Clean Slate

Clean Slate

Year: 1994

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Mick Jackson

ComedyMystery

Pogue, a private investigator, suffers total amnesia each morning, waking up with a blank slate. While he’s deep in a high‑stakes investigation and a budding romance begins to blossom, his daily memory loss turns every new day into a fresh, perilous mystery he must piece together before nightfall.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Clean Slate (1994)

Trace every key event in Clean Slate (1994) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Pogue wakes with amnesia

Maurice Pogue suffers retrograde amnesia, unable to remember the day before. He finds a recording he left for himself the previous night that confirms he is a private investigator in Los Angeles. He vows not to reveal his condition because he is the key witness in the case against the man responsible for his amnesia.

the night before Los Angeles (Pogue's office/apartment)
2

Sarah Novak and Beth Holly revealed

On the recording, a woman named Sarah Novak is introduced who says she uses the alias Beth Holly in San Francisco and has come to Los Angeles because she is being blackmailed. She hints at a connection to Pogue and the danger surrounding the case. This sets the seeds for a web of motives surrounding Pogue.

soon after the recording Recording context, Los Angeles
3

Police escort to the birthday party

Police visit Pogue's office and take him to his own birthday party, signaling a shift from investigation to social exposure. The party becomes the stage where memory fragility and danger begin to intersect. Pogue grapples with what is real as everyone around him watches.

that day Pogue's office to birthday party
4

Dolby reveals Sarah is dead

At the party, Pogue tells his friend Dolby that he has seen Sarah. Dolby then reveals that Sarah is dead, deepening the mystery and the peril surrounding Pogue.

that day Birthday party, Los Angeles
5

Doover appears

During the party, Pogue meets Anthony Doover, his doctor who only knows about the amnesia process and nothing else. Doover's presence adds a new layer of intrigue as Pogue is pulled deeper into the case.

that day Birthday party
6

Henchmen take Pogue to meet Cornell

Two henchmen abduct Pogue from the party and take him to meet Philip Cornell, the man he is to testify against. The abduction marks a sharp turn as Pogue leaves the party behind and enters a dangerous web.

that day From party to Cornell's residence
7

Cornell offers money to deny

Cornell offers Pogue a large sum of money to deny witnessing his involvement with the crime. The bribery highlight the pressure and danger surrounding Pogue.

that day Cornell's home
8

Files reveal Sarah was Cornell's lover

Back at Pogue's office, he re-examines his files and learns Sarah was Cornell's lover and had decided to testify against him. He discovers that the car bomb that caused his amnesia also killed Sarah, and that she hired him to protect her.

that night Pogue's office
9

Fashion show revelation and coin

That night, Sarah appears at a fashion show where she models and explains that the girl killed in the explosion was a double. She also tells Pogue about a valuable coin Cornell stole and that she gave him the coin the morning before the explosion; Pogue cannot remember.

that night Fashion show, Los Angeles
10

Forgetfulness and landlord confusion

The following day, Pogue forgets everything again. Cornell shows up at his office to get a sworn statement, but Pogue mistakes him for his landlord and pays rent with a check. The memory lapses continue to complicate the case.

the following day Pogue's office
11

Reunion with Sarah; memory returns

Later that night, Pogue meets Sarah again; she stays at his place and they make love, triggering memories from the previous day. He also recalls that he hid the coin in its collar after learning that his dog is named Baby.

that night Pogue's apartment
12

Coin clue and handwriting mismatch

Back at the pay phone, Pogue calls the blackmailers with Sarah nearby, but he notices that her handwriting does not match the note on the coin. Realizing she cannot be Sarah Novak, he covertly switches the coin and begins to unravel Doover's scam.

that night LA pay phone
13

Beth Holly revealed; Doover scam uncovered

From the clues, the person posing as Sarah is revealed as Beth Holly, who was hired by Doover because of her resemblance to Novak. Cornell's men kidnap Beth when they spot her in the car, adding another twist to the plan.

that night Los Angeles streets; exterior
14

Thursday morning abduction; torture; escape

Cornell abducts Pogue on Thursday morning and tortures him to reveal the coin. Pogue and Holly escape and hurry to the trial to force Cornell's hand.

Thursday morning Cornell's home; LA courthouse vicinity
15

Trial, memory, and ending

During the trial, Pogue hits his head and regains his memory, recalling that the coin was placed in a parking meter. Beth speeds off to retrieve it, and Pogue testifies against Cornell, prompting a plea change. In the final moment, Beth returns to his apartment and they share a kiss as memories are restored.

during the trial and immediately after Courthouse and Pogue's apartment

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:33

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Clean Slate Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Clean Slate

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Clean Slate Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Clean Slate

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