Character Relationship Map: Prototype

Characters

• Dr. Carl Forrester (played by Christopher Plummer) — protagonist

  An irascible Nobel laureate who leads the team that develops Michael, an advanced humanoid robot. Troubled by the military's interest in using Michael as a weapon, he takes the robot away from the lab...

• Michael (played by David Morse) — supporting

  An advanced humanoid robot with learning and analytical abilities, created by Dr. Carl Forrester's team. During field testing, he interacts with people and learns about self-determination. After escap...

• Dorothy Forrester (played by Frances Sternhagen) — supporting

  Dr. Carl Forrester's wife, who is puzzled when he brings Michael home for dinner during an unscheduled field test. Later, when Forrester calls her from a payphone while on the run, she warns him that...

• Dr. Arthur Jarrett (played by Stephen Elliott) — supporting

  The laboratory administrator who is furious with Dr. Carl Forrester after the unauthorized field test. Jarrett notifies the Pentagon that Michael is ready for evaluation, leading military personnel to...

• Gen. Keating (played by Arthur Hill) — supporting

  A Pentagon general involved in the government's evaluation of Michael. He assures Dr. Carl Forrester that the military does not intend to use the robot as a soldier or political assassin, but Forreste...

• Dr. Gene Pressman (played by James Sutorius) — supporting

  A scientist and associate of Dr. Carl Forrester who is delighted by the success of the field test. He helps Forrester escape by distracting a guard, then later meets him at the apartment with money. F...

• Security Guard (played by Ed Call) — supporting

  A security guard discovers that the top-secret project has disappeared from the laboratory. Later, while Dr. Carl Forrester sneaks Michael out, Gene Pressman distracts the guard at the front desk, all...

• Landlord (played by Pat McNamara) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Security Guard → Dr. Carl Forrester (Professional Security Escort) — The guard enforces laboratory security during Michael's unauthorized outing.

  Lab security escorts Forrester and Michael back to the laboratory after the department-store field test.

• Gen. Keating → Michael (Power Government Custodian) — Keating represents governmental authority over Michael's evaluation and custody.

  Military personnel take Michael from the laboratory, and Keating later assures Forrester that the Pentagon does not intend to use him as a weapon.

• Dr. Arthur Jarrett → Gen. Keating (Professional Government Liaison) — Jarrett connects the laboratory administration with the Pentagon's evaluation process.

  After confronting Forrester, Jarrett notifies the Pentagon that the prototype is ready for evaluation.

• Dr. Carl Forrester → Michael (Professional Creator) — Forrester is Michael's principal scientific creator and takes personal responsibility for his existence.

  Michael is an advanced humanoid robot developed by a team led by Dr. Carl Forrester.

• Dr. Carl Forrester → Dorothy Forrester (Family Husband) — Dorothy is Forrester's wife and is drawn into the secrecy surrounding Michael.

  Forrester takes Michael home for dinner to see whether the robot can fool his wife, Dorothy.

Story Dynamics

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

• Dr. Carl Forrester → Landlord (Social Tenant) — The landlord provides the temporary locations used during Forrester and Michael's concealment.

  Forrester rents an off-campus apartment and a garage while hiding Michael at the college campus.

• Dr. Gene Pressman → Security Guard (Alliance Distraction) — Pressman temporarily neutralizes laboratory security to assist the escape.

  Pressman distracts the guard at the front desk so Forrester can sneak Michael out of the laboratory.

• Gen. Keating → Dr. Carl Forrester (Conflict Institutional Adversary) — Keating embodies the military authority that Forrester fears will exploit Michael.

  Keating and government agents pursue Forrester after Michael is taken, while Forrester remains unconvinced by Keating's assurances.

• Dr. Arthur Jarrett → Dr. Carl Forrester (Conflict Administrative Opponent) — Jarrett opposes Forrester's independent handling of the prototype.

  Jarrett is furious at Forrester after the unauthorized field test and confronts him about it.

• Dr. Gene Pressman → Michael (Alliance Advocate) — Pressman supports protecting Michael from military exploitation.

  Pressman shares Forrester's concern that the military could use Michael as a soldier or political assassin.

• Dr. Carl Forrester → Dr. Gene Pressman (Alliance Scientific Partner) — The two scientists collaborate on Michael's development and escape from the laboratory.

  Pressman is Forrester's associate and celebrates the success of Michael's unscheduled field test.

Story Analysis

A scientist tries to protect a learning humanoid from military control while confronting the moral responsibility of creation.

Plot Progression

1. The Prototype Unveiled — Forrester secretly field-tests Michael in public and at home. The experiment exposes the tension between scientific achievement and laboratory authority.
2. The Pentagon Claims Michael — Jarrett informs the Pentagon that Michael is ready for evaluation. Military personnel seize the robot, and later testing with firearms alarms Forrester and Pressman.
3. Flight From Military Control — Forrester and Pressman help Michael escape the laboratory. Dorothy warns Forrester that government agents are tracing him, forcing the fugitives toward a campus hideout.
4. Learning Self Determination — Michael studies human stories and the idea of self-determination while hiding on campus. Suspicious surroundings and Pressman's arrival make the refuge unstable.
5. A Fire For Freedom — Forrester suspects Pressman of betrayal, then faces Michael's decision to destroy himself rather than be captured. The garage fire leaves Forrester grieving at the coffee shop.