Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Harley drives into Ace Chemicals as a dramatic declaration of independence from The Joker. The facility holds significant memories of their relationship, and by destroying it, she symbolically burns her bridges with her ex. This explosive act also signals to Gotham's criminal underworld that she no longer operates under the Joker's protection, making her a target but also declaring her autonomy.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Harley narrates that Ace Chemicals is where she and the Joker shared many memories, foreshadowing this destructive farewell.

• harley quinn
• ace chemicals
• breakup
• joker
• independence
• emancipation

While Harley was with the Joker, criminals in Gotham feared harming her because of his notorious reputation. Once they split up, she lost that protection. At the Black Mask club, a thug immediately challenges her, and she realizes being single in Gotham's criminal underworld makes her a target. This vulnerability drives her to prove she can survive on her own.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening establishes Harley's emotional turmoil after the breakup, showing her bravado masking genuine pain.

• harley quinn
• joker
• breakup
• vulnerability
• gotham criminals
• protection

Cassandra Cain is a young pickpocket who steals a valuable diamond that belongs to Roman Sionis (Black Mask). The diamond becomes the central MacGuffin of the film, Roman wants it back, and Harley is tasked with retrieving it. Cassandra is resourceful and slippery, evading both Harley and Roman's henchmen throughout the movie.

Foreshadowing: The diamond first appears when Cassandra lifts it from a victim at the Black Mask club, setting the entire chase plot in motion.

• cassandra cain
• diamond
• roman sionis
• pickpocket
• black mask

Helena Bertinelli is revealed through flashbacks to have brutally murdered her family's assassins, several men who killed her entire family in a mob hit. She uses a crossbow as her weapon of choice and earns the nickname "Crossbow Killer" from Detective Montoya's investigation. The backstory explains why she's so skilled in combat and why she's targeted by Roman Sionis.

Foreshadowing: Detective Montoya's investigation into the mob hit provides clues about Helena's deadly past before she officially appears.

• helena bertinelli
• crossbow killer
• huntress
• mob hit
• family massacre

Harley initially encounters each woman separately through the chaos of pursuing Cassandra Cain. Dinah Lance (Black Canary) is a singer at the Black Mask club who secretly works for Roman. Helena Bertinelli (Huntress) hunts the men who killed her family. Detective Montoya is investigating the same criminal network. Their shared enemy, Roman Sionis, eventually brings them together, and Harley becomes the unlikely leader who unites them.

Foreshadowing: Each character is introduced in separate scenes before their paths converge, with Dinah's Canary cry and Helena's crossbow skills shown in brief flashes.

• harley quinn
• huntress
• black canary
• renée montoya
• team up
• alliance

Victor Zsasz is Roman Sionis's most trusted and violent enforcer. He's a prolific serial killer who carves a notch into his flesh for each person he murders, essentially using his own body as a kill count. This disturbing habit makes him extremely dangerous and unpredictable. He serves as Roman's muscle and the primary physical threat to the heroines.

Foreshadowing: Zsasz is first mentioned as a feared assassin before he physically appears, with his scarred body revealing his obsession.

• victor zsasz
• roman sionis
• serial killer
• notches
• henchman

Roman Sionis is killed during the climactic showdown at his penthouse. After the team defeats his henchmen and Zsasz, Roman attempts to escape in his helicopter. Harley and Cassandra sabotage the escape, Cassandra throws the diamond into the helicopter's rotor, causing it to crash. Harley then beats Roman with a baseball bat before he falls to his death, ensuring he cannot harm anyone else.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Roman's arrogance and his dependence on his wealth and henchmen to escape consequences, making his downfall inevitable.

• roman sionis
• black mask
• death
• helicopter
• finale
• bat

Dinah Lance, also known as Black Canary, possesses a powerful sonic scream, sometimes called a "Canary Cry", that can incapacitate enemies and shatter objects. In the film, she uses this ability to save Harley from Victor Zsasz during the nightclub confrontation, demonstrating her hidden superhuman capabilities.

Foreshadowing: At the club, Dinah's mother is mentioned as having the same ability, hinting at her inherited power.

• dinah lance
• black canary
• canary cry
• sonic scream
• ability

Harley sees herself in Cassandra, a young, rebellious girl who grew up tough on the streets. Rather than turning her over to Roman (who would kill her), Harley protects her. Their connection deepens throughout the film, and by the end, Harley essentially adopts Cassandra as her new partner, offering her the mentorship and family dynamic she lost after splitting from the Joker.

Foreshadowing: Harley's narration about her own difficult childhood creates an emotional parallel with Cassandra's situation.

• harley quinn
• cassandra cain
• mentorship
• partnership
• family
• adoption

In the post-credits scene, Harley's voice teases that she's about to reveal a secret about Batman before the credits roll. This is a classic DC Universe Easter egg, suggesting Batman exists in this film's world and that Harley may have some connection to or knowledge about him. It sets up potential future films or crossovers.

Foreshadowing: Harley's pet hyena is named Bruce (after Bruce Wayne), which is itself an earlier hint at Batman's existence.

• batman
• post-credits
• easter egg
• bruce wayne
• teaser
• dc universe

The diamond represents significant value, both monetary and symbolic for Roman. It's described as extremely valuable, but more importantly, it's a possession that represents his power and control. When Cassandra steals it, Roman views this as a direct challenge to his authority, which is why he becomes obsessed with retrieving it and punishing those who took it from him.

Foreshadowing: Roman's obsession with the diamond becomes clear early on, driving much of the conflict between his men and Harley.

• roman sionis
• diamond
• wealth
• power
• control
• black mask

Detective Montoya initially pursues the case against Roman Sionis as part of her police work, but she becomes disillusioned with the corrupt Gotham police force. After her partner is killed by Zsasz and she realizes the police won't stop Roman, she quits the force and joins Harley's team to bring down Sionis through extralegal means, seeking real justice.

Foreshadowing: Montoya's frustration with the police department and her partner's death are established before she makes the decision to go rogue.

• renée montoya
• detective
• police
• corruption
• join team
• justice