Running with Scissors (2006) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Deirdre sends Augusten to live with Dr. Finch after her paranoia escalates and she becomes convinced that Norman intends to harm her. Feeling desperate and unable to protect her son in their volatile household, she makes the drastic decision to place Augusten with the unconventional psychiatrist, believing he can provide a more stable environment than she currently can.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Deirdre's escalating mood swings and paranoid assertions about Norman foreshadow her desperate decision to remove Augusten from the household.

• deirdre
• dr finch
• augusten
• child placement
• family dysfunction

Dr. Finch exploits Deirdre's fragile mental state by cleverly manipulating her during therapy sessions. He coerces her into transferring her assets to him, taking advantage of her vulnerability and unstable condition. This revelation highlights the exploitative nature of their professional relationship and shows how Dr. Finch preys on vulnerable patients.

Foreshadowing: The power imbalance in Dr. Finch's therapy sessions, where he exerts significant influence over Deirdre's decisions, sets the stage for his later financial exploitation.

• dr finch
• deirdre
• manipulation
• assets
• fraud
• exploitation

Augusten develops a connection with Neil Bookman after opening up to Natalie, Dr. Finch's daughter, about his emerging sexuality. Neil, who is 33 years old and struggles with his own vulnerabilities including schizophrenia, becomes the first person Augusten feels he can truly confide in. Their relationship is characterized by passion and complexity, born from shared emotional struggles and a sense of understanding each other's brokenness.

Foreshadowing: Augusten's conversation with Natalie about his sexuality directly precedes and facilitates his connection with Neil, marking a pivotal moment in his emotional development.

• augusten
• neil bookman
• relationship
• sexuality
• vulnerability

Augusten decides to leave the Finches because he feels a growing sense of abandonment and isolation. Neil's battles with schizophrenia, mounting resentment from Dorothy, and the overall toxic dynamics of the household all contribute to his decision. Seeking liberation and a renewed sense of purpose, Augusten chooses to pursue his dream of becoming a writer in New York City, viewing it as an escape from the chaos that has defined his childhood.

Foreshadowing: The deepening resentment from Dorothy and Neil's declining mental health signal the breaking point that makes Augusten's departure inevitable.

• augusten
• new york
• departure
• writer
• dream
• escape

Neil Bookman disappears without a trace by the end of the movie. His relationship with Augusten, which was already complicated by their significant age gap and Neil's struggles with schizophrenia, ends with Neil vanishing completely. The film does not provide closure on his fate, leaving his disappearance as one of the unresolved mysteries of the story.

Foreshadowing: Neil's ongoing battle with schizophrenia and the increasing strain on his relationship with Augusten hint at his inability to maintain stability.

• neil bookman
• disappearance
• schizophrenia
• fate

Norman Burroughs reaches out to Augusten and reconciles with him before passing away in 2005. This reconciliation represents a brief moment of closure for Augusten, who experienced neglect and abandonment throughout his childhood. Norman, who was portrayed as an impotent enabler unable to protect his son from Deirdre's volatile behavior, seeks to make amends despite their troubled history.

Foreshadowing: Norman's history of failing to protect Augusten makes his late attempt at reconciliation both meaningful and tinged with regret.

• norman
• reconciliation
• death
• father
• closure

Augusten's relationship with Neil is problematic primarily due to their significant age gap. Neil is 33 years old while Augusten is approaching his fifteenth birthday when their relationship becomes intimate. This represents a sexual relationship between an adult and a minor, which is inherently exploitative regardless of the emotional connection between them. The power imbalance and Neil's position as an adopted member of the household Augusten lives in further complicates the dynamic.

Foreshadowing: The age difference is established early in their relationship, with Neil being a grown adult in a household where Augusten is a teenager.

• age gap
• minor
• exploitation
• neil
• problematic relationship

Dr. Finch loses his medical license due to insurance fraud. According to the post-credits epilogue, he passes away in 2000 after losing his practice. His daughter Hope supports him until his death, while other family members pursue different paths. His downfall represents the consequences of his unethical behavior and exploitation of vulnerable patients like Deirdre.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Finch's manipulation of Deirdre into transferring her assets hints at his dishonest character and sets up his eventual legal troubles.

• dr finch
• license
• fraud
• death
• consequences

Deirdre remains distanced from Augusten throughout his adult life, even after he becomes a successful writer. Her own mental instability and the traumatic way she abandoned him by sending him to live with Dr. Finch create an insurmountable barrier. The film suggests she never overcomes her own issues enough to reconnect with her son, leaving their relationship permanently fractured.

Foreshadowing: Deirdre's unstable behavior and her decision to place Augusten with Dr. Finch establish the pattern of absence that defines their relationship.

• deirdre
• mother
• distanced
• abandonment
• estrangement

Agnes, a member of the Finch household, plays a significant emotional role in Augusten's departure. Before he leaves for New York City, she shares a heartfelt farewell moment with him and gifts him a meaningful token from her personal savings. This gesture underscores the genuine bond Augusten formed with certain members of the eccentric Finch family, contrasting with the exploitation he experienced from Dr. Finch.

Foreshadowing: Agnes's warmth and acceptance throughout Augusten's time in the household make her farewell particularly emotionally significant.

• agnes
• farewell
• gift
• support
• finch family

After leaving the Finch household and moving to New York City, Augusten Burroughs pursues his dream of becoming a writer. His tumultuous childhood, marked by parental neglect, exploitation, and unconventional family dynamics, provides rich material for his future work. He ultimately emerges as a writer who chronicles the profound experiences that shaped his life, transforming his painful past into creative expression.

Foreshadowing: Augusten's decision to leave for New York specifically to become a writer establishes the trajectory that leads to his eventual success.

• augusten
• writer
• new york
• dream
• success
• transformation