Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Rick yell at them because their car's loud muffler is disturbing the peace. He's drunk and irritated, so he storms out and orders them to leave immediately. This seemingly reckless confrontation actually saves Sharon Tate and her friends, as the Manson Family originally intended to murder everyone in the house.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the film establishes that Rick is struggling with alcoholism and often acts impulsively.

• rick dalton
• manson family
• confrontation
• august 1969

Cliff is under the influence of acid he smoked from a cigarette given to him by Pussycat. While tripping, he sees three intruders (Tex, Katie, and Sadie) entering Rick's home. Rather than fleeing in fear, he attacks them with surprising ferocity, using his dog Brandy and whatever objects he can find. His altered state makes him fearless and unpredictable.

Foreshadowing: Cliff's earlier display of physical toughness at Spahn Ranch, where he easily defeats multiple hippies, foreshadows his ability to handle dangerous situations.

• cliff booth
• manson family
• acid trip
• fight scene

Sharon Tate is not harmed in the film. She is inside her house with Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, and Abigail Folger when the Manson Family arrives. Because Rick's confrontation delays and ultimately scares off part of the group, the murders that tragically occurred in real life are prevented in the movie. Sharon invites Rick over for a drink afterward.

Foreshadowing: The film repeatedly builds tension around the Manson Family's presence, particularly when Charles Manson visits Sharon's house earlier.

• sharon tate
• manson murders
• survival
• house invasion

When Tex points a gun at Cliff, Cliff doesn't react with fear due to his acid trip. Instead, he commands his trained pit bull Brandy to attack. Brandy mauls Tex's arm and groin area, seriously injuring him. This moment showcases Cliff's combat training and the dog's loyalty.

Foreshadowing: Cliff's trailer park home scene establishes Brandy as a fierce, well-trained dog that Cliff clearly trusts in dangerous situations.

• cliff booth
• brandy
• tex watson
• dog attack

Rick kept the flamethrower prop from his earlier war film where he played a GI who incinerated Nazis. Producer Marvin Schwarz mentions this during their restaurant meeting, noting Rick was so fond of the prop that he took it home. Rick uses it to kill Sadie when she attacks him in the pool.

Foreshadowing: Marvin Schwarz explicitly references Rick's attachment to the flamethrower prop early in the film.

• rick dalton
• flamethrower
• prop
• movie weapon

Producer Marvin Schwarz convinces Rick that his career needs a reboot. After his TV show 'Bounty Law' was canceled due to his alcoholism, Rick's roles had dried up. Marvin suggests Rome as a way to reinvent himself in Spaghetti Westerns, which were popular at the time. Rick takes this advice, and the films become successful.

Foreshadowing: Marvin's pitch at the restaurant directly sets up this career change as Rick's path to revival.

• rick dalton
• rome
• spaghetti westerns
• career change

There's a rumor in Hollywood that Cliff murdered his wife Billie and got away with it. Randy mentions this to Rick when trying to get Cliff work. The film shows a flashback of Billie nagging Cliff endlessly on a boat, but it cuts away before showing whether Cliff actually killed her with the harpoon gun. Whether he's guilty remains ambiguous.

Foreshadowing: This rumor is mentioned early and lingers throughout the film, adding mystery to Cliff's character.

• cliff booth
• wife
• billie
• murder rumor

Bruce Lee challenges Cliff after catching him laughing while Lee is discussing his desire to fight Muhammad Ali. Lee sees this as disrespect and wants to prove himself. The fight escalates quickly, with Lee initially getting the upper hand, but Cliff retaliates by slamming him into a car, causing property damage that gets Cliff fired.

Foreshadowing: Cliff's quick temper and physical prowess are established early, making his later fight with the Manson Family less surprising.

• bruce lee
• cliff booth
• fight
• lancer set

Charles Manson claims he's coming to see his friends, the previous owners of the house that Polanski and Sharon now live in. He apologizes for the error and leaves without causing any alarm. This establishes the Manson Family's connection to the location that would become infamous in real life.

Foreshadowing: This seemingly innocent visit plants the seeds for the later, much more sinister appearance of the Manson Family.

• charles manson
• sharon tate
• house visit
• polanski

During a break in filming 'Lancer', Rick confesses his fears about being a has-been to his young co-star Trudi. The eight-year-old method actor's presence and her sincere questions about books trigger Rick's vulnerability. He smokes near her despite knowing it's inappropriate, showing his emotional instability and self-destructive tendencies.

Foreshadowing: Rick's complaints to Cliff about declining stardom earlier establish his deep insecurities about his career.

• rick dalton
• trudi
• breakdown
• career anxiety

Cliff agrees to drive Pussycat (a young hippie he's noticed throughout the weekend) to Spahn Ranch, a location where he previously filmed movies with Rick. He wants to catch up with the ranch's owner, George Spahn. The trip reveals the ranch has been taken over by a hippie commune led by Charles Manson.

Foreshadowing: This visit directly connects Cliff to the Manson Family, setting up his later confrontation with them.

• cliff booth
• spahn ranch
• hippie commune
• pussycat

After the violent confrontation with the Manson Family, Rick sees Jay Sebring calling from Sharon's gate. Jay recognizes Rick from television. Sharon and her friends invite Rick over for a drink as a thank-you for dealing with the intruders. This meeting represents Rick's desired connection with his Hollywood neighbors, finally achieved through his heroic actions.

Foreshadowing: Rick's excitement about Polanski moving in earlier establishes his desire to meet these famous neighbors.

• rick dalton
• sharon tate
• meeting
• neighbors