Marty Follows to Old West

Lore & Background

The stakes are high: a tombstone found in 1955 states that Doc was killed by Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen over 80 dollars, six days after writing his letter. Without gasoline the DeLorean cannot reach 88 mph, so Doc proposes using a steam locomotive to push it to that speed.

Reader's Guide

The journey begins in 1955, when Marty and the 1955 Doc find the DeLorean that Doc hid in a mineshaft and repair it, and Marty travels to September 2, 1885 to save Doc. Marty assumes the persona of 'Clint Eastwood' to avoid suspicion while searching for his friend. He locates Doc, who is now working as a blacksmith. At a town festival Buford tries to shoot Doc; after Marty intervenes, Buford challenges him to a showdown in two days by calling him "yellow".

Simultaneously, Doc faces a moral dilemma: stay with Clara or return to 1985. The climax takes place on a rail spur leading to an unfinished bridge over the ravine. Doc and Marty use the locomotive to push the DeLorean along the spur line until it hits 88 mph and vanishes as the locomotive plunges from the unfinished bridge. Before the run, Marty survives Buford's shot by using a stove door as a bulletproof vest and knocks him into a wagon of manure, and Buford and his gang are arrested.

Marty returns to 1985 alone while Doc stays in 1885 with Clara; later a steam locomotive time machine appears in 1985, operated by Doc, Clara, and their children.