But Not for Me (1959) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ellie proposes to Russ because she has been secretly in love with him throughout her time as his secretary. When Russ mentions retirement due to the play being a mess, Ellie sees this as her moment to confess her feelings and secure a future with him. Her proposal also inspires the key rewrite that changes the play's premise from an older man pursuing a young woman to a young woman pursuing an older man.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Ellie quietly listens to Russ's concerns about retirement, showing her deep investment in his life and career.

• ellie brown
• russ ward
• proposal
• love confession
• secret love

Russ's ex-wife Kathryn Ward is the anonymous angel who has been financing the entire production. She uses her alimony payments from Russ to fund the play, keeping her involvement secret throughout the production. Russ only discovers this truth near the end of the film, which becomes a turning point that opens the possibility for their reconciliation.

Foreshadowing: Miles Atwood mentions an anonymous backer early on, but Kathryn's repeated presence and financial discussions hint at her hidden role.

• kathryn ward
• anonymous investor
• financing
• backer
• secret funding

Ellie deliberately enters Russ's bed to manipulate Gordon into confronting the situation and demanding an annulment of their marriage. She wants to escape the theater world and the complicated triangle, so she engineers a confrontation that forces Gordon to react jealously. The plan works, Gordon demands an annulment, but this also creates an opportunity for the misunderstandings to unravel and for everyone to pursue more honest relationships.

Foreshadowing: Gordon expresses his desire to leave theater and move to Butte, Montana, creating tension with Ellie's Broadway ambitions.

• ellie brown
• russ bed
• annulment
• gordon reynolds
• confrontation

The original play, Give Me Your Hand, features a middle-aged man pursuing a 22-year-old woman. After Ellie proposes to Russ, Mac rewrites the script to flip this dynamic, the young woman now pursues the older man. This change solves the creative problem of making the romance palatable and gives the production a modern, less problematic angle that protects Russ's reputation while using Ellie's fresh perspective.

Foreshadowing: Russ and Mac initially struggle with how to make the older man-younger woman dynamic work onstage.

• give me your hand
• play rewrite
• premise change
• mac macdonald
• romance

Kathryn funds the play secretly because she still has feelings for Russ despite their divorce. By financing his production anonymously, she supports his career without appearing to reconcile or admit she wants him back. Her financing also keeps her connected to his life and gives her a subtle way to remain influential, ultimately setting up their reconciliation when the truth is revealed.

Foreshadowing: Kathryn repeatedly nudges Russ about his age and encourages the rewrite, showing ongoing investment in his success.

• kathryn ward
• ex-wife
• secret financing
• motivation
• reconciliation

Russ considers retirement when he returns to New York and finds his new play in trouble, telling Ellie that the mess might mean it's time to step away. However, Ellie's proposal and the subsequent creative breakthrough with the rewritten play reinvigorate him. By the end, instead of retiring, he envisions a "second act" with Kathryn and continues pursuing Broadway success.

Foreshadowing: Ellie tells Russ it may be time to retire, reflecting the professional slump he's experiencing.

• russ ward
• retirement
• broadway
• career
• comeback

Ellie and Gordon marry after meeting through the production, but their marriage quickly becomes strained when Gordon wants to abandon theater for a simpler life in Butte, Montana. The tension escalates until Ellie engineers a confrontation by visiting Russ's bed. After the annulment, they reach a compromise that allows both to pursue their ambitions, finding a sustainable path forward together.

Foreshadowing: Gordon's desire to leave theater conflicts with Ellie's Broadway dreams from the moment they wed.

• ellie brown
• gordon reynolds
• marriage
• annulment
• butte montana

The Boston tryout for Give Me Your Hand receives mixed responses, it performs steadily but doesn't generate excitement. Panic creeps in among the company, but Russ remains confident that Broadway audiences will respond better. His conviction proves correct, and the show eventually succeeds, validating the risky creative changes made during the rewrite process.

Foreshadowing: Early on, investors and press question whether the production is truly on track.

• boston tryout
• broadway
• give me your hand
• success
• failure

Russ and Kathryn reconcile by the film's end after he discovers she was the anonymous angel funding his production. The revelation transforms their relationship from contentious exes to partners with potential for rebuilding their marriage. The film closes with Russ envisioning a "second act" together with Kathryn, suggesting they will rebuild their relationship.

Foreshadowing: Their arguments throughout the film often reveal underlying affection and unfinished business.

• russ ward
• kathryn ward
• reconciliation
• second chance
• ex-wife