Character Relationship Map: Harold

Characters

• Cromer (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) — protagonist

  Cromer is the school janitor and one of the few people who treats Harold kindly after the move. He takes Harold home from the strip bar, bails him out after his arrest, helps Shelly escape Patrick's m...

• Harold (played by Spencer Breslin) — supporting

  Harold is a sixteen-year-old boy coping with early male pattern baldness and a difficult move to a new town. Bullied at school and deceived by classmates, he gradually gains confidence through the go-...

• Patrick (played by Robert Gorrie) — supporting

  Patrick is Shelly's boyfriend and initially mistakes Harold for her father. He apologizes to Shelly and claims to be falling in love, but secretly bets his friends that he can have sex with her before...

• Reedy (played by Colin Quinn) — supporting

  Reedy is a regular at the strip bar Harold visits while trying to return to his old home. He later cheers for Harold at the go-kart race, where Maude meets him and the two become enamored with each ot...

• Brad (played by Daniel Farcher) — minor

  Brad is the ringleader of the students who bully Harold after discovering his baldness. He humiliates Harold with a fake note from Evelyn and later sabotages Harold's go-kart during the race, but Rhon...

Story Dynamics

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

• Reedy → Harold (Alliance Supporter) — Reedy provides visible encouragement during Harold's decisive public victory.

  Reedy is among the people cheering Harold on during the go-kart race.

• Cromer → Reedy (Social Acquaintance) — Cromer and Reedy belong to the same strip-bar social environment.

  Cromer is present at the strip bar, where Reedy is a regular, and Reedy later appears among the people cheering for Harold.

• Cromer → Patrick (Conflict Opponent) — Cromer actively helps defeat Patrick's plan.

  During the motel scheme, Cromer waits with Harold and helps the girl escape through a window while Patrick is away getting sodas.

• Harold → Brad (Conflict Bullying Rival) — Brad is Harold's most persistent school antagonist.

  Brad leads the students who ostracize and humiliate Harold, including the fake invitation to the school dance.

• Harold → Patrick (Conflict Rival) — Harold opposes Patrick after discovering Patrick's exploitative plan.

  Harold learns that Patrick has made a bet involving Harold's sister and decides to take revenge by helping replace her during the motel scheme.

• Cromer → Harold (Alliance Supporter) — Cromer repeatedly protects and assists Harold when he is isolated or in trouble.

  Cromer takes Harold home after finding him at the strip bar, bails him out after his arrest, and helps him during the motel revenge plan.

Story Analysis

A bullied teenager struggles to belong after moving towns, while support and persistence help him reclaim confidence and social respect.

Plot Progression

1. A New Town, A Visible Difference — Harold moves to a new town and initially hides his baldness beneath a hat. Once exposed at school, he becomes the target of immediate rejection and bullying.
2. Trying to Belong — Harold attempts to connect with his new classmates through a birthday cart, a prank, and a beer purchase. His efforts bring brief social contact but also lead to arrest and deeper humiliation.
3. Revenge Behind Closed Doors — Harold learns about Patrick's secret bet and helps organize a motel deception with Cromer. The plan humiliates Patrick but does not end Harold's wider conflict at school.
4. The Public Humiliation — Brad's group stages a fake invitation and humiliates Harold at the dance. Hurt and angry, Harold rejects an attempt at genuine kindness before finding a new challenge.
5. Winning Back Respect — Cromer enters Harold in the go-kart race, where Brad sabotages him. Harold overcomes the obstruction, wins the race, and ends the film moving toward a more hopeful social life.