Character Relationship Map: Shoot Out

Characters

• Clay Lomax (played by Gregory Peck) — protagonist

  Released after seven years in prison, he tracks down his former bank robbery partner who betrayed him. After bonding with a young orphan girl named Decky, he pursues a group of hired thugs to Gun Hill...

• Juliana (played by Patricia Quinn) — protagonist

  A lonely widow living at a ranch house who offers shelter to Clay and Decky during a rainstorm. She becomes infatuated with Clay and later assists in recovering Decky after the girl escapes from Bobby...

• Bobby Jay (played by Robert F. Lyons) — supporting

  A ruthless young thug hired by Sam Foley to track Clay. He leads his gang in assaulting Alma, murdering Trooper, and killing Pepe. His greed leads him to murder Foley before he is ultimately outdrawn...

• Alma (played by Susan Tyrrell) — supporting

  A saloon girl working for the handicapped Trooper. She is forcibly harassed by Foley's thugs, kidnapped along with Clay's money, and ultimately murdered by Bobby Jay during the journey to Gun Hill.

• Trooper (played by Jeff Corey) — supporting

  A former U.S. Army cavalry soldier who runs a saloon and hotel in Weed while using a wheelchair. He provides Clay with initial shelter and information before being fatally shot by Bobby Jay's gang, pr...

• Sam Foley (played by James Gregory) — supporting

  Clay's former crime partner who shot him in the back seven years ago. He hires three thugs to track Clay's movements with a strict order not to kill him, but is later murdered by the greedy Bobby Jay.

• Emma (played by Rita Gam) — supporting

  Clay's former girlfriend who shares lodging with him at Trooper's saloon. She is disturbed by Foley's thugs during the night, leading to a minor corridor altercation.

• Decky (played by Dawn Lyn) — supporting

  A seven-year-old orphan left in Clay's custody by a train conductor after her mother's death. She forms a close bond with Clay during their journey, becomes a target for Bobby Jay, and eventually esca...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Clay Lomax → Emma (Romantic Former Girlfriend) — Their past relationship appears briefly before the gang's disturbance.

  Emma is identified as Clay's old girlfriend, and she shares lodging with him at Trooper's saloon.

• Clay Lomax → Juliana (Romantic Interest) — Juliana develops feelings for Clay while offering refuge.

  Juliana becomes infatuated with Clay after sheltering him and Decky during the rainstorm.

• Clay Lomax → Decky (Family Protective Guardian) — Clay gradually assumes responsibility for the orphaned girl.

  After the conductor places Decky in Clay's custody, Clay tries to find someone to care for her and continues traveling with her.

• Trooper → Alma (Professional Employer) — Trooper is Alma's employer and protector.

  Alma is described as a saloon girl working for the gruff but kindly Trooper at his saloon and hotel.

• Sam Foley → Bobby Jay (Professional Employer) — Foley employs Bobby Jay to monitor Clay.

  Sam Foley hires Bobby Jay and the other young thugs to track Clay for a promised payment.

Story Dynamics

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

• Juliana → Decky (Alliance Caretaker) — Juliana helps protect Decky from Bobby Jay.

  Juliana offers to watch over Decky, and later she and her son recover Decky after the girl escapes.

• Bobby Jay → Clay Lomax (Conflict Pursuing Enemy) — Their pursuit becomes the film's final personal confrontation.

  Bobby Jay tracks Clay, holds him prisoner at the ranch, terrorizes the household, and faces Clay in the final gunfight.

• Bobby Jay → Alma (Conflict Murderous Captor) — Bobby Jay abuses, abducts, and ultimately murders Alma.

  The gang takes Alma with them after robbing the saloon, and Bobby Jay later kills her.

• Bobby Jay → Trooper (Conflict Murderous Enemy) — Bobby Jay's violence removes Clay's local ally.

  Led by Bobby Jay, the thugs rob the saloon, and Bobby Jay fatally shoots Trooper.

• Clay Lomax → Sam Foley (Conflict Betrayed Former Partner) — Their unresolved betrayal drives Clay's pursuit of Foley.

  Sam Foley was Clay Lomax's former crime partner and shot Clay in the back during their bank escape, leaving him to be arrested.

• Clay Lomax → Trooper (Social Old Friend) — Trooper provides shelter and information during Clay's search.

  Clay locates his old friend Trooper in Weed and asks him for information about Sam Foley.

Story Analysis

A betrayed gunman pursues his former partner while becoming the reluctant protector of an orphaned girl.

Plot Progression

1. Betrayal After Prison — Clay is released after seven years and begins searching for Sam Foley, the partner who betrayed him. Foley responds by hiring young thugs to track Clay.
2. The Orphaned Passenger — Clay receives Decky unexpectedly at a train stop and accepts custody after failing to find another caretaker. The gang's violence at Trooper's establishment soon turns the search into revenge.
3. Toward Gun Hill — Trooper's dying clue sends Clay toward Gun Hill with Decky. Their journey develops a protective bond while Clay repeatedly outmaneuvers the gang.
4. Terror At The Ranch — Juliana shelters Clay and Decky during a storm, but the gang captures the ranch house. Bobby Jay's drunken cruelty leads to Alma's death, Skeeter's accidental death, and Decky's flight.
5. The Gunman's Reckoning — Bobby Jay kills Foley while pursuing the promised money, then faces Clay at Foley's house. Clay kills him, leaves the money for the law, and returns to Decky.