Character Relationship Map: Plain Clothes

Characters

• Nick Dunbar (played by Arliss Howard) — protagonist

  Nick Dunbar is an undercover police officer who investigates his brother's accusation of murdering a teacher. After confronting the detective in charge, he is suspended and enrolls as a student with h...

• Robin Torrence (played by Suzy Amis) — supporting

  Robin Torrence is a teacher at Adlai Stevenson High School who attracts Nick Dunbar while believing he is a teenager enrolled there. Her mistaken understanding complicates Nick's undercover investigat...

• Chet Butler (played by George Wendt) — supporting

  Chet Butler is a member of the con artists' group whose disappearance becomes a crucial development in the murder investigation. He formerly had an affair with Jane Melway and still loves her. After l...

• Jane Melway (played by Diane Ladd) — supporting

  Jane Melway is part of the con artists' group and discovers that Nick Dunbar is an undercover officer. Her emotional confession redirects the investigation toward Chet Butler, whom she once loved. She...

• Kyle Kerns (played by Peter Dobson) — supporting

  Kyle Kerns is the leader of the bullies at the school and Dawn-Marie Zeffer's boyfriend. Because the murdered teacher was suspected of trading grades for sex with Dawn-Marie, Kyle becomes connected to...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jane Melway → Chet Butler (Romantic Former Lovers) — Their unresolved past relationship becomes Chet's motive for murder.

  The plot states that Chet previously had an affair with Jane, still loved her, and that Jane was engaged to the murdered teacher.

• Nick Dunbar → Robin Torrence (Romantic Interest) — Their attraction develops under a mistaken student identity and survives the revelation.

  Nick becomes attracted to Robin while undercover at the school. Robin later agrees to a date after learning that Nick is an adult.

Story Dynamics

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

• Kyle Kerns → Nick Dunbar (Conflict Bullying Opponents) — Kyle represents the hostile student hierarchy obstructing Nick's information gathering.

  Kyle is described as the leader of the bullies, while Nick must deal with bullies during his undercover investigation at the school.

• Nick Dunbar → Jane Melway (Narrative Investigator And Witness) — Jane first threatens Nick's cover and later provides a decisive clue.

  Jane discovers Nick's true identity, later gives an emotional confession, and points the investigation toward Chet.

• Nick Dunbar → Chet Butler (Conflict Murder Investigation Opponents) — Nick's investigation ultimately confronts Chet as the murderer.

  Nick investigates the teacher's murder, and Chet later implicates himself through his words and actions before fleeing from Nick.

Story Analysis

An undercover investigation inside a high school uncovers murder, blackmail, and unresolved romantic jealousy.

Plot Progression

1. A Brother Under Suspicion — Nick reacts angrily after his brother is accused of killing a teacher and is suspended from the case. He then enters the school undercover as a student.
2. Learning The Student World — Nick navigates bullies, flirtation, unusual staff, and the difficulty of extracting information from students. His classroom performance increases his popularity and access.
3. Motives Beneath The School — Nick follows two possible motives: jealousy involving exchanged grades and self-preservation involving blackmail over a real-estate scam. Jane's discovery of his identity raises the danger.
4. Confession At May Fest — The case reaches the May Fest as Nick's cover is threatened. Jane's emotional confession and Chet's absence redirect suspicion toward Chet's unresolved love and jealousy.
5. The Chase And The Proof — Chet appears and incriminates himself, leading to a chase in which Nick finds decisive evidence. Timely intervention saves Nick and allows the case to resolve.