Back to the Future: Why does Marty hang out with Doc Brown?

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I watched some of this classic today, and was wondering, is it ever explained how exactly Marty knows Doc and why he is like an errand boy for the crazy scientist?

Nik (Nik), Friday, 9 April 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Marty's clearly Doc Browns's bitch.

hstencil, Friday, 9 April 2004 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Marty's so much cooler than you, that's why

omg, Friday, 9 April 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I always thought that was kinda weird.
I think Marty just thought he was too cool and mature to hang out with people from his school all the time. And Doc did have that totally righteous amp setup though.

oops (Oops), Saturday, 10 April 2004 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

-though. i r kinda bubbly.

oops (Oops), Saturday, 10 April 2004 06:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I was gonna start a thread about this yesterday. But, erm, my thread was gonna be all about the role of science in 80s movies, and how science went from being this scary, super-threatening thing which created EVIL MONSTERS in the 50's and 60's to being this cute, funny plaything for nerdy high school students in the 80s.

Also, taking sides, Doc Brown vs. Egon from Ghostbusters. Maybe I'll start that thread myself later...

Super-Kate (kate), Saturday, 10 April 2004 07:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Doc Brown made a huge fucking amplifier for Marty. It's not a one-way thing, he's not the Doc's MonkeyBoy. they're a motherfuckin' team, yo.

g-kit (g-kit), Saturday, 10 April 2004 07:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Egon collects spore, mouulds and fungi, so Egon wins, even though "Great Scott!" is nearly the best exclamataion of surprise EVAH, after "Heavens to Mergatroid!", of course.

Johnney B (Johnney B), Saturday, 10 April 2004 07:38 (twenty-one years ago)

this is heavy.

g-kit (g-kit), Saturday, 10 April 2004 07:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Because if he didn't, there would be no McFly.

N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 10 April 2004 11:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he thought Doc was cool, what with all his gadgets and maniacal behaviour. I guess Doc was this sort of a small town weirdo a teenager would think to be neat to hang out with. Plus the amp, obviously.

Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 10 April 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I might go out and buy the McFly single today and play it tonight.

Is it any good?

Ally C (Ally C), Saturday, 10 April 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Its fun if you've never heard it before. DON'T buy it though - after a few listens it annoys the hell out of you.

Johnney B (Johnney B), Saturday, 10 April 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Doc Brown kicks the ass off Egon, although both rule. The Doc describes dances as "rhythmic ceremonial rituals" ferchristsakes.

Nick H (Nick H), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

DAVE FISCHER TO THREAD!!! :DDDD

Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Providence Rhode Island: Why does Jon hang out with Dave Fischer?

Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Providence Rhode Island: Why does Ian hang out with Jon Williams?

Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Although its not so weird now that you're not a mewling infant!

Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i hung out with you obv. because i had no real friends when i was in middle school!!

Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

"Marty and Doc met when Marty posted flyers around town explaining that he wanted to help with odd jobs. Doc came to Marty's door and asked him. Marty was skeptical at first but finally agreed after Doc said he'd pay him $50 a week. Marty wanted to buy a guitar with the money, so by the time 4 weeks was done he was just going to quit. As it turns out Marty had told Doc that he wanted to get the guitar. Doc sort of anticipated Marty quitting at a certain time. So to prove that he wasn't just some nutcase, after a month Doc showed up with the guitar that Marty wanted. Since that date in 1977 Doc and Marty have been great friends. "
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This is Future Girl's fanfic explanation, but it has a basis in the fourth draft script of part 1, where Marty gives a shorter explanation for how they met while talking to his girlfriend "Suzy" (p.12):


quote:
SUZY
I don't know if you should be hanging out with a guy like that after midnight.

MARTY
Doc Brown's all right - he's just a little hung up on time. A couple of years ago, he showed up at my house and hired me to sweep out this garage of his. He pays me 50 bucks a week, gives me free beer...and gives me total access to his record collection - he's got this great old record collection.
(a beat)
Hard to believe he was one of the world's greatest nuclear physicists.

kephm, Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

this of course raises the question: what are the top 10 records in doc brown's collection?

Ian Johnson (orion), Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Back to the Future has a fantastic soundtrack, i love the rendition of "Mr Sandman" playing in the background when Marty first meets his dad in 1955

Nik (Nik), Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(1) "Time is on my mind"
(2) "Rock around the clock"
(3) "Lightning strikes"
(4) "Time"
(5) "Time After Time"
(6) "Time to Change"
(7) "25 O'clock"
(8) "Living in the past"
(9) "The living years"
(10) "The wrong nigga to fuck with"

Tep (ktepi), Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll bet Doc Brown's a Charlie Parker-John Coltrane-Thelonius Monk man.

de, Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Doc Brown's Songs That Time Forgot

kephm, Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps Doc Brown was the one that befriended Marty. I mean, if he knows Marty from the 1950s when he timetraveled, then wouldn't he be looking for Marty in the future (1980s)? Maybe they would have never met otherwise. Doc Brown befriends Marty because Marty timetravels back in time and meets Doc in the time machine that his friend Doc constructed. It makes for a nifty little logical timeloop.

Dale the Titled (cprek), Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

yes, or they met in 1885. or burger king

kephm, Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I bet Doc smoked the pot, too.

oops (Oops), Saturday, 10 April 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Retroactive timemapping!

Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 10 April 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Doc Brown = biggest stoner IN THE WORLD.

Johnney B (Johnney B), Sunday, 11 April 2004 07:01 (twenty-one years ago)


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