Heaven Can Wait (1978) Plot Summary & Timeline

Following a knee injury, Joe Pendleton, a second-string quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, dedicates himself to training, impressing both the team managers and his coach with his remarkable performance. Beyond the football field, Joe finds solace in fitness and often turns to his saxophone as a means of relaxation. On the day of his birthday, his close friend and Rams trainer, Max Corkle, surprises him with a cake and news that the coach has chosen Joe to replace Tom Jarrett as the starting quarterback for an upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys. Energized by this opportunity, Joe intensifies his training regimen, but his journey takes a sudden turn when he faces a life-threatening accident while biking through a tunnel, where he is struck by a van.

With his beloved saxophone still in hand, Joe finds himself in a celestial way station, greeted by The Escort, a guidance figure in this afterlife domain, who informs Joe that it’s time for him to board a craft heading to his final resting place. However, Joe’s instincts tell him that this is merely a fleeting dream, and he staunchly refuses to accept his fate. In a tender interaction, Mr. Jordan, the archangel overseeing this realm, clarifies the situation, revealing that Joe’s arrival here is indeed a mistake. After careful consideration, a clerk reveals that Joe’s true time of death is not until 2025, thus confirming that he was prematurely brought to this heavenly place.

Since Joe’s physical body has already been cremated, Mr. Jordan informs him that the only way back to life is to inhabit another man’s body, provided that man’s death has yet to be discovered. Alongside Mr. Jordan, Joe embarks on a search for a suitable host. Their first stop is the opulent home of Leo Farnsworth, a wealthy industrialist. Here, they witness the malice of Farnsworth’s wife, Julia Farnsworth, and her lover, Tony Abbott, who are plotting murder. They have incapacitated Farnsworth, leaving him to drown in his own bathtub after sedating him. Meanwhile, Betty Logan, a passionate schoolteacher, arrives at the mansion, determined to speak with Farnsworth regarding potential plans that would evict families from her hometown of Pagglesham, England. Instantly captivated by Betty’s spirit and resolve, Joe’s desire to assist her is ignited.

In a remarkable twist, Mr. Jordan allows Joe to temporarily inhabit Farnsworth’s body until a more athletic candidate can be found. Joe soon discovers that while he perceives himself as Joe Pendleton, others perceive him as Leo Farnsworth. Dressed in upscale polo attire, Joe listens to Betty as she passionately opposes the callous developments of Farnsworth’s company, Exo-Grey Industries. Julia, however, is horrified upon seeing her husband alive, leading to confusion and frustration on Betty’s part as she struggles to understand Joe’s identity crisis.

As events unfold, Joe’s boldness at a company board meeting astounds everyone present. He fervently compares Exo-Grey’s position to that of a football team protecting its lead, echoing sentiments of ethics and integrity. That night, after a meaningful conversation with Betty over dinner, Joe expresses his love for her and hints at a divorce from Julia, finding renewed purpose in this unexpected life. Determined to pursue football, Joe begins intense training with Max at the estate, turning Farnsworth’s mansion into an impromptu football camp, despite Max’s initial skepticism.

As Joe continues to prove his worth on the field, Julia and Abbott remain wary of his intentions, plotting against him as they fear retaliation for their murderous schemes. Amidst all this turmoil, Joe boldly proposes to Betty during a romantic stroll. Just as she enthusiastically responds, The Escort delivers crushing news—Joe must abandon Farnsworth’s body. With deep trepidation about the uncertain fate that awaits him, Joe implores Betty to remember the connection they shared.

Ultimately, Mr. Jordan emphasizes that Joe’s departure is destined, yet Joe is resolute, eager for one last chance at playing in the upcoming Super Bowl and being with Betty. In a dramatic turn of events, he is fatally shot from a distance, leading to an inevitable return to Heaven. As news of Farnsworth’s disappearance circulates, the tension thickens among those left behind, with the detective, Krim, questioning all involved to uncover the truth amid chaos.

Just as the Super Bowl commences, Joe is transported to the game where he senses destiny intertwining with the life of a new quarterback, Tom Jarrett, who is seriously injured during play. With a courageous leap, Joe seizes the opportunity to inhabit Tom’s body just before Tom’s impending death, miraculously recovering on the field. In the ensuing excitement of the Rams winning the Super Bowl, Joe loses his identity as Joe Pendleton, taking on Tom’s memories as his own.

In the aftermath of the victory celebration, a melancholy realization dawns on his longtime friend, Max, who grieves the loss of the man he knew as Joe. As Joe, now in Tom’s body, exits the scene, he encounters Betty once more. Puzzled yet intrigued, he asks her out for coffee, prompting a spark of connection where she recalls the essence of Farnsworth she had grown to admire, hinting at a continuation of their story in the world of football—a grip of fate tightly intertwined yet unfolding anew.