Character Relationship Map: Lying and Stealing

Characters

• Ivan (played by Theo James) — protagonist

  Protagonist and master art thief in Los Angeles who owes debts to crime boss Dimitri. He plans a final heist and cons with Elyse to secure their freedom, ultimately orchestrating Dimitri's death to es...

• Elyse (played by Emily Ratajkowski) — protagonist

  In-debt aspiring actress and con-woman who partnered with Ivan. She executes a trap by seducing Dimitri and facilitating his drugged wine consumption to kill him, later helping Ivan resolve his past d...

• Dimitri (played by Fred Melamed) — supporting

  Ruthless crime boss who controls Ivan through his father's debts. He threatens Ivan and demands one more job, but is ultimately assassinated by Elyse and Ray after consuming cocaine-laced wine.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ivan → Dimitri (Professional Crime Boss And Operative) — Dimitri employs and exploits Ivan through criminal assignments.

  Dimitri controls Ivan's art-heist work and repeatedly assigns him another job to repay his father's debts.

Story Dynamics

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

• Elyse → Dimitri (Conflict Deceptive Adversary) — Elyse uses deception to place Dimitri inside the murder plan.

  Elyse meets Dimitri in a bar, pretends to be interested in him, and drives with him to his home as part of the fatal setup.

• Ivan → Elyse (Alliance Heist Partner) — They cooperate on a shared criminal plan for mutual freedom.

  Ivan and Elyse plot one final heist and con intended to free them from their obligations.

Story Analysis

Two indebted criminals pursue freedom through a final scheme that transforms coercion into deception and escape.

Plot Progression

1. Debts Behind The Heists — Ivan steals art for the elite while remaining trapped by Dimitri's demands. Elyse's failed acting career and stolen necklace create a second burden that must be resolved.
2. The Hidden Portrait — Ivan and Elyse design a final scheme for freedom. Ivan steals the Hitler self-portrait but hides it when he realizes that the FBI is following him.
3. No Safe Escape — Dimitri threatens Ivan and searches his flat without finding the painting. An FBI offer forces Ivan to choose between betrayal and a more dangerous solution.
4. The Fatal Invitation — Ivan and Elyse decide to eliminate Dimitri. Elyse lures him from a bar to his home, where the plan places cocaine in his wine.
5. Freedom With A Cost — Dimitri dies and the case is treated as self-inflicted. Ivan preserves one family-linked painting and repays the necklace debt so Elyse can return to acting.