Character Relationship Map: The Carpenter

Characters

• Carpenter (played by Wings Hauser) — protagonist

  A mysterious carpenter who appears to be the spirit of Edward, the house's builder, executed for killing repo men. He protects Alice from an attempted rape, helps her kill Laura, and crushes Martin's...

• Alice Jarett (played by Lynne Adams) — protagonist

  A housewife recovering from a mental breakdown, Alice moves with her professor husband Martin into an unfinished house. She encounters the mysterious carpenter and becomes convinced he is the spirit o...

• Rachel (played by Barbara Jones) — supporting

  Alice's sister, Rachel visits the house sometime after Martin and Laura have been killed. When she spots their bodies, she tries to leave with Alice, but the carpenter stops her and becomes violent. A...

• Laura Bell (played by Louise-Marie Mennier) — supporting

  Laura Bell is one of Martin's students and his lover. She visits Alice to confess that she and Martin are having an affair and that she is pregnant with his child. An argument follows, and Alice kills...

• Worker (played by Jim Connolly) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Alice Jarett → Rachel (Family Sisters) — Rachel is Alice's sister and attempts to protect her.

  Rachel is identified as Alice's sister and later visits the house to take Alice away after discovering the bodies.

• Alice Jarett → Carpenter (Romantic Attraction) — Alice develops an intense attraction to the Carpenter.

  Alice becomes fascinated by the Carpenter's pleasant demeanor and later falls for his charms despite witnessing his murders.

Story Dynamics

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

• Worker → Alice Jarett (Conflict Attacker) — A worker poses a direct physical threat to Alice.

  One worker tries to rape Alice while her husband is away.

• Carpenter → Worker (Conflict Mutilator) — The Carpenter violently disables a hostile worker.

  The Carpenter cuts another worker's arms off with a circular saw after stopping the worker's attempted rape of Alice.

• Carpenter → Laura Bell (Conflict Killer) — The Carpenter assists in Laura's murder.

  The Carpenter helps Alice kill Laura with a nail gun during their argument.

• Alice Jarett → Laura Bell (Conflict Rival) — Laura's affair creates a direct personal conflict with Alice.

  Laura confesses that she is having an affair with Alice's husband and is pregnant, leading to an argument with Alice.

• Rachel → Carpenter (Conflict Adversary) — Rachel directly opposes the Carpenter's control.

  Rachel tries to leave with Alice after seeing the bodies, but the Carpenter stops her and becomes violent toward her.

Story Analysis

A vulnerable woman becomes entangled with a murderous house-bound spirit before turning the house itself into a weapon against him.

Plot Progression

1. A House With Unseen Labor — Alice relocates after her institutional release and moves into an unfinished house. Nighttime hammering introduces a mysterious Carpenter who is not part of the visible crew.
2. Protection Through Violence — The Carpenter protects Alice from a worker's attempted rape, then cleans up the aftermath. Alice becomes increasingly aware that his presence is both helpful and terrifying.
3. The Builder's Bloody Legacy — Alice suspects that the Carpenter is the spirit of the house's former builder. His murderous history becomes clearer when he kills former workers who break in to loot the house.
4. Affair, Betrayal, and Murder — Laura reveals her affair and pregnancy, provoking a confrontation with Alice. Alice and the Carpenter kill Laura, and the Carpenter later kills Alice's husband with a vise.
5. Fire Against the House — Rachel discovers the bodies and tries to rescue Alice, but the Carpenter attacks her. Alice learns that damage to the house harms him and sets it on fire, allowing both sisters to escape.