Back To The Future || Part Zero

Chapter Five

Marty smelled something funny. He made a face and turned his head, but the smell followed him. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up into the face of someone he knew.

"Professor? Professor Brown?" Marty asked weakly. It looked a lot like him, only he didn't look as old. Then Marty remembered -- he was in 1952!

"You know me?" the Professor wondered, removing the smelling salts from under Marty's nose now that he was awake. It was only then Marty realized he was stretched out on a couch in a living room that looked an awful lot like his own.

"Professor, you time machine works!" Marty said rapidly. "It works! It sent me back in time! I'm from 1982!"

"Ssshhhhh!" Professor Brown said, holding up his hand. His expression was both thoughtful and suspicious. Marty heard footsteps and turned his head to see his grandfather, grandmother, and mother, all looking thirty years younger, edging closer to the couch to get a look at him.

"Is he all right?" Mr. Baines asked finally.

The Professor straightened up. "He will be. Simple inebriation, is all. The young man must have a rather low tolerance for alcohol...something that runs in the family. You see, he's a second cousin of mine on my mother's side. Came quite a distance to visit me," he added. "His name's Lewis."

"Marty," Marty corrected him.

"Uh, Marty Lewis," Professor Brown said hastily. "I almost didn't recognize him -- haven't seen him in years."

Eileen stared at Marty and he looked back at her, fascinated that this young teenager was -- would be -- his mother! She looked so different...attractive, even!

"It's a good thing he had your name circled in the phone book," Mrs. Baines said to the Professor. "I would have called the police."

Professor Brown leaned over and helped Marty sit up. "Well, Mrs. Baines, Mr. Baines, thank you for your trouble," he said as Marty got to his feet. "Both Marty and I apologize for the inconvenience. We'll get him home and as good as new."

Mr. Baines looked sharply at Marty and shook his finger at him. "Son, you watch yourself," he warned.

"Yes, sir," Marty said, nodding his head.

"Oh," Eileen began, going over to a chair a few feet away and picking up the silver jacket of Marty's. Someone must've taken it off him when they brought him into the house, he realized. "Here's your jacket," she said softly, her big eyes locked on his face.

"Uh, thanks..." Marty stammered. Eileen held up the jacket and gave it a quizzical look.

"What kind of material is this?" she asked. "I've never seen anything like it."

He took it from her hand. "It's polyester," he said matter-of-factly.

Eileen frowned. "Poly-what?"

Professor Brown jumped in. "It's an experimental invention of mine. Sort of a rubberized silver-foil. I just made up a name for it. Come on, Marty," he added, walking toward the front door. "We've got a lot to talk about."

Marty followed the Professor. He was just about to step out the door when Eileen stopped him. "Marty?"

He turned. "Huh?"

"Have we ever met before?" she asked, a puzzled look on her face. Marty's eyes met hers, but before he could open his mouth, the Professor grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, the Professor's 1937 Packard was pulling into the driveway of a huge Victorian mansion on the outskirts of town.