Character Relationship Map: Natural Enemy

Characters

• Ted Robards (played by Donald Sutherland) — protagonist

  A once-successful stockbroker now facing financial ruin, Ted relies on his promising employee Jeremy to secure a deal that could save his firm. He tries to keep Jeremy on board by inviting him and his...

• Jeremy Harper (played by William McNamara) — supporting

  A promising Harvard alumnus and employee of Ted, Jeremy appears to support the struggling firm and is positioned to secure a deal that could save it. In reality, he intends to destroy Ted's business f...

• Sandy Robats (played by Lesley Ann Warren) — supporting

  Ted's wife, Sandy is obsessed with having a second child. She and Ted try to understand Jeremy's sudden aggression after he moves into their home. While pregnant later in the story, Sandy is revealed...

• Stuart (played by Joe Pantoliano) — supporting

  Stuart works with Ted and brings him news of the IRS investigation. He tells Ted that the agency is questioning a suspicious report claiming Ted earned more commission than he declared, and that it de...

• Christina (played by Tia Carrere) — supporting

  Christina helps people search for birth relatives. Sandy secretly turns to her after Jeremy reveals that he was adopted, providing information Christina needs to investigate the identity of Sandy’s so...

• Chris Robards (played by Christian Tessier) — supporting

  Ted's son, Chris has disappointed his father for a long time and, in Ted's view, has caused him trouble. He belongs to the Robards family targeted by Jeremy's destructive plans, though the synopsis gi...

• Stanley (played by Vlasta Vrana) — supporting

  Stanley is a former schoolmate who owns a car dealership. Ted and Sandy consider whether Jeremy may have gone looking for him, and they visit Stanley’s home and call his name. The scene ends without r...

• Bob (played by Richard Zeman) — supporting

  Bob was recently fired after losing an important account at Ted’s firm. His appearance at the office raises suspicions that he may be connected to the IRS trouble, though the summary does not establis...

• Gina (played by Lenore Zann) — supporting

  Gina is Jeremy’s girlfriend. After she and Jeremy lose their apartment, they temporarily stay at Ted and Sandy’s home. Her presence places her alongside Jeremy as he becomes closer to the couple, but...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sandy Robats → Chris Robards (Family Mother And Son) — The plot places Chris within the family household, but provides no specific interaction between him and Sandy.

  Chris is identified as Ted's son, and the plot identifies Sandy as Ted's wife.

• Ted Robards → Stuart (Professional Colleagues) — Stuart alerts Ted to the investigation threatening the firm and Ted's reputation.

  Stuart tells Ted that the IRS is investigating a suspicious report about Ted's commissions.

• Jeremy Harper → Gina (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — The couple's housing crisis brings them into Ted and Sandy's household.

  The plot identifies Gina as Jeremy's girlfriend and says they temporarily stay at Ted and Sandy's home after losing their apartment.

• Ted Robards → Chris Robards (Family Father And Son) — Chris is part of Ted's family, and Jeremy's final exchange with Chris raises a personal question about attraction and sexuality.

  Chris's character profile identifies him as Ted's son.

• Sandy Robats → Jeremy Harper (Family Birth Mother And Son) — Jeremy's account of his adoption prompts Sandy to investigate the identity of the child she gave up.

  Sandy says she gave up a baby for adoption nearly twenty-four years earlier. Jeremy says he was adopted, and the plot links Sandy's search for her son...

• Ted Robards → Sandy Robats (Family Husband And Wife) — Their marriage is strained by the firm's crisis and by the secrets and uncertainty surrounding their household.

  The plot identifies Sandy as Ted's wife and says they consider together whether Jeremy might have gone looking for Stanley.

• Ted Robards → Jeremy Harper (Professional Employer And Employee) — Ted relies on Jeremy at work and welcomes him into the family home, bringing the employee into the center of the household.

  Jeremy is described as a young employee at Ted's firm, and Ted hosts Jeremy and Gina after they lose their apartment.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jeremy Harper → Stanley (Social Possible Contact) — Ted and Sandy seek Stanley while trying to determine Jeremy's whereabouts, but the scene does not confirm that Jeremy is there.

  Ted and Sandy consider whether Jeremy might have gone looking for Stanley, described as a former schoolmate, and visit Stanley's home.

• Ted Robards → Bob (Conflict Suspicious Adversaries) — Ted suspects Bob may be connected to the firm's troubles, but the plot does not establish Bob's responsibility.

  Bob appears after being fired for losing an important account, raising suspicions that the IRS trouble may be connected to him. Ted later tries to loc...

• Sandy Robats → Christina (Alliance Search Client And Helper) — Christina assists Sandy as she seeks information about the child she gave up for adoption.

  Sandy secretly consults Christina, who helps people search for birth relatives, and supplies information for the investigation.

Story Analysis

An IRS investigation and a young employee's arrival entangle Ted's business troubles with family secrets and unanswered questions.

Plot Progression

1. The Audit Threat — Ted explains the firm's block-trading business before Stuart reports an IRS investigation. A fired employee's appearance deepens suspicion as the agency demands records.
2. A Secret at Dinner — Jeremy and Gina move into Ted and Sandy's home. Jeremy's adoption story awakens Sandy's memories of the baby she gave up, while the IRS discovers the firm's records are missing.
3. Searching for Answers — Sandy consults Christina about finding her birth child and raises a concern about medication she found among Ted's belongings. The scandal spreads and Ted's finances deteriorate.
4. Unresolved Leads — Ted learns Bob left town before the company records disappeared. Ted and Sandy visit Stanley while wondering whether Jeremy sought him, and the transcript ends with Jeremy questioning Chris.