William Spiver

William Spiver is a supporting character who appears in the 2021 Disney+ original film Flora & Ulysses.
==Background==
William is the nephew of Tootie Tickham who suffered from temporary blindness, caused by his stress, causing him not to see things correctly. Despite his blindness, he is also social to Flora, curious of what he smells as well as what he hears. During his life, William lived with his family whose father died after Jacob became his new father whom William taking revenge on his mother's new husband because he wouldn't stop calling him "Billy" and that William was his father's name. However, some time later, William regains his sight as he is able to see things clearly which he was unable to in the past. Following this, William no longer wears his shades as he finally regains his sight back.
==Role in the film==
Tootie Tickham introduces Flora to her nephew William Spiver where he tries to look for any jasmine, which Flora tells him that her family doesn't have any jasmine, and as she approaches Flora, Tootie explains that her nephew suffers from blindness caused by stress which can heal when he relaxes, only for the conversation to be interrupted when Phyllis sees Ulysses in the house. He later approaches Flora at the playground where he offers her to be of assistance, which he later changes the subject in talking about Ulysses. Flora takes William to her house where she shows him to observe what Ulysses' abilities of what he can do, which William doubts that he is a squirrel with super powers just before Flora's father arrives.
Back at home, William trips onto Flora's lawn after George introduces himself to him. After Flora tells him that she has the squirrel he is talking about, George plans to help his daughter find a place to hide Ulysses by using the treehouse. The next day, William meets Flora at the treehouse where he tells Flora that he was sent for the entire summer, showing her a book containing poetry by Rilke just before she tells Ulysses to find his purpose like every superhero has. Later, William follows alongside Flora into the Comic Cave where Ulysses would continue his adventure where he and Flora approach Stanlee, who is not fond of helping them in a self-help genre, which William alerts Flora of a news report of Rita's encounter with a squirrel at the Giant Donut Diner where Ulysses is deemed a fugitive animal. This leads him and Flora to talk to George and warn him about this.
Later, at the Blixen Arms Apartment, William and George approach Miller who trick him about Ulysses, which Mr. Klaus pounces on him and attacks him across the apartment. William later escapes with Flora and her father as they were able to lose Miller just before William returns home after the chase. After Flora receives a message written by Ulysses about returning to his natural habitat, she warns William that Ulysses is missing, telling him to hurry up. Walking across the woods, William and Flora are on their way to approach Phyllis, but suddenly find their way at the remains of the Splash Rapids water park, which was closed for years.
As they arrive at the remains of the park, Flora shares her story with William that she used to enjoy her moments at the park with her family prior to its closure while William shares his story with Flora that he was taking revenge on his mother's new husband after his original father died where Jacob wouldn't stop calling him "Billy" and that William was his father's name, recapping that he played the piano and knew about astronomy and the universe. Later after Flora reconciles with her mother and after Miller finally captures Ulysses, the squirrel he was looking for and planning to euthanize him, this leads William, Flora, and her family to rescue Ulysses from the animal control.
Furthermore, Wiliam, Flora, and her family walk across the animal control facility where they attempt to find Ulysses within this facility. William also recaps that when he asked his father about the expanding universe, he told him that it's "just putting things where they're supposed to be" just like of how he is supposed to be just before removing his glasses to reveal that he recovered from blindness just before seeing a skunk inside the facility, causing him, Flora, and her parents to escape. Finally finding Ulysses, Miller halts the heroes just as Flora distracts the squirrels with M&Ms, causing the other squirrels to attack just before William, Phyllis, and Flora escape. Having escaped with Ulysses safely, William, Flora, and Phyllis notice George being attacked by Miller as George almost falls off the building, only for Ulysses to rescue him, just as George reunites with his family safe and sound. Afterwards, William and the Buckmans decide to take Ulysses back to the wild, which they were able to as Flora bids a farewell to Ulysses who is happy that he is back home where he wanted to be.
Sometime later, William and the Buckmans began working on a comic book about Ulysses based on their adventures at the Comic Cave store, inspired by the squirrel that helped them throughout their lives.
==Trivia==
*Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, William's actor, would later voice Pinocchio in the 2022 Disney remake of the same name, one year after Flora & Ulysses was released. Coincidentally, Flora & Ulysses and the 2022 Disney remake of Pinocchio were both released on Disney+.
Category:Flora & Ulysses characters
Category:Males
Category:Disney characters
Category:Canadian characters
Category:Kids
Category:Live-action characters
Category:Characters with disabilities