Character Relationship Map: Bull

Characters

• Abe (played by Rob Morgan) — protagonist

  Abe is a former bull rider whose accumulated injuries forced him to leave professional competition. He earns a living training younger riders and agrees to let Kris repair his home and chicken coop in...

• Kris (played by Amber Havard) — protagonist

  Kris is a fourteen-year-old girl living with her grandmother and younger sister while her mother, Janis, is incarcerated. After breaking into Abe’s home to steal alcohol and painkillers, she works to...

• Janis (played by Sarah Albright) — supporting

  Janis is Kris’s mother, and she is incarcerated during the events of the story. Her absence contributes to Kris living with her grandmother and younger sister, shaping the unstable family circumstance...

• Mike (played by Troy Hogan) — supporting

  Mike is connected to Kris’s efforts to learn bull riding: Kris does work for him in exchange for access to his bulls. This arrangement gives Kris a chance to practice, while Abe also helps teach Kris...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Kris → Mike (Professional Work-for-Access Arrangement) — Mike provides Kris access to bulls in exchange for her work, enabling her to practice riding.

  Kris has learned to ride by doing work for Mike in exchange for access to his bulls.

• Kris → Janis (Family Mother And Daughter) — Their separation shapes Kris's family life, while their prison visit reveals concern and hope for being together again.

  The reference identifies Janis as Kris's incarcerated mother. Kris visits her, and they discuss Kris's behavior, Janis's release hopes, and their wish...

Story Dynamics

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

• Abe → Mike (Social Rodeo Associates) — Abe's offer to return Kris to Mike's connects him to the place where Kris has access to bulls.

  Abe offers to take Kris back to Mike's after her first bull ride.

• Abe → Kris (Social Mentor And Protégé) — Abe helps Kris develop an interest in bull riding and offers practical guidance as she begins riding.

  Abe teaches Kris bull riding, gives her guidance after her first ride, and offers to take her back to Mike's.

Story Analysis

The available story follows Kris's family uncertainty and emerging connection with Abe through bull riding, while leaving their practical plans unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. A Family Under Strain — Kris visits her incarcerated mother, Janis, who hopes to qualify for a prison-farm program. They discuss Kris's school fights and the family's uncertain idea of moving to Oklahoma and buying a ranch.
2. Abe's Risky Return — Abe returns to rodeo work despite an injury and resists a medical examination. He continues helping riders and advising a young bull rider.
3. Trust Through Bull Riding — Kris admits to having broken into Abe's home, while their connection develops through bull riding. She works for Mike to gain access to bulls, with Abe teaching her.
4. Kris Takes the Ride — Kris tries riding a bull and is thrown after only a few seconds. Abe explains that beginners can black out, and Kris remains eager to ride again.
5. Unsettled Plans — Kris and Abe discuss family hopes, a possible move, and whether bull riding can provide an income. Abe hints at another way to make money, but the available dialogue ends before he explains it.