*batteries not included (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Fix-Its are two small, flying saucer-like alien creatures that arrive at the apartment building. They are first discovered by Faye on the rooftop, and they have been secretly repairing damaged items throughout the building. Their origin remains mysterious, Mason makes calls to officials about missing military technology, suggesting they might be advanced technology, but their true nature is left ambiguous. Frank wisely advises against overanalyzing them, stating that questioning a miracle could lead to its demise.

• fix-its
• aliens
• flying saucers
• mysterious creatures

The Fix-Its appear to help the residents spontaneously, though their exact motivation is never fully explained. After Faye discovers them on the rooftop, they begin assisting the tenants by repairing damage caused by Lacey's thugs. The Fix-Its seem to form an emotional bond with the residents, particularly Faye, who treats them like children and "feeds" them odds and ends. Their intervention appears to be driven by a desire to protect the vulnerable community rather than any specific agenda against Lacey.

• fix-its
• Lacey
• community
• protection
• aliens

After Lacey Orchestrated an explosion that destroys the apartment building, the Fix-Its return at night along with many of their kind. Working through the night, they completely rebuild the four-story structure by morning, restoring every apartment to its original condition. The movie does not explain the technological or mechanical process behind this ability, it is presented as a magical, miraculous event that symbolizes the power of hope and community spirit.

Foreshadowing: The Fix-Its previously demonstrated their repair abilities by fixing damaged items throughout the building, foreshadowing their capacity for larger-scale reconstruction.

• fix-its
• rebuilding
• explosion
• restoration
• miracle

Carlos, one of Lacey's henchmen, experiences a change of heart during the climactic events. When Lacey's men set an explosion to destroy the building, Carlos rushes to save Faye from the impending disaster. This act of redemption suggests that even someone who had been antagonizing the tenants cannot ignore the humanity of an elderly woman with dementia. Faye mistakes Carlos for her deceased son during the chaos, which may have triggered his protective instinct despite his criminal associations.

• Carlos
• Faye
• rescue
• redemption
• Lacey

Faye suffers from mild dementia throughout the film, which causes confusion about reality and memory. During the final confrontation when Carlos tries to save her from the explosion, she mistakenly perceives him as her deceased son. This moment highlights her emotional state and the confusion caused by her condition. The mistake is poignant because it shows how her declining mental state mixes with the intense, life-threatening situation around her.

• Faye
• dementia
• Carlos
• son
• confusion

Sid and Muriel Hogenson, elderly neighbors who had been helping Frank care for Faye, decide to relocate to a retirement community in New Jersey after their apartment is vandalized by Lacey's thugs. The relentless pressure and destruction become too much for them to bear, especially given their age and the escalating intimidation tactics. Their departure leaves Frank feeling isolated and contemplating whether he should also give up, marking a low point in the residents' resistance.

• Sid
• Muriel
• retirement community
• vandalism
• giving up

During their stay in the building, the female Fix-It appears to become pregnant. After a series of amusing interactions with the tenants, she gives "birth" to several smaller Fix-Its, increasing their numbers. Mason excitedly theorizes about machines being able to reproduce themselves, though the movie treats this as another whimsical element rather than providing scientific explanation. This event occurs before the climax and adds to the sense of wonder surrounding the alien creatures.

• fix-its
• reproduction
• babies
• alien
• reproduction

The building is destroyed in a fiery explosion orchestrated by Lacey, leaving only rubble and Harry Noble standing amid the wreckage. However, the Fix-Its return that night with reinforcements and work through darkness to completely rebuild the structure. By morning, the apartment building is fully restored, and the residents wake up to find their homes returned to them. Lacey is forced to alter his plans for Lacey Plaza to accommodate the miraculously rebuilt building.

• building
• explosion
• restoration
• Lacey
• ending

After the Fix-Its rebuild the apartment building overnight, Lacey realizes he cannot simply destroy it again without drawing excessive attention and investigation. The miraculous restoration, combined with the community's unwavering determination, makes it clear that further attempts at demolition would be futile and would attract unwanted scrutiny into his criminal tactics. He ultimately accommodates the building within his Lacey Plaza development, allowing it to remain standing as a testament to the power of community.

• Lacey
• Lacey Plaza
• development
• acceptance
• community

The Riley's Cafe diner experiences unexpected success as the conflict with Lacey intensifies. With the Fix-Its assisting Faye in the kitchen and the community rallying around the restaurant in defiance of the developer's threats, more customers flock to support the establishment. The diner becomes a symbol of resistance, and its success despite the surrounding destruction demonstrates the resilience of community spirit when faced with gentrification pressures.

• diner
• Riley's Cafe
• success
• community
• customers