Landline (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ali discovers the love notes by accident after a night out. She stumbles upon a collection of heartfelt letters that her father, Alan, wrote to an enigmatic woman known only as 'C.' This discovery becomes the catalyst for the sisters' investigation into their father's possible infidelity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Alan seeking affection from Pat but repeatedly receiving her cold shoulder, hinting at his emotional vulnerability.

• alan jacobs love notes
• c
• infidelity
• ali jacobs
• father secrets

The mysterious 'C' is Carla, an actress in Alan's play. The sisters discover her at a staged reading of their father's work and suspect she is the woman he's been writing love letters to. This revelation adds another layer to the family's unraveling secrets.

Foreshadowing: The notes are described as heartfelt and emotional, suggesting a genuine romantic connection rather than a casual affair.

• carla
• alan jacobs
• actress
• mystery woman
• c letters

Dana is stuck in a stagnant long-term relationship with Ben and is having doubts about her future with him. When she encounters her ex-boyfriend Nate at a party, old feelings resurface. Seeking personal space and self-identity amidst family pressures, Dana makes the reckless decision to pursue a compromising situation with Nate.

Foreshadowing: Dana is shown flinging with both Ben and Nate at the party, revealing her inner turmoil and dissatisfaction with her current relationship.

• dana
• nate
• ben
• affair
• infidelity
• engagement

On Halloween, Dana confesses her infidelity to Ben, leading to a heartbreaking breakup. Ben is devastated by the betrayal, and their engagement ends. Later in the film, Dana fervently pursues Ben hoping for a second chance, but the damage to their relationship has already been done.

Foreshadowing: Dana's guilt is evident when she admits to Ali that she betrayed Ben, and her heart-to-heart with her father further prompts her to confront her actions.

• dana
• ben
• breakup
• confession
• halloween
• infidelity

Pat has been emotionally distant from Alan throughout the film, showing clear indifference toward him. After Alan reveals his affair with Carla during a heated confrontation, Pat ultimately confesses her own affair to the family. This revelation shows that both parents have been unfaithful, adding complexity to the family's breakdown.

Foreshadowing: Pat seeks solace at a bar, flirts with another man, and earlier scenes show her rejecting Alan's advances repeatedly.

• pat
• alan
• affair
• confession
• marriage
• jacobs family

After Alan picks up his daughters from jail, the family confrontation leads to Pat confessing her affair. The argument gives way to vulnerability, tears, and eventually an embrace. Alan moves out but promises to remain involved in his daughters' lives. The family ultimately comes together at Ali's birthday party, celebrating their complicated but enduring bonds.

Foreshadowing: The jail call interruptus the heated argument between Pat and Alan, forcing them to shift focus to their daughters and family unity.

• family reconciliation
• ali birthday
• jacobs family
• healing
• forgiveness

When Dana discovers that Carla might be the mysterious 'C' her father has been writing to, she confronts Nate about her concerns. Nate dismisses her worries and ends the affair, claiming he was not looking for something serious. This causes Dana's reckless romance to collapse, leaving her even more conflicted.

Foreshadowing: Dana's guilt and emotional instability throughout the affair hint at its unsustainable nature.

• nate
• dana
• affair break up
• carla

The sisters start the film somewhat distant, Dana is absorbed in her relationship with Ben while Ali is focused on raves and drugs. Their bond strengthens when they both retreat to the country home and share secrets: Ali's suspicion about their father's infidelity and Dana's guilt over betraying Ben. Together, they investigate 'C' and support each other through the family's unraveling.

Foreshadowing: Both sisters seek refuge at the country home after being confronted by their parents, creating the opportunity for their alliance.

• dana
• ali
• sisters
• bond
• investigation
• secrets

After Ali tries to stop Dana from making a risky drug deal, both sisters end up getting arrested. This event interrupts the heated confrontation between Pat and Alan at home, forcing Alan to leave to pick up his daughters. The jail scene serves as a turning point that forces the family to stop fighting and face the reality of their broken trust.

Foreshadowing: Ali attempts to protect Dana from this risky decision, showing her growth as the younger sister looking out for family.

• arrest
• jail
• dana
• ali
• drugs
• police

Pat shows growing indifference toward Alan, consistently rejecting his attempts at affection. She navigates her troubled marriage by seeking solace outside of it, eventually flirting with another man at a bar. Her emotional distance sets the stage for both the family's dysfunction and Alan's vulnerability to another woman, making the revelation of mutual infidelity more understandable.

Foreshadowing: Alan persistently seeks Pat's affection but only receives her cold shoulder in return, establishing the emotional disconnect early.

• pat
• alan
• marriage
• emotional distance
• rejection
• infidelity