Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   David joins the RAF before America enters WWII

   Lt. David Bradley, an American pilot, signs up with the Royal Air Force as tensions rise in Europe. He prepares for combat long before the United States will enter the war. This marks the start of his WWII service.

   When

   Pre-US entry WWII

   Where

   RAF bases in Europe

2. 2

   Shot down over North Africa and evacuated to Jerusalem

   David's P-51 Mustang is shot down during a mission over North Africa and he sustains a leg injury. He is airlifted to Jerusalem to recover from his wounds. The injury sidelines him and begins a long convalescence far from the front lines.

   When

   During WWII

   Where

   North Africa; Jerusalem

3. 3

   Recovery in Jerusalem and a fateful meeting

   While recovering, David is transferred to a boarding house in Jerusalem until his leg is fully functional. There he meets Sarah Perrara, a serene Sephardic Jewish woman whose family dynamics complicate their budding connection. The encounter sets the stage for a romance across cultural boundaries.

   When

   During recovery

   Where

   Jerusalem

4. 4

   Wedding plans emerge as Peter and Victoria bond with David and Sarah

   Peter and Victoria share their upcoming wedding plans with David and Sarah, signaling the start of a social entanglement that tests loyalties. The announcements reveal the stakes of the relationship within a tight-knit community. The scene establishes the cross-cultural pressures facing the couple.

   When

   Early in the relationship

   Where

   Jerusalem boarding house

5. 5

   David discourages the engagement; family disapproval looms

   David tries to discourage Peter from committing to Victoria, fearing the complications of their union. Sarah shares concerns about how her family would be affected by such a match. Their caution foreshadows the resistant pressures they will face.

   When

   Around wedding planning

   Where

   Jerusalem boarding house

6. 6

   An assault on Sarah; Nessim intervenes; David intervenes

   A drunk Australian serviceman forces himself on Sarah, prompting Nessim to step in. David retaliates by breaking the aggressor's cane and knocking him out, sparing Sarah but leaving the powerful undercurrent of protective tension unresolved.

   When

   During recovery

   Where

   Boarding house vicinity

7. 7

   David feigns not knowing Sarah; Sabbath dinner invitation

   To protect Victoria and Peter from scandal, David pretends not to know Sarah. Nessim, grateful for his aid, invites David to a Sabbath dinner where Sarah's family can thank him. Tensions rise as old loyalties and new passions collide.

   When

   Following the incident

   Where

   Nessim's home

8. 8

   Sabbath dinner with Sarah's Sephardic relatives

   At the Sabbath dinner, Sarah's Sephardic relatives pepper David with questions about his background. He reveals that he is a minister's son, a detail the grandmother praises as a sign of a good, long life. Sarah expresses gratitude for his help and presence.

   When

   During Sabbath dinner

   Where

   Nessim's home / Sarah's family gathering

9. 9

   Religious and cultural barriers threaten the romance

   Despite their mutual attraction, Sarah believes their different backgrounds make a future together impossible. David seeks his family's permission to pursue her, but disapproval from her community and his own faith background complicates any path forward. He exits, signaling the social obstacles ahead.

   When

   After Sabbath dinner

   Where

   Sephardic community in Jerusalem

10. 10

    Peter and Victoria's wedding; a painful moment of resolve

    David and Sarah attend Peter and Victoria's wedding. They take a walk together, and when David asks whether she wants him to leave her alone, he is told yes. She then kisses him for the first time, marking a silent, bittersweet acknowledgment of their bond.

    When

    Shortly after the dinner

    Where

    Wedding venue, Jerusalem

11. 11

    Nessim's confession; a potential alternative future

    The next day Nessim reiterates his love for Sarah and imagines a possible future wedding. Sarah hints that she may love someone else, intensifying the emotional tension and leaving her future uncertain.

    When

    Following Peter/Victoria wedding

    Where

    Jerusalem

12. 12

    A boxing match and a pivotal change of plans

    During a boxing match among Sarah's relatives, she tells Nessim that she is leaving him. She then reconnects with David and they share a renewed moment of closeness as they walk together. The encounter deepens the conflict between duty and desire.

    When

    Shortly after Nessim's confession

    Where

    Jerusalem

13. 13

    A day out of town and a disruptive interruption

    David and Sarah spend a day trip out of town, enjoying a rare moment of privacy. Just as they grow closer, younger family members burst in, knock David out, and drag Sarah away, disrupting their fragile intimacy.

    When

    After the walk

    Where

    Out of town

14. 14

    Confinement, escape, and a sleepless night

    Back in Jerusalem, Sarah is confined to her house and her clothes are confiscated. A brother helps her slip out and she goes to David's boarding house, where they spend the night together. The romance persists despite the social barriers.

    When

    Following the escape

    Where

    Sarah's home; David's boarding house

15. 15

    Nessim's marriage plans and David's Egyptian absence

    Sarah decides to seek Nessim's hand and they begin wedding plans while David is away in Egypt. The arrangement underscores the competing paths available to her and the distances that separate her from David.

    When

    While David is in Egypt

    Where

    Jerusalem / Nessim's home

16. 16

    David's return and the final farewell

    David returns two days before the wedding, but time is short. Sarah catches up to him, pledging that she will wait and write, and they share a tender kiss before he flies away. The future remains unresolved, suspended between duty, love, and circumstance.

    When

    Just before the wedding

    Where

    Airfield / Jerusalem