Character Relationship Map: That Uncertain Feeling

Characters

• Jill Baker (played by Merle Oberon) — protagonist

  Jill Baker is the central character, a married woman whose nervous or irritated states produce intermittent hiccups. She visits Doctor Vengard, becomes infatuated with Alexander Sebastian, and accepts...

• Alexander Sebastian (played by Burgess Meredith) — supporting

  Alexander Sebastian is an eccentric, individualistic pianist whom Jill Baker meets in Doctor Vengard's waiting room. He believes he performs best for a single listener and struggles before large audie...

• Jones (played by Harry Davenport) — supporting

  Jones is the lawyer who represents Larry Baker in the friendly divorce arranged after Larry recognizes Jill Baker's infatuation with Alexander Sebastian. His secretary is Sally Aikens, whose later arr...

• Sally Aikens (played by Eve Arden) — supporting

  Sally Aikens is Jones's secretary and becomes part of Larry Baker's ruse. Larry pretends that Sally is his girlfriend and loudly stages a conversation with her while Jill Baker is present. Sally's une...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jones → Sally Aikens (Professional Workplace Colleagues) — They are linked through a lawyer-secretary working relationship.

  Jones is identified as the lawyer in the divorce arrangement, while Sally Aikens is identified as his secretary.

• Jill Baker → Jones (Professional Legal Association) — Jones is connected to Jill through the legal process surrounding her marriage.

  During the friendly divorce arrangement, Jones represents Jill's husband as the lawyer handling the separation.

• Jill Baker → Alexander Sebastian (Romantic Interest) — Alexander becomes Jill's alternative romantic partner during her marital crisis.

  Jill becomes infatuated with Alexander after meeting him in the psychoanalyst's waiting room. She later becomes engaged to him.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jill Baker → Sally Aikens (Conflict Misunderstood Rival) — Sally becomes an apparent rival in Jill's misunderstanding, although she is not actually pursuing Jill's former husband.

  Jill believes that Sally is the other woman's presence in the apartment, but Sally's entrance reveals that the apparent romantic situation was staged.

Story Analysis

A nervous wife's romantic uncertainty leads through separation, deception, and reconciliation before emotional stability returns.

Plot Progression

1. Hiccups and Doubt — Jill seeks help for nervous hiccups after a friend's suggestion. The consultations make her question a marriage she had previously considered happy.
2. The Unusual Pianist — Jill meets Alexander in a waiting room and becomes intrigued by his eccentric views about performing. She invites him to an important dinner, deepening their connection.
3. A Convenient Separation — Jill's infatuation is recognized, and a friendly divorce is arranged through Jones. Jill then becomes engaged to Alexander.
4. Love Reconsidered — Jill learns that her former husband is seeing another woman. This news makes her realize that she still loves him and sends her to his apartment.
5. The Apartment Deception — A staged conversation makes Jill believe that Sally is the new girlfriend. Sally's unexpected entrance exposes the deception and clears the misunderstanding.
6. Hiccups Finally End — Jill and her former husband reunite after the deception is revealed. Her hiccups disappear permanently while Alexander leaves with his belongings.