Nelson (Flatliners)

Nelson

Background

Nelson Wright is a medical student at Taft University in Chicago, Illinois. When he was nine years old he was sent to Stoneham School for Boys for the accidental murder of Billy Mahoney. Nelson's pet dog was Champ, who was killed when a large branch fell on him.

During the events of Flatliners (1990) played by Kiefer Sutherland and Aeryk Egan

Nelson states that today is a good day to die. While they are in class, Nelson reminds Steckle about their plan for the evening. Joe flirts with Rachel until Nelson pulls her away and asks her about helping out that evening. The Professor tells the class that their upcoming exam grades will be scaled. A Medical Student tells Nelson that Labraccio was given a four month suspension. Nelson goes to speak with Labraccio who is planning on leaving school. Nelson asks him to help him with his experiment, but Labraccio tells him no. In the evening, Nelson, Rachel, Joe and Steckle come together to test an experiment on life after death. Nelson explains to Joe and Steckle the steps he wants them to take to make him brain dead and then bring him back to life. Joe starts to film as Nelson is given nitrous oxide by Rachel and shortly after, Labraccio walks into the room. They stop Nelson's heart and while he is brain dead, Nelson has a vision of Young Nelson and Young Nelson's Friends running in the woods with Champ and a vision of Billy Mahoney. Nelson is brought back to life and they celebrate the successful experiment.

Nelson tells them the experience was great and tells Labraccio that he can hear the sound of the hum of the street lights and a more subtle dragging sound. Rachel and Joe say they want to go next and Joe wins the bidding war due to the length he is willing to be brain dead. Nelson hears the sound of chains dragging and sees Champ dragging itself and whimpering towards him and then disappear. Nelson has a dream that is similar to his vision, except this time he, Nelson's Friends and Champ are chasing Billy through the woods and Nelson falls from a tree. Joe does the experiment next. Joe describes his experience to the others as erotic and the Waitress tells Steckle to watch his language when he cusses and tells them Elvis was in the diner the night before. Nelson challenges Labraccio to go next and Labraccio accepts after taking Rachel's spot. Nelson then asks Joe if there was anything negative about his experience.

As Nelson is walking home, he comes across a Bag Lady mumbling to herself. When he walks by her she tells him in the end, we all know what we have done. He sees Champ crawling and follows Champ into an alley and the spirit of Billy appears before him and beats him. On Halloween, it is Labraccio's turn to die. Labraccio is brought back after some effort and Steckle thinks they should not do the experiment anymore. Nelson tells the others that he wants to go again and Rachel threatens to stop helping if she doesn't go next. Nelson arrives home and is then beaten by Billy again. Rachel goes through with the experiment and Labraccio runs into the room and tells them to bring Rachel back, and the circuit breaker blows as they are trying to bring her back. They manage to bring Rachel back and Labraccio tells the others about seeing Winnie Hicks, and Joe tells the others about seeing women from his past and Nelson tells them about Billy. Nelson puts a large bar across his bedroom door. Nelson, Rachel and Labraccio have more visions of their past.

Labraccio calls around and finds where Winnie lives and takes Nelson with him. Labraccio goes to Winnie's house and rings the doorbell. Sherry answers the door and Winnie walks to the door and tells Sherry to go inside. He introduces himself to her and she lets him into her house. Billy appears in Labraccio's truck and starts beating Nelson with a pick. Labraccio finds Nelson, who is alone, hurting himself. Labraccio drives back to the school and Joe and Steckle tell him about Rachel's incident in class. Labraccio tells Joe and Steckle to help Nelson find where Billy lives. Nelson has Joe stop at a location and then takes the keys and runs off. Joe and Steckle follow him and end up at a cemetery. They then find Nelson standing next to Billy's grave. He tells them that he and Young Nelson's Friends were throwing rocks at Billy who was hiding in a tree when Billy fell out of the tree and and a large branch landed on Champ, mortally wounding them both.

Nelson steals Joe's car and drives away. Nelson calls Rachel and apologizes to her. Nelson flatlines and in this version, it is Nelson being chased by Billy and Young Nelson's Friends. Labraccio, Steckle and Joe find Nelson and try to bring him back. Nelson apologizes to Billy and Billy hits him with a rock and Nelson falls out of the tree. Nelson wakes up in his dream and Billy and Champ are staring at him. Billy smiles at Nelson and then walks away with Champ. Nelson then regains conscious and tells Labraccio that today wasn't a good day to die.