Character Relationship Map: Crackers

Characters

• Garvey (played by Jack Warden) — supporting

  The owner of the pawn shop where Westlake works, Garvey lives in the shop and usually stays there. He hires Dillard to install an alarm system, then leaves to visit his mother. After returning drunk a...

• Dillard (played by Sean Penn) — supporting

  An amateur musician and electrician, Dillard visits Garvey's pawn shop with Ramon to try to buy back his pawned guitar. He agrees to install an alarm system for Garvey, despite reservations, and later...

• Turtle (played by Wallace Shawn) — supporting

  A homeless man and Westlake's friend, Turtle is repeatedly seen searching for something to eat. He joins Westlake, Dillard, Ramon, and Boardwalk in their attempted robbery of Garvey's pawn shop, becom...

• Boardwalk (played by Larry Riley) — supporting

  A pimp whose girlfriend has just left him with their small child, Boardwalk overhears Dillard and Ramon's plan at Garvey's pawn shop. He urges Westlake to tell Garvey about it, but later joins Westlak...

• Ramon (played by Trinidad Silva) — supporting

  An undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives with his sister, Maria, Ramon visits Garvey's pawn shop with Dillard to try to reclaim Dillard's pawned guitar. He persuades Dillard to install the alar...

• Maria (played by Tasia Valenza) — supporting

  Maria is Ramon’s sister, and he lives with her. The plot summary gives no further information about her actions or involvement in the attempted robbery at Garvey's pawn shop.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dillard → Garvey (Professional Contractor) — Garvey temporarily employs Dillard for the alarm installation.

  Garvey offers Dillard a deal to install an alarm system in the pawn shop because Dillard is an electrician.

• Ramon → Maria (Family Brother) — Ramon and Maria are siblings sharing a home.

  The plot explicitly states that Ramon is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who lives with his sister Maria.

Story Dynamics

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

• Dillard → Turtle (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate within the robbery group.

  Dillard and Turtle are both named as participants in the attempted robbery of Garvey's shop.

• Ramon → Turtle (Alliance Teammate) — They participate in the same attempted robbery.

  Ramon and Turtle are both included among the would-be robbers who put the pawn shop plan into action.

• Boardwalk → Turtle (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the break-in group.

  The plot identifies Boardwalk and Turtle as members of the group that attempts to rob Garvey's shop.

• Boardwalk → Ramon (Alliance Teammate) — They share the same robbery objective.

  Boardwalk joins Ramon and the other participants in carrying out the planned robbery.

• Boardwalk → Dillard (Alliance Teammate) — Boardwalk and Dillard cooperate during the attempted break-in.

  Boardwalk joins Dillard in the group that puts the pawn shop robbery plan into action.

• Turtle → Garvey (Conflict Robbery Opponent) — Turtle participates in the failed attempt against Garvey's shop.

  Turtle joins the attempted robbery, and Garvey later finds the would-be robbers inside his store.

• Boardwalk → Garvey (Conflict Robbery Opponent) — Boardwalk becomes part of the group opposing Garvey during the break-in.

  Boardwalk joins Dillard, Ramon, Turtle, and the others in their attempted robbery of Garvey's pawn shop.

• Ramon → Garvey (Conflict Robbery Opponent) — Ramon helps organize the plan against Garvey's property.

  Ramon proposes exploiting the newly installed alarm system to break into Garvey's shop and get the guitar back.

• Dillard → Ramon (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate in planning and attempting the pawn shop robbery.

  Ramon convinces Dillard to install Garvey's alarm system as part of a plan to recover Dillard's pawned guitar.

Story Analysis

A desperate robbery turns into an unexpected moment of human connection when grief prevents Garvey from recognizing his supposed enemies.

Plot Progression

1. A Guitar Behind Glass — Dillard and Ramon try to recover Dillard's pawned guitar but cannot pay Garvey with a stolen car radio. Garvey instead offers Dillard an alarm installation job.
2. The Convenient Alarm — Ramon recognizes that the alarm system may cause Garvey to leave the shop. Boardwalk overhears the idea, and the robbery opportunity begins to expand.
3. An Emptying Opportunity — The group prepares a plan to break into the pawn shop safe. Garvey's announcement that he will visit his mother creates the opening they need.
4. The Vault Holds Nothing — Dillard, Ramon, Boardwalk, and Turtle carry out the break-in despite numerous difficulties. They reach the vault and discover that it has been empty for years.
5. Friends in the Ruins — Garvey returns drunk after his mother's death and finds the group inside the store. He misunderstands their intentions and welcomes their presence as companionship.