The Dead

The Dead

Year: 1987

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: John Huston

DramaMoving relationship storiesPassion and romanceHeartbreaking and moving family dramaTouching and sentimental family stories

A sweeping, joyous and unconventional love story unfolds after a lively holiday dinner. The celebration quickly turns tense as a husband and wife confront the thorny issues that have been straining their marriage, exposing hidden emotions and testing their bond.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Dead (1987)

Trace every key event in The Dead (1987) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Guests arrive for Epiphany dinner

Snow blankets Dublin as horse-drawn carriages deliver guests to the Morkan townhouse. The annual Epiphany dinner begins to unfold with Mary Jane's students arriving, the bachelors being introduced, and the house filling with music and chatter.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
2

Dan Brown and the Conroys arrive; introductions

Dan Brown, the sole Protestant guest, arrives alongside Gabriel Conroy and his wife Gretta, stirring quiet anticipation. Miss O'Callaghan, Miss Furlong, and Miss Higgins enter with the young bachelors, and Kate and Julia greet them, setting the social stage for the evening.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
3

Gabriel assists Freddy Malins as he sobers up

Gabriel keeps a watchful eye on Freddy Malins as the drunk guest begins to derail the gathering. He escorts Freddy to the restroom to steady him, trying to preserve decorum and keep the rhythm of the party intact.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
4

Mrs. Malins rebukes Freddy for missing tea

Freddy's mother, Mrs. Malins, berates him for failing to meet her for tea earlier, reminding him of family expectations. She lives in Scotland with her daughter, adding a distant, watching presence to Freddy's misbehavior and the party's undercurrents.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
5

Music, dance, and a wavering mood

The guests dance as Mary Jane performs a virtuosic piano piece and Mr. Grace recites 'Broken Vows,' a lament of lost love. Gretta's eyes grow misty during the poem, signaling an undercurrent of memory and longing in the room.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
6

Gabriel paired with Molly Ivors; argument about Ireland

Kate pairs Gabriel with Molly Ivors, who chides him for writing for an English newspaper and not embracing Irish language. Gabriel snaps that he is sick of Ireland, revealing his conflicted stance and foreshadowing tensions in his marriage.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
7

Aran Islands trip and Julia's sing-song plan

Gretta tries to persuade Gabriel to join Molly on a summer trip to the Aran Islands, while Kate announces Julia will sing 'Arrayed for the Bridal.' The conversation threads through dreams of travel and the performances that define the family's reputation.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
8

Freddy's overbearing enthusiasm and the Pope

Freddy, despite his nerves, gushes over Julia's singing, while Kate complains about the Pope's authority cutting short her sister's church choir days. The tension between performance, piety, and personal history becomes palpable.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
9

The feast and Gabriel's toast

During the sumptuous feast, conversations range from opera to morality. Freddy keeps blurting out awkward remarks, but Gabriel gives a rousing speech praising the hospitality of Kate, Julia, and Mary Jane, highlighting the communal warmth behind the evening.

Evening of January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
10

Near departure: Gabriel helps the Malins and Mr. Brown

As the party winds down, Mrs. Malins asks Gabriel to look after Freddy for the journey home. Gabriel awakens Mr. Brown and helps arrange a carriage with the Malins, signaling the practical end of the festivities.

Late evening, January 6, 1904 Outside the Morkan townhouse, Dublin
11

Bartell D'Arcy's delayed aria; Gretta's reverie

Bartell D'Arcy finally sings 'The Lass of Aughrim' to Miss O'Callaghan, drawing Gabriel's attention as he watches Gretta from the stairs. She stands transfixed, consumed by the music and by memories that hover near the surface of the room.

Late evening, January 6, 1904 Morkan townhouse, Dublin
12

The carriage ride; Gretta's sadness lingers

In the carriage to their hotel, Gretta remains pensive and resists Gabriel's attempts to cheer her. The distance between them grows as night deepens, and the silence becomes heavy with unspoken emotion.

Late night, January 6, 1904 Carriage to the hotel, Dublin
13

The hotel room revelation and snow imagery

In their hotel room, Gabriel asks what Gretta is thinking and learns of Michael Furey's tragedy. She recounts his vow at her window and his death from the cold, the memory haunting Gabriel. He realizes that love can burn with intensity and that he may die like Julia, while an all-encompassing snow washes over the living and the dead.

Early hours of January 7, 1904 Hotel room, Dublin

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:26

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