Character Relationship Map: Paper Moon

Characters

• Addie Loggins (played by Tatum O'Neal) — protagonist

  Addie Loggins is a nine-year-old orphan who meets Moses Pray at her mother's graveside and travels with him toward her aunt's home. After claiming the $200 obtained in her name, she joins his Bible an...

• Moses Pray (played by Ryan O'Neal) — protagonist

  Moses Pray is an itinerant con man who is mistaken for Addie Loggins's father and agrees to take her to relatives. He raises money through fraudulent Bible sales, with Addie becoming his partner, but...

• Trixie Delight (played by Madeline Kahn) — supporting

  Trixie Delight is an exotic dancer whom Moses Pray meets at a carnival and invites into his traveling group. Her presence makes Addie Loggins jealous, while her reliance on Imogene creates tension wit...

• The Minister's Wife (played by Lila Waters) — minor
• Imogene (played by P.J. Johnson) — supporting

  Imogene is Trixie Delight's downtrodden teenage maid who travels with Trixie, Moses Pray, and Addie Loggins after Moses invites them along. She becomes Addie's friend and helps plan the scheme that se...

• Leroy (played by Randy Quaid) — supporting

  Leroy is a local hillbilly whom Moses Pray encounters while trying to escape with Addie Loggins. Moses defeats Leroy in a wrestling match, enabling the pair to trade their new car for a decrepit Model...

• The Minister (played by James N. Harrell) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• The Minister's Wife → The Minister (wife)
• Trixie Delight → Imogene (Professional Employer And Maid) — Imogene serves Trixie while receiving little apparent consideration.

  The plot describes Imogene as Trixie's downtrodden teenage maid who travels with Trixie and Moses.

• Moses Pray → Trixie Delight (Romantic Interest) — Moses's attraction to Trixie temporarily disrupts his partnership with Addie.

  At the carnival, Moses becomes enthralled with Trixie, invites her to travel with them, and buys a new convertible to impress her.

Story Dynamics

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

• Moses Pray → Leroy (Conflict Rassling Opponent) — Their physical contest directly enables Moses and Addie's escape.

  Moses beats Leroy in a rassling match while trying to trade the new car for a decrepit Model T farm truck.

• Imogene → Addie Loggins (Social Friend) — Their friendship enables Addie to form an alliance against Trixie's influence.

  Addie soon becomes friends with Imogene while the group stays together at the hotel.

• Addie Loggins → Trixie Delight (Conflict Jealous Rival) — Addie sees Trixie as a threat to her partnership with Moses.

  Addie becomes jealous of Trixie after Moses invites her into their traveling group and spends their money on a new car to impress her.

• Addie Loggins → Moses Pray (Alliance Traveling Partner) — They cooperate on the road and in repeated confidence schemes.

  After demanding the $200, Addie agrees to travel with Moses until he replaces the money, and they later become a formidable con team.

Story Analysis

An orphan and a reluctant con man transform a financial dispute into a resilient partnership on the road.

Plot Progression

1. An Orphan and a Debt — Moses meets Addie at her mother's funeral and agrees to take her toward St. Joseph. After Addie claims the $200, their temporary arrangement becomes a shared road partnership.
2. Partners in Deception — Moses rebuilds the money through Bible scams aimed at widows. Addie learns the performance and becomes an essential partner in their traveling cons.
3. Trixie's Disruption — Moses becomes fascinated by Trixie Delight and brings her and Imogene into the group. Addie's jealousy grows after Moses spends their money on a new car.
4. Exposure and Escape — Addie and Imogene expose Trixie's sexual betrayal, ending her place in the traveling group. Moses and Addie then face a theft scheme, arrest, and a dangerous escape.
5. Defeat and Return — After crossing into Missouri, Moses is beaten and robbed before leaving Addie at her aunt's home. Addie invokes the unpaid debt and reunites with him on the road.