The Take (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Mason is a professional pickpocket operating in Paris. He steals the woman's handbag as part of his criminal livelihood, completely unaware that it contains a teddy bear rigged with explosives. He has no knowledge of the bomb or any involvement in the conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Mason as a skilled pickpocket who works the streets of Paris to make a living.

• michael mason
• pickpocket
• steals bag
• paris

Jean is revealed to be undercover French police officer Fibbert Pascal, who was secretly monitoring the conspiracy. He helps Zoe escape from the mercenaries holding her, but is later found dead at his address after Mason and Briar discover the truth.

Foreshadowing: Jean mysteriously helps Zoe escape despite apparently holding her under duress, hinting at a hidden agenda.

• jean
• fibbert pascal
• undercover officer

The mastermind behind the entire conspiracy is Victor Gamieux, the French Interior Minister. He orchestrates the bomb plot, the framing of innocent people at the mosque, and orders the killing of anyone who gets close to the truth, including CIA agent Karen Dacre.

Foreshadowing: The film reveals Gamieux as the power-hungry politician controlling Rafi's mercenary group from behind the scenes.

• victor gamieux
• interior minister
• villain
• mastermind

The bomb was originally intended to detonate in an empty office building, but Mason's careless disposal of the bag in a populated area meant it exploded near four innocent employees who were present at the time. This tragic mistake turns Mason into a target and sets the entire plot in motion.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes that the explosion was supposed to happen in an empty office, making the casualties a critical plot twist.

• teddy bear bomb
• explosion
• paris
• bastille day

Zoe's bag contained the explosive teddy bear and her phone, which the mercenaries need to recover because it holds location data that could lead authorities to them. Rafi Bernard's group pursues her to silence her and retrieve the phone before she can expose their operation.

Foreshadowing: Zoe learns early that the group wants her phone's location, making her a target throughout the film.

• zoe
• mercenaries
• chased
• phone location

Mason confronts Gamieux under the pretense of negotiating his freedom, creating a standoff. When Gamieux's men open fire during the chaos with Rafi, Briar arrives in time to help Mason escape unharmed. Mason walks away completely clear of any accusations, with Briar promising him a better future.

Foreshadowing: Mason's cleverness with identities and documents throughout the film prepares for his final bluff.

• mason
• briar
• escape
• confrontation
• gamieux

Karen Dacre, Briar's CIA colleague, is killed by Victor Gamieux himself. He eliminates her to prevent her from relaying crucial information about the conspiracy to other agents, demonstrating his willingness to murder anyone who threatens his operation.

Foreshadowing: Gamieux is established as a ruthless political figure who will eliminate any obstacle.

• karen dacre
• killed
• gamieux
• cia

Mason cleverly obtains Paul s ID card while at the safe house, using his conman skills to access personal information. The ID reveals Zoe's address, allowing Mason and Briar to locate her apartment where she later holds Mason at knife-point demanding answers about the next bomb.

Foreshadowing: Mason's pickpocketing skills prove useful again when he lifts Paul's ID card.

• zoe address
• paul id
• mason
• apartment

Rafi Bernard's mercenary group plants evidence at a mosque as part of a larger scheme to create chaos and frame innocent people. This operation is controlled by Gamieux, who uses political corruption to manipulate the situation and draw attention away from the real conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: The framing operation connects the mercenary plot to high-level political corruption.

• mosque
• framing
• rafi bernard
• evidence

Jean, who is secretly undercover officer Fibbert Pascal, facilitates Zoe's escape after realizing she is in grave danger from Rafi's group. Jean helps her flee despite appearing to hold her under duress, setting up the chain of events that leads to her eventual meeting with Mason and Briar.

Foreshadowing: Jean's true identity as an undercover officer explains his sudden change of heart about helping Zoe.

• zoe
• escape
• jean
• mercenaries