Coma (1978) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A surgical resident uncovers a hospital-linked organ trafficking conspiracy after healthy patients are rendered brain dead.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Pattern Of Comas

Susan loses her friend Nancy after a routine procedure and notices another healthy patient becoming comatose. Her chart review reveals repeated cases centered on operating room number eight.

Key Events

• Nancy Enters Coma — Nancy becomes brain dead after a routine procedure, devastating Susan. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Nancy Greenly Location: Boston Memorial Hospital
• Another Surgical Coma — Another young healthy patient falls comatose during knee surgery. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Operating room
• Pattern In Operating Room Eight — Susan finds that similar cases occurred repeatedly in operating room number eight. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Boston Memorial Hospital
• Jefferson Transfers Revealed — The affected patients had tissue samples taken before transfer to the Jefferson Institute. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Boston Memorial Hospital

Authority Closes In

Susan's questions offend Dr. George and draw disciplinary pressure from Dr. Harris. Nancy's death and the morgue inquiry provide a possible explanation involving carbon monoxide.

Key Events

• George Rejects Suspicion — Susan's chart request offends Dr. George, who treats the pattern as unproven. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. George Location: Boston Memorial Hospital
• Harris Threatens Dismissal — Harris reproaches Susan, threatens dismissal, and requires psychiatric consultation. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Boston Memorial Hospital
• Nancy Dies — After Nancy dies, Susan attends the postmortem and asks how coma could be induced. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Nancy Greenly Location: Hospital morgue
• Carbon Monoxide Theory — A pathologist suggests carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible undetectable method. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Hospital morgue

The Hidden Mechanism

A visit to the Jefferson Institute and Kelly's warning push Susan deeper into the investigation. She finds a remotely controlled carbon monoxide system connected to operating room number eight.

Key Events

• Weekend At The Seaside — Harris gives Susan time off, and she spends a relaxing weekend before returning to Boston. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Seaside
• Jefferson Institute Visit — Susan visits the austere institute and learns that a physicians' tour will occur Tuesday. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Nurse Location: Jefferson Institute
• Kelly Is Electrocuted — Kelly, who supported Susan's suspicions, is fatally electrocuted by an unknown man. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Kelly Location: Boston Memorial Hospital
• Basement Gas Tank Found — Susan finds a remotely controlled tank connected through ventilation to operating room number eight. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Hospital basement

The Organ Market

Susan survives an attack and infiltrates the Jefferson Institute during a physicians' tour. She discovers that the facility is a cover for an international human organ black market.

Key Events

• Hospital Attack — A stalking attacker tries to assault Susan, but she escapes and traps him in the cadaver cooler. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Hospital anatomy lab
• Institute Tour Begins — Susan joins a tour presenting the institute as an inexpensive care facility for comatose patients. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Nurse Location: Jefferson Institute
• Restricted Areas Investigated — Susan leaves the tour and secretly investigates restricted areas inside the institute. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Jefferson Institute
• Organ Market Exposed — Susan discovers the institute conceals an international organ market serving the highest bidder. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Jefferson Institute
• Escape On An Ambulance — Security spots Susan, but she escapes atop an ambulance transporting organs toward the airport. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Jefferson Institute compound

The Surgeon Unmasked

Susan reports her discovery to Harris, who drugs her and prepares an operation in room eight. The gas line is destroyed, Susan awakens, and police arrest Harris.

Key Events

• Escape On An Ambulance — Security spots Susan, but she escapes atop an ambulance transporting organs toward the airport. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler Location: Jefferson Institute compound
• Susan Confronts Harris — Susan rushes to Harris to report her discovery, and he offers her a drink. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Dr. Harris's office
• Susan Is Drugged — Susan becomes incapacitated with severe abdominal pain and realizes she has been drugged. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Dr. Harris's office
• Operating Room Eight Revealed — Harris insists on operating room number eight, exposing the connection to the coma scheme. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Boston Memorial Hospital operating room
• Gas Line Destroyed — The gas line from the basement is destroyed before it can render Susan brain dead. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Hospital basement
• Harris Arrested — Susan awakens after surgery, while police officers summoned by Mark arrest Harris. Characters: Dr. Susan Wheeler, Dr. Harris Location: Boston Memorial Hospital

Story Breakdown

• Nancy's Fatal Procedure — Nancy's coma and death transform Susan's grief into suspicion.
  • Routine Surgery — Nancy becomes brain dead after a routine procedure at Boston Memorial Hospital.
  • Morgue Questions — Susan asks pathologists how someone could deliberately induce an undetectable coma.
• The Operating Room Pattern — Susan connects multiple comas to one operating room and a recurring transfer process.
  • Young Patients — Several fit, young patients suffer the same fate during surgery.
  • Jefferson Transfers — The patients have tissue samples taken before transfer to the Jefferson Institute.
• Institutional Resistance — Susan faces professional pressure while trying to examine the hospital's records.
  • George Offended — Dr. George reacts negatively when Susan requests relevant patient charts.
  • Dismissal Threat — Dr. Harris warns Susan that her conduct could cost her position.
• Kelly's Fatal Warning — Kelly confirms Susan's suspicions but is killed before the conspiracy can be safely exposed.
  • Secret Confirmation — Kelly tells Susan that her suspicions are correct.
  • Electrocution — An unknown man fatally electrocutes Kelly at the hospital.
• Carbon Monoxide Scheme — Susan discovers the physical mechanism used to create the comas in operating room number eight.
  • Basement Tank — A carbon monoxide tank is found in the hospital basement.
  • Remote Gas Line — A radio-controlled line runs through ventilation to the anesthesia equipment.
• Jefferson Organ Market — The supposed care facility is revealed as a cover for international organ trafficking.
  • Restricted Investigation — Susan leaves the tour and secretly enters restricted areas.
  • Ambulance Escape — She escapes atop an ambulance carrying harvested organs toward the airport.
• Harris's Final Betrayal — Susan's apparent protector is exposed as the conspirator attempting to use the same coma method against her.
  • Drugged Drink — Harris drugs Susan and creates symptoms resembling appendicitis.
  • Identity Revelation — Susan realizes that Dr. George is actually Dr. George Harris.
• Operating Room Showdown — Mark's intervention prevents Susan's brain death and brings the conspiracy to its immediate conclusion.
  • Gas Line Destroyed — The gas line from the basement is destroyed before the procedure can succeed.
  • Police Arrest — Susan awakens after surgery while police officers arrest Harris.

Directed by

Michael Crichton

Key Cast

• Geneviève Bujold — Dr. Susan Wheeler
• Michael Douglas — Dr. Mark Bellows
• Elizabeth Ashley — Mrs. Emerson
• Rip Torn — Dr. George
• Richard Widmark — Dr. Harris