Character Relationship Map: Free Fall

Characters

• Marc Borgmann (played by Hanno Koffler) — protagonist

  A young police officer struggling with physical training who becomes romantically involved with a male colleague while engaged to his pregnant longtime girlfriend. He attempts to conceal the affair, f...

• Kay Engel (played by Max Riemelt) — protagonist

  Marc's roommate at the police academy and later colleague in the same police unit. He develops a romantic and sexual relationship with Marc, openly expresses his love, and faces homophobic hostility f...

• Bettina Bischoff (played by Katharina Schüttler) — supporting

  Marc's pregnant longtime girlfriend and the mother of his son. She becomes suspicious of Marc's behavior, discovers his concealed calls and lies about night shifts, and eventually learns about his aff...

• Inge Borgmann (played by Maren Kroymann) — supporting

  Marc's mother. She witnesses a kiss between Marc and his male colleague at the hospital and later argues with Marc after he follows her outside.

• Wolfgang Borgmann (played by Luis Lamprecht) — supporting

  Marc's father. At a party, he tells Marc's male partner to stay away from Marc because Marc has a new family.

• Frank Richter (played by Oliver Bröcker) — supporting

  A person whose house is visited when Marc admits his affair to his partner. He later witnesses a fellow officer assaulting Marc and implies that the officer will be dismissed.

• Gregor Limpinski (played by Shenja Lacher) — supporting

  A fellow police officer involved in a homophobic incident with Marc's male partner. He is attacked during the confrontation, later taunts Marc about the relationship, and assaults Marc after Marc prov...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Frank Richter → Gregor Limpinski (Professional Workplace Witness) — Frank's observation gives the assault professional consequences for Gregor.

  Frank witnesses Gregor assault Marc and implies that Gregor will be let go.

• Marc Borgmann → Gregor Limpinski (Professional Fellow Officer) — Their professional connection becomes hostile after the incident involving Kay.

  Gregor is a fellow officer in the unit, and Marc is present when Kay attacks him.

• Marc Borgmann → Wolfgang Borgmann (Family Father And Son) — Wolfgang responds protectively to the threat he perceives to Marc's family.

  Wolfgang is identified as one of Marc's parents and later tells Kay to stay away from Marc because of Marc's new family.

• Marc Borgmann → Inge Borgmann (Family Mother And Son) — Inge's discovery of Marc's relationship creates a direct family confrontation.

  Inge is identified as Marc's mother, and she witnesses Marc and Kay kissing in the hospital.

• Marc Borgmann → Bettina Bischoff (Romantic Longtime Girlfriend) — Their established relationship is challenged by Marc's affair with Kay.

  Bettina is introduced as Marc's pregnant longtime girlfriend, and Marc tries to remain committed to her.

• Marc Borgmann → Kay Engel (Romantic Partner) — Their attraction develops into a concealed romantic and sexual relationship.

  Marc and Kay repeatedly kiss and have sex, including during a rainy encounter on the jogging trail.

Story Dynamics

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

• Frank Richter → Marc Borgmann (Social Supportive Witness) — Frank provides a setting for Marc's confession and observes the consequences of the workplace conflict.

  Marc visits Bettina at Frank's house to admit his affair, and Frank later witnesses Gregor assaulting Marc.

• Kay Engel → Gregor Limpinski (Conflict Physical Enemies) — Their violent conflict reflects the hostile environment around Kay's sexuality.

  Kay attacks Gregor following a homophobic incident, and Kay later has a bruised face after another altercation with him.

• Wolfgang Borgmann → Kay Engel (Conflict Protective Opponent) — Wolfgang opposes Kay's continued involvement with Marc.

  At the party, Marc's parents tell Kay to stay away from Marc due to Marc's new family.

• Inge Borgmann → Kay Engel (Conflict Disapproving Witness) — Kay's relationship with Marc becomes visible to and challenged by Marc's mother.

  Inge witnesses Marc and Kay kissing at the hospital and later participates in the family confrontation at the party.

• Bettina Bischoff → Kay Engel (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Kay's relationship with Marc destabilizes Bettina's family life.

  Bettina questions Marc about his relationship with Kay after discovering Kay's calls and learning about Marc's lies.

Story Analysis

A police officer struggles between an established family life and a transformative relationship with a male colleague.

Plot Progression

1. From Rivalry To Desire — Marc struggles at the police academy and clashes physically with Kay. After apologizing, he builds a friendship with Kay through regular jogging, which gradually becomes intimate.
2. The Hidden Affair — Kay joins Marc's police unit, making their attraction more difficult to suppress. Marc begins an affair with Kay while attempting to preserve his relationship with the pregnant Bettina.
3. Secrets Become Visible — Marc and Kay enter nightlife together, while Bettina discovers suspicious calls and questions Marc's honesty. The birth of their child intensifies Marc's attempt to divide his family life from his rel...
4. Love Under Siege — Kay declares his love after confronting Marc about his selfishness. Violence involving Gregor and the discovery of Marc and Kay's relationship bring the conflict into the hospital and family settings.
5. Running Beyond The Ruins — Marc confesses the affair, but Bettina and Kay both become emotionally or physically distant. After rejecting another encounter and ending his relationship with Bettina, Marc runs ahead alone at the a...