Character Relationship Map: Big Nothing

Characters

• Charlie (played by David Schwimmer) — protagonist

  Charlie is an ex-teacher whose first day at a call center ends in dismissal. He joins Gus and Josie McBroom in a blackmail scheme, disposes of bodies, and flees with them as the plan collapses. Josie...

• Gus (played by Simon Pegg) — protagonist

  Gus is Charlie’s call-center colleague and the initiator of the blackmail plot against Reverend Smalls. After being shot in the leg and surviving the confrontation, he helps Charlie and Josie McBroom...

• Josie McBroom (played by Alice Eve) — supporting

  Josie McBroom is a teenage pageant queen who overhears Charlie and Gus planning their scam and insists on joining them. She attacks Mrs. Smalls, helps evade the police, and is exposed as the Wyoming W...

• Agent Hymes (played by Jon Polito) — supporting

  Agent Hymes is the special agent who investigates the body and follows Charlie, Gus, and Josie McBroom to the tar pit. He reveals Josie’s identity as the Wyoming Widow, kills Gus while taking the mone...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Agent Hymes → Josie McBroom (Professional Investigator) — Hymes investigates Josie's identity and criminal activities.

  Hymes examines the body with Gus and Josie, then reveals that Josie is the Wyoming Widow and follows the group to the tar pit.

Story Dynamics

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

• Agent Hymes → Gus (Conflict Killer) — Hymes directly eliminates Gus during the escape.

  Hymes catches Gus trying to flee with the money, shoots and kills him, and takes the money.

• Charlie → Agent Hymes (Conflict Adversary) — Charlie is threatened by Hymes's investigation and pursuit.

  Agent Hymes follows Charlie, Gus, and Josie to the tar pit and later confronts them while pursuing the bodies and the money.

• Josie McBroom → Gus (Alliance Scheme Partner) — Josie works with Gus before her hidden agenda is exposed.

  Josie joins the blackmail plot organized by Gus and Charlie, remains with them during the escape, and participates in handling the bodies.

• Josie McBroom → Charlie (Alliance Scheme Partner) — Josie initially becomes Charlie's criminal ally.

  Josie overhears Charlie and Gus planning the scam and insists on joining them. She later helps Charlie confront Agent Hymes.

• Charlie → Gus (Alliance Teammate) — Charlie and Gus form the central criminal partnership.

  Gus invites Charlie into the blackmail scheme, and they cooperate in contacting the reverend, handling the body, and escaping the crime scene.

Story Analysis

A failed blackmail scheme spirals into murder, betrayal, and a poisoned escape.

Plot Progression

1. A Scheme Takes Shape — Charlie loses his call center job and accepts Gus's blackmail proposal. Josie overhears the plan and forces her way into the partnership.
2. The Deadly House — The trio demands money from the reverend, but Charlie's alibi fails. At the house, they discover violence, torture videos, and a dangerous deputy investigation.
3. Bodies On The Run — The group confronts the reverend's wife and flees with multiple bodies. Their disposal plan collapses when a body disappears and police arrive.
4. The Widow Unmasked — At the station and tar pit, Agent Hymes closes in on the group. He exposes Josie as the Wyoming Widow and kills Gus while taking the money.
5. A Poisoned Escape — Charlie and Josie incapacitate Hymes, but Josie turns on Charlie and poisons him. The money remains at home, while Josie escapes in a suspicious truck.