The Con Is On (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Irina is pursuing them primarily because they owe her money from a failed drug deal. However, Peter discovers that Irina's motives extend beyond finances, she harbors romantic feelings for Harry and harbors a deep resentment toward Peter. This combination of unpaid debt and unrequited affection drives her relentless pursuit across to Los Angeles.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in London, Harry and Peter's reckless spending after the cocaine deal set them on a path where they needed Irina's money, creating the debt that fuels her vengeance.

• Irina
• Harry
• Peter
• gangster
• chase
• money
• debt
• feelings

Jackie threw her £5 million blue-stone ring into Harry's wine glass during a moment of fury after Gabriel publicly humiliated her at the awards ceremony by declaring his love for Vivienne instead of her. Betrayed and enraged, Jackie vented her anger on the first person available, Harry, who was conveniently nearby. This act also conveniently helped Harry and Peter execute their escape plan.

Foreshadowing: Tensions had been building between Jackie and Gabriel throughout the film due to Gabriel's secret affairs.

• Jackie
• ring
• wine
• awards ceremony
• Gabriel
• betrayal
• blue-stone

When Harry and Peter arrived at LAX after escaping the mansion shootout, they realized they had mistakenly grabbed the counterfeit ring instead of the genuine £5 million blue-stone ring. This mix-up occurred during the chaotic escape from Jackie's mansion. The fake ring was the one they had intended to swap during the dinner party heist, meaning their entire plan had failed due to this critical error.

Foreshadowing: The dinner party heist had already gone wrong due to Gabriel and Vivienne's drunken interference, preventing them from successfully swapping the rings.

• airport
• LAX
• ring
• fake
• counterfeit
• escape
• heist failed

Harry and Peter's plan to swap Jackie's ring with a counterfeit during a dinner party failed because Gabriel and Vivienne became extremely intoxicated and caused chaos at exactly the wrong moment. Their drunken antics created a diversion that prevented Harry and Peter from executing the ring switch, derailing the entire heist plan.

Foreshadowing: Gabriel was already established as someone who drinks heavily, which ultimately interfered with the con artists' carefully laid scheme.

• dinner party
• heist
• ring swap
• failed
• Gabriel
• Vivienne
• chaos

Sidney, the morally ambiguous priest, betrayed Harry and Peter because he is an opportunist who always looks out for himself. When Irina offered a bounty on the con artists, Sidney saw an opportunity to earn money by informing her of their location. This betrayal aligns with his character as someone who supplements his priestly income with illegal activities and double-crossing.

Foreshadowing: Sidney was introduced as someone involved in illegal activities, establishing his willingness to engage in morally questionable deals.

• Sidney
• priest
• betrayal
• Irina
• bounty
• double-cross

Gabriel publicly embarrassed Jackie during his Best Director acceptance speech by declaring his love for Vivienne instead of his wife. This was a calculated if drunken move that revealed his true priorities. Gabriel was having secret affairs with both Vivienne and Gina, and his public declaration essentially chose Vivienne over Jackie, causing Jackie's furious reaction.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, it was revealed that Gabriel was entangled in secretive affairs with both Vivienne and a family member of Jackie's named Gina.

• Gabriel
• Jackie
• awards ceremony
• Vivienne
• humiliation
• affair
• Best Director

After arriving in Los Angeles, Harry and Peter struck a deal with Sidney the priest to transport a shipment of opium for $40,000. This was supposed to be their way to make quick money and repay Irina. However, the deal ultimately led to complications as Sidney betrayed them and informed Irina about their whereabouts.

Foreshadowing: The deal was proposed immediately after their arrival in Los Angeles, representing their first attempt to escape their financial troubles in America.

• Sidney
• opium
• $40
• 000
• transport
• drug deal
• London

After the disastrous awards ceremony, Harry and Peter sought refuge at Jackie's home. Harry attempted to charm Jackie by posing as a dog whisperer, hoping to gain her favor and potentially keep access to her valuable ring. However, his attempt only succeeded in sending mixed signals to Jackie, further complicating their already chaotic situation.

Foreshadowing: This desperate ploy came after their failed dinner party heist, showing their escalating desperation to find another way to obtain the ring.

• Harry
• dog whisperer
• Jackie
• charm
• desperate
• ring

Harry and Peter did escape Irina in the end. After a chaotic shootout at Jackie's mansion and racing to LAX, they managed to flee to Brazil on a flight. While they didn't get the valuable ring and lost all their money, they escaped alive and evaded Irina's pursuit, though they were left broke.

Foreshadowing: Irina was wounded during the escape when Harry managed to hand her the fake ring while also injuring her.

• Harry
• Peter
• escape
• Irina
• Brazil
• LAX
• alive
• evade

Peter's ex-wife Jackie is now married to film director Gabriel. Their encounter at the Beverly Hills hotel was unexpected and emotionally charged. Jackie was entangled in a complicated marriage with Gabriel, who was having affairs behind her back. Peter found himself in the awkward position of hiding out in her home while plotting to steal her valuable ring.

Foreshadowing: Peter's past relationship with Jackie was revealed when they randomly met at the Beverly Hills hotel, adding personal stakes to their heist plans.

• Peter
• Jackie
• ex-wife
• Gabriel
• relationship
• Beverly Hills
• complicated