When The Bough Breaks

When The Bough Breaks

Year: 1947

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Lawrence Huntington

Drama

The bewildered wife of a bigamist allows her child to be adopted and then regrets it.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – When The Bough Breaks (1947)

Trace every key event in When The Bough Breaks (1947) 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

Lily learns her husband is a bigamist and decides to raise Jimmy

Lily Gardner discovers her husband has another wife and is not free to marry. Facing the cost of raising a child alone, she resolves to raise Jimmy under her maiden name, Lily Bates, rather than put him up for adoption. The revelation sets the course for the subsequent years of care and secrecy.

early in the story Lily's home
2

Daily routine: day nursery and department store

Each day Lily leaves Jimmy at a day nursery while she works as a shopgirl in a department store. The arrangement creates a constant tension between Jimmy's care away from home and Lily's own responsibilities. The nursery's warmth contrasts with Lily's struggle to provide for him.

daily routine day nursery and department store
3

Frances Norman grows fond of Jimmy

Frances Norman, a middle-class married woman who works at the nursery to be around children, is drawn to Jimmy. She begins to form a protective, maternal connection with him. This bond foreshadows the later conflict over Jimmy's guardianship.

early in the timeline day nursery
4

Lily falls ill and Frances offers temporary care

Lily, strained by her demanding schedule, contracts the flu and becomes physically weak. Frances persuades Lily to let her and her husband look after Jimmy temporarily. The arrangement hints at a shift in who becomes Jimmy's primary caregiver.

during illness Lily's home
5

Lily visits Jimmy and consents informally to the Normans' care

After recovering, Lily visits Jimmy at the Normans' comfortable home and sees him thriving. She is moved by the care and decides to let the Normans raise him, though she refuses to sign any legal document for adoption. The informal arrangement deepens the emotional complexity of their situation.

after recovery Normans' home
6

Lily withdraws from contact with Jimmy

Lily gradually gives up staying in touch with Jimmy and drops out of his life. The Normans remain the main caregivers, and Jimmy grows up thinking of them as his parents. The distance creates a lasting emotional rift.

months to years later various, mainly in Lily's life
7

Eight years pass; Lily becomes a department store manager

Time passes and Lily climbs the corporate ladder to become a department store manager. Her professional success marks a new independence and resources to claim custody later. The period also widens the gap between Lily and Jimmy.

eight years later department store
8

Lily marries Bill Collins; he accepts Jimmy

Lily marries Bill Collins, a kind shopkeeper who is willing to accept Jimmy as his own. The blended family sketch offers a hopeful future for Jimmy within a two-parent home. The new family dynamic reframes Jimmy's sense of belonging.

eight years later home
9

Lily seeks to reclaim Jimmy; Normans refuse

Lily visits the Normans to reclaim Jimmy, believing he should be with her now that she can care for him. The Normans refuse to hand him over because Lily has not been part of his life for years. The disagreement paves the way for a formal custody battle.

after eight years Normans' home
10

Court awards custody to Lily

A legal battle ensues, and the court awards custody of Jimmy to Lily due to the lack of any formal adoption agreement. The ruling formalizes Jimmy's status as Lily's son in a legal sense. The Normans' care arrangement is thus overridden by the judicial decision.

after legal action courtroom
11

Jimmy moves in with Lily and Bill; struggles to adjust

Jimmy goes to live with Lily and Bill, but he faces difficulty adjusting to their working-class home. He longs for the Normans, whom he regards as his true mother and father. The transition emphasizes the emotional complexities of family bonds.

soon after custody Lily's home
12

Lily, Bill, and a new baby; birthday celebrations

Lily and Bill welcome a baby of their own and celebrate his first birthday. Meanwhile, Jimmy marks his birthday with the Normans, underscoring the continued parallel families. The ending ties together the film's themes of chosen families and the costs of custody.

later, after custody home and Normans' home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:12

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Characters, Settings & Themes in When The Bough Breaks

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