Character Relationship Map: Self Medicated

Characters

• Andrew (played by Monty Lapica) — protagonist

  17-year-old protagonist grieving his father's death, whose life spirals into drug use and violence. His mother hires a private company to forcibly confine him in a corrupt psychiatric hospital, where...

• Dan Jones (played by Michael Bowen) — supporting

  Dan Jones is Brightway's head counselor and introduces Andrew to the facility's strict rules. He oversees a program that expects Andrew to participate, and Andrew later confronts him, accusing him of...

• Andrew's Father (played by Ray Benson) — minor
• Mike (played by Marcus Toji) — minor
• Aaron (played by Matthew Carey) — supporting

  Aaron is one of the boys involved in Andrew's attempted escape from Brightway. After Andrew persuades the boys to flee following lights out, Aaron is apparently caught while Mike and several others ge...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Andrew's Father → Andrew (father)
• Andrew → Dan Jones (Professional Counselor And Patient) — Dan oversees Andrew's treatment at Brightway, while Andrew resents his authority and later directly accuses him of betraying his trust.

  At Brightway, Dan Jones is identified as the head counselor and lays down rules for Andrew. Andrew later confronts him, accusing him of betrayal after...

Story Dynamics

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

• Andrew → Aaron (Social Fellow Patient) — Aaron is among the boys involved in the same escape attempt as Andrew, but the excerpt indicates that he is apparently caught.

  During Andrew's escape attempt, Aaron is apparently caught while Andrew, Mike, and several others flee.

• Andrew → Mike (Alliance Escape Partners) — Mike joins Andrew's attempted escape from Brightway; staff surround the group before the excerpt clarifies what happens next.

  Andrew persuades other boys to join an escape attempt after lights out, and Mike flees with him.

Story Analysis

Andrew resists authority and treatment as he moves from trouble at school into conflict at Brightway, an attempted escape, and an unresolved encounter on the road.

Plot Progression

1. Trouble Before Brightway — After fooling around with paintball guns, Andrew faces consequences at school and clashes with his mother. Staff arrive to take him to a treatment center despite his pleas.
2. Life Under Brightway Rules — Andrew is admitted to Brightway, where Dan Jones establishes strict rules and staff search and disinfect him. A group exercise brings Andrew's account of an imaginary companion into the open, followed...
3. The Failed Escape — Andrew persuades other boys to attempt an escape after lights out. Staff surround the group in a field, and the excerpt does not establish what happens after they are cornered.
4. Anger on the Road — Andrew confronts Dan over his mother's prior discussion about sending him to Brightway and storms away. He drives while upset, then gives Gabe a ride and leaves the truck-cleaning exchange unresolved.