Character Relationship Map: Echo Park

Characters

• May (played by Susan Dey) — protagonist

  A single mother residing in Echo Park, Los Angeles, who aspires to become an actress. She rents a spare room to Jonathan and later takes a job delivering 'strip-o-grams' to pursue her career.

• Jonathan (played by Tom Hulce) — protagonist

  A pizza delivery boy who becomes smitten with May and rents a spare room in her apartment. He babysits her son while she pursues career opportunities and grows concerned about her dynamic with August.

• August (played by Michael Bowen) — supporting

  A bodybuilder and next-door neighbor who idolizes Arnold Schwarzenegger, striving to become a worthy successor to his hero. He attempts to meet Arnold at a reception at the Austrian embassy.

• Henry (played by Christopher Walker) — supporting

  May's young son who stays at home while his mother pursues acting opportunities. He is entertained and cared for by Jonathan.

• August's Father (played by Heinrich Schweiger) — supporting

  No information provided in the plot summary.

Canonical Relationships

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

• August's Father → August (father)
• May → Jonathan (Romantic Interest) — Jonathan develops romantic feelings for May, creating emotional tension around her relationship with August.

  Jonathan arrives at May's door, is immediately smitten with her, and later worries that she and August may be more than neighbors.

• May → Henry (Family Mother) — May is Henry's mother and remains responsible for his care while pursuing acting opportunities.

  The plot explicitly describes May as a single mother and identifies Henry as her young son.

Story Dynamics

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

• Jonathan → August (Conflict Romantic Rivalry) — Jonathan perceives August as a possible romantic rival for May's attention.

  Jonathan worries that May and August are more than mere neighbors.

• May → August (Social Next-Door Neighbors) — May and August share a close residential connection as neighbors in Echo Park.

  The plot identifies August as May's next-door neighbor, and both live in Echo Park.

• Jonathan → Henry (Alliance Caregiver) — Jonathan temporarily cares for Henry and becomes involved in May's domestic life.

  While May goes out to pursue an acting opportunity, Jonathan entertains her young son, Henry.

Story Analysis

Several residents pursue better lives while romance, family responsibilities, and uncertain career opportunities intersect in Echo Park.

Plot Progression

1. Dreams In Echo Park — May dreams of acting while raising Henry as a single mother. August pursues his own ideal of becoming a worthy successor to his hero.
2. A Room And A Crush — Jonathan arrives as a pizza delivery boy and immediately becomes smitten with May. He rents her spare room and begins entertaining Henry.
3. The Strange Opportunity — May leaves home to pursue an acting opportunity while Jonathan looks after Henry. She discovers that the work requires disrobing in private residences.
4. Two Paths To Stardom — May tries delivering strip-o-grams as a way to pursue her career. At the same time, August prepares to meet his idol at an Austrian embassy reception.
5. Jealousy In The Neighborhood — Jonathan worries that May and August may be more than neighbors. Their separate ambitions and emotional attachments converge in the shared world of Echo Park.