PrimerMovie.com

[psykomakia]

I know there are a dozen timelines out there, and mine isn't adding anything. I wanted to complete my own, from scratch.

I also know that my notation isn't popular. It's the best way I could use to distinguish between two Aarons existing at the same time, one in Russelfield, one in Abe's apartment.

I try to leave out speculation, and I don't go into too much plot detail. I only refer to specific scenes/events, etc. The purpose of this timeline is to show someone new to the movie, in hopes they can better understand that BASIC plot.

Thanks.

---------------

Primer Timeline

Notes:
- Times are not accurate. They are merely used for clarity.
- This Timeline Summary only deals with events after Abe discovers that the boxes allow for time travel.
- Timeline 2 is not “another” timeline; it is the second revision of the only timeline: reality.
- Each time-traveling entity is noted with a number suffix. Aaron0 is the original Aaron, but Aaron5 does not mean that there are five Aarons currently existing in the timeline. Aaron5 is Aaron-who-has-time-traveled-five-times. When a double is created (by deterring time travel that had taken place in a previous version of the timeline), the double is given a name to differentiate it between the other Aaron existing concurrently in the same timeline.
- Bold lines are scenes in the movie. Bold italics are scenes in the movie told as flashback.

;---------------
; Timeline 0 – not shown in movie
;---------------

Monday

5:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the failsafe machine (box F0).
6:00 am – Box F0 activates. No one exits.
8:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the first testable box (box A0).
9:00 am – Box A0 activates. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Abe0 drives to and stays at a hotel in Russelfield. Aaron0 goes to work.
3:00 pm – Aaron0 is at work. Abe0 enters box A0. (This creates Timeline 1).

;---------------
; Timeline 1 – not shown in movie
;---------------

Monday

5:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the failsafe machine (box F0).
6:00 am – Box F0 activates. No one exits.
8:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the first testable box (box A0).
9:00 am – Box A0 activates. Abe1 exits the box.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Abe0 drives to and stays at a hotel in Russelfield. Abe1 finds Aaron0 at the bench and explains what he has found.
3:00 pm – Abe0 enters box A0. Aaron0 and Abe1 watch from the field.
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Aaron0 and Abe1 make another box (box B0).
9:00 pm – 12:00 am – Robert’s birthday party is interrupted by Rachel’s ex-boyfriend and his shotgun. Neither Aaron0 nor Abe1 are at the party.

Tuesday

8:45 am – Aaron0 and Abe1 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron0 and Abe1 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library.
3:00 pm – Aaron0 and Abe1 enter boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 2).

;---------------
; Timeline 2 – not shown in movie
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 1

Tuesday

8:45 am – Aaron0 and Abe1 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron1 and Abe2 exit.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron0 and Abe1 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library. Aaron1 and Abe2 buy stocks in Abe’s apartment.
3:00 pm – Aaron0 and Abe1 enter boxes A0 and B0. Aaron1 and Abe2 watch from the field.

Wednesday

8:45 am – Aaron1 and Abe2 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron1 and Abe2 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library.
3:00 pm – Aaron1 and Abe2 enter boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 3).

;---------------
; Timeline 3 – not shown in movie
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 2
Tuesday – same as Timeline 2

Wednesday

8:45 am – Aaron1 and Abe2 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron2 and Abe3 exit. Abe3 tells Aaron2 about the beach dream he had in the box.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron1 and Abe2 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library. Aaron2 and Abe3 buy stocks in Abe’s apartment.
3:00 pm – Aaron1 and Abe2 enter boxes A0 and B0.
7:00 pm – Aaron2 finds the failsafe F0. He enters failsafe F0 with boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 4).

