Young Ones (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Flem kills Ernest during a confrontation over the robotic machine. After Ernest tracks down the machine, he finds Flem using it to smuggle water. When Ernest demands the machine back, Flem refuses and throws a bottle at Ernest's head, killing him. Flem's motivation stems from being outbid for the machine, his desire to continue his smuggling operation, and his resentment toward Ernest for rejecting his courtship of Mary.

Foreshadowing: Flem's violent nature is hinted at earlier when he proposes renting the machine from Ernest, showing his willingness to take what he wants by any means.

• flem
• ernest holm
• death
• murder
• water smuggling

Jerome learns about his father's death from the robotic machine's laser sensor, which has video recording capability. After the machine is found wandering and redirected to a nearby store, the store owner informs Jerome about it. Curious, Jerome examines the machine and watches the recorded footage, which captures the moment Flem killed Ernest with the bottle.

Foreshadowing: The machine's advanced capabilities are not revealed until after Ernest's death, making the discovery a crucial plot twist.

• jerome
• robotic machine
• video recording
• flem
• killing

Jerome kills Flem after discovering that Flem murdered his father Ernest. When Flem falls into a pit during a supply run and breaks his legs, Jerome finds him vulnerable. Rather than exposing Flem to the authorities or community, Jerome chooses to end his life as revenge for killing his father. This act satisfies his desire for justice but forces him to carry the burden of murder himself.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Jerome's anger toward Flem is evident when he confronts him about the machine, showing his emotional investment in his father's fate.

• jerome
• flem
• revenge
• killing
• justice
• pit

Jerome decides to conceal Flem's murder because he wants to protect his sister Mary from the devastating truth that her husband killed their father. Rather than expose the dark reality of their family's history, Jerome allows the community to believe Flem died in an accident. He chooses to bear the secret alone, prioritizing Mary's peace of mind over revealing the painful family betrayal.

Foreshadowing: This decision reflects Jerome's earlier choice to gather information before acting, showing his protective nature toward his remaining family.

• jerome
• mary
• secret
• truth
• protection
• family

Mary marries Flem because he proves valuable to the family's survival. After Ernest's death, Flem helps construct an irrigation system that secures the farm's future. In the harsh post-drought world where water is scarce, Flem's skills and contributions make him an attractive prospect for marriage, ensuring the family's continued existence on the farm.

Foreshadowing: Flem's proposal to Ernest earlier, where he offers to rent the machine, hints at his ambition to integrate himself into the family.

• mary
• flem
• marriage
• irrigation
• survival
• farm

Ernest confronts the water people after his newly purchased robotic machine goes missing. Believing they stole it, he travels to their camp to retrieve his property. During the confrontation, the water people wrongly accuse Ernest of theft, leading to a violent altercation with their leader Caleb. Ernest prevails and takes Caleb's knife as a trophy.

Foreshadowing: Ernest's desperate search for the machine shows his reliance on technology to maintain his farm after losing his mule.

• ernest
• water people
• caleb
• machine
• confrontation

The robotic machine's laser sensor contains a video recording function that captures Flem killing Ernest. The footage shows Flem throwing a bottle at Ernest's head, revealing the truth about Ernest's murder. This recording becomes the key evidence that allows Jerome to understand exactly how and by whom his father died.

Foreshadowing: The machine's recording capability is never mentioned until after Ernest's death, making it an unexpected plot device.

• robotic machine
• recording
• video
• flem
• evidence
• killing

Ernest buys the robotic carrier machine to replace his mule, which had to be euthanized after breaking its legs. The machine serves as a vital tool for transporting supplies and water across the harsh desert landscape. Ernest attends the auction specifically to acquire this technology, outbidding Flem who was also interested in the machine.

Foreshadowing: The loss of the mule sets in motion Ernest's need for an alternative form of transport, directly leading to the machine's acquisition and the subsequent conflict.

• ernest
• robotic machine
• mule
• auction
• replacement

The robotic machine has a default command that directs it toward a nearby store. After Ernest is killed and the machine is damaged, this default programming activates, causing the machine to wander away from wherever Flem had hidden it. This default behavior ultimately leads the store owner to discover the machine and inform Jerome of its whereabouts.

Foreshadowing: The machine's default programming was likely designed by its original manufacturers as a recovery feature, though it serves as an unexpected plot mechanism.

• robotic machine
• store
• default command
• wandering
• location

After Flem kills Ernest, his body is recovered and buried on the family farm. However, the robotic machine mysteriously disappears from the scene after Ernest's death. This creates a gap in the story that allows Flem to marry Mary and present himself as a viable partner without the truth of his crime being immediately discovered.

Foreshadowing: The missing machine becomes a plot device that eventually reveals the truth, but its initial disappearance allows Flem's deception to continue.

• ernest
• burial
• body
• farm
• machine missing