The Invisible Woman (1983) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Sandy becomes invisible when she accidentally spills the invisibility formula on herself while visiting Dr. Plunkett's lab. Chuck the chimpanzee had already knocked over the container, and in the chaos of trying to contain the situation, Sandy's exposure to the liquid causes her to vanish from sight.

• invisibility formula
• chimp
• lab accident
• Sandy Martinson

Dr. Plunkett discovers that Sandy can appear passably visible using makeup, a wig, and sunglasses. This partial solution allows her to function in public and return to work at the newspaper, though she remains truly invisible underneath the disguise.

• makeup
• disguise
• Plunkett
• Sandy visibility

Sandy decides to use her invisibility as a investigative tool because her editor assigns her to probe an art gallery theft. She sees the ability as a unique advantage that could help her get closer to the truth, even choosing to go nude to slip through inaccessible areas.

• art theft
• investigation
• Sandy reporter
• invisibility advantage

Carlisle Edwards, a wealthy philanthropist, is revealed to be the mastermind behind the scheme. He tasks two henchmen with stealing Cleopatra's scepter, a priceless artifact rumored to carry a deadly curse. Edwards is eventually arrested as a co-conspirator.

• Carlisle Edwards
• mastermind
• henchmen
• Cleopatra scepter

Plunkett's demonstration fails because his proof is undermined - the cage that appeared empty (where invisible Chuck should have been) had actually been swapped with a different chimpanzee the day before. Without the actual invisible chimp, he has no evidence to present, leading Dr. Farrington to rebuke him for lacking proof.

• board meeting
• evidence
• Chuck chimpanzee
• Farrington

After the failed board meeting, Sandy chooses to keep her invisibility secret so she can continue helping as a reporter without endangering the research project. She fears that revealing her condition would compromise both her career and Plunkett's work at the Institute.

• secret
• Sandy
• Plunkett
• Institute research

At the museum, Sandy goes invisible and pretends to be the "curse of Cleopatra" to frighten the thieves attempting to steal the scepter. This ruse causes them to chase her in panic, leading to her being trapped in a sarcophagus but also creating chaos that helps the police eventually apprehend them.

• Cleopatra
• curseness
• thieves
• museum
• sarcophagus

After escaping the museum, the thieves kidnap Sandy and force her to drive their getaway car while police pursue them. During the chase, she removes her makeup to become invisible again and reclaims her Cleopatra identity, ultimately convincing the panicked thieves to abandon their weapons and surrender to police.

• hostage
• getaway car
• chase
• Sandy surrender

Dr. Farrington fires Plunkett after the failed board demonstration because there was no concrete evidence to support the invisibility claims. The missing invisible chimp and lack of proof make Plunkett's research appear unsubstantiated, putting his continued work at the Institute in jeopardy.

• fired
• Farrington
• Plunkett
• Institute
• dismissal

Sandy accompanies Plunkett to interrupt a board meeting with Dr. Farrington. While still invisible, she performs practical pranks on the board members - moving objects and creating mysterious disturbances - which mystifies everyone and demonstrates the real-world impact of invisibility. This convinces Farrington to reinstate Plunkett and resume his research.

• reinstate
• Farrington
• board meeting
• Sandy pranks
• Plunkett job