Character Relationship Map: The Stone Boy

Characters

• Arnold Hillerman (played by Jason Presson) — protagonist

  Arnold Hillerman is the central child character, whose older brother Eugene is accidentally killed while they are hunting ducks. Unable to explain or share his grief, Arnold withdraws from school and...

• Joe Hillerman (played by Robert Duvall) — supporting

  Joe Hillerman is Arnold's father and a grieving adult struggling to help his surviving son. He tries to bring Arnold back home, later offers him freedom to choose when to return, and becomes so overwh...

• Ruth Hillerman (played by Glenn Close) — supporting
• George Jansen (played by Wilford Brimley) — supporting

  George Jansen is Arnold's grandfather and one of the few adults who can engage him in meaningful conversation after Eugene's death. He discusses how Arnold might survive alone in the mountains, explai...

• Eugene Hillerman (played by Dean Cain) — supporting

  Eugene Hillerman is Arnold's older brother, whose death becomes the event that reshapes the family and drives the story. Before dawn, he wakes Arnold to pick peas and takes a gun for duck hunting; whe...

• Nora Hillerman (played by Susan Rinell) — supporting
• Andy Jansen (played by Frederic Forrest) — supporting

  Andy Jansen is a member of Arnold's extended family who spends time with him during his grief. Unlike the adults who want Arnold to recover quickly, Andy understands that sorrow cannot simply be hurri...

• Amalie (played by Cindy Fisher) — supporting

  Amalie is Eugene's girlfriend, and her connection to him remains part of the emotional tension after his death. The situation becomes more complicated because of Andy's closeness to her, creating stra...

• Lu Jansen (played by Gail Youngs) — supporting

  Lu Jansen is connected to Andy and the family circle affected by Eugene's death. She becomes upset by the tension surrounding Amalie and Andy, then leaves for her old job in Reno. Arnold later travels...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Arnold Hillerman → Nora Hillerman (Family Member) — The plot reference gives no specific interaction between them.

  The provided character list identifies Nora Hillerman as a member of the Hillerman family, but the plot reference does not specify her actions or exac...

• Arnold Hillerman → Ruth Hillerman (Family Member) — The plot reference gives no specific interaction between them.

  The provided character list identifies Ruth Hillerman as a member of the Hillerman family, but the plot reference does not specify her actions or exac...

• Lu Jansen → Andy Jansen (Family Tension) — The situation involving Andy and Amalie upsets Lu and contributes to her departure for Reno.

  Lu is upset by the situation involving Andy's closeness to Amalie and later leaves for her old job in Reno.

• Eugene Hillerman → Amalie (Romantic Boyfriend And Girlfriend) — Eugene's relationship with Amalie becomes part of the family tension after his death.

  The plot refers to Amalie as Eugene's girlfriend.

• Arnold Hillerman → George Jansen (Family Grandfather And Grandson) — George offers Arnold patient companionship and practical advice while expressing fear of another family loss.

  The plot identifies George as Arnold's grandfather. George talks with Arnold about living alone in the mountains and explains what survival would requ...

• Arnold Hillerman → Eugene Hillerman (Family Brothers) — The brothers' ordinary morning together ends in Eugene's accidental death, which drives Arnold's grief and withdrawal.

  Eugene is Arnold's older brother. He wakes Arnold to help pick peas, and Eugene is accidentally killed when the gun catches on a pasture fence as Arno...

• Arnold Hillerman → Joe Hillerman (Family Father And Son) — Joe struggles to reach Arnold through grief, but gradually gives him room to make choices about returning home.

  Joe is identified as Arnold's father and tries to bring him back to home life after Eugene's death. He later asks Arnold to come home and lets him cho...

Story Dynamics

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

• Arnold Hillerman → Lu Jansen (Narrative Seeks Out) — Arnold's search for Lu leads him to the casino, but their meeting is left unresolved.

  After accepting a ride to a rodeo, Arnold enters a casino and asks for Lu. The story ends with someone going to find her.

• Andy Jansen → Amalie (Social Growing Closeness) — Andy and Amalie's closeness creates tension in the wake of Eugene's death.

  The plot says tension grows around Eugene's girlfriend, Amalie, and Andy's closeness to her.

• Arnold Hillerman → Andy Jansen (Social Supportive Companion) — Andy provides Arnold with understanding company without pressuring him to recover quickly.

  Arnold spends time with Andy, who understands that sorrow cannot simply be hurried away.

Story Analysis

After an accidental death tears through a farm family, Arnold struggles with grief and makes an uncertain move toward reconnection.

Plot Progression

1. A Morning Gone Wrong — Eugene wakes Arnold, and the brothers set out with a gun intending to hunt ducks. A tragic accident at the pasture fence kills Eugene.
2. Silence After Loss — Arnold gives a terse account and retreats from school and home. Joe and the family struggle to understand his grief.
3. Lessons in Grief — George talks with Arnold about surviving alone in the mountains but admits he does not want to lose another grandson. Andy offers companionship without trying to hurry Arnold's sorrow.
4. Fraying Family Ties — Tension grows around Andy's closeness to Amalie, Eugene's girlfriend, and Lu is upset by the situation. Lu leaves for her old job in Reno.
5. An Unfinished Return — Joe invites Arnold home and gives him control over where he sleeps and when he returns to his bedroom. After an encounter with a trapped calf, Arnold leaves with a ride and searches for Lu at a casino...