The Best Man (2006) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Murray orchestrates an elaborate scheme to derail James's wedding because he wants Olly to end up with Sarah. Although the timeline suggests Murray and Olly had drifted apart, Murray still cares enough about his friend to manipulate events so that Olly gets the girl instead of James. Murray plants evidence to make James look unfaithful and sets up situations to bring Olly and Sarah together.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Murray vomited on James during university, creating instant enmity between them that seeds Murray's motivation.

• murray
• james
• wedding
• sabotage
• olly
• sarah
• scheme

Murray engineers several encounters between Olly and Sarah. He phones Sarah on Olly's behalf to arrange a film date, making it seem like Olly is interested. He also sets up Olly's meeting with Sarah at Selfridges wedding registry, creating the impression of a planned couple activity. These orchestrated meetings fuel Sarah's interest in Olly while simultaneously damaging James's reputation.

Foreshadowing: At the wedding party, Olly meets Sarah on the balcony and is immediately struck by her presence, setting the emotional groundwork.

• murray
• manipulation
• olly
• sarah
• selfridges
• meeting
• scheme

Sarah discovers two incriminating pieces of evidence: red knickers that Murray hid to frame James, and a porn shop phone number in James's phone. These discoveries convince her that James has been unfaithful, leading her to call off the wedding before it can take place.

Foreshadowing: Murray had been deliberately planting evidence to make James appear unfaithful, including calling James from a porn shop.

• sarah
• wedding
• call off
• evidence
• red knickers
• porn shop
• james

After Sarah calls off the wedding, Murray throws a surprise party where James pretends to be heartbroken and claims he's leaving for New York. This emotional manipulation sways Sarah, who feels guilty and agrees to marry him. She believes James is genuinely devastated and decides to give the relationship another chance.

Foreshadowing: Murray's scheme involves making James appear sympathetic to win Sarah back.

• sarah
• james
• wedding
• agree
• marry
• manipulation
• new york

James admits at his stag party that he has slept with someone else because Sarah doesn't fully satisfy him. However, he still wants to marry her for the family's money and connections. James is motivated by financial security and social status rather than genuine love, making his proposal entirely transactional.

Foreshadowing: James asks Olly to be best man early in the film, showing his willingness to maintain appearances despite personal failings.

• james
• sarah
• marry
• money
• connections
• cheat
• affair
• secretary

After Olly frees himself from being handcuffed to a pillar at the stag party, he races to the wedding venue with Becka's help to stop the ceremony. Becka reveals that James has been unfaithful with his secretary. Sarah then chooses to call off the wedding permanently. Months later, after the dust settles, Olly and Sarah get together, ultimately forming a couple.

Foreshadowing: Olly's feelings for Sarah were established during the balcony scene at the wedding party.

• olly
• sarah
• together
• wedding
• stopped
• truth
• affair
• becna

After selling the first two chapters of his novel for $50,000, Olly experiences severe writer's block and cannot finish the book. The pressure of the advance and the expectations that come with it paralyze his creativity, causing him to lose both the money and his momentum as a writer.

Foreshadowing: The quick success and substantial payment plant the seeds for the pressure that leads to his block.

• olly
• writer's block
• novel
• 50000
• chapters
• money
• pressure

Dana fires Olly after catching him watching her try on a wedding dress at Selfridges during work hours. The scene is awkward and suggests Olly was not professionally focused. Graham later tries to convince her to rehire Olly, but she refuses, though the conversation leads to a personal date between Graham and Dana.

Foreshadowing: The wedding dress scene at Selfridges foreshadows Dana's personal life complications and her connection to Olly's professional journey.

• dana
• olly
• fire
• selfridges
• wedding dress
• assistant
• job

At James's stag party, two strippers dressed as policewomen entertain the guests. During this setting, James confesses to Olly that he has cheated on Sarah with his secretary, but he still wants to marry her for money and connections. When Olly considers exposing the truth, James handcuffs him to a pillar to keep the secret hidden.

Foreshadowing: This confrontation directly leads to Olly's race to stop the wedding.

• stag party
• james
• confession
• handcuff
• affair
• secretary
• olly
• strippers

Olly frees himself from the pillar where James handcuffed him and rushes to the wedding venue. With Becka's assistance, he arrives just in time to prevent the ceremony. Becka reveals that James has been unfaithful with his secretary, providing the evidence Sarah needs to make her final decision. Sarah then calls off the wedding permanently.

Foreshadowing: The handcuffing at the stag party is a direct trigger for Olly's urgent action.

• olly
• wedding
• stop
• becna
• james
• affair
• secretary
• call off

After the chaotic events surrounding James's wedding resolve and Olly gets together with Sarah, he finds personal closure and stability. This emotional resolution allows him to reconnect with his creative roots. He picks up the pen again and produces a bestseller, signaling a new chapter in his life and career.

Foreshadowing: Olly's earlier success and subsequent writer's block set up his eventual return to writing.

• olly
• writing
• bestseller
• return
• new chapter
• career
• success

Murray's manipulation stems from his desire to protect Olly and ensure he gets the girl. Though Murray and Olly had drifted apart since university, Murray still views James as an adversary (since Murray vomited on him in the past). Murray believes James is unworthy of Sarah and actively works to expose his true character while steering Olly toward happiness.

Foreshadowing: Murray vomiting on James during their first meeting establishes the enmity that fuels Murray's later schemes.

• murray
• manipulation
• jealousy
• james
• vomiting
• university
• friend