Character Relationship Map: Every Man Needs One

Characters

• Beth Walden (played by Connie Stevens) — protagonist

  A highly qualified architect who is hired by David for 30 days after filing a fair-employment complaint. Confident and outdoorsy, she advises David's secretary and draftsman, challenges David's work,...

• David Chase (played by Ken Berry) — supporting

  An architect designing RV parks who hires Beth after initially dismissing her, then clashes with her confidence and criticism. Though he is sleeping with his secretary Nancy, he falls in love with Bet...

• Walt (played by Henry Gibson) — supporting

  A draftsman who works for David and is so insecure that he cannot pass the architect licensing exam. Beth gives him advice that settles his nervousness, helping him as David's employee. The summary id...

• Bob Rasmussen (played by Steve Franken) — supporting

  A ski instructor whom Beth says she will visit at Mammoth Mountain, describing him as very tall and Nordic. David finds him at a hotel and confronts him; Bob explains that Beth never came to his room...

• Marty Ranier (played by Jerry Paris) — supporting

  David's friend, whom David visits for drinks while frustrated by Beth. Marty advises him that Beth needs him to make a real woman out of her, prompting David to drunkenly go to her apartment. His advi...

• Bus Driver (played by Stanley Adams) — supporting

  The driver of the bus carrying Beth back from Mammoth to Los Angeles. When David catches up and asks for the bus to stop, the driver initially refuses, citing extravagant dangers, but eventually relen...

• Mrs. Chase (played by Nancy Walker) — supporting

  David's mother, who pressures him to get married and brings up Louise, his former fiancée from 12 years earlier. She later calls to tell him that Louise is in town and wants to meet him, setting in mo...

• Nancy (played by Carol Wayne) — supporting

  David's attractive secretary, with whom he is sleeping at the beginning of the story. Beth gives her advice that leads her to stop accepting David's advances, changing their workplace relationship. Th...

• Louise Lathrop (played by Louise Sorel) — supporting

  David's former fiancée from 12 years earlier, whose return to town is announced by David's mother. Louise is now a divorced woman who smokes marijuana, and she tells David she married someone else bec...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Beth Walden → Bus Driver (Professional Passenger And Driver) — The bus driver controls Beth's transport during the final pursuit.

  Beth travels back to Los Angeles on a bus, and the bus driver initially refuses to stop when David asks for her to get off.

• David Chase → Louise Lathrop (Romantic Former Fiances) — David and Louise have unresolved history from a former engagement.

  Mrs. Chase mentions Louise as David's fiancée from twelve years earlier, and Louise says she married someone else because David did not pursue her str...

• David Chase → Mrs. Chase (Family Son And Mother) — David's mother pressures him about marriage and reminds him of Louise.

  Mrs. Chase is identified as David's mother and repeatedly pressures him to get married.

• David Chase → Walt (Professional Employer And Draftsman) — David supervises Walt's drafting work.

  Walt is described as a draftsman working for David, while David employs him in the architecture office.

• David Chase → Nancy (Professional Employer And Secretary) — Nancy is David's employee and office secretary.

  Nancy is described as David's secretary and as working for him at the architecture office.

• David Chase → Beth Walden (Romantic Partner) — Their antagonistic professional relationship develops into mutual love and marriage plans.

  David and Beth sleep together after becoming stranded in her camper, later fall in love, and decide to drive to Nevada to get married.

Story Dynamics

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

• David Chase → Bus Driver (Conflict Pursuer And Obstruction) — The bus driver temporarily obstructs David's attempt to reunite with Beth.

  David pulls alongside the bus, but the driver refuses to stop and cites threats such as hijacking before eventually relenting.

• David Chase → Bob Rasmussen (Conflict Jealous Opponents) — David confronts Bob because he believes Bob has taken Beth's affection.

  David searches for Bob at Mammoth, finds him in a hotel room, and manhandles him after believing Beth is with him.

• Beth Walden → Bob Rasmussen (Conflict Suggested Romantic Rivalry) — Bob is used as a supposed romantic rival to provoke David's jealousy.

  Beth says she is going to Mammoth Mountain with Bob, whom she describes as a very tall Nordic ski instructor, but Bob says Beth never went to his room...

• David Chase → Marty Ranier (Social Friend) — Marty is David's drinking companion and relationship adviser.

  David goes drinking with his friend Marty, who advises him about how to approach Beth.

• Beth Walden → Nancy (Social Supportive Acquaintances) — Beth influences Nancy to protect herself from David's behavior.

  Beth gives Nancy advice that causes her to stop accepting David's advances.

• Beth Walden → Walt (Alliance Supportive Colleagues) — Beth supports Walt and helps reduce his professional insecurity.

  Beth gives Walt advice that settles his nervousness about the architect licensing exam.

Story Analysis

A combative workplace relationship gradually becomes a love story after jealousy forces David to confront what he truly wants.

Plot Progression

1. The Reluctant New Hire — David needs another architect and meets Beth, a highly qualified candidate he initially dismisses. Beth's complaint forces him to hire her for thirty days, bringing her into his office.
2. Clashing in the Office — Beth challenges David's authority while helping Nancy and Walt with their personal and professional problems. David's drunken attempt to pursue Beth ends in rejection and intensifies their conflict.
3. Stranded Together — David crashes his motorcycle, and Beth rescues him in her camper. After they become stranded, champagne and intimacy lead to a painful disagreement about emotional involvement.
4. Jealousy and Recognition — David and Beth fall in love, but Louise's return revives David's unresolved past. Beth invokes Bob Rasmussen to test David, while David finally recognizes the depth of his feelings.
5. The Bus and the Promise — David learns that Beth has left Mammoth by bus and pursues her in his Porsche. After the bus driver finally stops, David and Beth reunite and choose marriage in Nevada.