Character Relationship Map: Refuge

Characters

• Kate Pedroni (played by Sophie Simnett) — protagonist

  Kate Pedroni is Rick Pedroni’s wife and the family member who tries to care for him after his return from Afghanistan. She argues that his disturbing behavior reflects trauma and that he needs help, n...

• Rick Pedroni (played by Aston McAuley) — supporting

  Rick Pedroni is a soldier whose unit is ambushed in Afghanistan, leaving him with a severe psychological wound. After returning home, he becomes withdrawn, wears a handmade mask, behaves ominously, an...

• Sebastian Pedroni (played by Jason Flemyng) — supporting
• Ibrahim (played by Raza Jaffrey) — supporting

  Ibrahim is an imam who recognizes something frightening in Rick’s eyes and agrees to help despite Farid’s anger. He believes that a djinn may have attached itself to Rick during the war, and he prepar...

• Farid (played by Shervin Alenabi) — supporting

  Farid is connected to the mosque and reacts angrily when Ibrahim agrees to help Rick. He opposes Ibrahim’s intervention, creating resistance within the religious community as Kate tries to obtain help...

• Tarling (played by Atanas Srebrev) — minor

  Tarling is a police officer who detains Rick after the disturbing incident at the mosque. He initially treats Rick’s behavior as a possible criminal or terrorist threat, contrasting with Kate’s belief...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sebastian Pedroni → Rick Pedroni (Family Member) — Sebastian is connected to Rick through the family surrounding his deployment and return.

  Rick says farewell to his family before leaving for Afghanistan, and Sebastian is identified as a member of the Pedroni family.

• Kate Pedroni → Rick Pedroni (Family Member) — Kate is a close family member who remains directly involved in Rick's recovery.

  Kate shares an emotional farewell with Rick before his deployment and later takes him home after his return.

Story Dynamics

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

• Kate Pedroni → Farid (Conflict Persuasion Opponent) — Kate's determination places her at odds with Farid's resistance to the proposed intervention.

  Kate persuades skeptical people around her that Rick must be treated through a religious exorcism, while Farid is explicitly angry and opposed to Ibra...

• Farid → Rick Pedroni (Conflict Skeptical Opponent) — Farid initially stands against the supernatural treatment being considered for Rick.

  Farid opposes Ibrahim's attempt to help Rick and is among those who must be persuaded that Rick requires an exorcism.

• Farid → Ibrahim (Conflict Opponent) — Farid challenges Ibrahim's decision to intervene in Rick's case.

  Farid reacts with anger and opposition when Ibrahim agrees to help Rick.

• Ibrahim → Rick Pedroni (Narrative Religious Helper) — Ibrahim becomes the religious specialist responsible for confronting the alleged supernatural threat.

  Ibrahim recognizes something frightening in Rick's eyes, believes a djinn may be attached to him, and prepares to confront it.

• Kate Pedroni → Ibrahim (Alliance Ally) — Kate and Ibrahim become aligned around the need for a religious response to Rick's condition.

  Kate eventually persuades the skeptical people around her that Rick must receive a religious exorcism, leading to Ibrahim's intervention.

• Tarling → Rick Pedroni (Conflict Law Enforcement Opponent) — Tarling represents the institutional response against Rick's increasingly alarming behavior.

  Police detain Rick after the mosque incident, and Tarling approaches the situation as a possible criminal or terrorist threat.

• Kate Pedroni → Tarling (Conflict Adversary) — Kate and Tarling disagree over whether Rick should be treated as dangerous or as a traumatized person.

  Tarling treats Rick as a possible criminal or terrorist threat, while Kate insists that he needs medical help instead of punishment.

Story Analysis

A soldier's wartime psychological wound becomes a terrifying struggle over whether his condition is trauma, possession, or both.

Plot Progression

1. War Leaves A Wound — Rick is honored, says goodbye to his family, and returns to combat in Afghanistan. An ambush, possible tunnel attackers, and a terrifying experience leave him psychologically wounded.
2. A Troubled Homecoming — Rick returns to America unable to communicate normally. Kate takes him home after receiving a medical explanation, but his withdrawal and disturbing behavior intensify.
3. The Mosque Incident — Rick wears a handmade mask, speaks ominously, and becomes drawn to a mosque where he claims he wants to cleanse the building. Police detain him while Kate argues that he needs help.
4. The Supernatural Explanation — Ibrahim sees something frightening in Rick and suggests that a djinn attached itself to him during the war. Farid resists the intervention while the danger appears to spread to people nearby.
5. The Unfinished Exorcism — Kate persuades the skeptics that Rick needs a religious exorcism. After Rick affects others, the group sedates and restrains him, carries him to Ibrahim's mosque, and prepares for the confrontation.