;---------------
; Timeline 4 – first bench scene in movie
;---------------

Monday

5:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the failsafe machine (box F0).
6:00 am – Box F0 activates. Aaron3 exits with boxes A1 and B1.
6:00 am – 9:00 am – Aaron3 sets up his own failsafe A1 and replaces Abe’s failsafe with B1. Aaron3 starts the timers on the new failsafes and no one exits them. Aaron3 drugs Aaron0, creating a double. HoodedAaron3 stuffs OriginalAaron0 in the attic. Aaron3 begins recording events, wearing headphones so that the recording will match when he must wear the headphones to hear them.
8:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the first testable box (box A0).
9:00 am – Box A0 activates. Abe1 exits the box.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Abe0 drives to and stays at a hotel in Russelfield. Abe1 finds Aaron3 at the bench and explains what he has found. Aaron3 is wearing his headphones, but isn’t listening to anything.
3:00 pm – Abe0 enters box A0. Aaron3 and Abe1 watch from the field.
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Aaron3 and Abe1 make another box (box B0).
9:00 pm – 12:00 am – Robert’s birthday party is interrupted by Rachel’s ex-boyfriend and his shotgun. Aaron3 attends the party and “rushes” him. Everyone calls him a hero, but Rachel’s ex-boyfriend is not arrested.

Tuesday

8:45 am – Aaron3 and Abe1 start the timers for the boxes A0 and B0.
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron3 and Abe1 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library.
3:00 pm – Aaron3 and Abe1 enter boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 5).

;---------------
; Timeline 5
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 4

Tuesday

8:45 am – Aaron3 and Abe1 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron4 and Abe2 exit; Aaron4 exits early/late to appear new at time-travel.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron3 and Abe1 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library. Aaron4 and Abe2 buy stocks in Abe’s apartment.
3:00 pm – Aaron3 and Abe1 enter boxes A0 and B0. Aaron4 and Abe2 watch from the field.
7:00 pm – Aaron4 and Abe2 talk about what they would do if “above the law.” The idea of punching Platts is spoken. Aaron’s wife calls him a would-be hero, echoing the “hero” label already being applied to Aaron due to Robert’s party, but Abe doesn’t know yet. Aaron’s wife mentions the “rats” in the attic, which is actually drugged Aaron0 (Original Aaron).

Wednesday

8:45 am – Aaron4 and Abe2 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron4 and Abe2 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They fill the truck with gas and discuss that punching Platts is impossible. They research stocks at a library and discuss telling Aaron’s wife. Aaron’s handwriting is terrible.
3:00 pm – Aaron4 and Abe2 enter boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 6).

;---------------
; Timeline 6
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 5
Tuesday – same as Timeline 5

Wednesday

8:45 am – Aaron4 and Abe2 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron5 and Abe3 exit. Aaron5 lies to Abe3 about the beach dream Abe3 had. Aaron5’s ear bleeds.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron4 and Abe2 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library. Aaron5 and Abe3 buy stocks in Abe’s apartment.
3:00 pm – Aaron4 and Abe2 enter boxes A0 and B0.
7:00 pm – Robert and Phillip tell Abe about the party, and Aaron’s heroics. Abe still doesn’t know that Aaron needed time travel to do it.
11:00 pm – Aaron and Abe search for the cat. Abe lectures Aaron about putting himself in danger, considering he has a family.

Thursday

8:45 am – Aaron5 and Abe3 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron5 and Abe3 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. Aaron forgets to turn off his cell phone.
3:00 pm – Aaron5 and Abe3 enter boxes A0 and B0. (This creates Timeline 7).

