The Big Fix (1978) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A former radical investigator uncovers a violent conspiracy designed to manipulate a gubernatorial campaign by framing Eppis and protecting hidden conspirators.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Flyer and the Investigation

Moses is recruited to investigate a fraudulent flyer connecting Eppis with Hawthorne. He follows the paper trail through former radicals and commercial intermediaries.

Key Events

• Moses Becomes Investigator — Former student radical Moses now works as a private investigator. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Moses's office
• The Campaign Referral — An ex-girlfriend brings Moses into a gubernatorial campaign investigation. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Campaign surroundings
• Meeting the Campaign Coordinator — Moses meets Sam and is briefed on a threat to Hawthorne's campaign. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian, Hawthorne Location: Hawthorne campaign office
• The Forged Campaign Flyer — A false flyer appears to show Eppis endorsing Hawthorne. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian, Hawthorne Location: Campaign office
• Moses Takes the Case — Sam hires Moses to discover whether Eppis created the flyer. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office

A Trail Turns Violent

The flyer trail leads Moses toward an electronics store and a casino, but the suspect disappears. Moses then discovers the murder of his former girlfriend and breaks with the campaign.

Key Events

• Moses Takes the Case — Sam hires Moses to discover whether Eppis created the flyer. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office
• Searching the Radical Network — Moses contacts former associates of the California Four. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Berkeley-area contacts
• The Procari Lead — Moses receives the name of a businessman’s elusive son linked to Eppis. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Moses's investigation route
• Tracing the Flyer Order — Moses traces the flyer order from the printer to an electronics store. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Printing company
• The Store Owner Disappears — The store owner disappears after Moses tracks him to a casino. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Electronics store
• A Trail Through the Casino — Moses follows the electronics-store lead but loses the fleeing suspect. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Casino
• The Apartment Murder — Moses finds his former girlfriend murdered in her apartment. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Apartment
• Moses Quits the Campaign — Sam emphasizes publicity damage, so Moses quits rather than accept dismissal. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office

Hidden Connections

Alora gives Moses another connection to the missing radical network. A family dispute and renewed bombing threats draw Moses back into the case.

Key Events

• Moses Quits the Campaign — Sam emphasizes publicity damage, so Moses quits rather than accept dismissal. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office
• Alora Enters the Case — Moses meets Alora and learns of her missing relative's connection to the murder. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses's investigation route
• The Father's Offer — A businessman asks Moses to find his estranged son, but Moses declines payment. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Private meeting place
• Bombing Threats Reopen the Case — Sam re-hires Moses after receiving threats of multiple bombings. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office

The Suburban Ambush

Moses finds Eppis living an ordinary suburban life, only to face repeated attacks by hired killers. Alora's associates capture the attackers and expose a kidnapping conspiracy.

Key Events

• Bombing Threats Reopen the Case — Sam re-hires Moses after receiving threats of multiple bombings. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian Location: Campaign office
• Eppis Found in Suburbia — Moses discovers Eppis living comfortably and no longer acting as a radical. Characters: Moses Wine, Eppis Location: Suburban house
• Attack at the Suburban House — Two hitmen attack Moses and Eppis, then flee when Moses triggers an alarm. Characters: Moses Wine, Eppis Location: Suburban house
• Assault at Moses's Office — The hitmen attack Moses again, but Alora and her associates intervene. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses's office
• The Hitmen Are Captured — Alora's group ambushes the attackers and takes them prisoner. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses's office
• The Kidnapping Conspiracy — The hitmen identify the electronics-store owner as their employer and implicate him in the kidnapping. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses's office

Bombing and Betrayal

Moses races to stop an explosives-filled van and kills the person operating the plot. The final revelation shows that Sam's identity and family connections concealed the election conspiracy.

Key Events

• The Kidnapping Conspiracy — The hitmen identify the electronics-store owner as their employer and implicate him in the kidnapping. Characters: Moses Wine, Alora Location: Moses's office
• Moses Warns the Police — Moses contacts the police and warns them about the planned bombings. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Telephone office
• The Remote-Controlled Van — An explosives-filled van is driven remotely with an unconscious man at the wheel. Characters: Moses Wine Location: City streets
• Moses Reaches the Target Site — Moses locates the electronics-store owner near a bombing target. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Bombing target site
• The Bombing Is Stopped — Moses kills the electronics-store owner before he can complete the bombing. Characters: Moses Wine Location: Bombing target site
• A False Claim of Responsibility — A tape is found claiming that Eppis ordered the bombing. Characters: Moses Wine, Eppis Location: Near the target site
• Sam's Hidden Identity — Sam reveals he is Oscar Procari and that his father backed the election-fixing conspiracy. Characters: Moses Wine, Sam Sebastian, Hawthorne Location: Campaign setting

Story Breakdown

• Campaign Recruitment — Moses is drawn into a politically sensitive investigation involving a forged flyer.
  • Former Radical Contact — Moses is approached through a former college relationship.
  • Flyer Investigation — Sam hires Moses to determine whether Eppis created the false endorsement.
• Radical Network Search — Moses searches old associates and follows a lead connected to Eppis's hidden past.
  • California Four History — Eppis's former radical group establishes the investigation's background.
  • Elusive Son Lead — Moses receives the name of a missing businessman’s son.
• Commercial Paper Trail — The forged flyers lead Moses from a printing company to an electronics store and a casino.
  • Printer Records — Moses traces the order through the printing company's records.
  • Disappearing Suspect — The electronics-store owner vanishes after Moses finds him at a casino.
• Murder and Withdrawal — The investigation becomes personal when Moses discovers a murder and rejects the campaign's priorities.
  • Apartment Murder — Moses finds his former girlfriend dead in her apartment.
  • Campaign Break — Moses quits after Sam focuses on publicity rather than the murder.
• Threats and Ambushes — New bombing threats and hired killers force Moses back into the investigation.
  • Suburban Eppis — Moses finds Eppis living comfortably and apparently removed from radical politics.
  • Hitmen Intercepted — Alora and her associates stop attackers targeting Moses and Eppis.
• Bombing Conspiracy — Moses uncovers the operational plot and prevents the bombing before confronting its organizer.
  • Explosive Van — An explosives-filled van is remotely driven toward a target.
  • False Eppis Recording — A tape falsely claims that Eppis ordered the bombing.
• Hidden Campaign Identity — The final revelation exposes Sam's concealed identity and the family-backed scheme behind the political sabotage.
  • Sam's Revelation — Sam admits that he is Oscar Procari.
  • Election Fixing Scheme — Sam reveals that his father backed the plan to implicate Hawthorne with Eppis.

Directed by

Jeremy Kagan

Key Cast

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