Character Relationship Map: Paternity

Characters

• Buddy Evans (played by Burt Reynolds) — protagonist

  Buddy manages events at Madison Square Garden and is a confirmed bachelor who lives with his housekeeper, Celia. After deciding he is ready to become a father, he searches for a surrogate and meets Ma...

• Maggie (played by Beverly D'Angelo) — supporting

  Maggie is a waitress at a local coffee shop and an aspiring musician who hopes to use Buddy's offer to move to Paris and pursue her goal. She agrees to bear his child, but while living in Buddy's apar...

• Larry (played by Norman Fell) — supporting

  Larry helps Buddy search for a surrogate by assisting with the interviews Buddy arranges. He is part of Buddy's support in the effort to find someone to bear the child Buddy wants, although the plot s...

• Kurt (played by Paul Dooley) — supporting

  Kurt helps Buddy conduct the search for a surrogate, taking part in the interviews Buddy sets up. His role in the plot is tied to supporting Buddy's plan to become a father; the available summary does...

• Jenny Lofton (played by Lauren Hutton) — supporting

  Jenny Lofton is an interior decorator whom Buddy mistakes for a woman applying to be his surrogate. The misunderstanding occurs while Buddy is interviewing women in his search, and it illustrates his...

• Celia (played by Juanita Moore) — supporting

  Celia is Buddy's housekeeper and lives with him while he is a confirmed bachelor in New York City. The plot summary identifies her connection to Buddy but does not describe her involvement in his sear...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Buddy Evans → Celia (Professional Householder And Housekeeper) — Celia works in Buddy's household and shares his domestic environment.

  Buddy lives with Celia, who is identified as his housekeeper.

• Buddy Evans → Maggie (Romantic Partner) — Their contractual arrangement gradually becomes a genuine romantic relationship.

  Buddy begins to develop romantic feelings for Maggie after initially hiring her as a surrogate.

Story Dynamics

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

• Buddy Evans → Jenny Lofton (Conflict Offended Interviewer) — Their awkward encounter creates a brief social conflict.

  Buddy mistakes interior decorator Jenny Lofton for a surrogate applicant and offends many women he interviews.

• Buddy Evans → Kurt (Alliance Collaborator) — Kurt supports Buddy's attempt to find a surrogate mother.

  Buddy conducts the surrogate search with the help of Kurt.

• Buddy Evans → Larry (Alliance Collaborator) — Larry assists Buddy with interviewing potential surrogates.

  Buddy conducts the surrogate search with the help of Larry.

Story Analysis

A confirmed bachelor pursues fatherhood through surrogacy, then must reconcile parenthood, love, and family responsibility.

Plot Progression

1. A Bachelor Wants Fatherhood — Buddy is introduced as a confirmed bachelor living with Celia while managing events at Madison Square Garden. Contact with children changes his priorities and makes him pursue fatherhood.
2. The Search Goes Awry — Buddy asks Larry and Kurt to help him search for a surrogate. His interviews offend women, including an awkward encounter with Jenny Lofton.
3. A Contract With Maggie — Buddy meets Maggie at a local coffee shop and learns about her musical ambitions and Paris plans. She offers to bear his child for the promised money.
4. Pregnancy And Control — After failed attempts and Maggie's seductive role-playing, she becomes pregnant. She moves into Buddy's apartment, where his obsessive supervision conflicts with his emotional neglect.
5. Love Replaces The Arrangement — Maggie wants to keep the baby, provoking Buddy's anger and fear of loss. His romantic feelings become clear, and the couple marries before eventually having three daughters.