Character Relationship Map: The Aftermath

Characters

• Newman (played by Steve Barkett) — protagonist

  Newman is an astronaut who survives the return to Earth after a nuclear and biological holocaust. He discovers the destruction of Los Angeles, shelters in an abandoned mansion, protects Christopher af...

• Sarah (played by Lynne Margulies) — protagonist

  Sarah is a woman fleeing from Cutter's gang when Newman and Christopher encounter her while searching for supplies. Newman attempts to protect her, but she is murdered by the gang. Her death becomes t...

• Cutter (played by Sid Haig) — supporting

  Cutter is the leader of the bandit gang controlling a desert wasteland hideout after the devastation of Earth. His gang pursues Sarah and murders her, leading Newman to attack the group. Cutter's viol...

• Christopher (played by Christopher Barkett) — supporting

  Christopher is a young boy whom Newman finds hiding in a museum with The Curator after Los Angeles has been destroyed. Newman takes him under his care, and the two travel together while seeking suppli...

• Newman's Wife (as Carol Scott) (played by Carol Lee Scott) — supporting
• Getman (played by Alfie Martin) — supporting

  Getman is one of the men involved in the events that lead Newman to pursue Cutter's gang after Sarah, Helen, and Laura are taken. Newman confronts him, then returns to Christopher. The account identif...

• The Curator (played by Forrest J. Ackerman) — supporting

  The Curator is the museum caretaker who shelters Christopher after the destruction of Los Angeles. He is suffering from radiation poisoning and dies before Newman takes responsibility for the boy. His...

• Newman's Son (played by Nelson Ackerman) — minor
• Mathews (played by Larry Latham) — minor

  Mathews is one of the two astronauts who return to Earth after the nuclear and biological holocaust, alongside Newman. He survives the crash landing with Newman, and the two encounter mutants before d...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Newman's Son → Newman (son)
• Newman's Wife (as Carol Scott) → Newman (wife)
• Newman → Sarah (Growing Romantic Bond) — Their growing closeness motivates Newman to try to protect Sarah when the gang threatens her.

  The plot says Newman and Sarah grow close, and that he later tries to protect her from Cutter's gang.

• Newman → Christopher (Family Guardian And Ward) — Newman takes responsibility for Christopher's safety and prepares him to survive in the dangerous post-holocaust world.

  After The Curator dies, Newman promises to care for Christopher. They travel together, and Newman teaches him to handle a firearm.

Story Dynamics

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

• Newman → Getman (Conflict Confrontational Opponents) — Newman confronts Getman as he pursues the men responsible for the women's abduction.

  The plot says Newman confronts Getman, identifying him as one of the men involved in taking Sarah, Helen, and Laura.

• Christopher → Cutter (Conflict Defender And Threat) — Christopher intervenes in the final confrontation and shoots Cutter after Cutter fatally wounds Newman.

  After Newman is fatally wounded in the confrontation with Cutter, Christopher shoots Cutter with a revolver.

• Sarah → Cutter (Conflict Captive And Captor) — Cutter's gang abducts Sarah and kills her, setting off Newman's attack on the gang.

  The plot says Cutter's men take Sarah, and her character profile states that the gang murders her.

• Newman → Cutter (Conflict Adversaries) — Sarah's murder drives Newman to confront Cutter's gang, bringing Newman and Cutter into a fatal final conflict.

  Cutter leads the gang that pursues and murders Sarah; Newman attacks the group, and his confrontation with Cutter ends with Newman fatally wounded.

• Newman → Mathews (Alliance Survival Companion) — The two astronauts share the return journey and survive the spacecraft's landing after the catastrophe.

  The plot describes Newman and his crewmates losing contact with Earth; Mathews's profile identifies him as an astronaut who returns to Earth alongside...

• Newman → The Curator (Social Caretaker And Successor Guardian) — The Curator's illness and death lead Newman to assume responsibility for Christopher.

  The Curator shelters Christopher, and Newman promises to care for the boy as the ill Curator expects to die.

Story Analysis

After a nuclear and biological catastrophe, Newman tries to survive while protecting Christopher and confronting the violence threatening their fragile human connections.

Plot Progression

1. A World Without Rescue — Newman and his crewmates lose contact with Earth and bring their spacecraft down near Los Angeles. Newman discovers devastation and learns from a recording that nuclear destruction and biological warf...
2. A Promise in the Museum — Newman finds Christopher with the dying Curator and promises to care for the boy. They leave together to search for supplies and a way forward.
3. Fragile Company — Newman and Christopher encounter other survivors, including Sarah, Helen, Laura, and Mathews. Newman grows close to Sarah and teaches Christopher to use a firearm.
4. The Gang's Threat — Cutter's men take Sarah, Helen, and Laura, shattering the survivors' fragile safety. Newman resolves to pursue the gang and sends Christopher away.
5. A Costly Survival — Newman confronts Getman and faces Cutter's gang. Cutter fatally wounds Newman, and Christopher shoots Cutter before continuing alone.