Character Relationship Map: Wildflower

Characters

• Bea Johnson (played by Kiernan Shipka) — protagonist

  Bea Johnson is the central character, lying unconscious after a dangerous night that leaves her seriously injured. Her memories and thoughts reveal a deep feeling of confinement and a longing to escap...

• Joy (played by Alexandra Daddario) — protagonist

  Joy is an adult who becomes involved in Bea Johnson’s care after previously considering bringing her into the household. She and Ben take Bea Johnson in for the summer and try to protect her, although...

• Ethan (played by Charlie Plummer) — supporting

  Ethan has a separate medical crisis that adds another thread to the family’s turmoil. After an embarrassing incident causes unexpected bleeding, he panics and fears that his cancer has returned. Medic...

• Peg (played by Jean Smart) — supporting

  Peg is a member of Bea Johnson’s frightened and quarrelsome family. At the hospital, she tries to comfort Bea Johnson while the relatives argue about prayer, religion, responsibility, and the disaster...

• Loretta (played by Jacki Weaver) — supporting

  Loretta is a family member whose behavior intensifies the hospital conflict. She smokes despite the hospital rules and criticizes the people around her, contributing to the tense atmosphere as everyon...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Bea Johnson → Ethan (Family Connection) — Bea Johnson and Ethan are connected through the family crisis depicted by the story.

  Ethan's health crisis appears within the same family-centered story, while the family later keeps vigil around Bea Johnson in the hospital.

• Loretta → Bea Johnson (Family Member) — Loretta is an outspoken member of Bea Johnson's family circle.

  Loretta is part of the family gathered around Bea Johnson in the hospital and participates in the arguments surrounding her condition.

• Peg → Bea Johnson (Family Member) — Peg is a close family member who supports Bea Johnson during the crisis.

  Peg is present at Bea Johnson's hospital bedside, tries to comfort her, and remains with the family during the vigil.

• Joy → Bea Johnson (Family Caregiver) — Joy takes responsibility for Bea Johnson's care during the summer.

  Joy explains that she and another adult considered taking Bea Johnson into their home and later brought her to stay for the summer.

Story Dynamics

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

• Peg → Loretta (Family Conflict) — Peg and Loretta are caught in the family's tense and argumentative hospital dynamic.

  The hospital scene shows a frightened and quarrelsome family debating prayer, religion, responsibility, and the cause of the disaster, while Loretta c...

Story Analysis

A young woman's family confronts fear, secrecy, and guilt while waiting for her to return from a life-threatening crisis.

Plot Progression

1. Voices Around The Bed — Bea Johnson lies unconscious while her family argues, prays, criticizes one another, and tries to reach her. Her inner thoughts reveal a long-standing desire to escape.
2. A Complicated Summer — The story moves back to the events preceding the crisis, including a troubling car incident and Bea Johnson's summer stay with Joy. Protection is undermined by family tension, financial problems, and...
3. Fears And False Alarms — Ethan panics after unexpected bleeding and fears a cancer recurrence. Medical tests are normal, and a doctor diagnoses prostatitis instead.
4. The Road From Prom — Bea Johnson's changed prom plans lead to an argument and a dangerous ride involving alcohol and irresponsible behavior. She demands to leave and is abandoned in a remote place.
5. Hearing The Family Again — Bea Johnson is found in serious danger and remains in a coma as the family keeps vigil. She eventually wakes, allowing the family to cry with relief at her bedside.