While making his son dig a swimming pool, Biff finds a deed that entitles the Tannen family to the land that became the Parker Ranch. With Biff ready to evict Jennifer and her family, Marty takes the boys back in time to find out the truth and fix the problem in the present day.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Hephzibah Tannen becomes attracted to Marty, who tries to treat her kindly but doesn't find her attractive. Unfortunately, Hephzibah and her brother don't give him much choice.
- Chained to a Railway: Thaddeus Tannen, who extorted the deed out of the Parkers, tied Genevieve Parker to the railroad tracks and insisted Wendell sign over their land to him before he'd untie her. After her husband signs it, Tannen runs off with the deed and leaves her tied up anyway.
- Compressed Vice: The episode gives Marty a habit of playing pranks on people, largely to set up his having a disappearing ink pen to save the day at the end of the story.
- False Teeth Tomfoolery: In one scene after Marty has gone undercover/been forced to join Tannen's gang, Tannen tosses him a series of valuables as he takes them from their owners. Marty returns all of them while Tannen's back is turned, including a set of false teeth from the last person in line.
- Guile Hero: Marty gives Wendell a pen to sign the deed, but it turns out to be full of disappearing ink.
- Heel–Face Turn: Hephzibah turns in her brother at the end of the episode and announces she and Ox (Tannen's relatively friendly Dumb Muscle henchman) are opening an ice cream parlor in town.
- Huge Girl, Tiny Guy: Hephzibah Tannen, who's just as big as most of her family, falls in love with Marty after he tries to save her from a falling barn wall. The size difference and Hephzibah's habit of being a Cuddle Bug add to Marty's problems as he tries to get out of the situation.
- Ironic Name: Thaddeus' sister is named "Hephzibah", which means "My Delight is in Her." Marty doesn't find her attraction to him very delightful...though Tannen's henchman Ox certainly likes her.
- Meaningless Villain Victory: Thaddeus Tannen still succeeds in getting Wendell Parker to sign over his land to him to save his wife, and he still manages to run off and bury the deed in the spot where Biff Jr. will find it in the present day. However, because Marty gave Wendell a pen full of disappearing ink, the signature doesn't show up. The Parkers keep control of the extorted land and the sheriff cites Biff for disturbing the peace.
- A Plot in Deed: Biff finds a property deed entitling the Tannens to the land on which the Parker Ranch is built. Marty takes the time train back to the 1800s to fix the situation. Outlaw Thaddeus Tannen still succeeds in coercing Mr. Parker to sign over the land to him, but the signature doesn't show up because Marty gave him a pen with invisible ink.
- Punny Title: The title refers to the phrase "A Friend in Need is a friend indeed", punning on the fact that the Parkers are having trouble with a property deed that says they don't legally own their land.
- Smooch of Victory: Jennifer kisses Marty after he arrives Just in Time to show that the deed Biff found doesn't have the Tannens' name on it, keeping him from mowing down the Parkers' ranch house.
