Character Relationship Map: 9 Month Stretch

Characters

• Ariane Felder (played by Sandrine Kiberlain) — protagonist

  Ariane Felder is a judge in her forties who is single and strongly reluctant to date men. After drinking heavily on New Year's Eve, she discovers six months later that she is pregnant. She investigate...

• Bob Nolan (played by Albert Dupontel) — supporting

  Bob Nolan, also known as Robert Nolan, is a famous repeat burglar associated with prostitutes and suspected of brutally mutilating an old man. After being arrested, he recognizes Ariane during an inte...

• Maître Trolos (played by Nicolas Marié) — supporting
• Policier Video surveillance (played by Bouli Lanners) — supporting
• Mr. De Lime (played by Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Policier Video surveillance → Ariane Felder (Professional Investigation Assistant) — The inspector assists Ariane in examining evidence that helps her identify herself in the footage from New Year's Eve.

  An inspector brings Ariane a DNA report and helps her review surveillance footage from around the High Court.

• Maître Trolos → Bob Nolan (Professional Defense Lawyer) — Trolos represents Bob in the case and argues against reducing him to a label; the account ends during this closing argument.

  Maître Trolos attempts to defend Bob in court, arguing that society should not simply label people monsters or freaks.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Bob Nolan → Mr. De Lime (Conflict Accused Attacker) — Bob is accused of a brutal attack on Mr. De Lime, and the accusation forms the central case that Ariane examines.

  Bob is accused of breaking into Mr. De Lime's home, attacking him with a grinder, and eating his eyes.

• Ariane Felder → Bob Nolan (Narrative Complicated Paternity Connection) — Ariane's pregnancy and Bob's possible paternity tie them together as she weighs whether to keep the child; Bob says he does not want to become a father.

  Ariane learns she is pregnant and, after reviewing surveillance footage and a DNA report with an inspector, realizes Bob may be connected to the pregn...

Story Analysis

A judge confronts an unexpected pregnancy and an unresolved connection to a criminal case, challenging her assumptions about men, parenthood, and responsibility.

Plot Progression

1. A Night Without Answers — Ariane attends a lawyers' party on New Year's Eve and drinks more than she intended. Six months later, she discovers she is pregnant and cannot recall what happened that night.
2. Evidence and Recognition — An inspector brings Ariane a DNA report and helps her review High Court surveillance footage. Recognizing herself in the footage, Ariane realizes Bob may be connected to her pregnancy.
3. Case and Parenthood — Bob insists he is innocent and urges Ariane to find a flaw in the evidence. As she examines his case, she also wrestles with whether to keep the child, while Bob rejects the prospect of fatherhood.
4. Courtroom and Uncertainty — Ariane continues her judicial work and learns that there are no objections to her career appointment. Bob's case reaches court, where Maître Trolos argues against labeling people monsters or freaks; t...