Character Relationship Map: National Security

Characters

• Earl Montgomery (played by Martin Lawrence) — protagonist

  An aspiring LAPD officer who fails the academy and becomes a security guard. After a misunderstanding with Hank leads to Hank's imprisonment, Earl reunites with him to investigate a partner's murder....

• Hank Rafferty (played by Steve Zahn) — protagonist

  A dedicated LAPD detective whose partner Charlie is killed during a heist. After being wrongfully fired and imprisoned due to a misunderstanding with Earl, he continues his investigation as a security...

• Detective Frank McDuff (played by Colm Feore) — supporting

  An LAPD detective who restricts Hank's involvement in Charlie's murder investigation. He is later revealed to be a corrupt police mole working with Nash. McDuff is confronted by Hank and Earl during t...

• Lieutenant Washington (played by Bill Duke) — supporting

  Hank's former police lieutenant who listens to Hank and Earl's report about the corrupt mole. He is briefly taken hostage by Nash but is successfully rescued by the pair during the final confrontation...

• Nash (played by Eric Roberts) — supporting

  A violent thief who leads the gang responsible for Charlie's murder. He shoots Earl during a stakeout, takes Lieutenant Washington hostage, and confronts Hank and Earl at the coast. Hank ultimately ki...

• Denise (played by Robinne Lee) — supporting

  Hank's ex-girlfriend who works at a garage. Initially deceived by Earl's lies about their first encounter, she later realizes the truth after a bee incident at her property. She reconciles with Hank a...

• Charlie Reed (played by Timothy Busfield) — supporting

  Hank's LAPD partner who is killed during an initial warehouse heist investigation. His murder serves as the primary motivation for Hank's continued investigation and eventual partnership with Earl.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Hank Rafferty → Lieutenant Washington (Professional Former Boss)

  The plot identifies Washington as Hank’s former police lieutenant.

• Detective Frank McDuff → Hank Rafferty (Power Investigative Authority)

  McDuff refuses to allow Hank to aid in the investigation of Charlie’s death.

• Hank Rafferty → Denise (Romantic Ex Lovers)

  The plot states that Denise is Hank’s ex-girlfriend and that they broke up when Hank was convicted.

• Hank Rafferty → Charlie Reed (Professional Police Partner)

  The plot identifies Charlie as Hank's LAPD partner during the warehouse heist investigation.

Story Dynamics

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

• Earl Montgomery → Nash (Conflict Criminal Adversary)

  Nash’s thieves shoot Earl in the leg during the stakeout, and Earl later helps Hank confront Nash’s gang.

• Hank Rafferty → Nash (Conflict Avenging Enemy)

  Hank recognizes Nash as Charlie’s murderer and ultimately kills him by catapulting him into the ocean with a crane hook.

• Earl Montgomery → Lieutenant Washington (Alliance Investigative Ally)

  Earl joins Hank in reporting the criminal conspiracy to Washington and helps rescue him from Nash.

• Nash → Detective Frank McDuff (Criminal Alliance)

  Hank and Earl overhear Nash talking with McDuff at a yacht club and identify McDuff as Nash’s inside man.

• Earl Montgomery → Denise (Conflict Deceiver)

  Earl promises to tell Denise the truth but instead plays the victim and hits on her, causing Denise to eject both men.

• Hank Rafferty → Earl Montgomery (Conflict Initial Adversaries)

  Earl insults Hank during the car incident, and Hank tries to arrest him after appearing to assault him.

• Nash → Lieutenant Washington (Conflict Hostage Taker)

  Nash learns of the plan and takes Washington hostage before the coastal confrontation.

• Nash → Charlie Reed (Conflict Murderer)

  During the stakeout, Hank recognizes Nash as one of the thieves who murdered Charlie.

Story Analysis

Two unlikely partners overcome mutual distrust, expose a police-backed criminal operation, and earn their place in the LAPD.

Plot Progression

1. A Partner’s Death
2. The Cost of Misjudgment
3. The Alloy Trail
4. The Mole Revealed
5. Justice at the Coast