Character Relationship Map: Private Affairs

Characters

• Jimmy Nolan (played by Robert Cummings) — supporting

  A law clerk working for Noble Bullerton, Jimmy is Jane's beloved and the man she wants to marry instead of her fiancé, Herbert Stanley. He devises a welcome-home party intended to suggest Noble's supp...

• Angus McPherson (played by Hugh Herbert) — supporting

  A taxi driver, Angus becomes Amos Bullerton's partner after Amos cannot pay his fare and hires him to help settle the debt. When they discover George Gilkin's plan to spread damaging rumors, Angus joi...

• George Gilkin (played by Jonathan Hale) — supporting

  A dubious stockbroker, Gilkin hires Amos and exploits the Bullerton name to attract clients to his business, then puts Amos in charge of its Boston branch. He later seeks to profit by driving down the...

• Amos Bullerton (played by Roland Young) — supporting

  A Boston aristocrat who married a commoner, Amos was removed from his father's will and lived in New York as a stockbroker for fifteen years. After his daughter Jane visits, he is drawn into George Gi...

• Herbert Stanley (played by G.P. Huntley) — supporting

  Jane Bullerton's aristocratic fiancé, Herbert is the man she intends to leave when she comes to New York. Jane seeks her father Amos's approval of ending that engagement because she is determined to m...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Amos Bullerton → Angus McPherson (Professional Employer) — Amos initially employs Angus as a practical solution to his financial problem.

  When Amos cannot pay his taxi fare, he hires Angus to work off the debt.

• Amos Bullerton → George Gilkin (Professional Deceptive Employer) — Gilkin employs Amos for business purposes while exploiting his family name.

  George Gilkin hires Amos and uses his aristocratic surname to attract new clients to the stock business.

Story Dynamics

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

• Amos Bullerton → Herbert Stanley (Social Family Rival) — Amos is connected to Herbert through the disputed engagement.

  Herbert is the aristocratic fiancé whom Amos's daughter plans to leave, while Amos is asked for approval of that decision.

• Angus McPherson → George Gilkin (Conflict Pursuing Adversaries) — Angus actively helps stop Gilkin's scheme.

  Angus joins Amos in pursuing Gilkin and helps prevent him from returning to New York with damaging rumors.

• Jimmy Nolan → George Gilkin (Conflict Indirect Opponent) — Their plans move in opposite directions concerning the Bullerton family's public and financial standing.

  Jimmy organizes the welcome-home scheme that raises confidence in the Bullerton name, while Gilkin later seeks to damage that reputation.

• Jimmy Nolan → Herbert Stanley (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Jimmy replaces Herbert as the preferred marriage partner.

  Amos's daughter intends to abandon her aristocratic engagement to Herbert and marry Jimmy instead.

• Amos Bullerton → Jimmy Nolan (Alliance Family Ally) — Jimmy helps Amos restore his social standing and supports his family interests.

  Jimmy supports the marriage involving Amos's daughter and creates a plan to make Amos's return appear publicly supported.

Story Analysis

A disgraced heir rebuilds his family standing while confronting financial manipulation and helping secure a younger couple's marriage.

Plot Progression

1. Exile And New Obligations — Amos loses his inheritance and spends fifteen years away from his family in New York. A family marriage question and his financial troubles bring new pressures into his life.
2. The Surname Scheme — Gilkin hires Amos and exploits the Bullerton name to attract stock clients. Amos is placed in charge of a Boston branch and must return to the family city.
3. A Manufactured Welcome — Amos finds that his name is not as useful as expected. Jimmy organizes a staged welcome-home event that temporarily boosts confidence in the family and the stock.
4. The Road Against Rumors — Gilkin plans to profit by pushing the stock downward and damaging the Bullerton reputation. Amos and Angus pursue him through New England to stop the scheme.
5. Family Restored — Amos prevents Gilkin from returning to New York and has him locked up. The romantic conflict concludes with marriage, while Amos repairs his relationship with his father.