Character Relationship Map: Dance with a Stranger

Characters

• Ruth Ellis (played by Miranda Richardson) — protagonist

  Ruth is a former nude model and prostitute who manages a London drinking club frequented by racing drivers. She lives above the bar with her son Andy and becomes romantically involved with David. Afte...

• David Blakeley (played by Rupert Everett) — supporting

  David is an immature young man from a wealthy family who hopes to become a racing driver but lacks money and drinks excessively. He begins a doomed relationship with Ruth, cannot marry her, ignores he...

• Desmond Cussen (played by Ian Holm) — supporting

  Desmond is a wealthy admirer of Ruth who helps her after she loses her job and becomes homeless. He secures a flat for Ruth and her son Andy, providing practical support while she continues seeing Dav...

• Andy (played by Matthew Carroll) — supporting

  Andy is Ruth's illegitimate son and lives with her in the flat above the drinking club. He is part of Ruth's immediate family and is included in the practical crisis after she loses her job and become...

• Morrie Conley (played by Stratford Johns) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ruth Ellis → Andy (Family Mother) — Ruth is responsible for Andy but struggles to provide stable care, creating a painful conflict between her ambitions and motherhood.

  Ruth lives above the club with Andy and wants to build a proper home for him. The plot also shows that Andy may be left alone while she pursues her tr...

Story Dynamics

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

• Desmond Cussen → David Blakeley (Conflict Protective Adversaries) — Desmond's concern for Ruth places him in opposition to David's reckless and destructive influence.

  When David treats Ruth badly, Desmond intervenes and later condemns David's treatment of her.

• Ruth Ellis → Morrie Conley (Conflict Managerial Rivals) — Ruth's ambition to reshape the club conflicts with Morrie's defense of existing management and authority.

  Ruth clashes with Morrie over the club's business, arguing for a pianist, better publicity, and a more fashionable clientele. Morrie warns her not to...

• Desmond Cussen → Andy (Alliance Practical Supporter) — Desmond's support for Andy is expressed through arranging housing during Ruth's domestic and financial crisis.

  Desmond secures a new flat for Ruth and Andy after Ruth loses her job and becomes homeless.

• Ruth Ellis → Desmond Cussen (Alliance Devoted Supporter) — Desmond provides persistent emotional and practical support, although Ruth treats his concern with contempt and continues seeing David.

  Desmond brings Ruth to the club, follows her constantly, tries to protect her, and later secures a flat for Ruth and Andy after she loses her job and...

• Ruth Ellis → David Blakeley (Narrative Lovers Turned Killer And Victim) — Their passionate relationship deteriorates through jealousy, drinking, abandonment, and violence before ending in David's death at Ruth's hands.

  Ruth and David become romantically involved, repeatedly argue, and admit that their relationship is destructive. The character account states that Rut...

Story Analysis

Ruth's search for love, independence, and security collapses under destructive romance, parental neglect, and irreversible violence.

Plot Progression

1. Ambition Above the Bar — Ruth works at a crowded drinking club and seeks greater control over its business. Her responsibilities toward Andy reveal the domestic stability she wants but cannot yet provide.
2. A Dangerous Romance — Desmond introduces Ruth to David, and their attraction quickly becomes passionate. David's jealousy, drinking, and conflicting ambitions turn intimacy into repeated confrontation.
3. Violence and Displacement — A quarrel over a record becomes violent, leading Ruth to reject David. Job losses and homelessness deepen the pressure on Ruth and Andy, while Desmond provides practical support.
4. Consequences of Neglect — Ruth and David continue their destructive cycle despite recognizing it cannot change. Desmond confronts both David's treatment of Ruth and Ruth's failure to protect Andy.
5. The Fatal End — After miscarriage and David's abandonment, Ruth follows him to a pub and shoots him. She is arrested, leaving the relationship's violence with irreversible consequences.