Character Relationship Map: The Package

Characters

• Eileen Gallagher (played by Joanna Cassidy) — protagonist

  Lt. Colonel and Johnny Gallagher's ex-wife who aids him in investigating the conspiracy, using her military connections and expertise to track the imposter and uncover the plot against the peace talks...

• Thomas Boyette (played by Tommy Lee Jones) — supporting

  A veteran covert operative impersonating prisoner Walter Henke; a key conspirator tasked with infiltrating Neo-Nazis and attempting to assassinate the Soviet General Secretary to derail disarmament ta...

• Marth (played by Marco St. John) — minor
• Walter Henke (played by Kevin Crowley) — minor
• Karl Richards (played by Ron Dean) — supporting

  A conspirator assisting Thomas Boyette in infiltrating the Neo-Nazi group in Chicago; eliminated by Detective Delich during the investigation.

• Ruth Butler (played by Pam Grier) — supporting

  A military lieutenant and Eileen Gallagher's assistant who helps identify the imposter but is later murdered by the conspirators to silence witnesses and frame Gallagher.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Eileen Gallagher → Ruth Butler (Professional Military Assistant) — Ruth works directly under Eileen and supports her investigation.

  Ruth Butler is explicitly described as Eileen Gallagher's assistant and helps her identify the prisoner impostor.

Story Dynamics

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

• Ruth Butler → Walter Henke (Narrative Case Investigator) — Ruth's investigative work connects her directly to the Henke identity case.

  Ruth participates in identifying the man transported under Walter Henke's name as an impostor.

• Eileen Gallagher → Walter Henke (Narrative Investigation Link) — Henke's identity is central to Eileen's investigation.

  Eileen assists in investigating the disappearance of the real Walter Henke and the identity of the prisoner impostor.

• Marth → Thomas Boyette (Conflict Opposing Operative) — Marth assists the escape that works against Boyette's operation.

  Marth helps the investigator escape after the investigation links the prisoner impostor to the covert conspiracy.

• Marth → Eileen Gallagher (Alliance Escape Supporter) — Marth contributes to Eileen's survival during the escape.

  Marth helps the investigator rescue Eileen and escape the military base after Ruth is killed and Eileen is attacked.

• Thomas Boyette → Karl Richards (Alliance Conspiracy Associate) — They operate on the same side of the covert conspiracy.

  Karl Richards is identified as a colleague assisting Thomas Boyette in the Chicago infiltration and assassination scheme.

• Thomas Boyette → Walter Henke (Conflict Impostor) — Boyette assumes Henke's identity as part of the conspiracy.

  Thomas Boyette enters the United States while impersonating prisoner Walter Henke, while the real Henke is later killed.

• Ruth Butler → Thomas Boyette (Conflict Witness Opponent) — Ruth becomes a target because her work exposes Boyette's operation.

  Ruth helps identify the impostor, and the conspirators later kill her to silence witnesses connected to the investigation.

• Eileen Gallagher → Thomas Boyette (Conflict Investigative Opponent) — Eileen's investigation threatens Boyette's infiltration and assassination mission.

  Eileen helps identify Thomas Boyette as the veteran covert operative who impersonated Walter Henke.

Story Analysis

A military investigator uncovers an identity-based conspiracy designed to derail nuclear disarmament through a staged assassination.

Plot Progression

1. A Prisoner Without A Past — A covert military conspiracy sabotages peace talks and frames a soldier for an assassination. The supposed prisoner disappears after arriving in the United States, while evidence exposes an identity s...
2. The Identity Trap — The transported prisoner is revealed to be an impostor, and a witness is murdered to frame the investigator. Eileen and Ruth help uncover the impostor's covert background before the conspirators strik...
3. Chicago Under Siege — The investigation moves to Chicago as attacks eliminate witnesses and isolate the investigators. Captivity and surveillance photographs reveal the location of the planned assassination.
4. The Shot That Stops War — The real prisoner is killed as part of a framing operation, while the assassin prepares to attack the Soviet General Secretary. The assassination is stopped, but the conspiracy's leaders attempt to bu...