Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Year: 2002

Runtime: 113 min

Language: English

Directors: Adam Larson Broder, Anthony Abrams

DramaSportComedyRomance

A sorority's pursuit of the Sorority of the Year title takes an unexpected turn when Carolyn is tasked with mentoring Pumpkin, a gifted athlete facing a disability. Their connection blossoms amidst intense competition, prompting both personal growth and a re-evaluation of conventional team dynamics. Through their journey, they discover the profound importance of understanding, acceptance, and achieving victory together.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Pumpkin (2002)

Trace every key event in Pumpkin (2002) 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

Start of Carolyn's senior year at a Southern California university

Carolyn McDuffy begins her final year of college at a Southern California university. She aims to help her sorority win the coveted Challenged Games award by guiding a team of handicapped young adults. The setup establishes her ambitions and the social pressures she will face.

Fall semester Southern California university
2

Carolyn joins the sorority's Challenged Games effort

She joins the sorority's training program for handicapped young adults and begins working with the team. Carolyn starts to learn their talents and challenges, and her perspective shifts. The effort also introduces the social dynamics of the sorority environment.

Early fall Sorority house
3

Carolyn meets Pumpkin and questions her assumptions

Carolyn is paired with Jesse 'Pumpkin' Romanoff. She is initially horrified by the circumstances of his life, yet Pumpkin's kindness gradually wins her over. Over time she finds herself developing genuine affection.

Early fall Training grounds
4

Backlash from friends and family

As Carolyn's feelings deepen, she faces disdain from friends and family who do not approve of her relationship with Pumpkin. The sorority leadership also pressures her, complicating her social standing. The conflict foreshadows the personal and public backlash to come.

Mid-fall Campus and sorority circles
5

Judy discovers the relationship

Pumpkin's mother, Judy, walks into her son's room and discovers Carolyn and Pumpkin together. The discovery intensifies the antagonism from Pumpkin's family and increases Carolyn's isolation. It becomes a catalyst for the later accusations and consequences.

Mid-fall Pumpkin's room
6

Accusation and expulsion

Judy accuses Carolyn of raping Pumpkin and notifies the college. As a result, Carolyn is expelled from the university and kicked out of the sorority. The rapid consequences destabilize Carolyn's plans for the future and test her resolve.

Shortly after accusation College and home
7

Suicide attempt and recovery

Devastated by the consequences, Carolyn makes a suicide attempt by taking pills from her medicine cabinet. She vomits the pills and survives, realizing the depth of her pain and isolation. The incident becomes a wake-up call that shifts the story's trajectory.

After expulsion Carolyn's home
8

Reinstatement and ball invitation

Hearing of the attempt, the sorority convinces the university to reinstate Carolyn. She is encouraged to attend the sorority ball with Kent, setting up a pivotal confrontation and reconciliation moment. The ball becomes a stage for old grievances to resurface.

Soon after University, Sorority house, Ball venue
9

Pumpkin's ball intrusion and confrontation

At the sorority ball, Pumpkin and his friends crash the party to dance with Carolyn, challenging the social order of the evening. Kent confronts Pumpkin and punches him, who responds by tackling Kent and knocking him unconscious. The dramatic clash raises the stakes for everyone involved.

During ball Sorority ball
10

Dance floor moment and defiance

Carolyn and Pumpkin manage to dance together after a tense moment. The door is initially blocked by Julie and the sorority sisters, but other attendees soon join, turning the moment into a shared celebration of the unlikely couple. The scene marks a turning point in Carolyn's acceptance by Pumpkin's world.

During ball Sorority ball dance floor
11

Kent's car crash

Kent leaves the dance in his car and drives away in distress. He swerves to avoid a truck, plunges off a cliff, and the car explodes in mid-air before crashing to the bottom. The accident rewrites everyone’s futures in a single, devastating moment.

After ball Road by the cliff
12

Hospital revelations and blame

Carolyn visits the hospital and learns that Kent is now paraplegic, though unburned. Kent blames Carolyn for his misfortune, deepening her guilt and sense of responsibility. The emotional fallout rocks Carolyn's already fragile self-image.

Following accident Hospital
13

New beginnings: Carolyn at a public university

Carolyn decides to leave her previous life behind and enrolls at a public university, seeking a fresh start and supportive peers. Meanwhile, the sorority ceases to support Pumpkin's team, allowing their rival sorority to win. The shift marks a significant change in her social circle.

Post-accident period Public university campus
14

The Olympic event and Kent's mentorship

The sorority sisters have a change of heart and attend the Olympic event. Kent steps in as Pumpkin's coach, providing motivation and strategic direction. The team feels renewed energy under Kent's mentorship as they prepare to race.

Lead-up to event Olympic venue
15

Pumpkin wins the race and faces the future

Pumpkin races against his rival and wins the Challenged Games event, receiving congratulations from the sorority sisters, his mother, and Kent. Carolyn moves through the stands with a mix of pride and unresolved emotions as she watches him. The victory marks a fragile reconciliation among the different worlds in the story.

During race Olympic track

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58

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Pumpkin Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Pumpkin

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