Character Relationship Map: Bedtime Bedlam

Characters

• Mrs. Moneybelt (played by June Foray) — protagonist

  One of the parents seeking childcare. She offers Woody $50 to look after her 'baby,' setting the chaotic events of the short in motion.

• TV Announcer (played by Stan Freberg) — protagonist

  A media personality who features Woody's babysitting service on the airwaves, acting as the narrative catalyst that connects Woody with the hiring couple.

• Woody Woodpecker (played by Grace Stafford) — supporting

  The titular protagonist who operates a newly established babysitting service. He eagerly accepts a $50 payment to watch the couple's infant, only to face extreme chaos when he discovers the child is a...

Canonical Relationships

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

• TV Announcer → Mrs. Moneybelt (Professional Advertiser) — The announcer promotes Mrs. Moneybelt's babysitting business on TV.
• Mrs. Moneybelt → Woody Woodpecker (Professional Client) — Mrs. Moneybelt hires Woody for her babysitting service.

Story Dynamics

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

• TV Announcer → Woody Woodpecker (Alliance Promotional Partner) — The announcer features Woody as the face of the service.

Story Analysis

A hired nanny endures a chaotic babysitting job after discovering that his supposed baby is actually a gorilla.

Plot Progression

1. The Promised Babysitting Job — Pica-Pau works at the Sossego Baby Agency and accepts Mrs. Granaviva's offer of 500 cruzeiros. He rushes to the household and initially mistakes Mr. Granaviva for the baby.
2. The Gorilla in the Crib — While watching a Western, Pica-Pau discovers that the crying baby is actually a gorilla. He considers escaping but stays because he wants the promised payment.
3. A Nanny's Impossible Tasks — Pica-Pau tries feeding, burping, diaper changing, playing, and finally dropping a rock to make the baby-gorilla sleep. His increasingly extreme efforts fail to provide a lasting solution.
4. The Payment Disaster — A Journalist interrupts the movie and reports that the Granavivas have begun a twenty-year African journey. Pica-Pau realizes that the promised payment may never come and reacts violently toward the t...
5. The Final Comic Outburst — Pica-Pau's pan strike wakes the baby-gorilla and causes more crying. He responds with his lucky laugh and performs somersaults around the house.