Character Relationship Map: 55 Steps

Characters

• Eleanor Riese (played by Helena Bonham Carter) — protagonist

  The central plaintiff in the landmark case, a woman committed to a mental health facility who refuses antipsychotic medication and fights for her constitutional right to informed consent and judicial...

• Colette Hughes (played by Hilary Swank) — protagonist

  A dedicated ACLU civil rights attorney who takes on Eleanor's case, navigating complex legal and medical ethics to establish precedent regarding involuntary psychotropic medication.

• Mort Cohen (played by Jeffrey Tambor) — supporting

  An experienced legal advisor within the ACLU who mentors and supports Colette Hughes in handling the complex civil rights litigation against the medical establishment.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Colette Hughes → Mort Cohen (Professional Legal Colleagues) — Mort supports Colette's work on Eleanor's case as part of the legal effort.

  Mort Cohen is involved in the legal effort, and Colette continues working on the appeal brief as the case proceeds.

• Eleanor Riese → Colette Hughes (Professional Client And Attorney) — Their attorney-client relationship develops into a caring but sometimes tense partnership as Colette advocates for Eleanor's right to dignity and choice.

  Eleanor asks for a lawyer, and Colette agrees to represent her. Colette works to secure Eleanor's release and challenge the hospital's treatment pract...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Eleanor Riese → Mort Cohen (Alliance Legal Allies) — Mort participates in the case seeking to protect Eleanor's rights, though the account gives little detail about their direct interactions.

  Mort Cohen is involved in the legal effort to challenge the hospital's practices on Eleanor's behalf.

Story Analysis

Eleanor's fight for informed choice and dignity develops alongside a demanding, caring, and sometimes tense partnership with attorney Colette.

Plot Progression

1. A Call for Legal Help — Confined in a psychiatric hospital, Eleanor objects to medication and seeks help through a patients' rights organization. Colette agrees to represent her and presses for access while working toward he...
2. Release and a Difficult Partnership — After Eleanor's release, she and Colette clash over how to spend time together. They continue working on the legal challenge, and Eleanor describes the treatment and medication effects she says she en...
3. Setback and Renewed Appeal — The first court proceedings fail to deliver the outcome Eleanor wants, leaving her angry with the judge and lawyers. Colette promises an appeal, while Eleanor's rosaries and prayers reflect growing af...
4. Loss and Continuing Care — Colette explains the values behind her advocacy as the case continues. After learning that Eleanor's mother has died, she apologizes, helps arrange support, and keeps working on the appeal, while thei...