Son of Flubber (1963) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The IRS taxes Ned based on the perceived value of his discovery rather than actual earnings. Even though Flubber hasn't generated any income, the Pentagon's classification of it as "top secret" and its potential military applications created a tax liability. The IRS treats the invention as an asset with established value, regardless of whether Ned has received any money from it.

• irs tax
• flubber
• ned brainard
• medfield college

Flubbergas only works on makeshift clouds that Ned creates artificially. When it encounters real clouds in the atmosphere, the chemical reaction reverses and instead of producing rain, it creates a destructive shower that shatters glass. This unexpected failure occurs because Flubbergas cannot properly interact with natural weather systems, causing the volatile compound to discharge violently.

Foreshadowing: Ned's earlier successful rain experiments were limited to his kitchen and garage where he controlled the makeshift clouds.

• flubbergas
• glass shatter
• weather experiment
• medfield

The county agricultural extension agent testifies that crops around town have shown dramatically accelerated growth, which Ned had accidentally caused through his weather experiments. The agent labels this phenomenon "Dry Rain" - a nutrient-rich moisture that fell from Ned's artificial clouds. This unexpected scientific evidence convinces the court that Ned's work has practical benefits, leading to his acquittal.

• dry rain
• trial
• crops
• testimony
• acquittal

Ned uses Flubbergas to rain inside Shelby's car because he feels threatened by her romantic attention toward him and her presence threatening his marriage to Betsy. The storm includes thunder and lightning, flooding the car interior and causing a crash. This impulsive act demonstrates how Ned loses control of his emotions and his invention when his personal life becomes stressful.

Foreshadowing: The summary hints at Ned's emotional escalation when faced with romantic threats.

• shelby
• rainstorm car
• ned brainard
• betsy

Ned uses Flubbergas to manipulate the weather during the football game, creating favorable conditions that give Medfield's team an advantage over Rutland. The weather manipulation proves decisive in securing the victory, turning what seemed like another disaster into a crowd-pleasing win that temporarily boosts public support for Ned's experiments.

• football game
• medfield
• rutland
• flubbergas win

After the glass-shattering incident, Alonzo P. Hawk sees an opportunity to pressure Ned and meddle with Medfield College. He threatens legal action over the property damage and proposes a fraudulent partnership in a glass company to recoup losses. His scheme would effectively close the college while profiting from the disaster through the scam company.

• alonzo p hawk
• medfield college
• glass scam
• scheme

After Ned gets arrested for the glass incident, Betsy realizes her loyalty belongs with her husband. She ends her involvement with Shelby and stands by Ned during his trial. The crisis reveals that her connection to Ned is stronger than the temptation of Shelby's attention, leading her to reaffirm her marriage vows.

• betsy
• ned
• shelby
• marriage
• choice

The flying car is another application of Ned's scientific research, allowing him and Betsy to drive home from the courthouse after his acquittal. The vehicle defies gravity using principles related to Flubber's elastic properties. At the end, Betsy expresses renewed affection for Ned's science, and they share a kiss as they fly home together.

• flying car
• ned
• betsy
• kiss
• ending

The final image shows a football filled with Flubbergas launching into outer space. The whimsical ending serves as a playful nod to Ned's inventive spirit and the boundless, absurd potential of his scientific creations. The image reinforces the film's light-hearted, whimsical tone about science going awry.

• football
• flubbergas
• space
• ending
• wishful

The Pentagon designates Flubber as top secret because of its versatile energy-rich properties and potential military applications. The invention's ability to defy gravity, store enormous energy, and adapt to various uses makes it strategically valuable. This classification also contributes to Ned's tax problems since the government treats it as a highly valuable asset.

• pentagon
• top secret
• flubber
• military