Character Relationship Map: Fathom

Characters

• Fathom Harvill (played by Raquel Welch) — protagonist

  Fathom Harvill is a skydiver traveling in Spain with a U.S. parachute team. Recruited by Col. Douglas Campbell, she becomes entangled in the search for the Fire Dragon, is framed for murder, and repea...

• Peter Merriwether (played by Anthony Franciosa) — protagonist

  Peter Merriwether is a private investigator pursuing the Fire Dragon. After catching Fathom Harvill in his villa and initially accusing her of murder, he reveals the nuclear-weapon story as a ruse, la...

• Serapkin (played by Clive Revill) — supporting

  Serapkin is a wealthy Armenian private collector pursuing the Fire Dragon. His motive is personal possession rather than the supposed nuclear-security mission presented to Fathom Harvill, making him a...

Story Dynamics

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

• Peter Merriwether → Serapkin (Conflict Rival Collectors) — Their objectives collide over possession of the Fire Dragon.

  Peter searches for the Fire Dragon as a private investigator, while Serapkin pursues the same figurine as a private collector who wants it for himself...

• Fathom Harvill → Serapkin (Conflict Competing Pursuers) — They are linked by opposing interests in the contested artifact.

  Serapkin is described as being in hot pursuit of the Fire Dragon, while Fathom becomes involved in the search and later carries the figurine.

• Fathom Harvill → Peter Merriwether (Conflict Adversary To Ally) — Their relationship shifts from suspicion and accusation to cooperation and mutual reliance.

  Peter Merriwether catches Fathom at his villa and accuses her of murder, but later accepts her explanation and becomes the trustworthy figure who resc...

Story Analysis

A skydiver becomes trapped in a shifting international treasure hunt where every explanation may be a deception.

Plot Progression

1. The False Nuclear Mission — Fathom arrives in Spain and is recruited to locate the Fire Dragon. She follows the plan into a villa, where a dead body turns the mission into a murder accusation.
2. Competing Stories — Fathom proves her innocence, and Peter explains that the nuclear-device story was fabricated. The Fire Dragon attracts both Peter's investigation and Serapkin's private collecting ambition.
3. The Figurine Changes Hands — Fathom survives knife and harpoon attacks before discovering the Fire Dragon in her makeup case. A new version of the truth persuades her to board a plane.
4. Battle Above the Sea — Fathom is nearly thrown from the plane with a defective parachute. Peter arrives in another aircraft, leading to an aerial duel and the death of the alleged deserter.
5. The Artifact Returned — Peter is revealed as the good guy and uses Fathom's passport as leverage. Fathom drops the Fire Dragon toward the villa for its return to China and agrees to meet Peter in a bar.