"Back to the Future"

“Back to the Future” is a 1985 time travel film that the narrator of “10:04” is obsessed with. The film features a scene with a clock tower that strikes 10:04, ensuring travel through time. The idea of time and the potential for so many possible futures ensnares the narrator’s attention, and helps pave the way for the plot of the novel.

"The Clock"

“The Clock” is a montage of movie clips featuring clock towers in various plots and situations. The narrator and Alex go to see “The Clock” in “10:04”. The narrator is captivated by the idea of time in so many different films, each with a different situation. Here, he becomes moved by the idea of time having so many possible futures, and decides to begin outlining his novel based on this concept.

"The Golden Vanity" (short story)

“The Golden Vanity” is a short story...