Character Relationship Map: Divorcing Jack

Characters

• Dan Starkey (played by David Thewlis) — protagonist

  Dan Starkey is a Northern Irish newspaper columnist covering the election with Charles Parker. His affair with Margaret leads to her murder, the accidental death of her mother, and suspicion from the...

• Lee Cooper (played by Rachel Griffiths) — supporting

  Lee Cooper is a nurse by day and a stripper by night who rescues Dan Starkey after paramilitaries shoot at him. She helps him recognize that Margaret's final words refer to the composer on the tape ra...

• Charles Parker (played by Richard Gant) — supporting

  Charles Parker is an American journalist assigned to cover the election with Dan Starkey. He becomes suspicious after their attack by Protestant paramilitaries and agrees to help Dan investigate Marga...

• Margaret (played by Laura Fraser) — supporting

  Margaret is a young art student involved in an affair with Dan Starkey and the former girlfriend of Cow Pat Keegan. She gives Dan a tape of classical music, but is later found dying after a violent at...

• Starkey's Brother (played by Simon Magill) — supporting
• Michael Brinn (played by Robert Lindsay) — supporting

  Michael Brinn is a charismatic former victim of the Northern Irish conflict and the apparent favorite in the election, campaigning for disarmament and peace. Dan and Charles Parker interview him befor...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Starkey's Brother → Dan Starkey (brother)
• Charles Parker → Michael Brinn (Professional Interview Subject) — Charles encounters Brinn first through political journalism before becoming involved in the investigation.

  Charles accompanies Dan to Brinn's residence for an exclusive election interview.

• Dan Starkey → Michael Brinn (Professional Interview Subject) — Dan initially approaches Brinn as a journalist but later investigates him as a suspected conspirator.

  Dan and Charles visit Brinn's residence for an exclusive interview during the election campaign.

• Dan Starkey → Charles Parker (Professional Reporting Partners) — They work together as journalists covering political events and investigating the conspiracy.

  Dan and Charles are sent to cover the upcoming elections and later meet to investigate the meaning of Margaret's final words.

• Dan Starkey → Margaret (Romantic Lovers) — Their affair becomes the immediate source of Dan's legal and personal crisis.

  Dan is caught cheating on his wife with Margaret and continues seeing her at her apartment.

Story Dynamics

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

• Margaret → Michael Brinn (Social Political Connection) — Margaret is connected to Brinn's political circle through her family background.

  At Brinn's residence, Margaret is revealed to be the daughter of an old friend who is a prominent politician in Brinn's party.

• Dan Starkey → Lee Cooper (Narrative Rescuer And Survivor) — Lee repeatedly protects Dan when the investigation places him in mortal danger.

  Lee saves Dan after paramilitaries shoot at him and later storms the council block to rescue Dan and his wife.

Story Analysis

A journalist uncovers political terrorism while trying to survive murder accusations, kidnappings, and the destruction of his personal life.

Plot Progression

1. An Affair Turns Fatal — Dan covers an election while continuing an affair with Margaret. Her death and the accidental killing of an arriving visitor make Dan the center of a criminal investigation.
2. Violence Behind Politics — Dan and Charles interview Brinn and encounter organized violence afterward. A kidnapping and police suspicion force Dan to reveal the truth to Charles.
3. The Composer's Hidden Message — Dan follows a false lead named Jack and survives a shooting with Lee's help. A piece by Dvorak reveals that Margaret's final words referred to the tape.
4. Hostages and Lost Evidence — The search for the tape leads Dan into a hostage trap. Charles is killed, while Lee rescues Dan and enables him to continue the investigation.
5. The Truth Explodes — A priest helps Dan hear Brinn's confession on the tape. The ransom exchange destroys both Brinn and the terrorist leader, but officials still try to suppress the story.