Character Relationship Map: Everything Before Us

Characters

• Ben (played by Aaron Yoo) — protagonist

  Ben is a designer whose low relationship score initially costs him a job at Origin. With Henry's encouragement, he reconciles with Sara and improves his score, but later loses the job after breaking u...

• Sara (played by Brittany Ishibashi) — supporting

  Sara is Ben's ex-girlfriend and the owner of a new cafe, which she initially funds because of her high relationship score. After reconnecting with Ben, she uses a fraudulent relationship to improve he...

• Seth (played by Brandon Soo Hoo) — supporting

  Seth is Haley's boyfriend, and their relationship is registered with the Department of Emotional Integrity before they attend different colleges. His repeated visits, transfer application, and objecti...

• Randall (played by Randall Park) — supporting

  Randall is a recurring agent of the Department of Emotional Integrity who registers Seth and Haley's long-distance relationship. Although the department investigates relationships through strict polic...

• Haley (played by Victoria Park) — supporting

  Haley is Seth's girlfriend who leaves for college in San Francisco while he remains in Los Angeles. She grows frustrated by his attempts to follow her and make decisions for them, including his transf...

• Anna (played by Joanna Sotomura) — supporting

  Anna is Ben's co-worker at Origin and becomes his romantic partner after he starts his new job. When she discovers that Ben kissed Sara, she threatens to end their relationship. Ben's eventual breakup...

• Henry (played by Chris Riedell) — supporting

  Henry is Ben's friend and encourages him to meet with Sara at the Department of Emotional Integrity so they can repair their relationship record. His advice helps Ben improve his score and obtain the...

• Sandy (played by Katie Savoy) — supporting

  Sandy is Henry's wife and appears in the mid-credits scene. Together with Henry, she takes out a loan for a bakery, apparently helping Sara after Sara loses her cafe because of the fraudulent relation...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ben → Randall (Power Audited Subject) — Randall's institution has authority over Ben's testimony and relationship score.

  Ben is audited and recorded to aid the investigation into Sara's fraudulent relationship, while Randall is the recurring D.E.I. agent who gives Sara t...

• Randall → Sara (Professional D.E.I. Case Agent) — Randall's official role develops into an unauthorized act of assistance.

  Randall later gives Sara a recording of Ben's testimony, despite D.E.I. policy, after auditing and recording Ben for the investigation.

• Haley → Randall (Professional Relationship Registrant) — Randall becomes the official institutional contact for their relationship.

  Haley registers her long-distance relationship with Seth through Randall at the D.E.I.

• Seth → Randall (Professional Relationship Registrant) — Randall formally administers the couple's relationship within the D.E.I. system.

  Seth and Haley register their long-distance relationship with Randall, who is the recurring D.E.I. agent.

• Seth → Haley (Romantic Long-Distance Lovers) — Their relationship becomes the central test of independence and commitment.

  Seth and Haley register their long-distance relationship with Randall while attending different colleges in California.

• Ben → Anna (Professional Co-workers) — Their workplace connection develops into a romantic relationship.

  Ben starts working as a designer at Origin, where he begins a relationship with his co-worker Anna.

• Ben → Sara (Romantic Former Lovers) — Ben and Sara remain emotionally connected despite their breakup and conflicting memories.

  The plot identifies Sara as Ben's ex-girlfriend. They later reconcile temporarily, but Ben kisses Sara during the mural project after beginning a rela...

• Henry → Sandy (Family Spouses) — Henry and Sandy are married and make a joint business decision.

  In the mid-credits scene, Henry and his wife Sandy take out a loan for a bakery.

Story Dynamics

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

• Ben → Henry (Social Friend) — Henry provides practical advice that initiates Ben's score recovery.

  The plot explicitly calls Henry Ben's friend, and Henry convinces Ben to make an appointment with Sara at the D.E.I.

Story Analysis

The film examines how institutional relationship scores distort love, responsibility, independence, and personal choice.

Plot Progression

1. Scores Shape Every Future — The D.E.I. controls social and professional opportunities through relationship scores. Ben loses an Origin job while Sara gains financing, prompting Henry to push Ben toward a D.E.I. appointment.
2. Old Love Reopens Doors — Ben and Sara dispute their shared past before accepting equal responsibility. The agreement raises Ben's score, gets him hired, and places him on a new romantic path with Anna.
3. Promises Under Pressure — Ben paints a mural at Sara's cafe and kisses her, threatening his relationship with Anna. Meanwhile, Seth and Haley's registered long-distance relationship deteriorates under pressure from distance an...
4. Scores Collapse — Seth's transfer decision, Haley's party, and her London plans deepen their conflict. The D.E.I. exposes Sara's fraudulent relationship, causing her to lose the cafe, while Ben also loses his job.
5. Love Refuses The System — Haley ends her relationship with Seth, and Seth accepts complete responsibility. Randall secretly shares Ben's testimony with Sara, leading them back to the unfinished mural as Seth and Haley begin se...