Character Relationship Map: Shakedown

Characters

• Roland Dalton (played by Peter Weller) — protagonist

  A burned-out Manhattan public defender representing crack dealer Michael Jones in his final legal aid case. He investigates Officer O'Leary's death, uncovers corruption involving dirty cops and drug l...

• Richie Marks (played by Sam Elliott) — supporting

  A renegade loner NYPD narcotics detective who helps Roland investigate the O'Leary shooting. He assists Roland in retrieving a crucial evidence tape, kills corrupt officers who take Roland hostage, an...

• Susan Cantrell (played by Patricia Charbonneau) — supporting

  The smart and sexy prosecutor handling Roland's final case. She is Roland's former love interest, and they secretly resume their affair during the trial. After Roland clears Jones's name and breaks up...

• Patrick O'Leary (played by Jude Ciccolella) — supporting

  A police officer killed during a drug transaction. He is revealed to be a corrupt 'Blue Jean Cop' working with drug lord Nicky Carr and dirty cops. His death and alleged corruption serve as the centra...

• Michael Jones (played by Richard Brooks) — supporting

  A crack dealer accused of shooting police officer Patrick O'Leary in Central Park. He claims self-defense and alleges O'Leary was corrupt. Roland represents him and proves his innocence using a casset...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Susan Cantrell → Michael Jones (Professional Prosecutor And Defendant) — Susan prosecutes Jones before the jury ultimately acquits him.

  Susan Cantrell is the prosecutor handling the case in which Michael Jones is accused of shooting O'Leary.

• Roland Dalton → Susan Cantrell (Romantic Former Lovers) — Their renewed romance creates a personal complication during the prosecution of Jones.

  The plot identifies Susan as Roland's former love interest, and says they secretly rekindle their affair during the trial.

• Roland Dalton → Michael Jones (Professional Defense Counsel) — Roland serves as Jones's defense attorney and investigates the case beyond the courtroom.

  Roland is a Manhattan public defender assigned to represent Michael Jones in the shooting case.

Story Dynamics

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

• Richie Marks → Susan Cantrell (Conflict Case Opponent) — Their positions indirectly oppose each other through the disputed evidence and prosecution.

  Marks works to recover evidence supporting Jones, while Susan prosecutes the case against Jones.

• Richie Marks → Michael Jones (Alliance Defense Supporter) — Marks supports the effort that ultimately clears Jones of the shooting charge.

  Marks assists Roland in investigating the shooting and recovering the tape that recorded the incident involving Jones.

• Roland Dalton → Patrick O'Leary (Narrative Case Investigator) — O'Leary's death drives Roland from routine defense work into an independent investigation.

  Although representing Jones, Roland seeks the truth about O'Leary's shooting and searches for the recording of the incident.

• Richie Marks → Patrick O'Leary (Narrative Investigation Subject) — O'Leary's death becomes the focus of Marks's unofficial investigation.

  Richie and Roland investigate O'Leary's death and learn that O'Leary worked with dirty cops.

• Michael Jones → Patrick O'Leary (Conflict Accused Shooter) — Their confrontation is the case's central disputed event.

  Michael Jones is accused of shooting Patrick O'Leary to death in Central Park, while Jones claims self-defense.

• Roland Dalton → Richie Marks (Alliance Investigative Partners) — The public defender and renegade detective cooperate to uncover police corruption.

  Roland looks to Richie Marks for help, and they eventually learn that O'Leary was working with dirty cops.

Story Analysis

A public defender follows a disputed police shooting into a corrupt network, saves his client, and redefines his personal and professional future.

Plot Progression

1. A Case That Will Not Stay Simple — Roland takes Michael Jones's final legal aid case after Jones is accused of killing Patrick O'Leary. Jones's self-defense claim and allegation of police corruption push Roland beyond routine defense w...
2. Romance Behind the Trial — Roland turns to Richie Marks, a renegade narcotics detective, while discovering that prosecutor Susan Cantrell is his former love interest. Roland and Susan secretly rekindle their affair as the trial...
3. The Tape in the Evidence Locker — Roland and Marks connect O'Leary to dirty cops through suspicious purchases. Roland breaks into the police evidence locker and discovers that a cassette recorded the entire shooting.
4. Justice Without the Tape — Corrupt officers take Roland hostage, but Marks rescues him. Although the judge excludes the cassette, Roland's closing argument helps the jury acquit Jones.
5. The Airport Inferno — Marks reveals a Porsche connected to O'Leary and pursues fleeing fugitives with Roland. He reaches the plane, disables it with gunfire and a grenade, then jumps into the East River before the explosio...
6. A New Legal Commitment — After the case and pursuit, Roland breaks up with his fiancée and resumes dating Susan. He remains a public defender rather than leaving legal aid behind.