Doc's brows furrow, "It's about the future—isn't it? Information about the future? I warned you about this, kid. The consequences could be disastrous." Marty shakes his head with furrowed brows, his voice is high—his tone is desperate, "You've gotta take that risk Doc. Your life depends on it." Darleen looks between the two—her expression shows that she's trying to hide her stress. Doc shakes his head firmly, "No, I'm not going to accept the responsibility." Doc tears up the envelope before shoving the pieces into the Packard ashtray.

"All right Doc. In that case, I'll just have to tell you straight out—" Before Marty can get the words out—a tremendous gust of wind comes accompanied with a loud crack. The three turn and see a tree limb has blown right on top of the cable between the clock tower and the first lamp post. The paddle-plug attached to the lightning rod on the clock tower is yanked out and the cable drops down from the clock tower. "Great Scott! Both of you—find the end of that cable—I'll throw the rope down to you!" Doc grabs a big coil of rope and dashes into the courthouse.

The teens look at each other and gulp. They both begin searching for the cable. The wind begins to pick up and the sound of thunder begins approaching. Marty finds the beginning of the cable and starts pulling on it before the cable is fully in his hands. Darleen walks up next to him, "Did you find it?" She asks and Marty answers by motioning to the cable in his hands. The two look up at the clock tower—waiting to see Doc. After a few seconds, Doc steps out onto the ledge below the clock. His hair flows wildly in the wind and lightning flashes in the distance.

——

Doc looks up and sees the connecting socket dangling on its cable between the 1 and 2 of the clock face. Its other end is attached to the lightning rod on the tower above. Doc looks down and sees Marty and Darleen—five stories below—waving the paddle plug to show that they found it. Doc tosses one end of the rope down—the coil unravels.

——

The rope drops to the ground. Darleen runs over and grabs it—Marty following behind her. She ties it to the paddle plug. She waves back at Doc. He nods and starts pulling the rope with cable back up. Marty watches anxiously as the cable goes back up. He looks at Darleen before speaking, "I gotta tell him about the future.. about what happens to him." Darleen gives him a small smile, "Then tell him, he'll realize sooner or later that it won't effect him at all." Marty nods at her words before yelling up at Doc, "Doc! I gotta tell you about the future!"

Doc leans his head forward to hear Marty better, "What?" He yells back. Marty cups his hands around his mouth to make his voice a louder, "The future! On the night Darleen and I traveled back in time, the terrorists show up and you get—" The clock strikes 10:00—cutting Marty off. Doc almost loses his balance with the huge bells tolling so close to him. He regains his footing then pulls the rope up the rest of the way. He now has the paddle plug in hand.

——

The two teens stare up in anticipation before seeing Doc lean back to yell something to them—but the bells are too loud. Doc gestures that he's got the cable and that Marty and Darleen should go. Darleen begins walking—but Marty hesitates. Doc gestures adamantly. Darleen places her hand on his shoulder. Marty looks at Darleen and then Doc before he finally gets too moving. They run to the DeLorean.

——

Doc unties the rope from the end of the paddle plug and looks up at its socket mate dangling on the clock face. He reaches up for it—but he can't quite get it. The only way he can get to it is if he moves across the ledge. Marty and Darleen hop into the DeLorean. Marty turns the key in the ignition and revs it up. He puts the car in gear before taking off.

Doc looks down the street and sees the DeLorean. He moves across the ledge before reaching up but he's still not close enough to grab the dangling socket. Lightning and thunder move even closer. The DeLorean passes a hand painted white line on the street—Doc had also painted the words "START HERE" for Martys' benefit. Marty makes a U-turn and pulls up to it—like a starting line. Both teens are anxious, Marty sighs, "Dammit Doc, why'd you have to tear up that letter? If only there was a little more time—" That's when Marty gets an idea.

Darleens' eyes narrow, "What're you gonna do?" Marty smiles at her before speaking, "I'm gonna give us more time." He then pushes the appropriate buttons on the keypad to turn the minutes back. Doc—with the cable in his left hand—moves a little further along the ledge before it all of a sudden—begins to crumble under his feet. Doc drops the cable and grabs onto the clock hands to save himself—the cable is now on his left foot. Doc hangs precariously from the clock, his hair blowing in the wind. Lighting cracks in the sky.

He carefully moves his right foot towards the intact section of the ledge while trying to keep the cable balanced on his left foot. He takes a deep breath as he finally gets his footing back. He kicks the cable up with his left foot and catches it in his hand. He sighs in relief—he reaches up with his right hand and grabs the dangling socket. Marty is still fiddling with the destination time and right when he gets to 1:21—the engine dies. Darleens' eyes widen as she speaks, "Oh no." Marty tries to restart it—but it won't turn over. "Come on, come on...!" He mutters.

Doc has the plug in his left hand—the socket in his right. He reaches them towards each other to plug them in—but they won't reach. He's about a foot short, he looks down. The tree limb is caught on the cable which is the reason there's no slack. Doc can't free it—his expression changes to one of determination. He gives the cable a tremendous yank. The cable jerks free from the tree—but the plug at the other end is wrenched out of the connecting socket on the lamp post. Doc reacts with horror. He now has a he useless plug in his hand. Lightning cracks even closer.