OVERLAY REPORT

In the film *An Unmarried Woman* (1978), the primary conflict is the **sudden and devastating dissolution of the 16-year marriage** between the protagonist, Erica Benton (Jill Clayburgh), and her husband, Martin (Michael Murphy). This betrayal serves as the catalyst for Erica’s journey from a sheltered, "defined-by-marriage" existence to a life of independent self-discovery. ### How the Conflict Started The conflict begins abruptly during a scene that is famous for its raw, unflinching depiction of marital collapse. 1. **The Setting:** After a seemingly normal lunch together in Manhattan, Erica and Martin are walking down a city street. The atmosphere is casual until Martin suddenly stops and begins to break down in tears. 2. **The Confession:** Martin confesses that he has been having an affair for over a year with a much younger woman named **Marcia Brenner**, a 26-year-old teacher. He explains that they met at Bloomingdale’s while she was buying a shirt for her father. 3. **The Intent:** Martin reveals that he isn't just having a fling; he is in love with Marcia and wants to move in with her and eventually marry her. ### Specific Details of the Conflict The conflict is defined not just by the affair itself, but by the emotional fallout and the specific ways the characters react: * **Erica’s Immediate Reaction:** Blindsided and in a state of shock, Erica’s first instinct is a mix of disbelief and sharp, defensive anger. In one of the film's most visceral moments, she asks Martin a blunt, demeaning question: *"Is she a good lay?"* Shortly after Martin leaves her on the sidewalk, the physical toll of the betrayal hits her, and she vomits in the street. * **The Power Imbalance:** The conflict highlights how Erica’s identity was entirely wrapped up in her role as a wife. While Martin has been living a "double life" for a year, Erica believed their marriage was happy and stable. This creates a secondary conflict within Erica as she struggles to regain her sense of worth outside of a relationship. * **The Failed Reconciliation:** Toward the end of the film, a secondary peak in the conflict occurs when Martin returns, admitting that Marcia has left him. He asks Erica to take him back, assuming she will want to return to their "comfortable" life. Erica’s refusal marks the final resolution of their conflict; she chooses her hard-won independence over the security of a man who betrayed her. The primary conflict effectively shifts from a **man vs. woman** struggle (Erica vs. Martin) to a **man vs. self** struggle (Erica learning to exist as an individual), though it is always rooted in Martin’s initial act of abandonment.