Character Relationship Map: Pardners

Characters

• Slim Mosely Jr. / Slim Mosely Sr. (played by Dean Martin) — protagonist

  Son of murdered rancher Slim Mosley. A skilled rodeo cowboy and ranch hand who teams up with Wade Jr. to reclaim the K Ranch. He hides Wade's inexperience by posing him as Killer Jones and performs th...

• Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr. (played by Jerry Lewis) — protagonist

  Son of murdered rancher Wade Kingsley. An optimistic but clumsy aspiring cowboy who joins the rodeo, buys a prize bull, and travels west with Slim Jr. He is given a tough alias by his partner, elected...

• Carol Kingsley (played by Lori Nelson) — supporting

  Niece of Matilda Kingsley and cousin to Wade Jr. She travels to New York with Slim Jr. and participates in the plan to buy the prize bull to replenish the ranch stock. She rejects Dan Hollis's marriag...

• Pete Rio (played by Jeff Morrow) — supporting

  A ranch hand at the K Ranch who secretly collaborates with the corrupt banker Dan Hollis to help him seize the property for a government dam project.

• Dolly Riley (played by Jackie Loughery) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr. → Dolly Riley (Romantic Interest)

  Wade's apparent heroism in stopping the runaway stagecoach impresses Dolly Riley.

• Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr. → Carol Kingsley (Family Cousin)

  Carol is identified as Wade Jr.'s cousin, and she travels with him and Slim in the effort to restore the ranch.

Story Dynamics

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

• Pete Rio → Slim Mosely Jr. / Slim Mosely Sr. (Conflict Adversary)

  Pete Rio collaborates with the corrupt financial scheme aimed at seizing the K Ranch, which Slim is helping protect.

• Pete Rio → Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr. (Conflict Adversary)

  Pete Rio secretly works with the corrupt banker seeking control of the K Ranch, placing him against Wade's interests.

• Carol Kingsley → Slim Mosely Jr. / Slim Mosely Sr. (Alliance Travel Companion)

  Carol and Slim travel from New York with the plan to use Slim's rodeo earnings to obtain the prize bull for the ranch.

• Slim Mosely Jr. / Slim Mosely Sr. → Wade Kingsley Jr. / Wade Kingsley Sr. (Alliance Partner)

  Slim Jr. and Wade Jr. travel west together, and Slim eventually agrees that they should become partners like their fathers.

Story Analysis

Two ranchers' sons overcome inexperience, deception, and a land-grabbing scheme to preserve the K Ranch and fulfill their fathers' legacy.

Plot Progression

1. Bloodshed at the Ranch
2. The Bull and the Journey
3. A False Cowboy Hero
4. The Ranch Under Siege
5. Dynamite and Deliverance