Character Relationship Map: D(e)ad

Characters

• Daniel (played by Craig Bierko) — protagonist

  Tillie's deceased father, Daniel appears in childhood memories and later as a spirit. He encouraged young Tillie to take pride in being a goalie, told her that ghosts come from powerful emotions and u...

• Young Tillie (played by Winslow Schwartzman) — supporting

  The childhood version of Tillie appears in a memory of playing soccer with her father, Daniel. Reluctant to play, she is encouraged by him to take pride in her role as goalie. Their exchange establish...

• Tillie (played by Isabella Roland) — supporting

  Tillie is Daniel's adult daughter, grieving his death and regretting that she kept him at a distance and missed his final moments. She tries to arrange practical matters for his body, but paperwork de...

• Frankie (played by Claudia Lonow) — supporting

  Frankie is Daniel's widow and Tillie's mother, overwhelmed by grief and the responsibilities she feels toward her children. Daniel's spirit appears to her in a mirror, where they argue about his accom...

• Owen from Science Care (played by Brennan Lee Mulligan) — supporting

  Owen works with Science Care and speaks with Tillie about arrangements for Daniel's body. He tells her that additional paperwork concerning Daniel's estate is required before collection can proceed, a...

• Rabbi Barry (played by Eddie Pepitone) — minor

  Rabbi Barry is described as a psychic rabbi whom the family consults about Daniel's haunting. He says the haunting is real and suggests that the living are haunting Daniel by remaining attached to him...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Tillie → Owen from Science Care (Professional Case Contact) — Owen's procedural requirements frustrate Tillie, and their later conversation challenges her to consider why she keeps seeking confirmation that she is right.

  Tillie contacts Owen from Science Care about collecting Daniel's body and learns that additional paperwork about Daniel's estate is required. She late...

• Daniel → Frankie (Family) — After Daniel's death, Frankie encounters his spirit and argues with him as she struggles with grief and family responsibilities.

  Frankie is described as Daniel's family member and is present in the account of his death and haunting. Daniel appears to her in a mirror and argues w...

• Daniel → Tillie (Family Father) — Tillie's unresolved regret over her relationship with Daniel shapes her grief, while his spirit appears to other family members but remains unseen by her.

  The plot identifies Daniel as Tillie's father and says she is grieving his death and regrets keeping him at a distance before his final moments.

• Daniel → Young Tillie (Family Father) — Daniel supports Young Tillie during childhood and teaches her that ghosts are connected to powerful emotions and unfinished business.

  The plot identifies Daniel as Young Tillie's father. He encourages her to take pride in being the goalie and promises he will always be there for her.

Story Dynamics

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

• Frankie → Rabbi Barry (Social Spiritual Adviser) — Frankie acts on Rabbi Barry's advice about the haunting, while the family's decision to pursue an exorcism remains contested.

  The family consults Rabbi Barry about Daniel's lingering spirit, and Frankie decides to proceed toward an exorcism on his advice.

• Tillie → Rabbi Barry (Social Spiritual Adviser) — Rabbi Barry offers Tillie an interpretation of her absence from the haunting, but it leaves her feeling isolated rather than reassured.

  The family turns to Rabbi Barry, whom the plot describes as a psychic rabbi. He says the haunting is real and interprets Tillie's inability to see Dan...

Story Analysis

A grieving family confronts Daniel's reported haunting while struggling with regret, unresolved feelings, and disagreement about what to do next.

Plot Progression

1. A Promise Against the Unknown — As a child, Young Tillie resists soccer, and Daniel encourages her to embrace being the goalie. He explains his belief about ghosts and promises to remain there for her.
2. Grief Meets Paperwork — Years later, Tillie grieves Daniel and regrets keeping him at a distance before his final moments. Practical arrangements for his body are complicated by additional estate paperwork.
3. The Mirror Encounter — Daniel appears to Frankie in a mirror, and the two argue about his death and how she regarded his accomplishments. Other family members report encounters, while Tillie initially cannot see him.
4. A Haunting Reinterpreted — The family consults Rabbi Barry, who confirms the haunting and interprets the living as attached to Daniel. His explanation about Tillie's inability to see her father leaves her feeling isolated.
5. An Unsettled Family Decision — Owen challenges Tillie to consider why she seeks confirmation, and Frankie admits the pressure she feels to do everything perfectly. The family debates an exorcism, but the supplied scenes end without...