Character Relationship Map: The Killing Time

Characters

• Sam Wayburn (played by Beau Bridges) — protagonist

  A deputy sheriff involved in an affair with Laura Winslow. He collaborates with Laura to murder her abusive husband Jake, attempting to frame The Stranger using an unregistered weapon. Unaware that Th...

• Jake Winslow (played by Wayne Rogers) — supporting

  A cruel, wealthy, and powerful man who is Laura Winslow's husband. He abuses and rapes Laura, prompting her and Sam to plot his assassination. He is unaware of his wife's betrayal until The Stranger r...

• Laura Winslow (played by Camelia Kath) — supporting

  The abused wife of Jake Winslow. She engages in an affair with Deputy Sam Wayburn and, after enduring severe violence, conspires with Sam to murder Jake. Her plan relies on using The Stranger's unregi...

• Brian Mars (played by Jeb Ellis-Brown) — supporting
• Carl Cunningham (played by Joe Don Baker) — supporting

  The local sheriff who discovers an all-points bulletin identifying the real Brian Mars, revealing The Stranger's true identity. He arrives at the scene during the violent confrontation between Sam and...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Carl Cunningham → Sam Wayburn (Professional Law Enforcement Colleagues) — Carl and Sam belong to the same local law-enforcement structure.

  Carl is the local sheriff, while Sam is a deputy sheriff; Carl's intervention prevents Brian from killing Sam.

• Carl Cunningham → Brian Mars (Professional Pursuing Sheriff) — Carl investigates the identity fraud and moves to arrest the impostor using Brian's name.

  Carl finds an all-points bulletin identifying the real Brian Mars and goes to Brian's house to arrest him.

• Laura Winslow → Jake Winslow (Family Wife) — Laura is Jake's wife despite his violent treatment of her.

  Jake Winslow is explicitly identified as Laura Winslow's husband.

• Sam Wayburn → Laura Winslow (Romantic Lovers) — Sam and Laura are involved in an affair that develops into a continuing relationship.

  The plot states that Deputy Sam Wayburn is having an affair with Laura Winslow, and they continue their relationship after Jake's death.

Story Dynamics

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

• Brian Mars → Laura Winslow (Conflict Saboteur And Target) — Brian directly obstructs Laura's murder plan without attacking her physically.

  Brian disables Laura's car and informs Jake about her plan before taking action against Jake.

• Brian Mars → Sam Wayburn (Conflict Targeted Adversaries) — Brian retaliates against Sam for the framing scheme.

  Brian discovers that Sam and Laura are trying to frame him, then chases Sam through fields and attempts to kill him.

• Jake Winslow → Brian Mars (Conflict Murder Victim) — Jake is killed by the stranger using Brian Mars's assumed identity.

  Brian tells Jake that his father's death was Jake's fault, then shoots him after revealing Laura and Sam's plan.

• Sam Wayburn → Jake Winslow (Conflict Murder Conspirators) — Sam treats Jake as the target of a planned assassination.

  Sam joins Laura in planning Jake's murder and intends to frame Brian Mars with an unregistered gun.

Story Analysis

A false identity, an abusive marriage, and competing murder schemes converge in a violent law-enforcement crisis.

Plot Progression

1. A Stolen Identity — A stranger kills a man and assumes Brian Mars's identity in a small California town. His nightmares suggest a personal motive connected to his father's death.
2. Abuse And Conspiracy — Sam and Laura's affair exists beneath Jake's violent control. After Jake abuses Laura, the couple decide to murder him and frame Brian.
3. The Counterplot — Brian learns about the framing scheme and sabotages Laura's car. He warns Jake, then turns the planned murder into his own act of revenge.
4. The False Evidence — Jake's death produces evidence pointing toward Sam's weapon rather than Brian's gun. Sam and Laura realize that Brian must have killed Jake.
5. The Sheriff Arrives — Sam confronts Brian, who pursues him through the fields. Carl identifies the real Brian Mars and arrives in time to stop the killing.