The Very Thought of You (1944) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Janet invites Dave to Thanksgiving because she learns he has no close family nearby to spend the holiday with. Having known Dave from their school days, she sees an opportunity to bring warmth into her home for a soldier who would otherwise be alone. This act of kindness sets the foundation for their romantic relationship.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Dave mentions he has no family nearby, which is why Janet extends the invitation.

• janet
• wheeler family
• thanksgiving invitation
• dave
• loneliness

Molly, Janet's older sister, disapproves of Dave primarily because he's a military man whose life is spent far from home. She worries about the instability of wartime separation and the uncertainty of whether he'll return. Her disapproval is also tied to her own struggles with fidelity in her marriage to Fred, making her skeptical of romantic decisions made during wartime emotional intensity.

• molly
• disapproval
• janet
• dave
• military
• wartime

Ellie, the perceptive younger sister, notices the growing attraction between Janet and Dave and wants to help bring them together. As the most genuinely hospitable member of the family aside from her father Pop, Ellie takes the initiative to arrange a sunrise date, believing their connection is worth nurturing despite the family tensions.

Foreshadowing: Ellie observes their interactions throughout the Thanksgiving dinner and notices the mutual interest.

• ellie
• thanksgiving morning date
• janet
• dave
• arrangement

After spending the day at Mount Wilson, Dave and Janet lose track of time and return very late, around 3 a.m. Rather than risk waking the family or facing judgment for their late arrival, they sneak to Cora's apartment where they fall asleep together. This moment marks a turning point in their physical relationship and deepens their bond.

Foreshadowing: The Mount Wilson outing was planned as a long day trip, and Ellie's earlier arrangement set the stage for their growing intimacy.

• cora apartment
• mount wilson
• late return
• intimacy
• 3 a.m

Molly intercepts Dave's letters to Janet as a continuation of her disapproval of their relationship. By withholding the letters, she hopes to create distance between the newlyweds and maintain control over the family dynamics. This action significantly strains the couple's communication during wartime separation and intensifies Janet's feeling of isolation.

Foreshadowing: Molly's disapproval was established early when she objected to the marriage and the honeymoon plans.

• molly
• intercepted letters
• janet
• dave
• family tension

Janet moves out of her family home because she feels unwelcome there, primarily due to her mother's hesitation and Molly's open disapproval of her marriage to Dave. The constant friction over her relationship and the intercepted letters create an unbearable situation, so she chooses to find independence with Cora and build her own life away from the family conflict.

Foreshadowing: The tension at the Thanksgiving dinner and Molly's continued disapproval set the stage for Janet's decision to leave.

• janet moves out
• cora apartment
• family conflict
• independence

Janet's pregnancy shifts the family dynamics from romantic conflict to shared responsibility. The news intensifies existing tensions but also forces the family to confront their objections more seriously. Molly's skepticism softens over time, and even the disapproving older generation must reconsider their stern assumptions about Dave. The pregnancy transforms the relationship from a rebellious romance into a matter of family legacy.

• pregnancy
• family dynamics
• molly
• reconciliation
• responsibility

When news arrives that Dave and Fixit have been wounded in the war, Janet's family finally relents in their opposition to the marriage. The shared danger and fear of losing him softens their long-standing reservations. This moment demonstrates how the wartime context forces the family to prioritize love and survival over their grievances, bringing about reconciliation.

• dave wounded
• family relents
• war
• reconciliation
• acceptance

After Janet moves in with Cora, Dave and Janet attempt a discreet reconciliation. When they travel to San Diego for a rendezvous, they find every hotel and trailer park fully booked due to the war. Forced to be creative, they find privacy on a sunlit beach, where they solidify their commitment despite the obstacles. Fixit helps facilitate this meeting, showing his loyal support.

Foreshadowing: Their relationship was already established through marriage and the pregnancy news.

• san diego beach
• rendezvous
• fixit
• discreet meeting
• hotels full

Mrs. Harriet Wheeler is hesitant about Dave because he's a military man whose life is spent at sea, making him an unpredictable and potentially absent husband. She fears that Janet will be left waiting and worrying, vulnerable to the same uncertainties that have already affected other military families. Her hesitation comes from a protective mother's concern rather than outright rejection.

• mrs. wheeler
• hesitation
• dave
• janet
• protective mother