Character Relationship Map: Flakes

Characters

• Neal Downs (played by Aaron Stanford) — protagonist

  An exhausted worker at Flakes who is trying to keep the cereal shop running while pursuing his music. He refuses to rush his recording, wants it to be exceptional, and becomes involved in managing the...

• Miss Pussy Katz (played by Zooey Deschanel) — supporting

  A figure associated with Flakes' unconventional community. She discusses her chosen name and becomes involved with the shop's unusual atmosphere.

• Willie (played by Christopher Lloyd) — supporting

  A distracted and disorganized worker at Flakes who is frequently short of money and owes Bruce a substantial amount. He offers to run the shop so Neal can finish his record, but becomes increasingly a...

• Skinny Larry (played by Ryan Donowho) — supporting
• Miss Lucille (played by Carol Sutton) — supporting

  A regular customer at Flakes who helps reinforce the shop's sense of community.

• Stuart (played by Keir O'Donnell) — supporting

  An employee at New Original Flakes, the competing cereal shop across the street. He offers to turn Neal's artwork into a gallery after seeing his sketches.

• Bruce (played by Frank Wood) — supporting

  A person who arrives at Flakes to trade cereal and reminds Neal that Willie still owes him a substantial amount.

Story Dynamics

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

• Willie → Skinny Larry (Social Community Connection) — Skinny Larry is associated with the customer loss Willie fears.

  Willie observes that even Skinny Larry's mother is eating cereal across the street while New Original Flakes takes Flakes' clientele.

• Neal Downs → Skinny Larry (Social Community Connection) — Their connection is only indirect and community-based.

  The plot refers to Skinny Larry's mother as part of the customer shift toward New Original Flakes, linking Skinny Larry to the shop's local community.

• Willie → Miss Pussy Katz (Social Shop Acquaintances) — They share a connection through the shop's unconventional community.

  Miss Pussy Katz becomes involved with the unusual atmosphere of Flakes, where Willie helps behind the counter.

• Neal Downs → Miss Pussy Katz (Social Shop Acquaintances) — Their connection is formed through Flakes' eccentric social environment.

  Miss Pussy Katz discusses her chosen name and becomes involved with Flakes' unusual atmosphere while Neal works at the shop.

• Willie → Miss Lucille (Social Shop Community Acquaintances) — They are connected through the shop's recurring community.

  Willie helps behind the counter at Flakes, where Miss Lucille is a regular customer.

• Neal Downs → Miss Lucille (Social Shopkeeper And Regular Customer) — She is part of the small community surrounding Neal's shop.

  Miss Lucille is identified as one of Flakes' regular customers while Neal works to keep the shop running.

• Willie → Stuart (Conflict Business Rival) — Willie sees Stuart's workplace as the source of the shop's crisis.

  Willie becomes increasingly alarmed that New Original Flakes has taken Flakes' original name, concept, and much of its clientele, while Stuart works t...

• Neal Downs → Stuart (Conflict Business Rival) — Stuart represents the competing business threatening Neal's livelihood.

  Stuart works at New Original Flakes, the competing shop that attracts customers from Flakes. The new business has copied Neal and Willie's concept.

• Neal Downs → Bruce (Social Business Acquaintance) — Their interaction is connected to cereal trading and Willie's obligation.

  Bruce comes to Flakes to trade cereal and discusses Willie's debt with Neal.

• Willie → Bruce (Conflict Debtor And Creditor) — Willie's unpaid debt creates pressure around the shop.

  Bruce arrives to trade cereal and reminds Neal that Willie still owes him a substantial amount of money.

• Neal Downs → Willie (Alliance Business Partner) — They jointly manage and defend the cereal shop.

  Neal works at Flakes with Willie, and they discuss ways to keep the shop operating after New Original Flakes opens across the street.

Story Analysis

A struggling cereal shop and its creative workers face financial pressure, artistic frustration, and a rival that copies their identity.

Plot Progression

1. Life Behind The Counter — Neal works exhausting nights at Flakes while pursuing a recording. Willie helps at the shop, Bruce raises Willie's debt, and Miss Lucille represents the store's small community.
2. A Record And A Risk — Neal refuses to rush his music despite other musicians releasing their CD first. Willie offers to cover the shop, but his departure from a previous stall and Flakes' worsening finances complicate the...
3. The Copycat Across Street — New Original Flakes opens across the street after apparently gathering information from Neal and Willie. Its cleaner presentation attracts customers, forcing the partners to confront a direct commerci...
4. Improvising Under Pressure — The people around Flakes try to adapt through operations management, a smoking patio, and new social activity. Stuart also offers to develop Neal's sketches into a gallery.
5. The Vanishing Customers — Willie concludes that the rival has taken Flakes' name, concept, and clientele. When even Skinny Larry's mother eats across the street, Willie demands answers from Neal, and the available dispute rema...