Autopsy Room Four
Encyclopedia
"Autopsy Room Four" is a short story by Stephen King
. It was first published in the anthology Robert Bloch's Psychos
in 1997 and appeared in King's limited-edition collection Six Stories
the same year. In 2002, it was collected in King's collection Everything's Eventual
. It was adapted into a short film in 2003. It was also part of TNT's Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King series in the summer of 2006.
. See Breakdown on IMDB
room. As the doctor
s prepare to begin, Howard struggles to come to grips with what is happening.
After realizing that he is not dead, he deduces that he is in a paralysed
state, and struggles to somehow inform the doctors of this fact before they cut into him.
While prepping Cottrell's body, the doctor in charge, Katie Arlen, finds shrapnel wounds around his nether regions. While she is absent-mindedly examining these, another doctor rushes into the room to inform them that Howard is still alive. Katie looks down - to find herself holding Howard's erect penis.
In a humorous afternote, Howard explains that he was possibly bitten by a very rare snake
, causing the death-like paralysis. Another one of the doctors discovered that same snake in his golf bag and was promptly bitten. It is presumed that he will recover. Howard adds that he and Katie dated for a while, but broke up due to an embarrassing problem in the bedroom: he was impotent unless she was wearing rubber gloves.
. However, boomslangs only live in Africa
; the word literally means "tree snake" in the Afrikaans
language. In his notes at the end, King says he got the name from Agatha Christie
: the snake was featured in one of her famous Miss Marple books. King said that boomslang
was just a word he liked, and that he "doubt[ed] like Hell" that a Peruvian one existed.
, if only because it seems to be such a pervasive fear."
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. It was first published in the anthology Robert Bloch's Psychos
Robert Bloch's Psychos
Robert Bloch's Psychos is a 1997 horror anthology that was being edited by Robert Bloch until his death in 1994. Martin H. Greenberg completed the editorial work posthumously.-List of stories:...
in 1997 and appeared in King's limited-edition collection Six Stories
Six Stories
Six Stories is a short story collection by Stephen King, published in 1997 by Philtrum Press. It is limited to 1100 copies, which are signed and numbered. Six Stories contains:...
the same year. In 2002, it was collected in King's collection Everything's Eventual
Everything's Eventual
"Everything's Eventual" is a novella by Stephen King. It was originally published in the October/November 1997 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. In 2000, it was included in the game Stephen King's F13...
. It was adapted into a short film in 2003. It was also part of TNT's Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King series in the summer of 2006.
Source
The plot is based on the set-up of classic short-story "Breakdown" by Louis Pollock, originally published in Collier's Magazine in 1947, in which the protagonist is paralyzed in an auto accident, and must prove that he is alive. At one point in the King story, the protagonist explicitly thinks about the television version of "Breakdown". "Breakdown" appeared on television twice, in 1955 and 1985, both times on Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
. See Breakdown on IMDB
Plot
Howard Cottrell awakes from some form of unconsciousness to find himself laid out in an autopsyAutopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
room. As the doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s prepare to begin, Howard struggles to come to grips with what is happening.
After realizing that he is not dead, he deduces that he is in a paralysed
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
state, and struggles to somehow inform the doctors of this fact before they cut into him.
While prepping Cottrell's body, the doctor in charge, Katie Arlen, finds shrapnel wounds around his nether regions. While she is absent-mindedly examining these, another doctor rushes into the room to inform them that Howard is still alive. Katie looks down - to find herself holding Howard's erect penis.
In a humorous afternote, Howard explains that he was possibly bitten by a very rare snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
, causing the death-like paralysis. Another one of the doctors discovered that same snake in his golf bag and was promptly bitten. It is presumed that he will recover. Howard adds that he and Katie dated for a while, but broke up due to an embarrassing problem in the bedroom: he was impotent unless she was wearing rubber gloves.
Note
Supposedly Howard was bitten by a snake called a Peruvian boomslangBoomslang
The boomslang is a large venomous colubrid snake.-Taxonomy & etymology:It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past...
. However, boomslangs only live in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
; the word literally means "tree snake" in the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
language. In his notes at the end, King says he got the name from Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
: the snake was featured in one of her famous Miss Marple books. King said that boomslang
Boomslang
The boomslang is a large venomous colubrid snake.-Taxonomy & etymology:It is currently the only species in its genus, although several species and subspecies have been described in the past...
was just a word he liked, and that he "doubt[ed] like Hell" that a Peruvian one existed.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
- The short story was adapted as an hour-long episode of the Turner Network Television mini-series Nightmares and Dreamscapes in 2006, along with "The Road Virus Heads NorthThe Road Virus Heads North"The Road Virus Heads North" is a short story by Stephen King. This story first appeared in 999, an anthology published in 1999 and edited by Al Sarrantonio. In 2002, it was collected in King's collection Everything's Eventual....
". - The music video of IncubusIncubus (band)Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
's song, Anna MollyAnna Molly"Anna Molly" is the lead single off Incubus's sixth album, Light Grenades. The single was released September 20, 2006, on the Sony Music Store almost a month before its scheduled release. However, it was soon withdrawn for unknown reasons....
, has a similar plot line.
Background
King writes: "At some point I think every writer of scary stories has to tackle the subject of premature burialPremature burial
Premature burial, also known as live burial, burial alive, or vivisepulture, means to be buried while still alive. Animals or humans may be buried alive accidentally or intentionally...
, if only because it seems to be such a pervasive fear."