Character Relationship Map: Phobia

Characters

• Dr. Peter Ross (played by Paul Michael Glaser) — protagonist

  Dr. Peter Ross leads an experimental program that confronts severe phobias through controlled psychological treatment. He guides the patients through frightening mental exercises, faces hospital and p...

• Jenny St Clair (played by Susan Hogan) — supporting

  Jenny St Clair is Peter Ross's emotional support during the increasingly dangerous treatment program. She becomes involved when a frightened patient is directed to wait at her apartment, later explain...

• Inspector Barnes (played by John Colicos) — supporting

  Inspector Barnes investigates the death of Barbara Grey and questions Peter Ross about the attack. He proposes that Peter was the intended victim and that Barbara died accidentally, later leading the...

• Henry Owen (played by David Bolt) — supporting

  Henry Owen is one of Peter Ross's patients and is forced to imagine a child near an edge before experiencing the sensation of falling. Police discover his criminal background in explosives and safecra...

• Laura Adams (played by Lisa Langlois) — supporting

  Laura Adams is a patient in Peter Ross's treatment program who believes she is being chased during one of the guided mental exercises. Her death becomes part of the escalating danger among the patient...

• Dr. Alice Toland (played by Patricia Collins) — supporting

  Dr. Alice Toland is connected to the hospital pressure surrounding Peter Ross's experimental program. She also helps comfort Mrs. Casey after information is provided to the police, placing her between...

• Barbara Grey (played by Alexandra Stewart) — supporting

  Barbara Grey is a patient in Peter Ross's experimental program who experiences the frightening image of being surrounded by hostile people. She is later killed, and Inspector Barnes believes her death...

• Mrs. Casey (played by Marian Waldman) — supporting

  Mrs. Casey provides information to the police during the investigation into the deaths surrounding Peter Ross's treatment program. Dr. Alice Toland helps comfort her, linking her to the personal conse...

• Bubba King (played by Robert O'Ree) — supporting

  Bubba King observes the treatment in distress when a patient panics inside an enclosed situation and begs Peter Ross to stop. He remains among the vulnerable patients as the danger intensifies, and hi...

• Dr. Clegg (played by Neil Vipond) — supporting

  Dr. Clegg informs Peter Ross that the police consider the case closed and that the committee supports continuing the research. His report reinforces the institutional approval behind Peter's decision...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dr. Clegg → Inspector Barnes (Professional Institutional Liaison) — Clegg relays the police conclusion while discussing the research program's continuation.

  Dr. Clegg reports to Peter that the police consider the case closed.

• Dr. Clegg → Dr. Peter Ross (Professional Institutional Supporter) — Clegg communicates the committee's support for Peter's program.

  Dr. Clegg tells Peter that the committee supports continuing the research after the police consider the case closed.

• Mrs. Casey → Inspector Barnes (Professional Informant) — Mrs. Casey contributes information to Barnes's investigation.

  Mrs. Casey provides information to the police during the investigation.

• Inspector Barnes → Henry Owen (Professional Police Investigator) — Barnes and the police investigate Henry's suspected involvement in the killings.

  The police pursue Henry because of his criminal background, and Henry is taken to the station for questioning.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Bubba King (Professional Treatment Participant) — Bubba is connected to Peter's treatment group and its growing danger.

  Bubba King watches the opening treatment in distress and is later identified as one of the remaining patients believed to be in danger.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Henry Owen (Professional Doctor And Patient) — Peter treats Henry while later facing suspicion connected to Henry's actions.

  Henry Owen is subjected to Peter's treatment and imagines a child near an edge before experiencing falling sensations.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Laura Adams (Professional Doctor And Patient) — Peter controls Laura's exposure to fear during the experiment.

  Laura Adams is treated by Peter and is made to believe that she is being chased.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Barbara Grey (Professional Doctor And Patient) — Peter directs Barbara's participation in the phobia treatment program.

  Barbara Grey is one of the patients guided through Peter's experimental treatment and terrifying mental imagery.

Story Dynamics

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

• Dr. Alice Toland → Mrs. Casey (Social Comforter) — Alice offers emotional reassurance to Mrs. Casey during the investigation.

  The plot states that Dr. Alice Toland helps comfort Mrs. Casey after Mrs. Casey provides information to the police.

• Henry Owen → Barbara Grey (Conflict Accidental Killer) — Barbara becomes the accidental victim of Henry's attack.

  The police conclude that Henry accidentally killed Barbara while attempting to kill Peter.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Inspector Barnes (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — Barnes investigates Peter's connection to the deaths and the attempted attack.

  Inspector Barnes questions Peter and suggests that Peter was the intended victim of an attempted killing.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Dr. Alice Toland (Conflict Professional Opponent) — Alice represents institutional pressure against Peter's increasingly dangerous program.

  The plot states that Peter faces pressure from the hospital and from Dr. Alice Toland as the treatment continues.

• Dr. Peter Ross → Jenny St Clair (Social Emotional Support) — Jenny provides personal support to Peter during the escalating crisis.

  The plot states that Jenny St Clair remains Peter's emotional support while he faces pressure and danger.

Story Analysis

An experimental fear-treatment program becomes entangled with deaths, suspicion, and institutional resistance, yet Peter refuses to abandon the research.

Plot Progression

1. The Fear Treatment — Peter begins controlled treatment for severe phobias and exposes patients to frightening mental situations. The patients respond differently as the research approaches reported partial completion.
2. Pressure And First Death — Institutional pressure grows around Peter's program while Jenny supports him. Barbara's death transforms the experimental setting into a criminal investigation.
3. The Investigation Tightens — Barnes questions Peter and follows information supplied by Mrs. Casey. Henry's criminal background brings him to the police station, while Peter argues that the research must continue.
4. Deaths Among The Patients — Laura's death deepens the fear among the remaining patients. An emergency at Jenny's apartment building brings police and medical responders into the growing crisis.
5. Closure Without Abandonment — Peter and Jenny explain their movements while the police settle on Henry's guilt and apparent suicide. Although the deaths raise doubts, institutional support allows Peter to continue the research.