Character Relationship Map: Time Changer

Characters

• Russell Carlisle (played by D. David Morin) — protagonist

  Russell Carlisle is a Bible professor in 1890 who writes a manuscript advocating morality apart from explicitly naming Christ. After Norris Anderson sends him into the future, Russell witnesses severe...

• Norris Anderson (played by Gavin MacLeod) — protagonist

  Norris Anderson is Russell Carlisle's colleague at Grace Bible Seminary and opposes Russell's manuscript because he believes morality without Jesus as its standard will harm future generations. He rev...

• The Dean (played by Hal Linden) — supporting

  The Dean is an authority at Grace Bible Seminary who oversees the proposed endorsement of Russell Carlisle's manuscript. When Norris Anderson objects, the Dean refuses to approve the book without a un...

• Michelle Bain (played by Jennifer O'Neill) — supporting

  Michelle Bain is a Christian librarian living in the future. Norris Anderson specifically directs Russell Carlisle to find her because she previously helped Norris during his own visit to the future....

• Roger (played by Evan Ellingson) — supporting

  Roger is a boy whom Russell Carlisle catches stealing his neighbor's marbles in 1890. Russell makes him return them and demands an apology, but Roger runs away. Later, after returning from the future...

• Carlisle's wife (played by Callan White) — minor
• Norris' wife (played by Patti MacLeod) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Carlisle's wife → Russell Carlisle (wife)
• Norris' wife → Norris Anderson (wife)
• Russell Carlisle → Roger (Professional Moral Mentor) — Russell first teaches Roger conventional morality and later grounds it explicitly in Jesus.

  Russell stops Roger for stealing marbles, makes him return them, and demands an apology; later he explains that Jesus says theft is wrong.

• Russell Carlisle → The Dean (Power Academic Authority) — The Dean holds institutional authority over Russell's academic proposal.

  The Dean oversees the manuscript endorsement and insists that the vote cannot proceed without Norris's unanimous agreement.

Story Dynamics

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

• Russell Carlisle → Michelle Bain (Alliance Guide And Helper) — Michelle helps Russell interpret the future and understand its moral history.

  Russell finds Michelle, and she assists him in learning how society abandoned its Biblical foundations.

• Norris Anderson → Michelle Bain (Alliance Christian Contact) — Michelle is a trusted future contact connected to Norris's earlier journey.

  Norris instructs Russell to find Michelle, explaining that she helped Norris when he himself traveled to the future.

• Russell Carlisle → Norris Anderson (Conflict Ideological Opponent) — They begin as theological opponents whose dispute drives the time-travel experiment.

  Norris objects to Russell's manuscript because it promotes morality apart from Jesus, while Russell initially urges the Dean to proceed without Norris...

Story Analysis

A theological skeptic travels into a morally altered future and returns with a transformed understanding of faith, morality, and history.

Plot Progression

1. A Dispute Over Moral Authority — Russell's manuscript receives broad academic support until Norris challenges its separation of morality from Jesus. The Dean suspends the vote and forces the colleagues to address their disagreement.
2. The Machine Behind The Argument — Norris reveals his late father's secret time machine after Russell initially refuses to listen. Russell eventually agrees to travel into the future under strict instructions.
3. A Future Without Foundations — Russell is fascinated by technological advancement but becomes shocked by widespread moral decay and the removal of Biblical foundations. Michelle helps him understand how that change occurred.
4. The Warning In The Church — Russell recognizes his theological error, seeks forgiveness, and speaks urgently at a church service. Investigators become suspicious and follow him toward the return point.
5. Changed Convictions — Russell vanishes during the confrontation and returns to the past. He revises his manuscript, gives Roger a new moral lesson, while Norris continues testing the machine's future limits.