Character Relationship Map: Nightmare

Characters

• Rene Bressard (played by Edward G. Robinson) — protagonist

  Rene Bressard is a police detective and Stan Grayson's brother-in-law. He initially dismisses Stan's nightmare and later suspects him when the dream's murder proves real. After Stan protests his innoc...

• Stan Grayson (played by Kevin McCarthy) — protagonist

  Stan Grayson is a New Orleans big-band clarinetist and the story's central figure. He dreams of killing a man, then awakens with blood, bruises, and a key connected to the vision. Although evidence im...

• Gina (played by Connie Russell) — supporting

  Gina is Stan Grayson's girlfriend and accompanies him, Rene, and Sue on their country picnic. At the abandoned house from Stan's nightmare, she accidentally bumps the phonograph, slowing the record un...

• Belknap / Harry Britten (played by Gage Clarke) — supporting

  Belknap / Harry Britten is the hypnotist associated with Stan Grayson's building. The investigation learns that a hypnotist there may have caused Stan to commit the murder against his will, making thi...

• Captain Warner (played by Barry Atwater) — supporting

  Captain Warner is connected with the official murder investigation. Rene brings Stan to meet him and learn more about the case, including a witness's description of the killer. Stan is deeply disturbe...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Rene Bressard → Captain Warner (Professional Police Investigative Associates) — Rene turns to Captain Warner as part of the investigation into the murders and Stan's apparent connection to them.

  Rene brings Stan to meet Captain Warner and learn about the murder investigation.

• Gina → Stan Grayson (Romantic Girlfriend) — Gina is Stan's girlfriend and accompanies him and Rene during the trip to the house that intensifies Stan's fear.

  Gina's character profile identifies her as Stan's girlfriend. The plot also places them together with Rene and Sue during the storm.

• Rene Bressard → Stan Grayson (Family Brother-in-Law And Investigator) — Rene initially tries to reassure Stan about the nightmare, then investigates its apparent connection to the murders.

  Stan's character profile identifies Rene as his brother-in-law. In the plot, Stan asks Rene, a detective, to investigate the key, the button, and the...

Story Dynamics

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

• Stan Grayson → Belknap / Harry Britten (Conflict Suspected Hypnotist And Victim) — The available account connects Belknap / Harry Britten to the investigation of Stan's apparent blackouts, but ends before the full explanation is given.

  The character profile identifies Belknap / Harry Britten as a hypnotist associated with Stan's building and says the investigation links him to the po...

Story Analysis

Stan fears that a vivid dream connects him to real murders, while Rene investigates clues that may explain the apparent connection.

Plot Progression

1. A Nightmare Made Tangible — Stan wakes with marks on his throat and finds a key and button among his things. Afraid that the murder in his dream may have been real, he withdraws, while Rene initially tries to reassure him.
2. The House in the Storm — Stan asks Rene to investigate the objects and the mirrored room. During a storm, the group takes refuge in a house that seems familiar to Stan, and its details deepen his fear.
3. Photographs and Recognition — Rene takes Stan to meet Captain Warner and learn about a murder investigation. A witness description and photographs of the victims make Stan believe that his dream connects him to the crimes.
4. A Lead at Belknap House — Rene questions a witness about a man who spoke with Stan, offered cough drops, and suggested a drink. Following this lead, Rene returns to the Belknap house and identifies a photograph as Belknap / Ha...