Moving (1988) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The family is reluctant to leave New Jersey primarily because of their fear of their neighbor, Frank Crawford, and his intimidating lawnmower tractor. Arlo convinces Monica that moving to Boise will mean freedom from Frank, but the family still resists the change. Their attachment to their home and surroundings reflects the comedic theme of resistance to change.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Frank as a menacing presence whose lawnmower terrifies the family, setting up the eventual twist about his twin brother.

• family resistance
• boise move
• frank crawford
• neighbor fear

Casey desperately wants to remain in New Jersey because she has just started a new relationship with her boyfriend Kevin. She attempts various antics to prevent the sale, hoping to stay close to him. Her efforts include trying to thwart potential buyers, showing how the move threatens her personal life.

Foreshadowing: Casey's resistance is established early when the family discusses the move, and her attachment to Kevin becomes a running subplot.

• casey pear
• kevin
• boyfriend
• house sale sabotage

Casey's impulsive marriage to Rudy, a boy she just met at the mall, is her desperate attempt to avoid moving to Boise. She believes getting married will give her legal independence and allow her to stay in New Jersey. When Arlo and Monica discover her at the chapel, they make a deal letting her stay with the Butterworths until she finishes high school.

Foreshadowing: The Butterworths' call about Casey's marriage plans shocks the family, though earlier hints of her determination to stay appear throughout the house-selling sequence.

• casey marriage
• rudy
• chapel
• impulsive marriage

Arlo initially finds Edwards and Perry suspicious during the interview process and decides to hire a different company. However, on moving day, they unexpectedly arrive as the actual movers hired through another means. Their suspicious behavior, combined with their later detour to New Orleans for Mardi Gras with the family's belongings, confirms Arlo's initial instincts were correct.

Foreshadowing: Arlo's interview with Edwards and Perry establishes their odd demeanor early, creating anticipation for their later reappearance.

• edwards
• perry
• movers
• suspicious
• mardi gras

Brad Williams is hired to transport Arlo's prized Saab sports car to Boise. At a diner during the road trip, the twins present Arlo with a psychology magazine revealing Brad has eight distinct personalities, adding a comedic twist to the already chaotic move. This explains his erratic behavior, including his bizarre modification of the Saab into a battle-ready vehicle.

Foreshadowing: Brad's unusual actions throughout the transport, including detaching from the planned route, hint at his unpredictable nature.

• brad williams
• saab
• personalities
• car transport

When Arlo and Monica go house hunting in Boise, they fall in love with the Cadill property. However, Mr. Cadill casually reveals he intends to take the windows, doors, and even the swimming pool with him when he sells. Arlo purchases the house anyway, thinking it's a joke, only to discover upon arrival that the house has been literally stripped bare.

Foreshadowing: The initial meeting with Mr. Cadill establishes his quirky, detached attitude about the property's fixtures.

• mr cadill
• windows
• doors
• pool
• boise house

In a comedic twist, Arlo discovers that his new neighbor in Boise is Cornell Crawford, the twin brother of his former terrifying neighbor Frank Crawford. The loud lawnmower sound that wakes Arlo on his first morning belongs to Cornell, who proves just as menacing as his brother. This巧合 (coincidence) adds to the film's running gag about troublesome neighbors.

Foreshadowing: Arlo's fear of Frank Crawford and his lawnmower sets up the ironic revelation that his new neighbor is Frank's identical twin.

• cornell crawford
• frank twin
• neighbor
• lawnmower
• boise

On Arlo's first day at G.T.I. Transits, personnel officer Gary Marcus informs him that the ambitious monorail project in Boise has been canceled due to prohibitively high costs. This setback threatens Arlo's new job, and despite his arguments to revive the project, Marcus remains unmoved, eventually leading to Arlo's dismissal.

Foreshadowing: The job offer for the monorail project was Arlo's main incentive for moving, making its cancellation a pivotal turning point.

• monorail
• g.t.i. transits
• canceled
• budget
• project

After the monorail project is canceled due to budget concerns, Arlo pleads with Marcus to reconsider and allows him to present his case for continuing the project. Marcus refuses, and Arlo is let go from the company. This double blow of losing both his original job and the new position compounds the family's difficulties in their new city.

Foreshadowing: The cancellation of the monorail directly leads to Arlo's firing, as his entire purpose for being hired was tied to that project.

• arlo fired
• g.t.i. transits
• monorail cancellation
• job loss

After discovering his house is stripped bare and learning the movers have taken his belongings on an unexpected detour to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, Arlo takes matters into his own hands. He purchases firearms and commandeers the moving van from Edwards, Perry, and their large associate Gorgo, determined to retrieve his family's possessions and complete the move to Boise himself.

Foreshadowing: The earlier hint about the movers' suspicious behavior and planned detour sets up Arlo's desperate confrontational response.

• moving van
• edwards
• perry
• new orleans
• mardi gras
• confrontation

After staying behind in New Jersey with the Butterworths to complete her senior year, Casey ultimately misses her family and the comfort of home. She decides to join Arlo, Monica, and the twins in Boise, providing a emotional resolution to her earlier rebellion. Her return reunites the family and marks a positive turning point in their new lives.

Foreshadowing: Casey's absence creates tension throughout the move, and her decision to leave Kevin shows her prioritization of family over her earlier romantic interests.

• casey joins
• family reunion
• boise
• emotional resolution