Character Relationship Map: Deadline

Characters

• Don Stevens (played by Christopher Walken) — protagonist

  An American journalist who travels to Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War. After being duped into interviewing an impostor posing as a PLO representative, he pursues the truth despite threats, arrest...

• Mike Jessop (played by Hywel Bennett) — supporting

  An English journalist staying at the same Beirut hotel as Don Stevens during the Lebanese Civil War. The plot summary establishes him as Don's fellow journalist and hotel companion, but does not descr...

• Linda Larsen (played by Marita Marschall) — supporting

  A Scandinavian doctor who helps Don Stevens as he tries to uncover the truth behind the false interview and events in Beirut. She is also revealed to be the estranged girlfriend of Yassin Abu-Riadd, t...

• Yassin Abu-Riadd (played by Amos Lavi) — supporting

  A Palestinian and top PLO leader whom Don Stevens is promised an interview with in Beirut. The promised meeting proves to be a setup involving an impostor, while Yassin is identified as Linda Larsen's...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Linda Larsen → Yassin Abu-Riadd (Romantic Estranged Girlfriend) — Their estranged relationship connects Linda personally to the PLO leader at the center of Don's promised interview.

  The plot identifies Linda as Yassin's estranged girlfriend.

Story Dynamics

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

• Don Stevens → Mike Jessop (Social Hotel Companions) — They share a hotel during their work as journalists in Beirut; the synopsis does not describe Mike taking part in Don's investigation.

  The plot says Don stays in a Beirut hotel with English journalist Mike Jessop.

• Don Stevens → Linda Larsen (Alliance Investigation Ally) — Linda supports Don's investigation into the deception and the escalating threats in Beirut.

  The plot says Linda helps Don as he tries to uncover the truth behind the false interview and events in Beirut.

Story Analysis

An American journalist in wartime Beirut pursues the truth after a false interview and uncovers a growing conspiracy with deadly consequences.

Plot Progression

1. A Promise in Beirut — Don arrives in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and stays at a hotel with fellow journalist Mike Jessop. A promised interview with PLO leader Yassin Abu-Riadd draws Don into a deceptive encounter.
2. The Search for Truth — After discovering that he interviewed an impostor, Don becomes determined to uncover the truth. Linda Larsen helps him, and her estranged relationship with Yassin becomes part of the story's personal...
3. Pressure from Every Side — Don encounters threats from the PLO, arrest by the Phalangists, and indifference from the Israelis. He is tricked and beaten as he continues pursuing the story.
4. The Deadly Conspiracy — Don gradually uncovers a murder plot and double agents, as well as a bombing plot involving the Phalangists headquarters. His most alarming discovery is a plan to massacre hundreds of civilians, and h...