Character Relationship Map: Disappearances

Characters

• Quebec Bill Bonhomme (played by Kris Kristofferson) — protagonist

  A hardy schemer and dreamer facing the loss of his herd as winter approaches, Quebec Bill turns to his family's traditional occupation of whiskey-smuggling to raise money. He leads the journey into th...

• Wild Bill Bonhomme (played by Charlie McDermott) — supporting

  Wild Bill is Quebec Bill’s son and accompanies him through the family’s efforts to save their farm. Hoping his estranged father can help, he becomes involved in the whiskey-running scheme and later is...

• Herny Coville (played by Gary Farmer) — supporting

  Henry Coville, whose name is spelled differently in the plot summary, is described as an inscrutable whiskey smuggler. He joins Quebec Bill, Quebec Bill's son Wild Bill, and hired man Rat Kinneson on...

• Cordelia (played by Geneviève Bujold) — supporting

  Cordelia is connected to Wild Bill and offers him counsel as the family faces hardship. She reminds the boy that losing his past would mean losing something essential, giving him a perspective on the...

• Carcajou (played by Lothaire Bluteau) — supporting

  Carcajou is a feared outlaw connected to the whiskey sought by Quebec Bill and Herny Coville. His men become part of the danger surrounding the smuggling run, and Quebec Bill’s decision to keep the ca...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Quebec Bill Bonhomme → Wild Bill Bonhomme (Family Father And Son) — Their bond drives the journey: Wild Bill hopes his estranged father can help, accompanies him on the dangerous run, and calls for help after Quebec Bill is shot.

  The plot identifies Wild Bill as Quebec Bill's son and says they face the farm disaster together. Wild Bill later tries to help his wounded father.

Story Dynamics

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

• Quebec Bill Bonhomme → Carcajou (Conflict Pursued Opponents) — Quebec Bill's attempt to keep the cargo puts him in conflict with Carcajou's men and makes the smuggling run an increasingly dangerous escape.

  The plot describes Carcajou as a feared outlaw and says Quebec Bill's decision to keep the whiskey turns the run into an escape from Carcajou's men.

• Cordelia → Wild Bill Bonhomme (Social Adviser) — Cordelia offers Wild Bill a perspective on the importance of holding on to his past while he hopes his estranged father can help.

  Cordelia reminds Wild Bill that losing his past would mean losing something essential.

• Wild Bill Bonhomme → Herny Coville (Alliance Journey Companions) — Wild Bill joins the dangerous journey with Herny and is separated from him and Quebec Bill as the pursuit intensifies.

  The plot states that Wild Bill is involved in the whiskey scheme and later says he and Herny become separated from Quebec Bill.

• Quebec Bill Bonhomme → Herny Coville (Alliance Smuggling Partners) — They undertake the smuggling run together, but their plans become dangerous when the people who hired Herny try to use him to steal the cargo.

  The plot says Quebec Bill and Herny Coville enter a dangerous whiskey-smuggling scheme together and set out to obtain the whiskey.

Story Analysis

A family facing the loss of its farm turns to a dangerous whiskey run, then confronts a disastrous attempt to secure feed.

Plot Progression

1. A Farm in Peril — An unusual fire destroys the hay and threatens the Bonhomme family farm. When a neighbor refuses to sell hay, Quebec Bill searches for another way to obtain supplies.
2. The Dangerous Whiskey Run — Quebec Bill and Herny Coville enter a whiskey-smuggling scheme, with Wild Bill involved despite Herny's objections. Their goal is complicated by the whiskey's connection to Carcajou.
3. Cargo and Pursuit — The group learns Herny's employers intend to use him to steal the whiskey. Quebec Bill keeps the cargo, setting off an escape from the criminals and Carcajou's men, during which the group becomes sepa...
4. The Boxcar and the Wreck — Quebec Bill and Wild Bill seize an alfalfa-loaded boxcar in hopes of saving the farm. Their attempt to stop the train goes wrong, ending in a wreck that seriously wounds Quebec Bill and leaves their f...