Character Relationship Map: Ashby

Characters

• Ashby Holt (played by Mickey Rourke) — protagonist

  An older, guarded neighbor who becomes Ed's mentor and trains him to defend himself. Ashby is later revealed to be a former professional assassin who claims to have killed ninety-three people for nati...

• Ed Wallis (played by Nat Wolff) — protagonist

  A new student from Oregon struggling with school, football trials, adolescence, and isolation. He develops feelings for Eloise, worries about his mother, and forms an unlikely bond with Ashby. After d...

• Eloise (played by Emma Roberts) — supporting

  A girl at Ed's school for whom he develops romantic feelings. Their relationship is complicated by jealousy, misunderstandings, and the casual cruelty of other students.

• June Wallis (played by Sarah Silverman) — supporting

  Ed's mother, whose unsuccessful attempts to find a decent romantic partner cause Ed concern and embarrassment. Jerry's interest in her further complicates Ed's feelings about her personal life.

• Valchek (played by Adam Aalderks) — supporting

  A student who ridicules Ed after Ed gives a blunt answer about masculinity during a classroom discussion of Hemingway.

• Jerry (played by Paul Rolfes) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Jerry → June Wallis (Romantic Suitor) — Jerry's interest introduces an uncomfortable romantic possibility into Ed's home life.

  Jerry shows interest in June, which creates embarrassment and concern for Ed.

• June Wallis → Ed Wallis (Family Mother) — June is Ed's mother and a major source of his personal concern.

  Ed worries about his mother, June Wallis, particularly because of her unsuccessful attempts to find a decent romantic partner.

• Ed Wallis → Eloise (Romantic Interest) — Eloise represents Ed's uncertain and emotionally difficult adolescent romance.

  Ed develops feelings for Eloise, but their relationship is complicated by jealousy, misunderstandings, and student cruelty.

Story Dynamics

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

• Ed Wallis → Valchek (Conflict School Rival) — Valchek embodies the hostility and humiliation Ed faces at school.

  During a classroom discussion of Hemingway, Ed gives a blunt answer about masculinity and Valchek ridicules him.

• Ed Wallis → Jerry (Social Uneasy Acquaintance) — Their connection is defined by Ed's discomfort with Jerry's interest in his mother.

  Jerry's interest in June causes embarrassment and concern for Ed, showing that Ed is aware of and affected by Jerry's presence.

• Ed Wallis → Ashby Holt (Social Neighbor And Friend) — Their unlikely friendship connects an isolated student with an isolated older man.

  Ed begins spending time with Ashby, his older neighbor, despite Ashby's guarded and strange behavior.

Story Analysis

An isolated student forms a transformative bond with a dying former assassin while confronting school, romance, family discomfort, and violence.

Plot Progression

1. A Stranger Finds A Neighbor — Ed arrives at Varga Prep and faces ridicule and isolation. He begins spending time with Ashby, whose advice offers an unexpected connection.
2. School, Romance, And Home — Ed struggles with football trials, student cruelty, and confusing feelings for Eloise. At home, June's romantic difficulties and Jerry's interest create additional embarrassment.
3. Learning To Take A Punch — Ashby trains Ed to take a punch and defend himself. Their rough exercise strengthens their bond while Ashby continues offering cynical life advice.
4. The Assassin In The Kitchen — Ed learns that Ashby was a professional assassin. Over pancakes, Ashby describes his assignments and claims responsibility for ninety-three deaths.
5. A Dangerous Unfinished Departure — Ashby kills a man he believes caused an innocent death, and Ed drives him away. Their confrontation grows more urgent when Ashby reveals that he is dying, but the requested proof remains unresolved.