Character Relationship Map: Stars & Bars

Characters

• Henderson Dores (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) — protagonist

  Henderson is an Englishman who has lived in the United States for two months, hoping a new country will help him escape his frustrations. He pursues the disputed picture, faces hostility and cultural...

• Loomis Gage (played by Harry Dean Stanton) — protagonist

  Loomis is a member of the family at the center of the picture dispute. His will reportedly names Freeborn as the legitimate heir, making his estate crucial to Henderson's efforts. Loomis later dies, a...

• Ben Sereno (played by Kent Broadhurst) — supporting

  Ben is one of the two people who bought the valuable picture from Freeborn. His claim to ownership conflicts with the reported terms of Loomis's will, drawing Henderson into a legal and family dispute...

• Freeborn Gage (played by Maury Chaykin) — supporting

  Freeborn is a member of the family connected to the valuable picture and is the person who sold it to Ben Sereno and Peter Gint. The reported will makes him the legitimate heir, so his transaction bec...

• Peter Gint (played by Rockets Redglare) — minor

  Peter is one of the buyers who receives the valuable picture from Freeborn. His ownership claim is challenged by the reported will naming Freeborn as the legitimate heir, placing him on the opposite s...

• Bryant (played by Martha Plimpton) — minor

  Bryant is a young woman celebrating her birthday who feels trapped at home and begs to accompany Henderson on his trip. She later announces plans to marry Duane, while Henderson objects. After Henders...

• Duane Gage (played by Will Patton) — minor

  Duane is a member of the family and Bryant's intended husband. He takes Henderson's tires, worsening their conflict, and his relationship with Bryant becomes another source of disagreement when Hender...

• Shanda Gage (played by Deirdre O'Connell) — minor

  Shanda is a member of the family Henderson visits during his journey. When she falls, Henderson tries to help her, but the gesture provokes a confrontation because the family accuses him of interferin...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Bryant → Duane Gage (Romantic Intended Spouses) — Their intended marriage becomes a source of conflict for Henderson.

  Bryant announces that she intends to marry Duane.

• Loomis Gage → Freeborn Gage (Family Heir And Beneficiary) — Loomis's will gives Freeborn a claimed legal basis for ownership.

  Loomis Gage's will reportedly makes Freeborn the legitimate heir.

• Freeborn Gage → Peter Gint (Professional Seller And Buyer) — Peter is connected to Freeborn through the disputed picture sale.

  Freeborn is described as having sold the picture to Ben Sereno and Peter Gint.

• Freeborn Gage → Ben Sereno (Professional Seller And Buyer) — Their transaction creates the central conflict over the picture.

  The plot states that Freeborn Gage sold the picture to Ben Sereno and that ownership later became disputed.

• Henderson Dores → Freeborn Gage (Professional Dispute Negotiators) — Henderson tries to resolve the picture dispute involving Freeborn.

  Henderson becomes involved with Freeborn after learning that Freeborn sold the valuable picture and that Loomis Gage's will may support Freeborn's cla...

Story Dynamics

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

• Loomis Gage → Peter Gint (Conflict Competing Claimant) — Loomis's will contributes to the uncertainty surrounding Peter's claim.

  The will favoring Freeborn conflicts with the reported sale of the picture to Peter Gint as well as Ben Sereno.

• Loomis Gage → Ben Sereno (Conflict Competing Claimant) — Loomis's testamentary claim undermines the picture's transferred ownership.

  Loomis's will reportedly makes Freeborn the legitimate heir, challenging the ownership position created by Ben's purchase of the picture.

• Henderson Dores → Loomis Gage (Narrative Potential Beneficiary) — Loomis's death removes a possible source of assistance for Henderson.

  Henderson later admits that the person he had hoped might help him is no longer available, after Loomis dies or is killed.

• Henderson Dores → Shanda Gage (Conflict Misunderstood Assistance) — Henderson's attempted help produces distrust and confrontation.

  When Henderson tries to help Shanda after she falls, the family accuses him of interfering with her.

• Henderson Dores → Duane Gage (Conflict Opposed Relationship) — Duane becomes both a personal and practical obstacle for Henderson.

  Henderson objects to Bryant's relationship with Duane and later confronts Duane after Duane takes Henderson's tires.

• Henderson Dores → Bryant (Alliance Travel Companions) — Bryant joins Henderson on the journey through the American South.

  Bryant begs Henderson to take her on his trip, and her family eventually allows her to accompany him.

• Henderson Dores → Peter Gint (Conflict Adversarial Negotiators) — Peter is one of the parties affected by Henderson's intervention.

  Peter Gint is identified as another recipient of the disputed picture, while Henderson attempts to resolve the ownership issue.

• Henderson Dores → Ben Sereno (Conflict Adversarial Negotiators) — Henderson's effort to settle the picture matter places him in opposition to Ben's claim.

  Henderson tries to deal with the ownership dispute after learning that Ben Sereno bought the picture from Freeborn.

Story Analysis

An Englishman's attempt to reinvent himself in America becomes a chaotic journey through disputed ownership, cultural conflict, personal loyalties, and unresolved self-doubt.

Plot Progression

1. An Englishman Seeks Escape — Henderson tries to use the scale and unpredictability of the United States to escape his frustrations in England. His confidence is challenged by doubts about whether relocation can change him.
2. The Picture and the Gages — Henderson becomes involved with Freeborn Gage and the disputed picture sold to Ben Sereno and Peter Gint. Loomis Gage's will introduces a competing claim and draws Henderson deeper into the Gage famil...
3. A Journey of Misunderstandings — Bryant joins Henderson's journey after asking to escape her trapped home life. The trip brings arguments, stolen tires, and accusations after Henderson tries to help Shanda.
4. Love, Law, and Loss — Bryant announces her intention to marry Duane, while Henderson objects and threatens legal action over the picture. The resulting turmoil culminates in Loomis's death and a conflicted funeral remembra...
5. An Unresolved Decision — Henderson is fired and realizes that the help he expected is no longer available. Bryant urges him not to surrender, but the story ends with Henderson searching for her and his final decision unresolv...