Character Relationship Map: The Unborn

Characters

• Virginia Marshall (played by Brooke Adams) — protagonist

  Infertile wife seeking IVF treatment, becomes entangled in a sinister medical experiment.

• Brad Marshall (played by Jeff Hayenga) — supporting

  Devoted husband supporting his wife through experimental fertility treatments.

• Dr. Richard Meyerling (played by James Karen) — supporting

  Insane scientist conducting unethical in-vitro fertilization experiments.

• Connie Chicago (played by Kathy Griffin) — supporting

  Close friend and confidante providing emotional support during the fertility journey.

• Jeff DeWitt (played by Matt Roe) — supporting

  Loyal friend and ally navigating the experiment's aftermath.

• Janet Robinson (played by Laura Stockman) — supporting

  Supportive friend offering perspective on the experimental treatment.

• Alicia DeWitt (played by Jessica Zingali) — minor

  Family member dealing with personal struggles.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jeff DeWitt → Alicia DeWitt (Family Parent And Child) — Jeff is identified as Alicia's parent within the group of families connected to Meyerling.

  The plot refers to Alicia and Bobby as the children of Jeff DeWitt and his wife.

• Brad Marshall → Dr. Richard Meyerling (Professional Medical Clients) — Brad enters a doctor-patient relationship with Meyerling through the fertility procedure.

  Brad and Virginia visit Meyerling because his high success rate has made him a sought-after fertility specialist, and the couple agrees to his treatme...

• Virginia Marshall → Dr. Richard Meyerling (Professional Patient And Doctor) — Virginia becomes the patient at the center of Meyerling's fertility experiment.

  Virginia visits Dr. Meyerling for assisted conception, and he reassures her before proceeding with the treatment.

• Virginia Marshall → Brad Marshall (Family Wife And Husband) — They are a married couple facing infertility and the dangers of experimental conception.

  The plot identifies Virginia and Brad as a married couple who have spent years trying to have a child.

Story Dynamics

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

• Janet Robinson → Virginia Marshall (Social Supportive Friend) — Janet provides a supportive perspective within Virginia's fertility journey.

  Janet is characterized as a supportive friend who offers perspective on the experimental treatment.

• Jeff DeWitt → Virginia Marshall (Social Family Friends) — Jeff belongs to the nearby social circle of couples connected by the fertility treatment.

  The Marshalls remain close to couples who have benefited from Meyerling, including Jeff DeWitt and his wife.

• Connie Chicago → Dr. Richard Meyerling (Conflict Distrustful Medical Subject) — Connie challenges Meyerling's medical identity and suspects unethical genetic research.

  Connie distrusts Meyerling, investigates his work, and reports alarming medical-test results including an abnormal chromosome count.

• Virginia Marshall → Connie Chicago (Social Confidantes) — Connie provides Virginia with emotional contact and a warning about Meyerling.

  Virginia meets Connie during the pregnancy and childbirth-class period, and Connie is described as a close friend and confidante.

Story Analysis

A hopeful fertility treatment becomes a terrifying struggle against suspected genetic manipulation and an unresolved pregnancy crisis.

Plot Progression

1. A Promise of Parenthood — Virginia and Brad seek help from the highly successful fertility specialist Dr. Meyerling. Despite Virginia's fears about inherited illness, Meyerling reassures her and begins the assisted conception...
2. Families Around the Procedure — The Marshalls remain connected to other couples associated with Meyerling's treatments. Virginia also meets Connie Chicago and continues writing a children's book about fear, evil, and death.
3. The Genetic Warning — Connie reveals that she distrusts Meyerling and suspects he is conducting genetic research. Her abnormal chromosome results and subsequent coma intensify Virginia's fear.
4. A Pregnancy Turned Hostile — Virginia suffers frightening physical and psychological disturbances and becomes convinced that the fetus is not human. She blames Meyerling for changing the baby and secretly decides to terminate the...
5. The Unresolved Intervention — A hospital refuses to perform the procedure because Virginia is too far along. She seeks an underground abortionist, but panic erupts when the instruments appear and the account ends without resolving...