Character Relationship Map: The Borrowers

Characters

• Ocious P. Potter (played by John Goodman) — protagonist

  Ocious P. Potter is the lawyer handling the Lenders' property dispute, but he deceitfully plans to demolish their home and build condominiums. He searches for the hidden will, tries to destroy it, pur...

• Exterminator Jeff (played by Mark Williams) — protagonist

  Exterminator Jeff is hired by Ocious P. Potter to eliminate the Borrowers after Potter discovers their hidden home. He pursues the Clocks through the dairy and later helps Potter reach the demolition...

• Pod Clock (played by Jim Broadbent) — supporting

  Pod Clock is the father of Arrietty and Peagreen and Homily's husband, living secretly as a Borrower beneath the Lenders' house. He borrows a battery, rescues Arrietty from the freezer, protects his f...

• Officer Steady (played by Hugh Laurie) — supporting

  Officer Steady is a police officer who responds to the disturbance caused by Potter and the Borrowers. Potter initially manages to deflect his suspicions, but later Pete presents the will to him, prov...

• Dustbunny (played by Andrew Dunford) — minor

  Dustbunny is one of the old Borrower friends who return to live alongside the Clock family after the Lenders' house is saved. The character appears during the closing scene, when the Borrowers enjoy f...

• Swag (played by Patrick Monckton) — minor

  Swag is an old Borrower friend of the Clock family who appears after Ocious P. Potter's plan has been stopped. Swag is present with Dustbunny and Minty as the Borrowers return to their home, represent...

• Minty (played by Bob Goody) — minor

  Minty is one of the Clock family's old Borrower friends who appears after the family is able to remain in its home. Minty joins Dustbunny and Swag in the closing scenes, sharing the renewed safety and...

• Pete Lender (played by Bradley Pierce) — supporting

  Pete Lender is Joe and Victoria's son and the first human to discover the Borrowers in the house. He catches Arrietty but becomes her ally, warns the Clocks about the demolition, repairs Pod's gadget,...

• Spiller (played by Raymond Pickard) — supporting

  Spiller is an independent Borrower living on the streets rather than with the Clock family. He helps Arrietty reach the dairy, taunts Potter, and later returns with an army of Borrowers to subdue him....

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ocious P. Potter → Swag (Power Borrower Persecutor) — Swag is part of the community endangered by Potter.

  Potter's plan is directed against the Borrowers, and Swag is identified as one of the Borrower friends connected to the Clock family.

• Ocious P. Potter → Minty (Power Borrower Persecutor) — Minty is indirectly threatened by Potter's campaign.

  Potter's extermination plan targets the Borrowers collectively, while Minty belongs to that Borrower community.

• Ocious P. Potter → Dustbunny (Power Borrower Persecutor) — Potter uses his power and resources against Dustbunny's community.

  Potter attempts to eliminate the Borrowers, and a Borrower army later subdues him.

Story Dynamics

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

• Officer Steady → Spiller (Narrative Unwitting Protector) — Steady's presence helps complete the exposure of Potter without knowing the Borrowers' full role.

  Steady arrives at the final confrontation, while the Borrowers disappear before he can directly interact with them.

• Officer Steady → Exterminator Jeff (Alliance Lawful Ally) — Jeff and Steady cooperate against Potter's unlawful actions.

  Jeff and Officer Steady arrive with Pete at the final confrontation, where the will is used to expose Potter.

• Spiller → Swag (Social Fellow Borrower) — They share a community bond as Borrowers.

  Swag appears among the old Borrower friends associated with the Clock family's restored home.

• Spiller → Minty (Social Fellow Borrower) — They are connected through the wider Borrower society.

  Minty is identified as an old Borrower friend during the closing return-home sequence involving the Borrower community.

• Spiller → Dustbunny (Social Fellow Borrower) — They share membership in the Borrower community.

  Dustbunny is identified as one of the Borrower friends present when the Clock family returns home, placing both within the same community.

• Pod Clock → Swag (Social Community Member) — Swag is connected to Pod through the Borrower community.

  Swag is named among the old Borrower friends who join the Clock family after they return home.

• Pod Clock → Minty (Social Community Member) — Minty is part of Pod's returning Borrower community.

  The restored home becomes a gathering place where the Clock family enjoys the company of old Borrower friends, including Minty.

• Pod Clock → Dustbunny (Social Community Member) — Dustbunny belongs to Pod's wider Borrower community.

  At the end, the Clock family enjoys the company of old Borrower friends, including Dustbunny.

• Pod Clock → Spiller (Alliance Rescue Ally) — Pod and Spiller cooperate during the dairy rescue.

  Spiller helps direct the pursuit to the dairy, while Pod rescues the trapped family member from the assembly line.

• Pete Lender → Officer Steady (Alliance Witness And Ally) — Pete supplies the evidence that enables Steady to arrest Potter.

  Pete arrives with Steady, shows him the will, and helps prove Potter's plan to cheat the Lenders.

• Pete Lender → Spiller (Alliance Rescue Ally) — Pete supports Spiller's effort to protect the Borrowers.

  Pete follows the pursuit to the dairy and arrives in time to save the captured Borrowers.

• Pete Lender → Pod Clock (Alliance Trusting Ally) — Their cooperation grows from secret contact into mutual trust.

  Pete smuggles the Clock family onto the moving truck, repairs Pod's gadget, and later helps save the family from Potter.

Story Analysis

A hidden community and a human child unite to defeat a fraudulent scheme threatening their home.

Plot Progression

1. Secrets Beneath The House — Pete investigates missing household objects while Potter announces that the Lender home faces demolition. The hidden Borrower family is introduced through its dangerous kitchen expedition.
2. A Human Ally Appears — Pete catches a Borrower and learns that the house is threatened because the will is missing. He helps the tiny family escape on the moving truck and earns Pod's trust.
3. The Will And The Hunt — Potter discovers the hidden will and tries to destroy it, forcing the Borrowers into flight. His extermination plan expands into a pursuit through the house and toward the dairy.
4. Dairy Peril And Defection — The Borrowers face capture and drowning in the dairy while Pete and Spiller attempt to reach them. Jeff recognizes Potter's corruption and changes sides.
5. The Demolition Scheme Collapses — Potter races to the demolitions office, but the Borrowers and their allies prevent him from destroying the evidence. Pete gives Steady the will, leading to Potter's arrest and the restoration of the h...