Character Relationship Map: The Killers

Characters

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas (played by Mário Viegas) — protagonist
• Pepsi-Rita (played by Lia Gama) — supporting
• Tereno (played by Luís Lello) — supporting
• Madrinha (played by Milú) — supporting
• Lucas (played by Francisco Pestana) — supporting
• Ana (played by Paula Guedes) — supporting
• Lily-Bóbó (played by Natália do Vale) — supporting
• Major (played by Lima Duarte) — supporting
• Americana (played by Sheila Charlesworth) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Major (Power Reluctant Informant) — The Major attempts to use Rui as a surveillance informant, but Rui resists assisting the authorities against the people under observation.

  The Major recruits Rui to monitor a house and report movements, teaches him coded newspaper communication, and later asks him to help the authorities...

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Pepsi-Rita (Strained Romantic Interest) — Their closeness develops amid Rui's precarious criminal life, and the plot notes increasing strain between them.

  Rui meets Pepsi-Rita during a smuggling run, grows close to her, and their relationship later becomes increasingly strained.

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Madrinha (Family Godson And Godmother) — Madrinha advises Rui to abandon his criminal life, but he rejects settling down and continues his schemes.

  After Rui is fired, his godmother, Madrinha, urges him to leave his criminal companions and settle down.

Story Dynamics

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

• Madrinha → Pepsi-Rita (Conflict Disapproving Observer) — Madrinha's disapproval is directed at Rui's lifestyle and dealings, which form the precarious context of his relationship with Pepsi-Rita; no direct confrontation between the women is described.

  Madrinha disapproves of Rui's nights in Lisbon and his dealings in contraband and women forced into prostitution; the plot also says Pepsi-Rita grows...

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Ana (Narrative Surveillance Subject) — Ana becomes relevant to Rui's surveillance assignment and causes the Major to question Rui's reliability.

  Rui's surveillance brings him into contact with Ana, and her presence makes the Major suspect that Rui may have compromised the operation.

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Americana (Conflict Gambling Scheme Target) — Rui is drawn into a scheme involving Americana because of her roulette winnings; the account does not specify what happens in their encounter.

  At the birthday gathering, Rui learns that Americana is winning at roulette and is to be approached.

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Lily-Bóbó (Social Gambling Contact) — Lily-Bóbó brings Rui to a gathering where he learns about the American woman winning at roulette.

  After boxing practice with Pepsi-Rita, Rui is summoned by Lily-Bóbó to a birthday gathering.

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Lucas (Social Old Friend) — Lucas remains in Rui's life as an old friend, though no specific interaction between them is detailed.

  The plot identifies Lucas as Rui's old friend and says he remains part of Rui's life.

• Rui Ventura Tadeu, o Kilas → Tereno (Alliance Scheme Partner) — Tereno provides physical support for Rui's criminal schemes, including their gambling and smuggling livelihood.

  The plot says Tereno supplies the muscle for Rui's schemes and that they make a living through gambling and smuggling.

Story Analysis

Rui moves from petty crime and precarious relationships into a surveillance assignment that ends in an unresolved clash with the Major.

Plot Progression

1. A Lucky Man Without a Job — Rui is fired from his printing job and rejects Madrinha's advice to leave his criminal companions. He chooses a life without working for an employer.
2. Schemes and New Company — Rui and Tereno rely on gambling and smuggling, drawing Madrinha's disapproval. On a smuggling run, Rui meets Pepsi-Rita, whose singing ambition and growing closeness with him enter his life.
3. Roulette and Fraying Affection — After boxing practice with Pepsi-Rita, Rui attends a gathering at Lily-Bóbó's summons. He hears that Americana is winning at roulette and is to be approached, while his relationship with Pepsi-Rita be...
4. The Surveillance Assignment — The Major recruits Rui to watch a house and report movements, teaching him to communicate through coded newspaper messages. Rui's contact with Ana makes the Major suspect that the operation may have b...
5. A Refusal Without Resolution — The Major identifies the watched people as Communist militants and asks Rui to help the authorities deal with them. Rui refuses, but the Major continues pressing him, and the outcome is left unresolve...