Broken City (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Mayor Hostetler manipulated evidence, specifically a video that could have incriminated Taggart, to secure his release. The judge ruled it self-defense, allowing Taggart to walk free. However, the mayor forced Taggart out of the police department and made clear he expected repayment of this favor in the future.

Foreshadowing: The mayor's early praise of Taggart as a "hero" masks his transactional motive to control Taggart later.

• mayor hostetler
• evidence
• mikey tavarez
• self-defense
• billy taggart arrest

Mayor Hostetler hires Taggart to investigate rumors of his wife Cathleen's infidelity, ostensibly to protect his re-election campaign. However, the real purpose is to gather evidence against Cathleen so he can use it against her in the divorce and maintain political leverage.

Foreshadowing: Hostetler's request comes at a politically convenient moment, when his re-election is threatened.

• mayor hostetler
• cathleen
• infidelity investigation
• re-election

Cathleen is having an affair with Paul Andrews, who is Jack Valliant's campaign manager, Hostetler's political rival. This affair threatens Hostetler because Valliant could use it to damage his campaign, making it a political weapon rather than just a personal betrayal.

Foreshadowing: The affair connects the personal and political storylines, linking Hostetler's enemy to his own wife.

• cathleen hostetler
• paul andrews
• jack valliant
• affair
• campaign manager

Natalie Barrow is revealed to be Yesenia Barea's sister. This shocking discovery occurs at Natalie's film premiere, deepening Taggart's remorse because Yesenia was the friend he was trying to avenge when he killed Mikey Tavarez.

Foreshadowing: Taggart's suspicion of Natalie's co-star Ryan earlier foreshadows the revelation about her true identity.

• natalie barrow
• yesenia barea
• sister
• premiere
• identity reveal

Hostetler's benefactor Sam Lancaster plans to demolish Bolton Village, a poor neighborhood, to build a development worth $4 billion. The real estate deal involves a massive kickback for Lancaster and his associates, leaving impoverished residents homeless while they profit.

Foreshadowing: Valliant's earlier accusations about corruption in the Bolton Village deal foreshadow this revelation.

• bolton village
• sam lancaster
• demolition
• kickback
• real estate deal

Todd Lancaster is Sam Lancaster's son. He helps Taggart because he wants to expose the corruption his father is involved in with Mayor Hostetler. Todd sees Taggart's investigation as an opportunity to aid Valliant's campaign and bring down the corrupt political machine.

Foreshadowing: The fractured relationship between Todd and Sam Lancaster hints at his willingness to betray his family for justice.

• todd lancaster
• sam lancaster
• corruption
• expose
• valliant campaign

Taggart decides to expose Hostetler's corruption even though the mayor has secret footage of Taggart's past crime that could send him to prison. Taggart chooses to sacrifice his freedom to save Bolton Village's residents from losing their homes and to preserve Natalie's legacy without the stain of his own scandal.

Foreshadowing: Taggart's earlier struggle with alcoholism and guilt over Yesenia's death sets up his willingness to make this selfless choice.

• bilby taggart
• mayor hostetler
• expose
• prison
• sacrifice
• bolton village

Hostetler possesses secret footage of Taggart's original crime, killing Mikey Tavarez. This evidence could destroy Taggart's life and implicate him in murder, giving the mayor powerful leverage to force Taggart into silence about the corruption investigation.

Foreshadowing: The mayor's earlier manipulation of evidence to help Taggart was calculated to create this future leverage.

• mayor hostetler
• blackmail
• video evidence
• mikey tavarez
• leverage

Fairbanks arrests Hostetler for the corruption and conspiracy uncovered by Taggart. However, Fairbanks reveals he had been having an affair with Cathleen Hostetler, adding betrayal to the already complex web of relationships that defined the investigation.

Foreshadowing: Fairbanks' earlier willingness to protect Taggart and help with the investigation hints at his own conflicted loyalties.

• captain fairbanks
• mayor hostetler
• arrest
• affair
• cathleen

Seven years prior, Mayor Hostetler manipulated evidence to free Taggart from murder charges, forcing him out of the police department. The mayor did this knowing he would call in this favor when he needed a trusted outsider, someone without official power or scrutiny, to investigate his wife without asking questions.

Foreshadowing: The mayor's private praise of Taggart as a "hero" masks his transactional calculation.

• mayor hostetler
• billy taggart
• seven years
• favor
• evidence manipulation