Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss)’s Timeline and Summary
- Roy's called out to fix a major power outage hitting the entire grid.
- He gets lost on his way to Tolono. On a dark back road, he encounters a UFO. Initially freaked out, he quickly gets curious and chases it.
- Roy wakes up Ronnie and the kids and drives them to the hill to search for the UFOs.
- Some time later, his boss calls and fires him because he didn't show up for work last night.
- Roy heads to the UFO-watchers hill and reunites with Jillian and Barry. He sees Barry playing in the mud and recognizes the mountain shape the boy is making as the one he's been seeing in his mind ever since that night in the truck.
- Roy's obsession with the mountain shape begins to stress his relationship with his family.
- After a night of bad family fighting, Roy decides he is done searching for the truth, but when he pulls the top off his mountain structure, he has a Eureka moment.
- He begins gathering bushes, bricks, and chicken wire inside the kitchen. Seeing her husband in such a deranged state, Ronnie takes the children and leaves.
- When we next see Roy, he's in full recluse mode and the proud owner of a huge mountain replica in his living room. Watching a news broadcast, he realizes the mountain image he has been seeing is Devils Tower, Wyoming.
- Roy drives to the evacuation zone and reunites with Jillian. The two drive toward Devils Tower but are captured by government officials.
- He's questioned by Lacombe. Although he demands answers, he doesn't get any.
- He, Jillian, and a man named Larry make a break for it and hike up Devils Tower.
- The two make it to the alien landing site and witness first contact. Roy decides to sneak onto the landing site to get a closer look.
- Roy witnesses the contact with the mother ship. Lacombe pulls some strings and secures him a place on Project Mayflower.
- Chosen by the aliens, Roy is escorted into the mother ship. Before he boards, he looks back and smiles with happiness and anticipation.