Character Relationship Map: Tin Men

Characters

• Bill 'BB' Babowsky (played by Richard Dreyfuss) — protagonist

  Bill 'BB' Babowsky is a smooth-talking, deceptive aluminum siding salesman in Baltimore. After accidentally colliding with Ernest Tilley's Cadillac, he turns their dispute into a destructive feud, sed...

• Ernest Tilley (played by Danny DeVito) — protagonist

  Ernest Tilley is an aluminum siding salesman who struggles to close sales despite his gift of gab. His collision with Bill 'BB' Babowsky's Cadillac begins a bitter rivalry involving vandalism, Nora Ti...

• Nora Tilley (played by Barbara Hershey) — supporting

  Nora Tilley is Ernest Tilley's long-suffering wife, whose troubled marriage is intensified by Ernest's gambling and financial problems. Bill 'BB' Babowsky seduces her as revenge against Ernest, then u...

• Moe Adams (played by John Mahoney) — supporting

  Moe Adams is Bill 'BB' Babowsky's older business partner and mentor in the aluminum siding trade. His hospitalization with a serious heart condition adds to Bill's personal troubles and shows the vuln...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Bill 'BB' Babowsky → Moe Adams (Professional Business Partner And Mentor) — Moe guides BB in their shared trade.

  Moe is identified as BB's older partner and mentor in the aluminum siding trade.

• Bill 'BB' Babowsky → Nora Tilley (Romantic Partners) — A relationship that begins as an act of revenge and becomes genuine love.

  BB seduces Nora to get revenge on Ernest, later falls in love with her, and Nora moves in with him.

• Ernest Tilley → Nora Tilley (Family Husband And Wife) — A strained marriage shaped by Ernest's gambling and money problems.

  The plot identifies Nora as Ernest's wife and says his gambling and financial troubles cause a rift between them.

Story Dynamics

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

• Bill 'BB' Babowsky → Ernest Tilley (Conflict Rivals) — Competing salesmen whose personal feud gradually gives way to cooperation.

  Their Cadillac collision triggers an escalating feud that includes smashing each other's car lights and windows.

Story Analysis

Two rival Baltimore siding salesmen feud over pride, money, and Nora before the loss of their licenses opens the possibility of cooperation.

Plot Progression

1. Collision and Escalating Feud — BB and Ernest compete as aluminum siding salesmen until their Cadillac collision sparks a destructive rivalry. Each retaliates against the other's car, while their work and personal troubles continue.
2. Nora and the Pool Bet — BB pursues Nora to hurt Ernest, then taunts Ernest after sleeping with her. The rivals attempt to settle the dispute with a pool game, but BB's feelings for Nora change the outcome.
3. Love and Consequences — BB falls in love with Nora, who moves in with him despite the unresolved bet. Meanwhile, Ernest remains burdened by gambling, debts, and the loss of possessions.
4. The Commission's Judgment — The Maryland Home Improvement Commission investigates corrupt sales practices and subpoenas both men. After they testify, the commission revokes their licenses.
5. A Tentative Partnership — Ernest has lost his car as well as his license, and BB responds with pity rather than renewed hostility. The two former rivals share ideas for a new business.