;---------------
; Timeline 7
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 6
Tuesday – same as Timeline 6
Wednesday – same as Timeline 6

Thursday-Friday

8:45 am – Aaron5 and Abe3 start the timers for the boxes (box A0 and B0).
9:00 am – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron6 and Abe4 exit.
8:45 am – 2:45 pm – Aaron5 and Abe3 drive to and stay at a hotel in Russelfield. They research stocks at a library. Aaron6 and Abe4 buy stocks in Abe’s apartment. Abe4 eats a muffin, and Aaron6 temporarily forgets how they win the basketball game they bet on. Aaron6 and Abe4 go to eat, and Aaron’s phone rings again. They realize that symmetry isn’t as critical as previously thought.
3:00 pm – Aaron5 and Abe3 enter boxes A0 and B0.
4:45 pm – Abe4 starts the timers for boxes A0 and B0.
5:00 pm – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. No one exits.
2:00 am – Kids start off the car alarms, waking up Abe4. He explains his plan to Aaron6 to punch Platts. They find Granger1, call Granger0, and chase Granger1 until he passes out. Aaron6 and Abe4 enter box A0 together. (This creates Timeline 8).

;---------------
; Timeline 8
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 7
Tuesday – same as Timeline 7
Wednesday – same as Timeline 7

Thursday-Friday

4:45 pm – Abe4 starts the timers for boxes A0 and B0.
5:00 pm – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron7 and Abe5 exit box A0. They stop B0 and then restart the timer.
5:15 pm – Box B0 activates. No one exits.
2:00 am – Kids start off the car alarms, waking up Abe4. He explains his plan to Aaron6 to punch Platts. They find Granger1, call Granger0, and chase Granger1 until he passes out. Aaron6 and Abe4 enter box A0. Aaron7 and Abe5 try to confront Granger1, but he still passes out. Aaron7 and Abe5 must try again, this time entering box B0. (This creates Timeline 9).

;---------------
; Timeline 9
;---------------

Monday – same as Timeline 8
Tuesday – same as Timeline 8
Wednesday – same as Timeline 8

Thursday-Friday

4:45 pm – Abe4 starts the timers for boxes A0 and B0.
5:00 pm – Boxes A0 and B0 activate. Aaron7 and Abe5 exit box A0. They stop B0 and the restart the timer.
5:15 pm – Box B0 activates. Aaron8 and Abe6 exit.
2:00 am – Kids start off the car alarms, waking up Abe4. He explains his plan to Aaron6 to punch Platts. They find Granger1, call Granger0, and chase Granger1 until he passes out. Aaron6 and Abe4 enter box A0.
Aaron7 and Abe5 try to confront Granger1, but he still passes out. Aaron7 and Abe6 must try again, this time entering box B0.
Aaron8 and Abe6 argue about how much Granger could have changed. Abe6 finally realizes that it is out of control, and that he needs to use his failsafe.
4:00 am – Abe6 enters what he thinks to be failsafe F0, but is actually failsafe B1. Aaron, too, at some point, uses Failsafe A1. (This creates Timeline 10).

;---------------
; Timeline 10 – second bench scene in movie
;---------------

Monday

5:45 am – Abe0 starts the timer for the failsafe machine (box F0).
6:00 am – Box F0 activates. Aaron3 exits with boxes A1 and B1.
6:00 am – 9:00 am – Aaron3 sets up his own failsafe A1 and replaces Abe’s failsafe with B1. Aaron3 starts the timers on the new failsafes.
Aaron9 exits A1. (He set his failsafe up to begin before Abe’s, to retain control.)
Abe7 exits B1 at the wrong time (his calculations were for F0) and is woozy.
Aaron3 drugs Aaron0, creating a double. HoodedAaron3 stuffs OriginalAaron0 in the attic.
Aaron9 confronts Aaron3. HoodedAaron3 wins the fight, but realizes that GreySweatshirtAaron9 has already recorded everything, and is one step ahead HoodedAaron3. HoodedAaron3 leaves, creating a second double. There are now three Aarons (OriginalAaron0 in the attic, HoodedAaron3 leaving town, and GreySweatshirtAaron9 using the tapes).
Aaron9 begins listening to the events he has recorded.
Abe7 gases OriginalAbe0 before he wakes up. He stuffs OriginalAbe0 in a closet, creating a double.
9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Abe7 finds Aaron9 at the bench and tries to explain what he has found; he faints. Aaron9 explains to Abe7 what he has done. He goes to the basketball court to ensure that Rachel’s ex-boyfriend attends the party with a co-worker. Abe7 watches.
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Aaron9 and Abe7 discuss the party. Abe7 is hesitant to put everyone in harm’s way. Aaron9 explains that Rachel’s boyfriend doesn’t shoot the first time when they weren’t there (Timeline 1) or when he rushes him (Timeline 4). He convinces Abe7 to attend the party with him so they can “perfect” the scene.
9:00 pm – 12:00 am – Robert’s birthday party is interrupted by Rachel’s ex-boyfriend and his shotgun. Aaron9 and Abe7 attend the party and stop him. Rachel’s ex-boyfriend is finally arrested.

