Character Relationship Map: Family Plot

Characters

• Blanche Tyler (played by Barbara Harris) — protagonist

  Fake psychic and George's girlfriend. Hired by Julia Rainbird to locate a missing heir for $10,000. Survives a sabotaged car ride, gets abducted by Arthur and Fran, fakes unconsciousness to escape the...

• George Lumley (played by Bruce Dern) — protagonist

  Blanche's boyfriend and skilled investigator. Tracks down clues about the missing boy and locates Joseph Maloney. Later searches for Blanche, breaks into Arthur's house, overhears a murder plot, rescu...

• Fran (played by Karen Black) — supporting

  Arthur's live-in girlfriend and accomplice in kidnapping wealthy individuals for ransom in diamonds. Abducts Blanche, drugs her, and attempts to kill her. Gets knocked down by Blanche and locked in th...

• Arthur Adamson (played by William Devane) — supporting

  Formerly Edward Shoebridge, a jewel thief who murdered his adoptive parents and assumed a new identity. Kidnaps people with Fran for ransom. Hides a diamond in a chandelier, hires Maloney to kill the...

• Joseph Maloney (played by Ed Lauter) — supporting

  Man who paid for the supposed tombstone of Edward Shoebridge. Hired by Arthur to assassinate Blanche and George. Sabotages their car brakes on a mountain road, attempts to run them over, and dies in a...

• Julia Rainbird (played by Cathleen Nesbitt) — supporting

  Wealthy, guilt-ridden elderly woman who hires Blanche to find her nephew, the son of her deceased sister who was given up for adoption. Offers $10,000 for the task but knows little about the child.

• Mrs. Clay (played by Edith Atwater) — supporting

  Arthur's assistant at the jewelry store. Blanche tricks her into providing Arthur's home address so she can track him down.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Mrs. Clay → Arthur Adamson (Professional Assistant) — She works for Arthur in his legitimate jewelry business.

  Mrs. Clay is identified as Arthur's assistant at his jewelry store.

• Arthur Adamson → Fran (Romantic Live-in Partner) — They share a domestic and romantic relationship.

  Fran is explicitly described as Arthur's live-in girlfriend.

• Julia Rainbird → Arthur Adamson (Family Aunt And Nephew) — Arthur is the missing biological heir Julia seeks.

  Julia wants to find the son of her deceased sister, and the investigation eventually identifies that missing man as Arthur Adamson.

• Blanche Tyler → Julia Rainbird (Professional Client) — Blanche works for Julia on a paid heir-search assignment.

  Julia hires Blanche to locate her nephew and offers her $10,000 for the task.

• Blanche Tyler → George Lumley (Romantic Girlfriend) — They are a committed romantic couple working together under dangerous circumstances.

  The plot identifies George as Blanche's boyfriend and states that their relationship is solid despite frequent bickering.

Story Dynamics

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

• Blanche Tyler → Mrs. Clay (Narrative Deceptive Informant-Seeker) — Blanche manipulates Arthur's assistant to advance the investigation.

  Blanche visits Arthur's jewelry store and tricks Mrs. Clay into providing Arthur's home address.

• Arthur Adamson → George Lumley (Conflict Murderous Adversary) — Arthur tries to eliminate the investigator exposing his identity.

  Arthur learns George is investigating him and responds by hiring Maloney to kill George.

• Arthur Adamson → Blanche Tyler (Conflict Kidnapper And Adversary) — Arthur becomes Blanche's principal immediate threat.

  Arthur abducts Blanche after she discovers Bishop Wood, drugs her, and plans to deal with her after the ransom exchange.

• Fran → Blanche Tyler (Conflict Kidnapper And Victim) — Fran is directly involved in Blanche's captivity and threatened murder.

  Fran helps abduct Blanche, drugs her, and later enters the cellar to carry her to the car.

• Arthur Adamson → Joseph Maloney (Alliance Criminal Accomplice) — Their shared criminal history predates the main investigation.

  The plot states that Arthur and Maloney murdered Arthur's adoptive parents long ago.

• George Lumley → Joseph Maloney (Conflict Investigator And Suspect) — George treats Maloney as a crucial lead in the missing-heir investigation.

  George investigates the person who paid for Edward Shoebridge's tombstone and later questions Maloney's wife at his funeral, leading to Arthur's ident...

• Joseph Maloney → Blanche Tyler (Conflict Assassination Target) — Maloney directly attempts to murder Blanche.

  Arthur enlists Maloney to kill Blanche and George, and Maloney sabotages Blanche's car before trying to run them over.

Story Analysis

A fake psychic and her investigator boyfriend search for an heir while uncovering a criminal identity, kidnapping scheme, and hidden diamond.

Plot Progression

1. A Missing Heir's Promise — Julia Rainbird hires Blanche to locate the son of her deceased sister. George's investigation turns a supposed childhood death into an unresolved mystery.
2. The Criminal Behind the Grave — George follows the tombstone trail and discovers that Edward Shoebridge's grave is empty. Meanwhile, Arthur and Fran's kidnapping enterprise and diamond hiding place are revealed.
3. Murder on the Mountain Road — Arthur hires Maloney to eliminate Blanche and George. The sabotaged car and a violent pursuit end with Maloney's fiery death, but his funeral exposes Arthur's new identity.
4. The Heir Meets His Past — Blanche traces Arthur through his jewelry store and obtains his home address from Mrs. Clay. Her announcement of Julia's inheritance briefly changes the encounter before the unconscious bishop exposes...
5. Escape from the Hidden Cellar — Arthur and Fran drug and imprison Blanche while George searches the house. Blanche fakes unconsciousness, escapes with George's help, and traps the kidnappers.
6. The Diamond in Plain Sight — Blanche appears to enter a genuine trance and points to the diamond hidden in the chandelier. George calls the police, and Blanche ends the story with a knowing wink.