Character Relationship Map: Dark Age

Characters

• Steve Harris (played by John Jarratt) — protagonist

  A ranger and herpetologist initially ordered to kill a massive crocodile. He negotiates with Aboriginal leader Oondabund to relocate the beast instead, successfully captures it, transports it, and def...

• Cathy Pope (played by Nikki Coghill) — protagonist

  Harris's girlfriend who attempts to warn the hunting party about pursuing poachers. She arrives late at the crocodile's home and participates in the gunfight against Besser's men.

• John Besser (played by Max Phipps) — supporting

  The sole survivor of an earlier crocodile attack who becomes obsessed with revenge. He pursues the beast with lethal intent, loses his arm in an encounter, and is ultimately killed after attacking the...

• Oondabund (played by Burnam Burnam) — supporting

  The Aboriginal community leader who protects the crocodile, viewing it as a sacred repository of ancestral souls. He agrees to help Harris relocate the beast, is fatally shot during the confrontation...

• Adjaral (played by David Gulpilil) — supporting

  Oondabund's second-in-command who assists in capturing and transporting the crocodile. He helps defend the group against Besser's attackers and performs a religious ritual by feeding Oondabund's remai...

• Rex Garret (played by Ray Meagher) — supporting

  Harris's supervisor who initially orders the crocodile's execution. He reluctantly agrees to the relocation plan after Harris convinces him to pursue a non-lethal approach.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Steve Harris → Cathy Pope (Romantic Partners) — Their relationship motivates Cathy's attempt to protect Harris and the hunting party.

  Cathy Pope is explicitly identified as Harris's girlfriend and follows the transport party to warn them.

• Oondabund → Adjaral (Power Leader And Second-in-command) — Adjaral serves under Oondabund and supports his decisions throughout the mission.

  The plot identifies Oondabund as the Aboriginal community leader and Adjaral as his second-in-command.

• Steve Harris → Rex Garret (Professional Supervisor And Subordinate) — Garret supervises Harris's ranger work and directs the initial lethal mission.

  Rex Garret is Harris's boss and assigns him to kill the crocodile.

Story Dynamics

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

• Rex Garret → Oondabund (Conflicting Authorities) — Garret's official wildlife mandate conflicts with Oondabund's spiritual authority.

  Garret's initial order requires the beast to be killed, while Oondabund refuses to permit that action.

• John Besser → Adjaral (Conflict Combat Opponents) — Besser's hunting party becomes militarily opposed to Adjaral's group.

  Besser's friends engage Harris, Oondabund, Pope, and Adjaral in a gunfight during the final attack.

• John Besser → Oondabund (Conflict Adversaries) — Besser's attempt to kill the sacred animal places him against its protector.

  Besser attacks the beast during the relocation operation, while Oondabund protects and helps relocate it.

• John Besser → Steve Harris (Conflict Adversaries) — Besser's revenge campaign directly opposes Harris's non-lethal plan.

  Besser pursues the crocodile with lethal intent while Harris captures and transports it for relocation.

• Cathy Pope → John Besser (Conflict Opponents) — Cathy becomes an opponent of Besser's revenge operation during the final confrontation.

  Cathy arrives to warn the group, while Besser and his men attack them in a gunfight.

• Steve Harris → Adjaral (Alliance Teammates) — Adjaral is a field partner in the relocation operation and final defense.

  Adjaral joins Harris and Oondabund in hunting, capturing, transporting, and defending against Besser's group.

• Steve Harris → Oondabund (Alliance Negotiating Allies) — Their cooperation unites wildlife management with Aboriginal spiritual protection.

  Harris convinces Oondabund to help hunt the beast in exchange for capturing and releasing it downriver.

Story Analysis

A ranger and an Aboriginal community leader unite to relocate a sacred crocodile while a survivor pursues revenge.

Plot Progression

1. The Storm and the Survivor — Poachers encounter a gigantic crocodile during a violent rainstorm. The attack leaves John Besser as the sole survivor, and he vows revenge.
2. Orders Against Belief — Harris joins Oondabund and Adjaral in responding to the attacks. After Garret orders the crocodile killed, Oondabund reveals its sacred spiritual meaning.
3. A Fragile Relocation Pact — Further attacks intensify the search, but Harris and Oondabund negotiate a non-lethal solution. Garret reluctantly approves the plan to capture and relocate the beast.
4. Two Hunts on One River — Harris, Oondabund, and Adjaral hunt to save the crocodile, while Besser hunts to kill it. Besser loses an arm before the relocation team captures the beast.
5. Blood at the Sacred River — The captured crocodile is transported to its original home as Besser's group follows. The final gunfight kills Oondabund, Besser, and ultimately concludes with a religious ritual.