Love Field

Love Field

Year: 1992

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Jonathan Kaplan

RomanceDrama

Dallas housewife Lurene Hallett lives vicariously through Jacqueline Kennedy, but her world shatters when President Kennedy is assassinated just hours after she watches his arrival in Dallas. Defying her husband Ray’s orders, Lurene travels to Washington, D.C., on a bus, where she befriends Jonell, the young Black daughter of Paul Couter. Her well‑meaning meddling draws the trio into a tense, cross‑racial odyssey, pursued by police and Ray as they journey toward the funeral.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Love Field (1992)

Trace every key event in Love Field (1992) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Lurene Hallett's fixation on Jacqueline Kennedy

On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Lurene Hallett, a housewife, feels a kinship with Jacqueline Kennedy after her own loss. Her obsession with Jackie mirrors her grief over a child she has lost and deepens as the day unfolds. This fixation foreshadows a personal journey born from both private sorrow and national tragedy.

November 22, 1963 Dallas, Texas
2

Lurene goes to Love Field to glimpse the Kennedys

Knowing the President and First Lady will arrive in Dallas, she goes to Dallas Love Field hoping for a glimpse. She feels the crowd's energy as the plane lands and the moment seems to connect her to history. Her resolve to witness the funeral becomes a personal mission tied to her heartbreak.

November 22, 1963 Dallas Love Field
3

Lurene narrowly misses Jackie’s handshake and learns of the assassination

She almost shakes Jackie’s hand as the crowd surges and security moves in. News floods in that Kennedy has been assassinated, crashing the moment into collective grief. The shock sharpens her determination to attend Kennedy's funeral and participate in the national mourning.

November 22, 1963 Dallas, Texas
4

Defying her husband, Lurene plans to attend the funeral

She leaves Ray a note declaring she will stay at the honeymoon motel in Washington, D.C., and travel by bus to the funeral. She rejects his veto, choosing independence at a moment of national crisis. This decision marks the start of a long, uncertain road trip across the country.

November 1963 Dallas, Texas
5

Lurene befriends Jonell on the long bus journey

On the bus toward Washington, Lurene befriends Jonell, the young Black daughter of Paul Cater. They form a bond against the backdrop of a perilous journey. Lurene's empathy for Jonell broadens the meaning of her own grief as the road wears on.

November 1963 On the bus toward Washington, D.C.
6

Bus accident reveals deeper truths about Jonell

After the bus accident, Lurene tends to Jonell in the restroom and notices old wounds on her body. She asks Jonell if Paul is her father, and Jonell replies that he isn’t at first. Moments later, Paul explains the truth and Lurene calls the FBI to report a kidnapping, triggering a confrontation with the real stakes of the journey.

November 1963 On the road toward Washington, D.C.
7

Paul reveals Jonell’s father and the truth of her rescue

Paul explains that Jonell's wounds came from an orphanage where she was abused and that he rescued her. He reveals that he is Jonell's father and shows photos of himself, Jonell's mother, and Jonell as a baby. The revelation reframes the trip as a custody fight rather than a simple rescue.

November 1963 On the road, toward Pennsylvania
8

Paul steals a car; Lurene joins the escape; FBI suspects kidnapping

Paul steals a car from a repair shop to keep their escape going, and Lurene ends up riding along with Jonell and Paul. The FBI, convinced Lurene has been kidnapped, intensifies its pursuit. They continue a perilous journey across America with law enforcement in pursuit.

November 1963 On the road across America
9

Tazewell, Virginia: the car breaks down and a violent welcome

Their car breaks down near Tazewell, Virginia, where locals spot a white woman traveling with a Black man and beat Paul severely. Lurene recalls Hazel Enright’s family living nearby and seeks help there. The Enrights tend to Paul’s wounds and offer shelter, foreshadowing the era’s social tensions.

November 1963 Tazewell, Virginia
10

The Enrights lend a car and challenge the relationship

Mrs. Enright disapproves of Lurene’s interracial relationship and offers to help by lending them their car. The social friction is palpable, but the Enrights’ hospitality allows the journey to continue. Paul urges Lurene to stay with them, deepening the bond among the trio.

November 1963 Tazewell, Virginia (Enright residence)
11

Kennedy funeral day in Washington: confrontation at the motel

Back in Washington on the day of Kennedy's funeral, Ray waits for Lurene at the motel. The argument turns violent as Ray confronts her about her affair, and Paul intervenes, disguising as the motel manager while a gun is drawn. Paul wrestles the gun away; they escape back to the car with Jonell, but the police close in and Paul is sentenced to a year for car theft.

November 22-23, 1963 Washington, D.C.
12

1964: Lurene and Jonell's ongoing bond and a custody truth

In 1964, Lurene visits Jonell in a foster group home and explains that her father is coming back for her. Paul arrives to pick up Jonell, and Lurene confirms that she and Ray are divorced. They share a hug and declare they have no regrets about their decisions, choosing to pursue a life together with Jonell.

1964 Group home, Washington, D.C. area
13

A final join: Lurene chooses to stay with Paul and Jonell

After a moment of farewell, Lurene turns the car around and rushes back into the group home to join Paul and Jonell. The trio commits to a future together, a fragile but hopeful family forged on the road and in their hearts.

1964 Group home, Washington, D.C. area

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:03

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Love Field Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Love Field

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