Number One with a Bullet (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Barzak goes undercover in drag as part of an operation to trace the black tar drug to its source. The church fair provides cover for the narcotics ring operating in the area. The situation escalates into an armed standoff with a suspect, showcasing the unorthodox and chaotic methods that define Barzak's approach to police work.

Foreshadowing: The early church fair scene establishes the unconventional, high-risk style that characterizes Barzak and Hazeltine's entire investigation.

• barzak
• church fair
• drug investigation
• undercover
• black tar

Boudreau is killed by a hit-man while the detectives are transporting him. Before dying, Boudreau manages to name his boss, providing the first real break in the case and shifting the investigation toward the larger drug operation. This murder exposes how deep the corruption runs.

Foreshadowing: Boudreau's death sets up the revelation of a mole within the police department and signals that powerful interests are protecting the drug operation.

• boudreau
• hit-man
• murder
• confidential informant
• drug boss

The mole is a corrupt officer working for the drug lord, though the specific identity isn't detailed in the provided summary. The revelation comes when surveillance is disrupted and the kingpins nearly escape, with both Nick and his ex-wife targeted in the crossfire. This betrayal reframes every prior lead as compromised and raises the stakes significantly.

Foreshadowing: Earlier disruptions to the investigation and the hit-man's ability to eliminate key informants foreshadow the mole's existence.

• mole
• corruption
• police department
• drug ring
• traitor

Black tar is a new narcotic threatening the Los Angeles community that becomes the center of the detectives' investigation. The drug represents a significant new threat in the city's drug trade, and the investigation reveals it connects to a large-scale criminal operation reaching into the police department itself.

Foreshadowing: The church fair scene where they first trace the drug hints at the organized nature of the operation.

• black tar
• narcotics
• drug trade
• investigation
• los angeles

Barzak vents his stress and frustration by assaulting a street pusher, demonstrating his volatile temperament and willingness to break rules. This violent outburst contrasts sharply with his partner Hazeltine's more controlled, Zen-like approach to coping with pressure. The scene highlights Barzak's unpredictable nature and his tendency toward excessive force.

Foreshadowing: Barzak's pattern of wild behavior and rule-breaking foreshadows his later confrontation with the suspected drug lord without evidence.

• barzak
• street pusher
• violence
• stress
• police brutality

Regina enters the story as Nick's ex-wife, adding personal stakes to the dangerous investigation. When the investigation intensifies and the mole is revealed, both Nick and his ex-wife become targets in the crossfire. This forces Nick to protect her while continuing to pursue the case, raising the personal stakes significantly.

Foreshadowing: Her introduction early in the film foreshadows her later targeting as leverage against Nick.

• regina
• ex-wife
• nick barzak
• target
• protection

Nick, his mother Mrs. Barzak, and the fence collaborate to set a plan in motion that exposes both the mole in the police department and the real drug lord behind the operation. This unlikely alliance pulls together information and resources to challenge the corrupt network and bring the truth to light.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scenes with Nick's mother nagging him and the fence providing leads build toward this cooperative final effort.

• expose
• corruption
• ringleader
• mother
• fence
• plan

Captain Ferris looms as a disciplinary threat throughout the investigation, warning that he will suspend either Barzak or Hazeltine if they fail to prove their case. His pressure creates additional tension during the high-stakes investigation, especially when Nick confronts the suspected drug lord without solid evidence.

Foreshadowing: Ferris's warnings create a ticking clock that adds urgency to the investigation's final stages.

• captain ferris
• suspension
• discipline
• threat
• police department

Nick's mother Mrs. Barzak contributes to the final plan that exposes both the mole and the drug ringleader. Her involvement provides crucial support in the climactic operation, combining family dynamics with the investigative effort. Her nagging throughout the investigation motivates Nick's relentless pursuit of the case.

Foreshadowing: Her persistent nagging throughout the film foreshadows her active participation in the resolution.

• mrs barzak
• mother
• nick
• support
• collaboration

The drug lord is the kingpin at the center of the black tar operation who has corrupted elements within the Los Angeles police department. While the summary mentions a suspected drug lord that Nick confronts, the specific identity and name of the primary antagonist isn't detailed in the provided text. The operation spans a large criminal network connected to the drug trade.

Foreshadowing: The hit-men sent to eliminate witnesses and the mole's protection of the operation point to a powerful, well-connected leader.

• drug lord
• kingpin
• ringleader
• black tar
• operation