Please Stand By…

Please Stand By…

Year: 2007

Runtime: 5 mins

Language: English

Director: Chris Nash

A young man prone to suddenly passing out ponders life, ghosts, and his ex-girlfriend while trapped in his house during an invasion of giant lobsters.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Please Stand By… yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Please Stand By… (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Please Stand By… (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day (early 2020s)

The events occur in contemporary times, with everyday travel by bus and interactions with modern institutions. The narrative follows real-time decisions and delays as Wendy seeks to complete her mission. The story emphasizes current-day dynamics of care, independence, and validation in a modern context.

Location

San Francisco group home, Bakersfield, Los Angeles

The story centers around a group home in San Francisco where Wendy lives, then follows her journey across California to Los Angeles. Along the way she passes through a shanty town and ultimately ends up in a Bakersfield hospital before making it to Paramount Pictures in LA. The settings shift from a controlled care environment to the open road and public spaces as she pursues her script delivery.

🏙️ Urban 🏡 Group home 🚐 Road trip

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

Main Characters – Please Stand By… (2007)

Meet the key characters of Please Stand By… (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Wendy

An autistic young woman living in a San Francisco group home, Wendy is obsessed with Star Trek and spends long hours drafting a 427-page script. She is intensely focused and highly determined to win Paramount Pictures' screenwriting contest. Her determination propels a cross-state journey to deliver the script, showing both resilience and vulnerability.

🧩 Autistic 📝 Writer 🎯 Determined

Scottie

The house manager who monitors Wendy's day-to-day life and safety. Protective and pragmatic, she questions Wendy’s ability to care for a baby but remains invested in her well-being. She participates in the search when Wendy goes missing and helps coordinate the family’s efforts to locate her.

🧰 Caregiver 🗺️ Organizer 👩‍💼 Authority

Audrey

Wendy's sister, who visits with pictures of her infant daughter Ruby and reveals she plans to sell their childhood home. She doubts Wendy’s capacity to care for a baby and initially resists taking her home, creating tension but also an avenue for reconciliation as the story unfolds.

👩 Sister 🗺️ Protector 🗣️ Reality-check

Rose

An elderly woman who intervenes when Wendy is being exploited and sympathizes with her situation because her grandson is autistic. She invites Wendy onto the senior citizens’ bus, offering kindness and a momentary refuge amidst Wendy’s travel ordeal.

🤝 Kindness 🧓 Elder 🛡️ Protector

Pete

The small group-home dog who follows Wendy as she travels and later is left behind at the Bakersfield hospital. Pete serves as a comforting companion during Wendy’s journey and adds a touch of loyalty to her quest.

🐶 Companion 🏥 Left behind

Sam

Scottie’s son who joins in the search for Wendy. He participates in the road trip with his mother and helps in the effort to reunite Wendy with her sister.

👦 Family 🧭 Helper

Officer Frank

A police officer who earns Wendy’s trust by speaking to her in Klingon and helps coordinate her care, ultimately guiding her toward Paramount Pictures. He and his colleagues play a key role in safely reuniting Wendy with her family.

👮 Officer 🗣️ Ally 🛡️ Protector

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

Major Themes – Please Stand By… (2007)

Explore the central themes of Please Stand By… (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Perseverance

Wendy’s single-minded drive to submit her script drives the plot and sustains her through daunting obstacles. Her journey from the group home to Paramount is a test of endurance, resourcefulness, and grit. Each setback—missed deadlines, financial strain, and the bus misadventures—becomes a step that sharpens her resolve rather than defeats her.

🧩 Neurodiversity

The narrative centers on Wendy’s autism and how it shapes her routines, motivations, and interactions. Her perspective frames the world in a way that others may misinterpret, prompting care, concern, and occasional misjudgment from family members. The film emphasizes empathy and understanding through the supportive actions of Rose and the protective instincts of Scottie.

🎬 Dreams

The drive to win Paramount’s contest defines Wendy’s identity and choices, framing her as a storyteller pursuing recognition on a grand stage. The movie juxtaposes the dream of success with the messy realities of travel, safety, and rejection. Even when the script is not chosen, the journey itself grants Wendy agency and a sense of accomplishment.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:39

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Creative Journey Movies Like Please Stand By…

Stories where a personal artistic goal fuels a challenging and transformative journey.If you enjoyed the determined quest in Please Stand By…, explore more movies about characters chasing a creative dream. These similar stories feature heartfelt journeys, personal resilience, and the bittersweet victories that come from following a passion against all odds.

determinedheartwarmingvulnerablehopefulresilientpersonal victory

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a protagonist with a clear creative goal, facing a series of external and internal obstacles. The journey is linear and goal-oriented, testing the character's resolve and leading to significant self-discovery, often concluding with a bittersweet but personally meaningful resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on artistic ambition as the engine for the plot. They balance heartwarming determination with vulnerable realism, creating a hopeful yet grounded tone where the process of creation is as important as the final product.

Gentle Self-Discovery Movies Similar to Please Stand By…

Quiet, heartfelt stories about finding strength and connection while navigating personal challenges.Fans of Please Stand By…'s heartfelt story will appreciate these other gentle journeys of self-discovery. Discover more movies with straightforward narratives, a steady pace, and a focus on characters finding their place in the world through perseverance and quiet courage.

heartfeltdeterminedlonelyresilienthopefulfound family

Narrative Summary

These narratives unfold at a steady pace, prioritizing character development over complex plotting. The conflict is often internal or interpersonal, revolving around themes of independence, acceptance, and the redefinition of family. The emotional journey is central, leading to an ending that feels earned and hopeful, even if not perfectly happy.

Why These Movies?

They share a specific mood blend: a determined but vulnerable protagonist, a heartwarming core, and a focus on resilience without high tension. The experience is characterized by its medium emotional weight, hopeful tone, and straightforward, accessible storytelling.

Unlock the Full Story of Please Stand By…

Don't stop at just watching — explore Please Stand By… in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Please Stand By… is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Please Stand By… Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Please Stand By…, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Please Stand By… Summary

Please Stand By… Timeline

Track the full timeline of Please Stand By… with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Please Stand By… Timeline

Please Stand By… Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Please Stand By… that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Please Stand By… Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Please Stand By…

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Please Stand By…: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Please Stand By…