Laughter in the Dark (1969) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

More is a middle-aged, wealthy art dealer whose orderly life is disrupted when he encounters Margot, an amoral young woman. His obsession stems from her youth and allure, which represent something new and dangerous compared to his stable marriage. The text describes it as an intense affection that blinds him to her manipulative nature, making him willing to leave his wife and risk everything for her.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish More's dissatisfaction with his conventional life through his wealthy but hollow existence.

• Sir Edward More
• Margot
• obsession
• affair
• manipulation

Margot and Tourace were former lovers who reconnect at a party More hosts for her. They recognize that More is wealthy and emotionally vulnerable due to his obsession with Margot. Together, they decide to scheme More out of money, forming a mutually parasitic alliance where Margot keeps More hooked while Tourace assists in draining his wealth.

Foreshadowing: The party scene shows Margot and Tourace reconnecting and exchanging knowing glances.

• Margot
• Herve Tourace
• exploitation
• scheme
• money

Margot deliberately tells More that his assistant Brian has been making advances toward her, then suggests replacing Brian with Tourace. To prevent More from seeing Tourace as a rival, Margot presents Tourace as gay, framing it as a safe choice since he won't be a romantic threat. More accepts this reasoning without verification, trusting Margot's word.

Foreshadowing: Margot's manipulation is established early through her calculated lies about Brian.

• Herve Tourace
• gay
• lie
• Margot
• manipulation

While staying at a seaside resort, More unexpectedly encounters Brian, who is also vacationing there. Later, Brian's wife witnesses Margot and Tourace making love in a small boat and tells More what she saw. This confirms More's suspicions that he is being deceived.

Foreshadowing: More notices tension and inconsistencies in Margot's behavior throughout the trip.

• affair discovered
• seaside resort
• brian's wife
• boat scene

After learning of Margot's betrayal, More decides to flee immediately. While driving at high speed along a dangerous mountain road, he swerves to avoid oncoming cyclists and crashes. The impact of the accident leaves him permanently blinded, destroying his independence and leaving him vulnerable.

Foreshadowing: The dangerous mountain road is introduced as More flees in anger, emphasizing the stakes of his flight.

• car crash
• blindness
• mountain road
• accident
• betrayal

After the accident, Margot arranges a villa for More to recover in. Unknown to More, Tourace has also moved into the villa. Since More is now blind and completely dependent on Margot, he cannot see who comes and goes in the house. Margot and Tourace resume their affair behind his back, taking advantage of his vulnerability.

Foreshadowing: More's blindness is the turning point that removes his ability to perceive the deception happening around him.

• villa
• tourace living
• blindness
• deception
• margot

More grows suspicious that someone else is in the villa and confronts an intruder. At the same time, his ex-wife's brother arrives and claims he just saw Tourace fleeing the villa. These two events confirm More's worst fears, he has been surrounded by betrayal, and Margot's lies have been exposed.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show More's increasing paranoia and suspicion as he struggles with his new blindness.

• realize deception
• ex-wife's brother
• tourace fleeing
• villa
• confrontation

When Margot returns from a day trip, More tries to shoot her in revenge for the betrayal. He misses his shot, then stumbles and falls. In the chaos, the gun goes off and he fatally shoots himself. His attempt at revenge fails catastrophically, he dies by his own hand while Margot escapes unharmed.

Foreshadowing: The gun is introduced as More seeks retribution for the psychological abuse he suffered.

• murder-suicide
• accidental shooting
• revenge failed
• margot escapes

Margot strategically chooses Tourace because he is her former lover and someone she can trust in their scheme to exploit More. She fabricates claims about Brian making advances toward her to have him fired, while presenting Tourace as gay to remove him as a romantic threat. This allows her to install someone loyal to her in More's inner circle.

Foreshadowing: Margot's manipulation of More's staff shows her methodical approach to controlling his life.

• brian
• tourace
• assistant
• margot manipulation
• replacement

When More's wife discovers his liaison with Margot, she leaves him. This abandonments destabilizes More's previously orderly life, making him even more dependent on Margot emotionally and creating a sense of loss that Margot exploits.

Foreshadowing: The wife's departure is mentioned early, establishing the consequences of More's obsession.

• wife leaves
• discovery
• affair
• marriage ended