Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Bob uses the drive home as an opportunity to isolate the girls from their usual environment. By taking them to the remote Yorkshire moors, he creates a private setting where he can confide about his marital problems and propose the sexual encounter, knowing they have no easy way to leave or escape the situation.

• bob
• detour
• yorkshire moors
• manipulation

Bob is frustrated with his failing marriage and specifically mentions intimacy issues with Michelle. He sees the teenage girls as an accessible solution to his sexual needs, taking advantage of his position as their employer and their youth. The power imbalance inherent in his role as their older, wealthier boss makes this proposal inherently exploitative.

• bob
• affair
• proposition
• exploitation

Michelle has discovered a pack of Durex condoms in Bob's pants, confirming her suspicions of infidelity. Mavis also informed her about seeing Bob with the girls at a club. Driven by anger and the need for answers, Michelle tracks down Rita, forces her to Sue's flat, and confronts all parties involved in a chaotic scene that exposes the affair publicly.

• michelle
• confrontation
• condoms
• discovery

Bob suffers from the same intimacy issues he mentioned having with his wife Michelle. Despite his earlier confidence in proposing the affair, his inability to perform when actually faced with the situation exposes his underlying sexual dysfunction, leaving both girls dissatisfied and creating an awkward situation he tries to cover by taking them to a club.

• bob
• performance
• intimacy
• failure

Sue discovers she's pregnant with Bob's child and sees an opportunity to escape her difficult circumstances in the council estate. With Bob now single after Michelle left him, Sue views moving in with him as a chance for financial stability and a way out of her challenging home life, despite the problematic nature of the relationship.

• sue
• pregnancy
• bob
• move in

Aslam witnesses Sue leaving Bob's car at the hospital and immediately suspects she's being unfaithful to him, despite Sue's earlier refusal of Bob's attempt to rekindle their affair. His jealousy and lack of trust lead to a heated argument that strains their relationship, demonstrating the fragility of their connection given Sue's complicated history with Bob.

• aslam
• suspicion
• jealousy
• hospital

During an intimate moment, Bob accidentally calls out Sue's name instead of Rita's, revealing he may still be involved with Sue behind Rita's back. This triggers Rita's jealousy and anger, leading her to race out and confront Sue, believing she's being betrayed again. This moment escalates into violence when Aslam attacks Sue, forcing the girls to flee together.

• rita
• bob
• sue
• betrayal
• jealousy

When Aslam violently attacks Sue in his rage, Rita steps in to protect her friend despite their earlier conflict. This shows the strength of their friendship, as Rita puts aside her anger about the situation with Bob to help Sue escape Aslam's violence, demonstrating loyalty between the two girls who have been through countless chaotic events together.

• rita
• sue
• aslam
• protection
• friendship

The ending is deliberately ambiguous and deliberately subverts expectations. After feeling abandoned and dismissed by the girls, Bob discovers them waiting in bed together, seemingly reversing the power dynamic. However, it's unclear whether this represents the girls taking control of the situation, continuing the toxic dynamic, or simply another cycle in their complicated relationship. The film offers no moral resolution, leaving their future uncertain.

• ending
• twist
• resolution
• ambiguous

Michelle's departure is triggered by the public humiliation of the confrontation at Sue's flat, where her husband's affair is exposed in front of neighbours and both families. The revelation that Bob has been sexually involved with both teenage girls, combined with her brothers arriving to protect Rita, leaves Michelle feeling utterly degraded. She returns home, destroys property, and leaves with her children, finally accepting that her marriage is irreparably broken.

• michelle
• leave
• bob
• divorce

Sue's father is drunk and harbours racist attitudes towards Aslam, a Pakistani man. His derogatory outburst occurs during a night out, reflecting the racial tensions that exist in their working-class community. This incident creates another obstacle for Sue and Aslam's relationship, demonstrating how their romance is judged not just by the age gap and circumstances but also by racial prejudice.

• sue father
• racism
• aslam
• prejudice

Despite the chaos, violence, and emotional turmoil they've experienced with Bob, the girls find themselves with nowhere else to turn. Their living situations are unstable, and Bob represents a form of escape from their difficult circumstances. Their return illustrates the desperate realities of their social position, limited options and seeking stability through problematic relationships. The ambiguous ending suggests they're choosing to stay together, but whether this is empowering or further exploitation remains unclear.

• rita
• sue
• bob
• return
• escape