Character Relationship Map: One Down, Two to Go

Characters

• Cal (played by Fred Williamson) — protagonist

  Cal is one of Chuck’s two associates in California and a tough cop. After Chuck is shot for discovering the attempt to rig the martial arts tournament, Chuck asks Teri to contact Cal and J. Cal then j...

• Chuck (played by Jim Kelly) — supporting

  Chuck Wells co-owns the International Martial Arts dojo with Ralph and becomes aware that tournament organizer Rossi is trying to rig the competition. Rossi’s henchmen shoot Chuck in the chest, but he...

• Ralph (played by Richard Roundtree) — supporting

  Ralph Dart co-owns the International Martial Arts dojo with Chuck. He and Chuck enter their best student in the tournament, and that student wins despite efforts to rig the competition. The prize mone...

• Teri (played by Paula Sills) — supporting

  Teri is Chuck’s girlfriend and works at a tavern. After Chuck is shot, he reaches an alley behind the tavern and tells her and her co-worker to inform Ralph about the shooting and contact his associat...

• Mario (played by Tom Signorelli) — supporting

  Mario is a mobster allied with tournament organizer Rossi and contributes half of the tournament’s $400,000 prize money. After the International Martial Arts dojo’s student wins, Mario had promised th...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Chuck → Ralph (Professional Business Partners) — They jointly operate the martial arts dojo.

  The plot identifies Chuck and Ralph as the owners of the International Martial Arts dojo in Los Angeles.

• Chuck → Teri (Romantic Girlfriend) — Teri is Chuck's girlfriend and becomes his immediate source of help after the shooting.

  The plot states that Chuck reaches an alley behind the tavern where his girlfriend Teri works.

Story Dynamics

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

• Teri → Cal (Social Contact) — Teri serves as the communication link between Chuck and Cal.

  Chuck tells Teri to contact his California associates, including Cal.

• Cal → Ralph (Alliance Ally) — Cal's intervention supports Ralph's interests against the mob-backed organizers.

  Chuck's message asks for Cal to be contacted after the shooting, while Ralph is the person meant to receive the warning and the promised prize money.

• Cal → Mario (Conflict Police Adversaries) — Cal pursues Mario's mob-associated operation after the tournament conspiracy is exposed.

  Cal is described as a tough cop who goes after the mob connected to the sabotaged martial arts tournament.

• Ralph → Mario (Conflict Financial Adversary) — Mario's refusal creates a direct financial conflict with Ralph.

  Mario helps fund the prize money but later goes back on his promise to pay Ralph the next morning.

• Teri → Ralph (Alliance Messenger) — Teri is tasked with passing Chuck's warning to Ralph.

  Chuck tells Teri and her co-worker to let Ralph know about the shooting.

• Chuck → Mario (Conflict Enemy) — Chuck's opposition to the rigged tournament places him against Mario's mob-backed interests.

  Chuck discovers that the tournament organizers are trying to rig the event, and Mario is identified as the mobster backing half of the prize money.

• Chuck → Cal (Alliance Associate) — Cal is one of Chuck's established associates who can respond to the tournament conspiracy.

  Chuck instructs Teri to contact his two associates in California, including Cal.

Story Analysis

A martial arts tournament exposes a mob-backed conspiracy, forcing injured allies and a determined cop to oppose the scheme.

Plot Progression

1. The Dojo Enters The Contest — Chuck and Ralph operate their Los Angeles martial arts dojo and enter their best student in a tournament offering a $400,000 prize. The competition appears promising before the financial connection to...
2. A Tournament Under Threat — The tournament organizer attempts to control the result with Mario's financial backing. Chuck discovers the rigging and becomes a target because he knows about the scheme.
3. The Shot And The Warning — Henchmen shoot Chuck in the chest, but the wound is not lethal. Chuck reaches Teri at the tavern alley and sends warnings to Ralph and Cal.
4. Victory Against The Fix — The attempt to rig the event fails, and the dojo's student wins the tournament. The victory raises expectations that Ralph will receive the promised prize money.
5. The Broken Promise — Mario promises to pay Ralph the next morning but later reverses himself. Cal goes after the mob connected to the sabotaged tournament and the unpaid prize.