Character Relationship Map: The Medium

Characters

• Madame Flora (played by Marie Powers) — protagonist

  A spiritualistic consultant who earns money by holding séances for grieving clients hoping to contact their dead children. She cares for Toby but treats him harshly, and she is Monica's mother. After...

• Mrs. Nolan (played by Belva Kibler) — supporting

  One of the grieving sitters who attends Madame Flora's séance with hopes of receiving a message from a dead child. She is among those who hear messages during the gathering and later pleads, along wit...

• Mrs. Gobineau (played by Beverly Dame) — supporting

  A séance sitter who attends Madame Flora's gathering with her husband, Mr. Gobineau, and the other mourners. The sitters hear messages from their dead children and experience touches in the dark; she...

• Monica (played by Anna Maria Alberghetti) — supporting

  Madame Flora's daughter, Monica is kinder to Toby than her mother is and plays make-believe with him, imagining him as a king and herself as his bride. When Madame Flora sends Toby away, Monica argues...

• Mr. Gobineau (played by Donald Morgan) — supporting

  A sitter at Madame Flora's séance, attending with his wife, Mrs. Gobineau, and other grieving people. He is present when the group hears messages attributed to their dead children and when Madame Flor...

• Toby (played by Leo Coleman) — supporting

  A helpless young man in Madame Flora's care, Toby is treated harshly by her for touching her belongings. Monica is affectionate toward him and plays make-believe with him. When Madame Flora, frightene...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Madame Flora → Mr. Gobineau (Professional Medium And Séance Sitter) — Mr. Gobineau is one of the séance sitters whom Madame Flora later tries to persuade that the voices could have been imitated.

  Mr. Gobineau attends the séance conducted by Madame Flora.

• Madame Flora → Mrs. Gobineau (Professional Medium And Séance Sitter) — Mrs. Gobineau participates in Madame Flora's séance and is among the sitters who later plead to continue the meetings.

  Mrs. Gobineau attends the séance that Madame Flora conducts for grieving people.

• Madame Flora → Mrs. Nolan (Professional Medium And Séance Sitter) — Mrs. Nolan attends Madame Flora's séance as one of the grieving sitters seeking contact with the dead.

  Madame Flora holds a séance attended by Mrs. Nolan, where the sitters hear messages from their dead children.

• Madame Flora → Monica (Family Mother And Daughter) — Monica shows compassion toward Toby, while Madame Flora refuses to let her leave with him.

  The plot identifies Monica as Madame Flora's daughter. Monica argues with her mother about sending Toby away and offers to go with him.

Story Dynamics

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

• Madame Flora → Toby (Social Caretaker And Dependent) — Madame Flora is Toby's caretaker, but treats him harshly and ultimately sends him away despite Monica's protests.

  Toby is described as the helpless young man in Madame Flora's care. She scolds and strikes him, then insists that he must leave.

Story Analysis

Madame Flora's fear of the séance events culminates in her decision to send Toby away, despite Monica's pleas.

Plot Progression

1. A Troubled Household — Madame Flora earns her living as a spiritualistic consultant and treats Toby harshly. Monica responds to Toby with kindness and imaginative play.
2. Voices in the Séance — Flora conducts a séance for grieving sitters, who hear messages presented as coming from their dead children. A voice offers comfort and mentions a gold locket.
3. Flora's Growing Fear — After feeling a hand in the dark, Flora insists that something is wrong and ends the gathering. She tells Monica that they must stop holding séances and return the money.
4. The Locket Dispute — A grieving mother reports finding the locket mentioned during a séance, leaving the truth of the messages uncertain. Flora tries to show that the voices could have been imitated, but the sitters rejec...
5. Toby Is Sent Away — After driving away the sitters, Flora insists that Toby must leave. Monica pleads for him and offers to go with him, but Flora refuses and sends Toby away.