Character Relationship Map: 23 Walks

Characters

• Dave (played by Dave Johns) — protagonist

  Dave is a lonely man who meets Fern while walking his dog in the local fields. Their repeated walks develop into friendship and tentative romance, but he conceals that he is married to a woman living...

• Fern (played by Alison Steadman) — protagonist

  Fern meets Dave during regular walks with their dogs and gradually develops a close friendship and tentative romance with him. She struggles to trust people, so learning that Dave concealed his marria...

• Marcy (played by Marsha Millar) — supporting

  Marcy is Dave's wife, who has been living in a care home for two years when the main story begins. Dave tells Fern that he cared for Marcy for as long as possible, but his own health problems made thi...

• Donna (played by Natalie Simpson) — supporting

  Donna is a person who confronts Dave after his separation from Fern. She challenges him about the way he has handled his life, forcing him to face the consequences of concealing his marriage and misha...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dave → Marcy (Family Husband) — Dave remains married to Marcy during his relationship with Fern.

  Dave brings Fern to meet Marcy and explains that Marcy is his wife and has lived in a care home for two years.

Story Dynamics

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

• Fern → Marcy (Social Introduced Acquaintances) — Fern and Marcy meet because of Dave's hidden marriage.

  Dave brings Fern to meet Marcy, revealing the marriage that he had concealed during their walks.

• Donna → Dave (Conflict Challenger) — Donna confronts Dave and forces him to face his conduct and circumstances.

  After Dave and Fern separate, Donna challenges him about the way he has handled his life.

• Dave → Fern (Social Friend) — Dave and Fern become emotionally close through regular walks and personal conversations.

  Their repeated dog walks develop from tense meetings into a close friendship as they discuss work, family, loneliness, and their lives.

Story Analysis

Two lonely people build a fragile relationship while confronting secrecy, marriage, care, loss, and the possibility of renewed honesty.

Plot Progression

1. Fields Of First Trust — Dave and Fern meet through their dogs and gradually turn repeated walks into a friendship. Personal conversations reveal loneliness and create a tentative romantic connection.
2. The Marriage Revealed — Dave misses a walk and Fern becomes suspicious about his private life. He eventually introduces her to Marcy, revealing that he has concealed his marriage.
3. Distance And Accountability — Fern leaves feeling deceived, while Dave becomes angry and miserable. Donna challenges him, and Fern later reopens contact so Dave can acknowledge his dishonesty.
4. A Careful Return — Dave and Fern cautiously reconcile and begin sharing domestic life without rushing their arrangement. Marcy's changing health continues to unsettle Dave.
5. Grief And Honest Possibility — Dave's dog becomes seriously ill, and Fern helps him choose a peaceful death. Their shared grief suggests that their relationship may have a more honest future.