Character Relationship Map: Chances Are

Characters

• Corinne Jeffries (played by Cybill Shepherd) — protagonist

  Corinne is the widow of Louie Jeffries and the mother of Miranda Jeffries. Still grieving years after his death, she initially resists Alex Finch's claim that he is her reincarnated husband, but event...

• Alex Finch (played by Robert Downey Jr.) — protagonist

  Alex is a young library worker and aspiring journalist who is revealed to be Louie Jeffries reborn. His memories draw him toward Corinne Jeffries and the Jeffries family, creating emotional conflict w...

• Philip Train (played by Ryan O'Neal) — supporting

  Philip is Louie Jeffries's best friend and has raised Miranda Jeffries as his own. He helps Alex reach Ben Bradlee, then becomes suspicious of Alex's relationship with Corinne. After Alex proves knowl...

• Miranda Jeffries (played by Mary Stuart Masterson) — supporting

  Miranda is Corinne Jeffries's daughter and was raised by Philip Train after Louie Jeffries died. She meets Alex at Yale and begins a romantic flirtation with him, but is confused when he rejects her b...

• Louie Jeffries (played by Christopher McDonald) — supporting

  Louie was a young district attorney who died after being hit by a car in 1964. He was Corinne Jeffries's husband, Miranda Jeffries's father, and Philip Train's best friend. His identity survives throu...

• Judge Fenwick (played by Josef Sommer) — supporting

  Judge Fenwick is a judge whose past corruption becomes central to Alex Finch's investigation. Remembering evidence from his former life, Alex accuses Fenwick in court of accepting a bribe and identifi...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Philip Train → Miranda Jeffries (Family Raised As His Own) — Philip takes on Miranda's upbringing after Louie's death, forming a parent-child bond.

  The plot states that Philip raised Louie's only daughter, Miranda, as his own.

• Philip Train → Corinne Jeffries (Romantic Husband) — Philip's love for Corinne is initially overlooked while she grieves Louie; she ultimately recognizes her feelings for Philip and marries him.

  Philip has long been devoted to Corinne, and the plot ends with Corinne and Philip marrying.

• Alex Finch → Miranda Jeffries (Romantic Interrupted Romance) — Alex's recovered past initially prevents him from reciprocating Miranda's interest. Once his memories are gone, he can pursue a relationship with her.

  Miranda flirts with Alex after meeting him at Yale and kisses him, but Alex rejects her because of his memories of Corinne; after forgetting Louie, he...

• Alex Finch → Corinne Jeffries (Romantic Rekindled Romance) — Their intimacy revives Corinne's feelings for Louie, but Alex realizes she also loves Philip and chooses to let her go.

  Alex convinces Corinne he is Louie by recalling private details, and they kiss and take a trip together.

• Alex Finch → Louie Jeffries (Temporal Reincarnated Identity) — Louie's memories emerge within Alex and drive his attempts to reconnect with Corinne, until the memories are erased.

  Alex experiences flashbacks at the Jeffries home, realizes he is Louie Jeffries reincarnated, and later forgets his past life after Omar's interventio...

• Louie Jeffries → Miranda Jeffries (Family Father) — Louie dies when Miranda is young, and Alex's return as Louie creates a confusing romantic connection with her before his memories disappear.

  The plot identifies Miranda as Louie's only daughter.

• Louie Jeffries → Corinne Jeffries (Family Husband) — Louie's death leaves Corinne grieving for years; his memories later persuade her that Alex is Louie reborn.

  The plot identifies Corinne as Louie's widow and describes their life together before his death.

Story Dynamics

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

• Alex Finch → Judge Fenwick (Conflict Accuser) — Alex's memory of the evidence leads to Fenwick being charged with accepting a bribe and establishes Alex's journalistic achievement.

  Alex bursts into court and accuses Judge Fenwick of accepting a bribe, recalling incriminating photographs from his life as Louie.

• Alex Finch → Philip Train (Conflict Suspicion Turned Acceptance) — Philip's suspicion of Alex's intentions gives way to recognition when Alex reveals knowledge only Louie could have had.

  Philip accuses Alex of being a gold digger after finding him with Corinne, but later believes Alex is Louie after Alex recalls the Fenwick photographs...

• Louie Jeffries → Philip Train (Social Best Friend) — Their friendship persists as a key connection after Louie's death: Philip helps Alex and later accepts that Alex carries Louie's memories.

  The plot calls Philip Louie's best friend and recalls Philip declaring his love for Corinne to Louie on Louie's wedding day.

Story Analysis

A reincarnated man's recovered memories entangle old love and new affection before he must let the past go.

Plot Progression

1. A Second Life Begins — Louie dies in 1964 and is reborn as Alex. Years later, Alex meets Miranda at Yale and sets out to pursue a newspaper job in Washington.
2. The Jeffries Homecoming — Alex struggles to get an interview with Bradlee, while Philip brings him into the Jeffries home. Familiar surroundings unlock memories that reveal Alex's former identity.
3. Love Across Two Lives — Alex persuades Corinne that he is Louie and becomes intimate with her, while rejecting Miranda. Philip's discovery forces Alex to confront Corinne's feelings for both men.
4. The Courtroom Revelation — After Corinne turns toward Philip, Alex exposes Fenwick's bribery using memories of evidence from Louie's life. Philip finally believes Alex's identity, but Alex is injured and hospitalized.
5. A Future Without Memories — Omar gives Alex the shot that erases his memories of Louie, and Miranda welcomes the Alex she remembers. Fenwick faces charges, Bradlee offers Alex a job, and Corinne marries Philip.