Character Relationship Map: Divorce

Characters

• Diane Carter (played by Kay Francis) — protagonist

  Diane returns to town and asks Bob to help her find an apartment and buy a car. She admits that she lacks love despite having many things, and urges Bob to pursue the Landon business deal, offering fi...

• Bob Phillips (played by Bruce Cabot) — supporting

  Bob is Martha's husband and the father of their children. He is affectionate and playful with them at home, but Diane's return complicates his family life. He agrees to help her, recognizes his feelin...

• Martha Phillips (played by Helen Mack) — supporting

  Martha is Bob's wife and the mother of their children. She wants Bob to achieve his ambitions, but his closeness to Diane leaves her jealous and uncertain. When Bob fails to visit or call the children...

• Michael Phillips (played by Larry Olsen) — supporting

  Michael is one of Bob and Martha Phillips's children. He is present in the family scenes at home, where the children turn ordinary misbehavior into a playful mock military trial and make demands for c...

• Robby Phillips (played by Johnny Calkins) — supporting

  Robby is one of Bob and Martha Phillips's children. He appears in the family scenes at home, where the children turn ordinary misbehavior into a playful mock military trial and ask for cake, revealing...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Bob Phillips → Robby Phillips (Family Father And Son) — Bob shares playful family life with his children, but his missed visit leaves them waiting and disappointed.

  Bob is shown at home with the children, and Martha later tries to comfort them when Bob misses a visit with them.

• Bob Phillips → Michael Phillips (Family Father And Son) — Bob shares affectionate family life with his children, but his failure to arrive for a visit disappoints them.

  Bob is shown at home with the children, and Martha later tries to comfort them when Bob misses a visit with them.

• Bob Phillips → Diane Carter (Mutual Romantic Feelings) — Their attraction grows alongside Diane's efforts to help Bob pursue a business opportunity, placing his feelings in tension with his loyalty to Martha and the children.

  Diane admits that she lacks love, and the plot says Bob and Diane acknowledge their mutual feelings. She offers to help him pursue the Landon deal.

• Bob Phillips → Martha Phillips (Family Spouses In A Strained Marriage) — Martha wants Bob to achieve his ambitions, but his mutual feelings for Diane make her family life painful and uncertain.

  The plot describes Bob's loyalty to his family and Martha's jealousy and uncertainty as his feelings for Diane complicate their marriage.

Story Dynamics

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

• Martha Phillips → Diane Carter (Conflict Romantic Rivalry) — Diane's mutual feelings with Bob threaten Martha's marriage, although the plot does not describe a direct confrontation between the two women.

  Bob's feelings for Diane complicate his loyalty to Martha, and Martha's jealousy and uncertainty make the situation painful.

Story Analysis

Bob's ambitions and feelings for Diane strain his loyalty to Martha and the children, leaving his family choice unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. A Family Under Scrutiny — A courtroom dispute raises questions about an unhappy marriage and a child's welfare. The story then contrasts that conflict with Bob's playful home life with the children.
2. Diane's Return — Diane returns to town and asks Bob for practical help. Her admission that she lacks love introduces an emotional complication to his family life.
3. The Landon Ambition — Diane encourages Bob to pursue the Landon deal and offers financial help. Martha wants him to succeed, while the situation intensifies her uncertainty.
4. A Choice Left Open — Bob and Diane acknowledge their mutual feelings, even as Bob recognizes his good fortune in having Martha and the children. His missed visit and trip to Chicago leave Martha facing disappointment and...