Marty didn’t say anything. He hadn’t since Jennifer slapped him. He just went to his bedroom and closed the door. The rest looked on. Then, Linda spoke up.
“Trouble in Paradise.” she said, “I find it hard to believe it would be him and Jennifer.”
“And she was such a nice girl.” said Lorraine, “I can’t believe she would get this mad.”
“Nobody can, Lorraine.” said George, “I thought they were meant for each other.”
“So did I.” said Lorraine.
“I wonder how long she’s going to stay mad at Marty?” asked Linda.
“I don’t know.” said Lorraine, “But it happened to me and your father too.”
“I know, Mom.” said Linda, “You told us the story a hundred times. You went to England for a summer vacation…”
“No, Linda.” said Lorraine, “It was a student exchange program. Anyway, I was going over to George’s house to say goodbye and I caught him bird watching and got mad. I didn’t want to see him again so I went to England just to forget him. It’s a good thing I got over that mad. If I didn’t, none of you would’ve been born.”
All eyes turned to the door of Marty’s bedroom as Lorraine said “I hope it would be the same with Marty and Jennifer.”
After that, silence.
++++++
Jennifer was still crying when she and her parents arrived home.
“Jennifer.” said her mother handing her a Kleenex to dry her tears, “I want you to get on that phone and apologize to Marty.”
“Why?” asked Jennifer, “Didn’t you see him talking to Jan?”
“I don’t understand, Jennifer.” said her father, “You’ve seen him talk to other girls or women before and it hasn’t upset you like this. What made Jan Jandick so special?”
How can I tell them that one time me and Marty went back in time only to have Marty make off with Jan and lead her boyfriend Jim on a chase that ended up with him getting into an accident with those Hell’s Angels motorcycles? Jennifer asked herself.
“Jennifer.” persisted her father, “We’re waiting for an answer.”
Realizing that she was torn between calling up Marty and exposing her parents to the knowledge of time travel, she turned to the phone saying “Alright. I’ll call him.”
Immediately, she picked up the phone and started to dial. But then she paused. Then, she put down the receiver and said “I can’t.”
She headed off to her room to cry some more.