“Big Time” Ending Explained: Ruby Russell’s Journey From Stardom to Redemption
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Literal Account of the Ending
The title story “Big Time” follows Old‑Hollywood starlet Ruby Russell, who time‑travels from 1942 to 2021 after a plane crash. She adapts to modern life, becomes a viral sensation (“Hot Shit Girl”), and joins The Bachelor to boost her fame. During the show, her fake friend Veronica exposes Ruby’s cynical plan to use the show as a stepping‑stone to Bachelor in Paradise and a hosting gig.
At the final rose ceremony, Bachelor Packer shocks everyone by sending Veronica home instead of Ruby. He gives Ruby the last rose and takes her on a fighter‑jet date. The plane malfunctions, and Packer ejects, leaving Ruby alone in the falling craft. She feels the familiar sensation of her “insides getting all light and skippy” and knows “it was over.”
Ruby wakes up back in 1942, disoriented, on the set of her movie Rootin’ Tootin’ Rebel of Rio. She is greeted by director Duncan Wylie and makeup artist Ruth. After confirming she is “home,” Ruby kisses Duncan, corrects his slur about Ruth, and then leaves in her car. She drives to the apartment of Bobbi, a friend from the orphanage whom she had betrayed years earlier. Ruby rehearses apologies in her head (“I’m a backstabbing piece of shit skank”). The story ends with Ruby leaning on Bobbi’s doorbell, waiting to see if Bobbi will let her in.
The Climax: Near‑Death Realization
The physical climax is the plane dive. Ruby’s emotional climax comes during those final seconds: she is angry at herself for never fixing the things she “messed up.” Her regret focuses on her betrayal of Bobbi. This moment of self‑awareness—wanting redemption rather than fame—propels her return to 1942. The crash acts as a literal and metaphorical reset.
Major Character Outcomes
- Ruby Russell – Returns to her original timeline with a changed heart. She abandons the selfish ambition that defined her rise. Her last act is to seek forgiveness from Bobbi, leaving her future open.
- Packer – Ejects from the plane; his fate is unknown. He confessed love for Ruby (“I love you, Ruby!”) but she did not reciprocate. Whether he survives is left ambiguous.
- Veronica – Exposed and dismissed from the show. Her betrayal fails to win Packer; she stalks off after being rejected.
- Bobbi – Not seen, only referenced. Ruby’s doorstep visit is the story’s final image. Whether Bobbi answers is unknown.
- Duncan Wylie, Ruth, Jackie – Secondary figures from Ruby’s 1942 world who reappear only briefly, confirming she is back.
Resolved and Unresolved Threads
- Resolved: Ruby’s arc from calculating opportunist to someone willing to apologize. The theme of identity (faking vs. being real) is resolved when she chooses vulnerability over performance. The satire of modern influencer culture and reality TV concludes with Ruby rejecting both for personal connection.
- Unresolved: The fate of the romance with Packer. Bobbi’s response. Whether Ruby will face consequences for her past betrayals in 1942. The mechanism of time travel is never explained—it remains a magical event.
Theme Resolution
- Identity and Self-Discovery – Ruby discovers that true identity isn’t built on fame or looks but on owning one’s mistakes and seeking amends.
- Satire of Modern Culture – The hyper‑commercialized world of The Bachelor, viral videos, and influencer brands is ultimately hollow. Ruby leaves it behind.
- Power and Control – Ruby loses control over her own narrative when Veronica betrays her, then regains a different kind of power by choosing honesty.
- Family Dysfunction – Ruby’s orphanage trauma and her betrayal of Bobbi are addressed when she returns to the one person she hurt most.
- Body Image and Transformation – Ruby’s temporary super‑fit body (from earlier chapter “Bridal Body”?) is not relevant here; the focus shifts to inward change.
Epilogue
Big Time has no epilogue. The story ends on Ruby’s doorstep moment, a soft cliffhanger that prioritizes thematic closure over plot resolution.
Reasonable Interpretations
- Optimistic reading: Bobbi opens the door, forgiveness begins, and Ruby starts a new life rooted in genuine relationships.
- Ambiguous reading: The door may remain closed, suggesting that some wounds can’t be healed, though Ruby’s effort is what matters.
- Metaphorical reading: The entire time‑travel journey is a psychological pause that forces Ruby to confront her conscience. Waking up in 1942 symbolizes that change must happen in her own timeline.
6 Reader Questions Answered
1. Does Bobbi forgive Ruby?
The story does not show Bobbi’s reaction. Ruby rings the bell and waits. The ending withholds the answer, emphasizing Ruby’s act of seeking forgiveness rather than its outcome.
2. What happens to Packer?
Packer ejects from the plane before Ruby crashes. His fate is unconfirmed. He may have survived (since parachutes exist), but the narrative does not revisit him.
3. Is Ruby’s time travel real or a hallucination?
The text presents it as real: Ruby wakes on her 1942 film set, interacts with others, and drives away. The earlier crash also triggers a similar “waking up” feeling. However, the cause (superluminal travel? coma?) is never explained, leaving room for ambiguity.
4. Why does Ruby choose Bobbi instead of fame?
In the plane, Ruby’s greatest regret is her betrayal of Bobbi. She realizes that “fixing all the stuff I messed up” matters more than any career move. Her visit shows a shift from selfish ambition to personal redemption.
5. Does the ending critique The Bachelor?
Yes. Ruby’s original plan was to “leapfrog” the show for more fame. The finale subverts that: Packer rejects the villain and Ruby leaves the reality‑TV world altogether, suggesting that authentic connections cannot be manufactured by producers.
6. What is the significance of Ruby correcting Duncan’s slur?
When Duncan calls Ruth a “Yid midget,” Ruby immediately corrects him: “It’s ‘little person,’ Duncan!” This moment signals that her time in 2021 has changed her values. She now stands up for respectful language, even in 1942 society. It is a small but concrete proof of her transformation.
For more on the characters and themes, see our in‑depth pages on Ruby Russell, themes of identity and self-discovery, and satire of modern culture.