Character Relationship Map: Stick

Characters

• Stick (played by Burt Reynolds) — protagonist

  A former carjacker recently released after seven years for armed robbery, Stick survives an ambush that kills Rainy and hides while working as Barry's chauffeur. He seeks the money owed to Rainy, prot...

• Kyle (played by Candice Bergen) — protagonist

  A financial consultant and business adviser to Barry, Kyle becomes Stick's new romantic interest while he works as Barry's chauffeur. She must decide whether a relationship with Stick is worth pursuin...

• Barry (played by George Segal) — supporting

  A wealthy eccentric, Barry meets Stick when Stick helps him get into his locked car. He hires Stick as a chauffeur, providing him with a stable job and comfortable home while Stick attempts to rebuild...

• Chucky (played by Charles Durning) — supporting

  Chucky is Rainy's drug dealer and arranges the illegal transaction that turns deadly when Moke kills Rainy. He refuses Stick's demand for the money owed to Rainy, sends hitmen after Stick, and is late...

• Katie (played by Tricia Leigh Fisher) — supporting

  Katie is Stick's teenage daughter, with whom he tries to make up for lost time after leaving prison. Nestor has her kidnapped to draw Stick out of hiding, making her the immediate target of the confli...

• Rainy (played by José Pérez) — supporting

  Rainy is Stick's old friend who persuades him to accompany him to the Florida Everglades for a supposedly quick stop. The stop is actually a drug deal arranged by Chucky, and Rainy is killed by Moke w...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Stick → Kyle (Romantic Lovers) — Kyle becomes Stick's emotional connection to a possible future beyond crime.

  Stick finds a new flame in Kyle, and the film ends with them arranging to meet and embracing in the highway median.

• Stick → Barry (Professional Employer) — Barry gives Stick legitimate employment and a stable place to live.

  Stick helps Barry get into his locked car and is subsequently hired as Barry's chauffeur.

• Chucky → Rainy (Professional Dealer Contact) — Chucky is connected to Rainy through the criminal drug transaction.

  The quick stop is revealed to be an illegal drug deal arranged by Rainy's dealer, Chucky.

• Kyle → Barry (Professional Business Adviser) — Kyle has a professional role in Barry's financial affairs.

  Kyle is described as a financial consultant who acts as a business adviser for Barry.

• Stick → Katie (Family Father) — Stick's effort to reconnect with Katie motivates his desire for a new life.

  After obtaining stable work, Stick tries to make up for lost time with Katie, his teenage daughter.

Story Dynamics

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

• Stick → Chucky (Conflict Enemy) — Chucky becomes one of the principal forces opposing Stick's attempt to rebuild his life.

  Chucky's drug deal leads to Rainy's murder, and Stick later approaches Chucky to demand the money owed to his murdered friend.

• Stick → Rainy (Social Old Friend) — Their old friendship draws Stick into the drug deal that triggers the main conflict.

  Stick reunites with Rainy after leaving prison, and Rainy persuades him to accompany him on a supposed quick stop.

Story Analysis

A former robber fights through criminal retaliation to protect his daughter and reclaim a lawful future.

Plot Progression

1. Freedom Meets Old Trouble — Stick leaves prison and reconnects with Rainy. A supposedly brief stop becomes an illegal drug deal that ends with Rainy's murder and Stick's escape.
2. A Lawful Second Chance — While hiding, Stick helps Barry and receives legitimate work as a chauffeur. He begins rebuilding his relationship with Katie and develops feelings for Kyle.
3. The Debt Returns — Stick confronts Chucky over the money connected to Rainy. Chucky refuses and sends killers after Stick under pressure from his criminal employers.
4. Daughter As Bait — Katie is kidnapped to draw Stick out of hiding. At the same time, Chucky becomes disposable to the criminal organization he serves.
5. Balcony And Reckoning — Stick confronts Chucky and the assassin at the high-rise apartment, where both criminals fall from the balcony. Stick then attacks the organization’s home, forces a surrender, rescues Katie, and reuni...