Character Relationship Map: Going Straight

Characters

• Grace Remington (played by Norma Talmadge) — protagonist

  Former leader of the Higgins criminal gang who has retired to a respectable life. Blackmailed by an old associate, she and her children sleep at a friend's house that becomes the target of a botched h...

• John Remington (played by Ralph Lewis) — protagonist

  Former gang leader and skilled safe cracker. Lives a comfortable life until blackmailed to lead a criminal enterprise, reluctantly returning to crime for what he believes will be the only time.

• Jimmy Briggs (played by Eugene Pallette) — minor

  A petty street thief and former member of the Higgins gang. Blackmails the Remingtons to exploit John's safe-cracking expertise and vows revenge after the heist goes awry.

Canonical Relationships

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

• John Remington → Grace Remington (Romantic Partner) — John and Grace are a couple whose respectable life is threatened by their criminal past.

  The plot identifies John and Grace Remington as a well-to-do couple who have built a respectable life together.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jimmy Briggs → Grace Remington (Conflict Blackmailer) — Grace is endangered by Jimmy's threat to expose the couple's past.

  Briggs blackmails the Remingtons by threatening to reveal their former criminal identities.

• Jimmy Briggs → John Remington (Conflict Blackmailer) — Jimmy uses John's hidden past as leverage to force him into a crime.

  Jimmy Briggs threatens to expose the Remingtons' past unless John returns to criminal activity.

Story Analysis

A reformed criminal couple is forced back into crime when an old associate uses their past against them.

Plot Progression

1. Respectability Underneath — John and Grace are introduced as well-to-do citizens who have left behind their leadership of the Higgins criminal gang. Their former identities remain the hidden foundation of their new life.
2. The Blackmail Trap — Jimmy Briggs finds the Remingtons and threatens to expose their criminal past. He applies pressure by demanding John's safe-cracking expertise.
3. A Forced Return — John reluctantly joins Briggs's criminal enterprise. He convinces himself that this will be his one and only return to crime.
4. The Dangerous Target — The planned break-in targets a home belonging to Grace's friend. The danger increases when Grace and the Remington children are sleeping there.
5. A Broken Alliance — The break-in goes awry and the temporary partnership between John and Briggs collapses. Briggs responds by vowing revenge on John.