Back to the Future - 3

Marty spots the gun and its belt. He picks them up and looks in the mirror.

Marty: (a la Robert De Niro from "Taxi Driver") You talking to me? You talking to me, Tannen? (pause) Well I'm the only one here. (a la Clint Eastwood) Go ahead - make my day.

Cut to Courthouse Square. It's later on that day, Marty is now in his usual 1885 clothes. He spots 3 MEN who come up to him.

Man 3: Hey, good morning, Mr Eastwood!

Marty: Morning.

Man 4: Have a cigar, Mr Eastwood. Anything I can do for you today, Mr Eastwood?

Marty: No, no, it's... fine.

MAN 5 rides past in a carriage.

Man 5: Good luck tomorrow, Mr Eastwood! We'll be praying for ya!

Marty: Thanks.

Marty walks past the undertaker's. The UNDERTAKER stops him.

Undertaker: Good morning, Mr Eastwood. Interest you in a new suit for tomorrow?

Marty: Ah, I'm...I'm fine. Thanks.

Marty sees Doc a small distance away. Doc is sniffing a flower in his jacket. Marty goes to Doc.

Marty: Doc, what are you doing?

Doc: Oh, nothing. Just out enjoying the morning air. It's really lovely here in the morning, don't you think?

Marty: Yeah, it's lovely Doc. Listen, we gotta load the DeLorean, we gotta get ready to roll, all right? - hey, look at that, the tombstone.

Marty has spotted new craved tombstones outside a shop. One of them looks very familiar.

Doc: Marty, let me see that photograph again.

Marty gives it to him and Doc walks to the tombstones.

Doc: My name...it's vanished.

Marty: Hey, that's great Doc! Don't you get it - we're going back to the future tomorrow, so everything's being erased!

Doc: But only my name is erased! The tombstone itself and the date still remain. That doesn't make sense. We know that this photograph represents what will happen if the events of today continue to run their course into tomorrow.

Marty: Right and so?

The undertaker reappears suddenly and measures the distance from Marty's shoulder to his feet.

Undertaker: Excuse me, Mr Eastwood, I just need to take your measurement.

Marty: Hey, look, pal, I don't want to buy a suit!

Undertaker: (laughs) No, this is for your coffin.

Marty: My coffin?

Undertaker: Well, the odds are running two to one against you.

He puts his measuring tape in its original position and pretends to choke himself with his hand.

Undertaker: Might as well be prepared.

He walks off.

Doc: So...it may not be my name that's supposed to end up on that tombstone. It may be yours.

Marty puts his hand to his forehead.

Marty: Great Scott!

Doc: I know, this is heavy.

They start walking off.

Doc: Marty, why are wearing that gun? You're not considering running against Tannen tomorrow?

Marty: Doc, tomorrow morning I'm going back to the future with you. But if Buford Tannen comes looking for trouble I'm going to be ready for him. You heard what that son of a bitch called me last night.

Doc: Marty, you can't go losing your judgement every time someone calls you a name! That's exactly what causes you to get into that accident in the future.

Marty stops and turns to Doc.

Marty: What? What about my future?

Doc: I can't tell you. It might make things worse.

Marty: Wait a minute, Doc...what is wrong with my future?

Doc: Marty, we all have to make decisions that affect the course of our lives. You've gotta do what you've gotta do. And I've gotta do what I've gotta do.

Doc walks off. Marty pauses, wondering what Doc meant by that, before following him. We cut to the railroad tracks that night. Marty is making some repairs to the tracks and Doc stoops down to talk to him.

Doc: Marty.

Marty: Yeah?

Doc: I've made a decision. I'm not going with you tomorrow. I'm staying here.

Marty: (slowly) What are you talking about, Doc?!

Doc: There's no point in denying it. I'm in love with Clara.

Marty: Oh man. Doc, we don't belong here! Neither one of us! You know it could still be you that gets shot tomorrow!

He shows Doc the picture again.

Marty: (continued) This tombstone could still be in your future!

Doc: Marty, the future isn't written. It can be changed, you know that! Anyone can make their future whatever they want it to be. I can't let this one little photograph determine my entire destiny. I have to live my life according to what I believe is right - in my heart.

Marty sighs.

Marty: Doc, you're a scientist. So you tell me. What's the right thing to do, up here?

Marty points to his forehead. Doc sighs. He knows what he has to do.

Doc: You're right, Marty.

Doc pulls a switch, and the DeLorean rolls itself onto the tracks. The tyres have been taken off the car.

Marty: Wow, that worked great.

Doc: I've at least gotta tell her goodbye.

Marty: C'mon, Doc, I mean, think about it - what are you gonna say to her, I gotta go back to the future? I mean, she's not gonna understand that, Doc. How long I been with ya and I don't even understand it? (pauses) Doc. Listen. Maybe we could...I dunno, maybe we could just take Clara with us.

Doc: To the future? (pauses) You've reminded me, Marty, I'm a scientist so I must be scientific about this. I cautioned you about disruption of the continuum for your own personal benefit; therefore I must do no less. We will proceed as planned, and as soon as we return to 1985 we'll destroy this infernal machine. Travelling through time has become much too painful.

Once again, Doc exits and Marty stares after him in confusion. We cut to later that night. A fire burns and Marty lies asleep next to it. Doc gets up and walks off. We then cut to Clara's house. Clara is inside writing at her desk when she hears a knock on the door.

Doc: (o.s) It's Emmett, Clara.

Clara smiles and opens the door for him.

Clara: Oh, Emmett, won't you come in?

Doc: No...I better not. I...

Clara: What's wrong?

Doc: I've come to say goodbye.