Flap (1970) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Flap's life on the reservation

   Flap lives on a Southwestern Indian reservation and drinks heavily, a habit that strains his relationship with his sweetheart Dorothy Bluebell. He survives by making deliveries with an old pickup, aided by a small circle of friends. The ongoing friction in his personal life foreshadows the larger clashes with authority to come.

   Where

   Indian Reservation, Southwestern United States

2. 2

   Rafferty's brutal antagonism

   Sgt. Rafferty, a city police officer, targets Flap with a mix of brutality and prejudice, treating him as trouble simply because of who he is. The harassment hints at a broader conflict between Native sovereignty and law enforcement. Flap's resolve hardens as Rafferty's abuses escalate.

   Where

   City

3. 3

   Dolls spill brings in Wounded Bear

   A box of Indian dolls intended for sale spills, drawing a ticket from Rafferty and escalating Flap's legal troubles. This incident brings Wounded Bear Mr. Smith into the picture, a lawyer whose office is stacked with parchment-like records. The parchments symbolize treaty promises that will guide the ensuing confrontations.

   Where

   Reservation outskirts

4. 4

   Treaties as counsel

   Wounded Bear explains that the stacks of parchments represent treaties made with the tribe and that these documents will guide Flap's legal and political strategy. He counsels Flap to base his actions on treaty rights rather than conventional law. The meeting marks the moment where legal theory starts driving activism.

   Where

   Wounded Bear's office

5. 5

   Disrupting highway construction

   Flap stumbles into activism by disrupting a crew blasting a highway through Indian land, inadvertently destroying their brand-new front loader. The incident demonstrates his willingness to challenge state projects that encroach on tribal territory. It also widens the media spotlight on Flap's cause.

   Where

   Interstate 25 construction site, near tribal lands

6. 6

   The train heist

   Guided by Wounded Bear, Flap believes a train abandoned in tribal territory would become Indian property, so he steals it. The audacious act raises the stakes of his activism and broadens the scope of the tribe's claimed assets. It cements Flap's status as a controversial figure in the public eye.

   Where

   Rail yard in tribal territory

7. 7

   The dog shooting and Rafferty confrontation

   Flap shoots a dog belonging to a poor, lonely old Indian, an act that inflames the community and tests the limits of his resolve. In retaliation, Rafferty is confronted by Flap in a violent confrontation that ends with Rafferty badly beaten. The incident solidifies Flap's transformation from petty offender to a recognizable activist.

   Where

   Old Indian community grounds

8. 8

   Flap becomes fugitive-activist

   Flap disappears from daily life and becomes a fugitive who embraces activism, drawing publicity for his protests and using treaty arguments as justification. He gains supporters who view him as a symbol of resistance against police overreach. His new status complicates the city’s response to his cause.

   Where

   Various locations (on the run)

9. 9

   Treaty-backed protests gain attention

   With Wounded Bear advising him, Flap's protests attract broader public attention and legitimacy, framed around treaty promises rather than ordinary civil disobedience. Media coverage amplifies their message and pressures authorities. The activism begins to shift the political landscape around the tribe's rights.

   Where

   City / media

10. 10

    March into the city

    Flap leads a march into the city to assert the tribe's claim on land and resources, drawing a crowd of supporters who echo his treaty-based arguments. The demonstration puts pressure on city officials and magnifies the spotlight on the tribe's legal standing. The march marks a culminating moment of the activist phase.

    Where

    City center

11. 11

    The hospital assassination

    From a hospital window, Rafferty aims a handgun and assassinates Flap, delivering a shocking turn in the story. The shooting caps the public confrontation with a fatal act of violence carried out by the police officer. The event ends Flap's activism in a dramatic and irreversible way.

    Where

    City hospital