Character Relationship Map: Slackers

Characters

• Dave Goodman (played by Devon Sawa) — protagonist

  Dave is a Holden University student who has spent years cheating alongside Sam Schechter and Jeff Davis. He initially treats Angela Patton as another scheme, but their staged courtship becomes genuine...

• Angela Patton (played by Jaime King) — protagonist

  Angela is the student Dave meets during an exam scam and the focus of Ethan Dulles's obsessive attention. Although Dave and his friends initially manipulate situations to win her over for Ethan, Angel...

• Ethan Dulles (played by Jason Schwartzman) — supporting

  Ethan is a socially awkward student who calls himself “Cool Ethan” and is obsessively in love with Angela Patton. He blackmails Dave, Sam, and Jeff using an exam paper, records Dave and Angela togethe...

• Reanna (played by Laura Prepon) — supporting

  Reanna is Angela Patton's roommate. She becomes connected to the main group when Sam Schechter begins a relationship with her after the conflict involving Dave, Angela, and Ethan. Reanna later graduat...

• Jeff Davis (played by Michael C. Maronna) — supporting

  Jeff is Dave Goodman and Sam Schechter's longtime partner in their Holden University cheating schemes. He helps investigate Angela Patton and participates in the plan against Ethan Dulles. During the...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dave Goodman → Angela Patton (Romantic Attraction) — Their attraction becomes the central emotional relationship in the story.

  Dave asks Angela out after meeting her during an exam scam, and the two later develop mutual attraction.

• Ethan Dulles → Angela Patton (Romantic Obsessive Admirer) — Ethan's fixation drives much of the conflict.

  Ethan is obsessed with Angela, follows her date with Dave, records them, and continues to pine for her after losing her.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jeff Davis → Ethan Dulles (Conflict Adversary) — Jeff directly contributes to Ethan's academic downfall.

  Jeff helps sabotage Ethan's job interview and plants an answer key in Ethan's backpack before alerting the exam proctor.

• Dave Goodman → Jeff Davis (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate in academic scams and later work together against Ethan.

  Dave and Jeff are part of the group that has spent almost four years scamming its way through Holden University.

• Dave Goodman → Ethan Dulles (Conflict Blackmail Victim) — Ethan initially controls Dave through blackmail.

  Ethan takes Angela's exam question sheet and threatens to get Dave and his friends expelled unless they arrange a successful date for him.

• Angela Patton → Reanna (Social Roommates) — Their shared living arrangement connects Reanna to Angela's personal life.

  The ending identifies Reanna as Angela's roommate.

Story Analysis

A dishonest college scammer confronts obsession, betrayal, and the consequences of choosing genuine love over manipulation.

Plot Progression

1. The Cheating Arrangement — Dave and his friends continue their long-running academic scams at Holden University. Dave meets Angela, while Ethan notices the encounter and steals her exam question sheet.
2. Manufacturing Ethan's Romance — Ethan blackmails Dave and his friends into arranging a date with Angela. Their repeated attempts fail because Ethan's behavior is immature, delusional, and socially inappropriate.
3. Desire Under Surveillance — Dave and Angela develop a genuine attraction while Ethan's obsession becomes more threatening. Ethan follows their date and records their intimate encounter.
4. The File That Breaks Trust — Ethan uses the recording and research file to turn Angela against Dave. Dave attacks Ethan, then admits to Jeff that his feelings for Angela are genuine.
5. Confession and Consequences — Dave and Jeff retaliate against Ethan before the final exam. Dave confesses publicly, the cheating scheme causes expulsions, and Dave and Angela reunite despite the fallout.