“Then wake up and join the human race,” Strickland continued. “That’s all.”
Thrusting the sign into George’s hands, he stalked down the corridor toward his office.
“You’re sure your Mom fell in love with that guy?” Doc Brown asked.
“Yeah.”
“Looks like a match made in heaven.”
“My Mom always said it was meant to be,” Marty sighed, “I sure hope she’s right…”
“Hey, she’s coming now,” Brown said. “Better get ready to make the introductions.”
Marty nodded, took a deep breath and started toward George.
“George!” he cried. “Hey, buddy! How are you?”
George nodded weakly. “Fine…”
“You’re just the guy I wanted to see,” Marty continued. Then, noting George’s nearly blank expression, he said: “You remember me, don’t you? Saturday when you fell outa the tree…I probably saved your life.”
“Oh, yeah…” George muttered.
“The binoculars didn’t break, did they?” Marty asked, unable to help himself.
His father reddened. “No,” he replied.
“Good! Listen, there’s somebody I want you to meet. C’mere…”
Grabbing his arm, Marty led George down the hall in the direction of Lorraine. As his father’s gaze fell on her, his expression whitened, his eyes filling with panic. Marty saw his body stiffen and for a moment he thought poor George was going to try making a break for it. Then he relaxed somewhat as the meeting became unavoidable.
“Excuse me, Lorraine,” Marty began.
Lorraine’s eyes caught his. For a split second, they were confused, but as soon as she stripped away the changes in Marty’s clothes and hair style, she brightened considerably.
“Calvin!” she nearly shouted. “I mean, Marty!”
So delighted was she to see him, she dropped her books. “Oh, let me get those,” Marty offered.
He felt a hand on his elbow. It was Doc Brown.
“Let him do it, jerk!” Brown whispered.
But Marty was already bent over and George was just standing there, slack-jawed, looking as if he wanted to be anyplace but here.
Retrieving the books, Marty handed them to Lorraine, whose eyes shone with gratitude and infatuation.
“Oh, thank you,” she gushed.
Marty smiled, cleared his throat, and then thrust his hand out at the pathetic figure of George McFly.
“Lorraine,” he said. “I want to introduce you to someone. This is my good friend, George McFly. George, this is Lorraine.”
“Hi, it’s really a pleasure to meet you,” George managed to say.
Lorraine’s eyes moved toward him and then turned back to Marty, bequeathing barely a flicker of recognition at her future husband.
“Build him up,” Doc Brown whispered.