McCloud: Back & Forth

McCloud: Back & Forth is a 2020 science-fiction comedy short story based on the 1999 science-fiction comedy short film Blackadder: Back & Forth. The film follows Duke Myles McCloud and his idiotic servant, Topi, on a time travel adventure that brings the characters into contact with several figures significant to British and event American history.

Plot
At McCloud Manor in 2020, Duke Myles is entertaining four guests on New Year's Eve. He informs them he has built a time machine using plans drawn by Leonardo da Vinci and wages $10,000 each that he can bring back any item from history they request. Archbishop Curry, Congressman Anderson, Senator McGuinness, and Justice Stephenson agree to this and challenge him to bring back a Roman centurion's helmet, the boots worn by George Washington on the day of the Battle of Yorktown, and an ancient pair of 200-year-old underpants. The whole voyage is actually a scam, as Myles has, in fact, had Topi retrieve the items from his storage, and the time machine is a prop. Myles stages the time machine travelling through time for his guests, with himself and Topi hiding inside, but when he opens the door he finds it has actually worked.

They are now in the Cretaceous Period, where they are confronted by a Yoshisaurus. They throw away their wager items but are eventually able to defeat it using the underpants. Topi admits that, as he never got round to writing the dates on the dials, they cannot return to the present.

Myles and Topi return to what looks like McCloud Manor, but they actually found themselves during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I who, mistaking him for his ancestor, orders his humiliation unless he has a present for her. While rummaging through his pockets, Myles drops some Livesaver candies onto the floor which he then offers to the Queen. She loves them, rewards him with her crown and orders him to go forth and bring back lots more "minty things". On his way back to the time machine, Myles meets William Shakespeare. He hits him saying "that is for every schoolboy and schoolgirl for the next four hundred years" and leaves.

Myles tries to remember how the dials were set. They eventually land in Sherwood Forest and are captured by Robin Hood. Myles asks the Merry Men why they steal from the rich; facing certain death if caught, live in the forest with lack of toilet facilities, and yet are willing to give all they steal to the poor who themselves may view it as a reason not to work. As a result, the Merry Men shoot Robin. After having sex with Maid Marian, Myles leaves, taking Robin's hat as a souvenir.

Next, the time machine lands at the Battle of Yorktown killing George Washington (just before he announces his plan to defeat the British forces) in the process, Myles steps out to steal Washington's boots, feeling he may as well try to win his wager. This is followed by them landing at Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain, where they spy their Roman ancestors. After stealing a helmet, Myles and Topi escape from a charging group of Picts.

Topi mentions that dying people have their lives flash before them and that if Myles was about to drown, he might see how the dials were originally set. Myles agrees with this and shoves Topi into the time maching toilet. The plan succeeds and Topi remembers how to set the dials to return home. On the way back, Topi suggests that anyone can change the world for the better, though Myles argues that all most people can do is make money.

Returning to 2020, the party guests are impressed by what Myles has returned with, but due to his interference with history, Robin Hood is unknown, Shakespeare is only known as the inventor of the ballpoint pen (which he had left with him after punching him), and America has been ruled by the Habsburgs for over two centuries. Realising that he is to blame, Myles gets back into the time machine to try and reinvigorate history. He champions Shakespeare, charms Robin Hood, and saves George Washington.

They return home to ensure that the original timeline has been restored and to collect Myles' winnings from his guests. He tells them to go upstairs and watch the New Year's festivities on television, assuring them he will soon return. He informs Topi he has a "very, very, very cunning plan", and they set off again in the time machine. The guests watch the broadcast of the motorcade arriving at D.C. Myles is shown to now be King Myles I, who is married to Louis of Horns and is joined by the Prime Minister.