Tuesday

9:00 am – Aaron9 and Abe7 talk at the airport. Aaron9 wants to leave, allowing OriginalAaron0 to have his old life, and go off to experiment more with the boxes somewhere else. Abe7 wants to stay in town, in the shadows, allowing OriginalAbe0 to have his old life, but to alter the machines so that no one else can time travel.
1:00 pm – HoodedAaron3 calls someone (Aaron0 or Abe0?) to explain what has happened, creating the voice-over narration for the movie.

---------------

Thoughts?

[dallasdeckard]

This is absolutely perfect; no one else has done it as well or as succinctly as this. This jives exactly with what happens in the film, and it makes perfect sense as to the Granger incident. The filmmaker himself says that the Granger incident is not addressed in the film, and I think people speculating on that *confuses* what happened.

I totally agree with this synopsis. I have always contended that there are THREE Aarons, and it was not an earlier Aaron that convinced a later Aaron to give up, but rather the LAST Aaron that convinced an earlier Aaron to give up.

You did this so well, it was exactly what was in my head, but I didn't know how to express it. I think it is actually too hard to try to use an actual flowchart with lines and so forth. This linear expression is much better at expressing what happened.

Everyone else seems to get stuck on how Aaron leapfrogs before Abe. I have shown that it would be easy to "leapfrog" back further and further, using 2 boxes - a box in a box. For example, you have two boxes, you turn both on, and you leave for three days. You come back and take down box 2 *without turning it off* and take it with you into box 1 after you turn it off. You then wait three days in box 1 and emerge when you turned on box 1 and 2. You then set up box 2 *without interrupting it's power supply*. Box 2 has now been on for *six* days, and when you turn it off and get it, you stay in it for *six days*. When you emerge from box 2, you will now be *six days* before you even BUILT box 1 or box 2.

I like what you came up with though, but you can see that it would still work if Aaron had leapfrogged before any box was even CREATED using the two box scenario. Then Aaron 3 (the third double) would just lay low and drug Aaron 2, and then meet Abe at the bench and go on from there.

Aaron need not create a new box for Abe to failsafe back in, because Abe cannot failsafe back further than Aaron 3 can using the two boxes. In other words, Aaron doesn't need to alter the failsafe box Abe knows about. Aaron simply failsafes back, takes the two "day trading" boxes and puts them where no one can find them, turns them on, waits five days, puts one box in another, failsafes back with the other box *still turned on*, gets out, sets up box 2, turns it off, gets in and waits however long he wants. He could get out early if he wants, maybe just one day EARLIER than Abe can failsafe back using his original failsafe box.

The only thing is, and you expressed it perfectly, Aaron MUST failsafe FIRST.

Anyway, your post is extremely well written, very well laid out, it is so excellent I cannot express how impressed I was when I read it. Once someone reads your post, I don't know how they could see it any other way *using* the available knowledge in the movie.

Do I have your permission to post your post in the IMDB.com forum, if I credit you as the source and post a URL back to the original? I won't take any credit for your post, but I would like to post it because it is so perfect and because it so excellently expresses what I believed actually happened (but I was unable to express it as well as you).
[/i]

[foobario]

[vode]