Character Relationship Map: Riff-Raff

Characters

• Stevie (played by Robert Carlyle) — protagonist

  Homeless construction worker and protagonist. Initially sleeping rough, he is helped by coworkers to squat in a flat where he forms a turbulent relationship with Susan. Described as sometimes callous,...

• Susan (played by Emer McCourt) — supporting

  Struggling Irish actress and singer whose life crosses paths with Stevie after he returns her handbag. She performs at a pub gig supported by the workers, briefly shares a flat with Stevie, but their...

• Larry (played by Ricky Tomlinson) — supporting

  Politically conscious construction worker with strong left-wing views opposing the Conservative government. He helps Stevie find housing, publicly defends Susan during her pub performance, and is even...

• Shem (played by Jimmy Coleman) — supporting

  Construction worker who joins his colleagues in helping Stevie secure a squat. He is later fired for playfully using the boss's mobile phone to make an expensive call, and subsequently arrested follow...

• Desmonde (played by Derek Young) — supporting

  Young construction worker who suffers a severe fall from a hospital roof due to unsafe scaffolding. Despite rescue attempts by Stevie and Mo, he is seriously injured, an accident that ultimately trigg...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Shem → Desmonde (Professional Construction Colleague) — They belong to the same vulnerable workforce affected by unsafe management practices.

  Shem and Desmonde are both construction workers at the site.

• Larry → Desmonde (Professional Construction Colleague) — Their shared workplace links Larry's safety concerns to Desmonde's eventual accident.

  Larry and Desmonde are both described as workers on the construction site.

• Stevie → Desmonde (Professional Construction Colleague) — Their shared workplace places Stevie close to Desmonde's fatal accident.

  Desmonde is a young construction worker on the same site where Stevie works.

• Larry → Shem (Professional Construction Colleague) — They share the precarious working environment and its petty workplace conflicts.

  Larry and Shem are both part of the group of men working on the building site.

• Stevie → Susan (Romantic Partner) — Their relationship briefly provides companionship before collapsing under emotional strain and addiction.

  Stevie meets Susan after returning her handbag, and the chance encounter develops into a turbulent relationship. Susan later moves into Stevie's flat.

Story Dynamics

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

• Larry → Susan (Alliance Performance Supporter) — Larry publicly supports Susan when her performance initially receives hostility.

  At Susan's pub gig, Larry shames the hostile audience into calling her back for an encore.

• Stevie → Shem (Alliance Housing Ally) — Shem supports Stevie's transition from sleeping rough to squatting.

  Shem joins Larry and the other workmates in volunteering to find Stevie an empty flat on the nearby housing estate.

• Stevie → Larry (Alliance Housing Ally) — Larry provides practical support during Stevie's homelessness.

  Larry helps volunteer to find Stevie an empty flat to squat in after learning that Stevie is homeless.

Story Analysis

A homeless construction worker finds temporary love and solidarity amid precarious labor, personal loss, addiction, and institutional neglect.

Plot Progression

1. Rough Shelter and New Bonds — Stevie searches for work while sleeping rough in London. Larry and Shem help him obtain a squat, creating the foundation for his new life among the construction workers.
2. A Brief Shared Happiness — Stevie meets Susan after returning her handbag and supports her pub performance with the workers. Her successful encore leads to Susan moving into Stevie's flat.
3. Love Under Pressure — The construction site remains marked by petty misconduct, political disagreement, dismissals, and weak safety standards. Susan's frustrations and Stevie's emotional coldness begin to damage their dome...
4. Loss and Collapse — Stevie learns of his mother's death and leaves for Scotland. During his absence, Susan begins using heroin, and their relationship ends when she suddenly departs.
5. Unsafe Heights and Fire — Larry and Shem lose their positions through workplace confrontations. Desmonde is severely injured by unsafe scaffolding, prompting Stevie and the workers to burn the converted hospital.