Character Relationship Map: 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up

Characters

• Abigail (played by Christina Ricci) — protagonist

  Abigail is a single mother and one of the film's two central characters. She struggles with her relationship with her boyfriend, Ben, and decides after a heated argument that they should break up. She...

• Ben (played by Hamish Linklater) — protagonist

  Ben is Abigail's boyfriend and the second central character in the story. When Abigail decides they should break up after an argument, he suggests that they complete a list of ten things first. Their...

• Wallace (played by Mia Sinclair Jenness) — supporting

  Wallace is one of Abigail's two sons, and his schedule is part of the shared parenting arrangements between Abigail and her ex, Tim. Ben gets to know him, but Wallace is not immediately impressed. His...

• Luke (played by Brady Jenness) — supporting

  Luke is one of Abigail's two sons, raised by her while she shares parenting responsibilities with her ex, Tim. The boys' schedules are a recurring source of strain in Abigail and Tim's conversations....

• Terren (played by Katia Winter) — supporting

  Terren is a woman from Ben's past. Near the end of the described story, she runs into him and asks why they broke up. The encounter raises a question about Ben's history and what it might mean for his...

• Tim (played by Jon Abrahams) — supporting

  Tim is Abigail's ex and shares parenting responsibilities for Wallace and Luke with her. Their conversations reveal the strain of coordinating the boys' schedules and contrast their former life as a f...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ben → Terren (Former Romantic Connection) — Their past breakup resurfaces in an encounter whose significance for Ben and Abigail remains unresolved in the provided plot.

  The plot says Ben runs into Terren, a woman from his past, and she asks why they broke up.

• Abigail → Tim (Family Former Spouses And Co-Parents) — Although separated, Abigail and Tim coordinate the boys' schedules across separate households; their former marriage also informs Abigail's feelings about her current pregnancy.

  The plot identifies Tim as Abigail's ex and says they share parenting responsibilities for Wallace and Luke. It also says Abigail had an abortion earl...

• Abigail → Luke (Family Mother And Son) — Abigail shares responsibility for Luke's upbringing with her ex and considers her existing family when deciding what to do about the pregnancy.

  The plot says Abigail is raising Wallace and Luke and that she knows and loves both boys.

• Abigail → Wallace (Family Mother And Son) — Abigail raises Wallace and considers her love for him when weighing the pregnancy decision.

  The plot says Abigail is raising Wallace and Luke and refers to Wallace as one of the boys she knows and loves.

• Abigail → Ben (Romantic Partners) — Their relationship develops from an awkward first encounter into a romance, then is strained by Ben's fear of commitment and their disagreement about the pregnancy.

  The plot says Abigail meets Ben, their connection grows into a relationship, and they later navigate her pregnancy together.

Story Dynamics

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

• Ben → Luke (Social Mother's Boyfriend And Child) — Ben gets to know Luke as he tries to fit into Abigail's life as a mother of two.

  The plot says Ben gets to know Abigail's boys, including Luke.

• Ben → Wallace (Social Mother's Boyfriend And Child) — Ben tries to become part of Abigail's family life, but Wallace does not warm to him immediately.

  The plot says Ben gets to know Abigail's boys and that Wallace is not immediately impressed.

Story Analysis

Abigail and Ben's relationship is tested by pregnancy, family responsibilities, and conflicting fears about commitment.

Plot Progression

1. Two Households, New Possibilities — Abigail and Tim share parenting responsibilities across separate households, and coordinating the boys' schedules reflects the strain of their changed family life. Abigail meets Ben, and their awkward...
2. A Pregnancy Changes the Stakes — Ben gets to know Wallace and Luke as Abigail considers whether he can fit into her life. After they sleep together, Abigail discovers she is pregnant and tells Ben she is weighing her options.
3. Old Choices and New Fears — Ben reacts defensively to the pregnancy, while Abigail makes clear she is not asking him to become the father. Her earlier abortion and her love for Wallace and Luke make the present decision emotiona...
4. Separation and an Apology — Abigail questions whether she can rely on Ben, and Ben acknowledges his tendency to panic and sabotage relationships when they feel permanent. They separate before Ben apologizes and says he wants to...
5. A Heartbeat, an Unsettled Future — At an ultrasound, Abigail and Ben see the baby and hear its heartbeat without learning its sex. They decide to continue the pregnancy, but their relationship remains uneasy as Ben withdraws and then e...