A journey through time and memory centered around a single house and its inhabitants across generations
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Ancient Origins
The land's history from dinosaur extinction through Native American inhabitation
Key Events
Dinosaur Extinction — Dinosaurs roam until extinction Location: The land
Ice Age Begins — Ice age takes hold after extinction Location: The land
Lenni-Lenape Era — Native American people inhabit the area Location: The land
William Franklin's Estate — Area becomes part of colonial estate Location: The land
Colonial Beginnings
The transition from wilderness to colonial estate and house construction
Key Events
William Franklin's Estate — Area becomes part of colonial estate Location: The land
House Construction — The house is built around 1900 Location: The property
Harter Family — First tenants of the new house Characters: John Harter, PaulineLocation: The house
Early Residents
The Harter and Beekman families as first inhabitants of the new house
Key Events
Harter Family — First tenants of the new house Characters: John Harter, PaulineLocation: The house
John's Death — John dies from Spanish flu Characters: PaulineLocation: The house
Beekman Era — Bohemian couple invents La-Z-Boy Characters: Lee, StellaLocation: The house
Family Legacy
The Young family's multi-generational connection to the house
Key Events
Beekman Era — Bohemian couple invents La-Z-Boy Characters: Lee, StellaLocation: The house
Young Family Moves In — Young family buys house after WWII Characters: Al, Rose, Young Richard, Young ElizabethLocation: The house
Richard's Marriage — Richard and Margaret marry after pregnancy Characters: Young Richard, MargaretLocation: The house
Rose's Stroke — Rose suffers debilitating stroke Characters: Rose, AlLocation: The house
Move to Florida — Al and Rose move to rehabilitation facility Characters: Al, RoseLocation: The house
Al Returns — Al moves back in after Rose's death Characters: AlLocation: The house
Richard and Margaret Divorce — Richard and Margaret divorce but remain friends Characters: Richard, MargaretLocation: The house
House Sold — Richard sells house after Al's death Characters: RichardLocation: The house
Modern Times
Recent inhabitants and the final emotional journey back to memories
Key Events
House Sold — Richard sells house after Al's death Characters: RichardLocation: The house
Harris Family — Harris family inhabits the house Characters: Devon, Helen, JustinLocation: The house
Raquel's Death — Housekeeper Raquel dies of COVID-19 Characters: Helen, DevonLocation: The house
Final Visit — Richard takes Margaret to trigger memories Characters: Richard, MargaretLocation: The empty house
Memory Return — Margaret recalls happy memories Characters: MargaretLocation: The empty house
Hummingbird Appears — Hummingbird appears in final scene Location: Outside the house
Story Breakdown
The Land Through Time — Geological and historical evolution of the location
Prehistoric Era — Dinosaurs and ice age
Native American Period — Lenni-Lenape people
Colonial Times — William Franklin's estate
The House and Its Residents — Chronological account of families who lived in the house
Harter Family — First tenants, John's flying passion and death
Beekman Couple — Bohemian inventors of La-Z-Boy
Young Family — Multi-generational residents
Harris Family — Modern inhabitants during COVID
Themes and Motifs — Recurring elements and central themes
Memory — Margaret's dementia and triggered memories
Time Passage — Life cycles across generations
Hummingbird — Symbolic bird appearing throughout
Home — Physical and emotional anchor point
An odyssey through time and memory, centered on a place in New Jersey where—from wilderness, and then, later, from a home—love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations.
