Character Relationship Map: Infidel

Characters

• Doug Rawlins (played by Jim Caviezel) — protagonist

  Central protagonist and American Christian journalist. Kidnapped in Cairo by the Iranian regime and put on trial for fabricated espionage charges. His captivity and the legal proceedings drive the nar...

• Liz Rawlins (played by Claudia Karvan) — protagonist

  Central protagonist and Doug's wife. A State Department official who initially seeks official US intervention, but after realizing the government will not act, independently travels to the Middle East...

• Ramzi (played by Hal Ozsan) — supporting

  Key local ally in the Middle East. Facilitates Liz's independent rescue operation through regional knowledge, underground contacts, and operational logistics.

• Javid (played by Aly Kassem) — supporting

  Iranian intelligence operative or guard. Directly involved in Doug's captivity, interrogation, and the enforcement of the regime's false charges during the trial.

• Pierre Barthes (played by Stelio Savante) — supporting

  French journalist or international contact. Supports the rescue effort by providing diplomatic insights, cross-border coordination, and leveraging media awareness for the captive.

• Dr. Hossein Tehrani (played by Bijan Daneshmand) — supporting

  High-ranking Iranian regime official. Orchestrates or oversees the espionage trial and the broader political conspiracy that led to Doug's kidnapping and detention.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Doug Rawlins → Dr. Hossein Tehrani (Power Judge And Defendant) — Tehrani exercises judicial authority over Doug and delivers the death sentence described in the plot.

  Dr. Hossein Tehrani rules that the evidence against Doug is overwhelming, declares him guilty of espionage, and sentences him to death by firing squad...

• Doug Rawlins → Liz Rawlins (Family Spouses In Crisis) — Their marriage is strained by grief and disagreement, then becomes central to Liz's effort to find Doug and secure his release.

  The plot identifies Liz as Doug's wife. After their loss, Liz tells him she is done with God and that their marriage is at risk if he does not accept...

Story Dynamics

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

• Liz Rawlins → Pierre Barthes (Alliance Rescue Adviser) — Pierre offers Liz strategic advice as she pursues Doug's release.

  Pierre warns Liz that she needs a plan and leverage rather than relying only on pleading while she searches for information about Doug.

• Doug Rawlins → Javid (Conflict Former Colleagues Turned Accuser And Defendant) — Their past professional connection becomes the basis of Javid's accusations, which Doug rejects in court.

  At Doug's trial, Javid says he worked with Doug at a software company engaged in U.S. government contracts and accuses him of spying. Doug angrily dis...

• Doug Rawlins → Ramzi (Conflict Captive And Captor) — Ramzi's threats and control define Doug's captivity in the events described.

  Ramzi and his men hold Doug captive, threaten him with a power drill, demand his computer password, and force him to write from captivity.

Story Analysis

Doug's captivity and espionage trial unfold alongside Liz's efforts to find him, against a background of personal grief and strained trust.

Plot Progression

1. Grief Beneath the Banter — Doug and Liz are introduced amid joking that conceals tension involving Javid. A devastating loss deepens their marital strain, and Liz says she is done with God.
2. A Dangerous Cairo Mission — Doug travels to Cairo to speak at Al-Azhar University and argues for building bridges between faiths. His journey takes a dangerous turn when Ramzi and his men capture him.
3. Threats in Captivity — Ramzi's men demand Doug's computer password and threaten him with a power drill. They force him to write from captivity as he tries to remain composed.
4. Liz Seeks a Way In — Liz travels to Iran to learn whether Doug is alive and seek his release. Pierre advises her to develop a plan and leverage, while she continues searching for information.
5. The Trial and Death Sentence — Javid testifies about his work with Doug and accuses him of spying, while Doug disputes the account. Tehrani declares Doug guilty and sentences him to death, leaving his fate uncertain.