Character Relationship Map: Silverado

Characters

• Paden (played by Kevin Kline) — protagonist

  Paden is a skilled gunfighter robbed and abandoned in the desert before Emmett rescues him. He joins Emmett, Jake, and Mal in freeing Jake, protecting settlers, and confronting McKendrick's forces. Af...

• Emmett (played by Scott Glenn) — protagonist

  Emmett is a central protagonist traveling toward Silverado to reunite with Jake and their family. After surviving an ambush arranged by McKendrick, he helps rescue Jake, recover the settlers' money, a...

• Jake (played by Kevin Costner) — supporting

  Jake is Emmett's brother, imprisoned in Turley and scheduled to hang for murder. Emmett and Paden break him out, and Jake becomes part of their fight against McKendrick and Cobb. He helps rescue Augie...

• Rae (played by Lynn Whitfield) — supporting

  Rae is Mal's estranged sister and Slick's mistress. Her connection to Slick reveals the personal side of Mal's family crisis, while her attempt to help free Mal leaves her wounded. Mal later rescues h...

• Cobb (played by Brian Dennehy) — supporting

  Cobb is Paden's former criminal associate, the owner of Silverado's saloon, and its sheriff. He initially offers Paden work and later hires him as pit boss, but secretly serves McKendrick by targeting...

• Tyree (played by Jeff Fahey) — minor

  Tyree is Cobb's right-hand man and one of the forces supporting Silverado's corrupt leadership. He is involved in the opposition faced by Emmett, Jake, Mal, and Paden during the final struggle. Jake c...

• Stella (played by Linda Hunt) — supporting

  Stella manages the Silverado saloon and befriends Paden when he arrives in town. Although Cobb threatens her to prevent Paden from opposing him, Stella urges Paden to act against the corruption. She l...

• Hannah (played by Rosanna Arquette) — supporting

  Hannah is a settler traveling with the wagon train toward Silverado after her husband has been killed. During the journey, Emmett and Paden each take an interest in her, while the four men help protec...

• Slick (played by Jeff Goldblum) — supporting

  Slick is a gambler whose relationship with Rae connects him to Mal's family conflict. He betrays Mal to Cobb and helps keep him captured, making him an enemy of the central group. During the final con...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Tyree → Cobb (Professional Right-Hand Man) — Tyree serves as Cobb's principal subordinate and enforcer.

  Tyree is explicitly described as Cobb's right-hand man during the final confrontation.

• Cobb → Stella (Professional Employer) — Cobb stands above Stella within the saloon's business structure.

  Cobb is the owner of the Silverado saloon, while Stella is its manager.

• Rae → Slick (Romantic Mistress) — Rae is entangled with Slick through a damaging romantic relationship.

  The plot reveals that Rae is the mistress of the gambler known as Slick Stanhope.

• Emmett → Hannah (Romantic Interest) — Hannah creates a quiet emotional tension between the two companions.

  The plot states that Paden and Emmett each take an interest in Hannah after her husband's death.

• Paden → Hannah (Romantic Interest) — Paden develops an attraction to Hannah during the settlers' journey.

  After escorting the settlers, the plot states that Paden takes an interest in Hannah.

• Emmett → Jake (Family Brother) — They are brothers whose shared history drives Emmett's rescue mission.

  The plot identifies Jake as Emmett's brother, and the two reunite before escaping Turley together.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jake → Cobb (Conflict Enemy) — Jake opposes Cobb's corrupt authority in Silverado.

  Cobb is involved in the effort to kill Emmett and Jake, while Jake escapes Cobb's local power structure and fights its agents.

• Tyree → Jake (Conflict Enemy) — Their conflict culminates in Jake killing Cobb's lieutenant.

  During the final split-up, Jake guns down Tyree.

• Stella → Paden (Alliance Supporter) — Stella's encouragement helps Paden reject Cobb's control.

  Stella urges Paden to take action after Cobb threatens her, and she witnesses Paden defeat Cobb.

• Paden → Cobb (Social Former Associate) — Their shared criminal past creates familiarity before their later opposition.

  Paden recognizes Cobb as a former criminal associate when they meet near the cavalry outpost.

• Paden → Jake (Alliance Escape Ally) — Their forced proximity becomes practical cooperation.

  Paden is placed in Jake's cell and escapes jail with Jake during the gallows diversion.

• Paden → Emmett (Alliance Traveling Partner) — Their partnership develops from a chance rescue into a durable alliance.

  Emmett rescues Paden in the desert, lends him a horse, and they travel together to Turley.

Story Analysis

A group of capable outsiders confronts corrupt power while family loyalty, friendship, and personal justice reshape their futures.

Plot Progression

1. Desert Allies and Old Debts — Emmett survives an ambush and begins traveling toward Turley. He rescues Paden, who confronts the men responsible for abandoning and robbing him.
2. Turley Jailbreak — In Turley, Emmett learns that Jake is facing execution. A burning gallows enables Jake and Paden to escape, turning the travelers into fugitives.
3. A Debt to the Settlers — The escaped group recovers the settlers' stolen money and escorts the wagon train toward Silverado. Personal attraction and family history emerge during the journey.
4. Corruption Takes Root — Silverado is controlled by Cobb, while old land conflicts return to threaten Emmett's family and Ezra's farm. Betrayals, murders, kidnappings, and fire push the heroes toward open rebellion.
5. Four Guns at Dusk — Emmett, Paden, and Jake attack McKendrick's ranch and divide the final confrontations across Silverado. Their enemies fall, and each surviving hero chooses a new path.