Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title (1966) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Soviet agent Olga and her superiors mistakenly believe Charlie is Yasha Nudnik, a defecting Soviet cosmonaut who supposedly possesses crucial sensitive information. This case of mistaken identity occurs because Charlie strongly resembles the actual Nudnik, who is also at the university during a science convention.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Olga is shown secretly observing Charlie at the diner, establishing her suspicion from the start.

• charlie yuckapuck
• soviet spy
• cosmonaut
• yasha nudnik
• mistaken identity

Yasha Nudnik is a Soviet cosmonaut who defected to the West and is believed to hold sensitive information that the Soviet government wants recovered. Both Soviet agents and the KEB (Keen Eyes Bureau) are searching for him, causing confusion because multiple characters resemble him.

Foreshadowing: Charlie and Annie find reports suggesting Nudnik might be at the university during a science convention, which fuels their suspicion of espionage.

• yasha nudnik
• soviet cosmonaut
• defection
• espionage

Olga investigates the bookstore believing it might be a hideout for the defecting cosmonaut. She becomes convinced there is supernatural activity happening there, which is why she asks Charlie to stay in the store, she suspects secret passages or hidden rooms where Nudnik could be hiding.

Foreshadowing: Olga's earlier suspicion of Charlie at the diner carries over to her investigation of his new workplace.

• olga
• bookstore
• haunted
• soviet spy
• hideout

Jim Holliston discourages Magda from calling the police after someone breaks into the bookstore because he is an undercover government agent. Calling authorities would risk exposing his own secret operation and jeopardize the ongoing investigation into the criminal activity occurring at the store.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Holliston is introduced as a friend of Magda's lawyer helping with financial affairs, which raises Charlie and Annie's suspicion about his motives.

• jim holliston
• break-in
• police
• undercover agent

Jim Holliston reveals himself as an undercover government agent working for what appears to be the KEB (Keen Eyes Bureau). He explains that he resembles the defecting cosmonaut Nudnik, which is why the KEB is after him, they believe he is the cosmonaut with vital secrets.

Foreshadowing: His suspicious behavior throughout the movie, including discouraging police involvement, makes his reveal as an agent logical.

• jim holliston
• government agent
• undercover
• keen eyes bureau
• keb

The two customers who appeared to be Soviet spies are actually bank robbers who have been digging a tunnel from the bookstore to a neighboring bank. They used the secret passage and hidden rooms to conduct their criminal operation, making the location appear haunted or involved in espionage.

Foreshadowing: Charlie and Annie discover a hidden trap door and revolving bookcase leading to secret passages, hinting at criminal activity rather than espionage.

• bank robbers
• tunnel
• secret passage
• bookstore
• criminals

Mr. Travis fires Charlie and Annie from the Daredevil diner due to their perceived incompetence. Their zany antics and mischievous behavior, while entertaining to coworker Magda, frequently annoyed their boss and were deemed problematic for the restaurant's operation.

Foreshadowing: The movie establishes early on that Charlie and Annie's playful antics often irk Mr. Travis despite amusing other staff.

• charlie
• annie
• fired
• daredevil diner
• mr travis

The spy ring targets Magda because she owns the bookstore, which they believe is being used as a hideout for the supposed defecting cosmonaut. They tie her up to prevent her from alerting authorities while they continue their search for the alleged secrets hidden in the store.

Foreshadowing: Olga's earlier belief that the bookstore is haunted or serves as a hideout connects to why the spy ring targets the location.

• magda
• captured
• spy ring
• bookstore
• kidnapping

The bank robbers are mistaken for Soviet spies because their secret tunnel operation, hidden rooms, and mysterious comings and goings through the back of the shop create an espionage-like atmosphere. Charlie and Olga both assume criminal activity must be connected to the Soviet government, when in reality it's simply a bank robbery plot.

Foreshadowing: The discovery of a dead KEB agent in the secret passage initially confirms the espionage theory, creating a red herring.

• bank robbers
• soviet spies
• mistaken identity
• tunnel
• red herring

The secret passage behind the revolving bookcase was dug by the bank robbers as part of their tunneling operation to reach the neighboring bank. It serves as a concealed route for the robbers to access the bank's vault without being detected, and is also where Charlie and Annie discover the body of a KEB agent.

Foreshadowing: The earlier discovery of strange noises and two customers hiding behind a wall in the basement hints at concealed activity.

• secret passage
• revolving bookcase
• tunnel
• bank robbery
• trap door

At the film's conclusion, Charlie reads a small note left at the scene that playfully asks the audience not to reveal the ending of the movie. This is a humorous, self-referential touch that adds to the comedy-thriller tone while creating a playful meta-moment with the audience.

Foreshadowing: The movie's overall tone is light and comedic, so this self-referential ending fits the film's playful nature.

• ending
• note
• audience
• twist
• comedy

Charlie is targeted at the Beatnik fraternity party because the spy ring believes he is the defecting cosmonaut Yasha Nudnik. They attempt to capture him there, mistaking him for someone who possesses crucial sensitive information. Annie is also involved in the chase when a fraternity member shows romantic interest in her.

Foreshadowing: The earlier Beatnik party scene establishes the setting where the mistaken identity leads to confrontation.

• beatnik party
• fraternity
• chase
• targeted
• cosmonaut