Clockwise

Clockwise

Year: 1986

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Christopher Morahan

ComedyCrude humor and satireGags jokes and slapstick humorAmusing jokes and witty satireCatchy songs and hilarious musical comedy

Headmaster Brian Stimpson, obsessed with punctuality, prepares a speech for a conference but misses his train. He implores former student Laura Wisely for a lift. Still reeling from a breakup, Laura agrees, using her parents’ car, which alarms her mother and father. Convinced she’s run off with a married man, they call the police, sparking a frantic series of misadventures as the clock seems to turn against him.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Clockwise yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Clockwise (1986)

Trace every key event in Clockwise (1986) 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

Stimpson is elected to chair the Headmasters' Conference; school assembly ends with hymn

Brian Stimpson, headmaster of Thomas Tompion Comprehensive, is elected to chair the annual Headmasters' Conference in Norwich. He publicly discusses this achievement during a school assembly, marking the start of the film's central premise. The assembly features the pupils singing the hymn 'To Be a Pilgrim' with Mr Jolly.

Thomas Tompion Comprehensive School, assembly hall
2

Wrong train derails plans; speech left on the wrong train

Despite weeks of rehearsal, Stimpson boards the wrong train and misses his Norwich connection. In his haste to catch the departing one, he inadvertently leaves the text of his speech behind on the other carriage. The delay foreshadows the chaotic journey to the conference.

Railway station
3

Wife leaves him at the station

Desperate to reach Norwich, Stimpson's plans collapse when his wife, thinking he already departed, leaves him stranded at the railway station. He is left without his prepared speech and without a partner in the plan. This marks the breakdown of his orderly routine.

Railway station
4

Stimpson meets Laura Wisely and hijacks her car

On the road, Stimpson tries to hail a taxi but encounters Laura Wisely, a sixth-form student driving during a study break. He coerces her into driving him toward Norwich by taking control of her car, disrupting both their days.

Petrol station / roadside
5

Mrs Stimpson pursues; petrol is unpaid

Stimpson's wife spots him with Laura at a petrol station and assumes an affair. She drives after them toward the conference, while both she and Laura's parents forget to pay for the petrol, adding to the mounting chaos.

Petrol station
6

Police and family converge on the conference route

The police are alerted and Laura's parents report the car stolen and their daughter missing. Mr Jolly joins the pursuit, and Stimpson and Laura are chased toward the conference by an ever-growing group.

En route to Norwich
7

Telephone box break; Pat is sent

Taking a break to call the conference from a telephone box, Stimpson vents his frustrations about malfunctioning phones. A local calls the police, and she sends her daughter Pat to help, who turns out to be a childhood friend and former girlfriend of Stimpson.

Telephone box
8

Pat drives to the conference with Stimpson and Laura

Pat agrees to drive them to the conference, but her presence complicates the dynamic as old memories resurface. Stimpson tries to control the situation, turning the ride into a tense pursuit toward the venue.

Local area
9

Getting stuck in a farmer's field

A string of wrong turns sends the group into a farmer's field where the car becomes mired in mud. Stimpson leaves the vehicle to seek help, prompting a chain of events toward an unexpected detour.

Farmer's field
10

Monastic interlude; Stimpson regains composure

While away, Stimpson ends up at a monastery where a monk persuades him to bathe and collect himself. The detour provides a comic respite from the escalating chaos as he attempts to regain his balance.

Monastery
11

Pat drives away; she is arrested

A local farmer frees the car from the mud and Pat drives away in the car, only to be arrested for assaulting a police officer. The group resumes its scramble toward the conference, now under tighter scrutiny.

Farmer's field
12

Impromptu arrival and tyrannical speech at the conference

Stimpson arrives at the conference in a torn car-salesman suit and delivers an improvised recount of his lost speech. He mocks and humiliates the assembled headmasters, then orders everyone to stand and sing 'To Be a Pilgrim' before stepping out to face the police.

Conference hall
13

Arrest and final headmasterly command

As the conference disperses, Stimpson and the rest are led away by police in the escort car, with Stimpson still barking orders as if in charge. The crowd watches the spectacle, sealing the film's satirical ending.

Conference / police car

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:19

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Clockwise Summary

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Clockwise Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Clockwise

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