Character Relationship Map: A New Leaf

Characters

• Henry Graham (played by Walter Matthau) — protagonist

  A broke aristocrat who borrows $50,000 to find and marry a wealthy woman within six weeks to avoid bankruptcy. He schemes to poison his new wife, Henrietta, but ultimately falls in love with her durin...

• Henrietta Lowell (played by Elaine May) — supporting

  An immensely wealthy, guileless botany professor who marries Henry despite his suspicious motives. She pays his debts, discovers a new fern species naming it after him, and invites him on a canoe trip...

• Andy McPherson (played by Jack Weston) — supporting

  Henrietta's suspicious lawyer who opposes her marriage to Henry and plots with Uncle Harry to stop it. His manipulations backfire against Henrietta's guilelessness, though he successfully uncovers Hen...

• Uncle Harry (played by James Coco) — supporting

  Henry's greedy uncle who provides a $50,000 loan for his courtship scheme with a strict six-week repayment deadline. He later conspires with the lawyer to prevent the marriage but is ultimately outman...

• Harold (played by George Rose) — supporting

  Henry's loyal valet who suggests he marry a wealthy woman to solve his financial crisis after Henry confesses he has squandered his inheritance.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Andy McPherson → Henrietta Lowell (Professional Lawyer And Client) — Andy acts as Henrietta's legal adviser and attempts to protect her interests.

  Andy is identified as Henrietta's lawyer and opposes her marriage to Henry.

• Henry Graham → Henrietta Lowell (Romantic Husband And Wife) — Their marriage begins as Henry's financial scheme but develops into genuine love.

  Henry courts Henrietta, agrees to marry her within the week, and later accepts a life together after rescuing her.

• Henry Graham → Uncle Harry (Professional Borrower And Lender) — Harry finances Henry's plan under a strict six-week repayment deadline.

  Henry obtains a $50,000 loan from his avaricious uncle Harry to finance his courtship.

• Henry Graham → Harold (Professional Valet And Employer) — Harold serves Henry and helps formulate his financial marriage scheme.

  Henry confesses his financial collapse to his valet Harold, who advises him to marry into wealth.

Story Dynamics

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

• Andy McPherson → Uncle Harry (Alliance Conspirator) — Andy and Harry temporarily cooperate against the proposed marriage.

  Andy plots with Harry to frustrate Henry and Henrietta's marriage plans.

• Henry Graham → Andy McPherson (Conflict Adversaries) — Andy challenges Henry's scheme throughout the courtship and marriage plans.

  Andy exposes Henry's loan and motives, while Henry's disclosures and Henrietta's response cause Andy's manipulations to backfire.

Story Analysis

A financially ruined aristocrat's plan to marry for money transforms into genuine love and responsibility.

Plot Progression

1. The Marriage Scheme — Henry learns that he is broke and accepts Harold's idea of marrying into wealth. He borrows $50,000 from Uncle Harry and receives six weeks to solve his financial crisis.
2. The Wealthy Botanist — Henry meets the shy and wealthy Henrietta at a society party and performs an interest in her botanical work. Their rapid courtship culminates in an agreement to marry.
3. Warnings Before the Wedding — Andy McPherson opposes the marriage and joins Harry in trying to stop it. His disclosures about Henry's debt and motives instead lead Henrietta to offer financial support, and the wedding proceeds.
4. A Household Under Threat — On their honeymoon, Henrietta finds a potentially new fern. After returning, Henry takes control of the household and searches for a way to poison her, but the organic garden provides no suitable chem...
5. Love in the Rapids — Henrietta's fern is confirmed as a new species and named for Henry before she invites him on an Adirondack canoe trip. When the canoe capsizes, Henry chooses to rescue her and accepts their life toget...