The Big Fix (1978) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A private investigator uncovers a political conspiracy while tracking a former radical and surviving assassination attempts.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Flyer Conspiracy

Lila hires Moses to investigate fake campaign flyers linking Eppis to Hawthorne. Moses traces the print order to a suspicious electronics store, uncovering a deeper political web.

Key Events

• Lila's Campaign Request — Lila asks Moses to investigate fake flyers linking Eppis to Hawthorne. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Tracking Radical Networks — Moses contacts old radical associates to locate the elusive Eppis. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Berkeley Streets

Murder and Re-hiring

Lila is murdered, and Sam prioritizes campaign optics over justice. Moses quits but is quickly re-hired to handle Eppis's bombing threats, escalating the stakes.

Key Events

• Printing Press Lead — Moses traces the flyer order to an electronics store owned by Pak Chung. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Printing Company
• Pak Chung Vanishes — Moses tracks Pak Chung to a casino, but Pak vanishes before confrontation. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Casino
• Lila's Murder Discovery — Moses discovers Lila murdered, marking a major shift in the investigation. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Lila's Apartment
• Sam's Campaign Indifference — Sam prioritizes campaign publicity over Lila's death, prompting Moses to quit. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Re-hiring for Bombings — Sam re-hires Moses after Eppis threatens a series of bombings. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Vasquez Disappearance — Alora learns her uncle Luis Vasquez met Lila and vanished. Characters: Alora Location: Unknown
• Procari Sr's Offer — Oscar Procari Sr offers payment to find his son, blaming Eppis. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Meeting Place

Uncovering the Network

Moses discovers Eppis's suburban life and survives hitmen attacks. Alora joins forces with Moses to interrogate captives and trace Pak Chung's involvement.

Key Events

• Re-hiring for Bombings — Sam re-hires Moses after Eppis threatens a series of bombings. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Eppis's Suburban Life — Moses visits Eppis's address, discovering his comfortable, non-radical life. Characters: Moses Wine, Eppis Location: Suburban House
• First Hitman Attack — Hitmen attack Moses and Eppis, but flee when Moses triggers an alarm. Characters: Moses Wine, Eppis Location: Suburban House
• Office Ambush — Alora and associates ambush hitmen targeting Moses at his workplace. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses' Office
• Interrogation & Confession — Moses and Alora interrogate hitmen, learning Pak Chung hired them. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Safe House
• Police Warning — Moses warns authorities about the impending bombings. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Police Station
• Eppis's Threat Call — Eppis contacts Sam with bombing threats, fueling the campaign crisis. Characters: Sam Sebastian, Eppis Location: Campaign Office
• Hitmen's Confession — Captured hitmen reveal Pak Chung's involvement in Lila's kidnapping. Characters: Alora, Moses Wine Location: Safe House

The Mastermind Revealed

Pak Chung attempts a remote bombing but is killed by Moses. Sam reveals his true identity as Oscar Procari Jr., exposing the election fix plot and bringing the conspiracy to light.

Key Events

• Police Warning — Moses warns authorities about the impending bombings. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Police Station
• Pak Chung's Van Setup — Pak Chung remotely drives an explosive van with an unconscious Vasquez. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Target Site
• Pak Chung's Death — Moses kills Pak Chung before he can detonate the van. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Target Site
• Eppis's Tape Recording — A tape recording surfaces claiming Eppis responsibility for the bombing. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Target Site
• Sam's True Identity — Sam reveals himself as Oscar Procari Jr., the mastermind behind the plot. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Election Fix Exposed — Moses learns Sam's father orchestrated the plot to implicate Hawthorne. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Final Confrontation — The investigation concludes with the exposure of Sam's manipulation. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office
• Remote Van Chase — Moses pursues the remote-controlled van carrying explosives. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Highway
• Plot Resolution — The election fix scheme collapses after Pak Chung's death and Sam's exposure. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign Office

Story Breakdown

• Campaign Conspiracy Setup — Lila hires Moses to investigate fake flyers, initiating the political thriller.
  • Flyer Investigation — Moses traces the print order to a suspicious electronics store.
  • Campaign Coordination — Sam Sebastian prioritizes optics over genuine justice.
• Radical Network Investigation — Moses leverages his past to track Eppis and uncover hidden connections.
  • Tracking Associates — Moses contacts old radical networks to locate Eppis.
  • Suburban Revelation — Moses discovers Eppis lives a comfortable, non-radical life.
• Murder and Betrayal — Lila's death shifts the investigation from political to personal stakes.
  • Apartment Discovery — Moses finds Lila murdered, marking a major turning point.
  • Sam's Indifference — Sam's focus on publicity prompts Moses to quit temporarily.
• Bombing Threat Escalation — Eppis's threats and Pak Chung's explosives raise the danger level.
  • Re-hiring for Danger — Sam re-hires Moses to handle the bombing crisis.
  • Remote Van Plot — Pak Chung rigs a van with explosives for a remote attack.
• Alliance and Ambush — Alora joins Moses to survive hitmen and extract critical intelligence.
  • Office Ambush — Alora and associates ambush hitmen targeting Moses.
  • Interrogation Tactics — Moses and Alora question captives to trace Pak Chung.
• Mastermind Exposure — The conspiracy collapses as Pak Chung is killed and Sam's identity is revealed.
  • Pak Chung's Death — Moses stops the van and eliminates the bomber.
  • Sam's True Identity — Sam reveals himself as Oscar Procari Jr., exposing the election fix.

Directed by

Jeremy Kagan

Key Cast

• Richard Dreyfuss — Moses Wine
• Susan Anspach — Lila
• Bonnie Bedelia — Suzanne
• John Lithgow — Sam Sebastian
• F. Murray Abraham — Eppis