Character Relationship Map: Make It Happen

Characters

• Lauryn Kirk (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) — protagonist

  Lauryn Kirk is an aspiring dancer from Glenwood, Indiana, who travels to Chicago to audition for a famous dance school. After rejection, she works as a bookkeeper and dancer at Ruby's, where she devel...

• Russ (played by Riley Smith) — protagonist

  Russ is the slick-talking disc jockey at Ruby's. After secretly seeing Lauryn dance, he asks her to perform when the club is short of dancers and helps her combine hip-hop with the club's sensual styl...

• Joel (played by John Reardon) — supporting

  Joel is Lauryn's brother and works as a mechanic in the family garage. He initially doubts her decision to leave Indiana, but gives her his blessing. Although he later argues with her after finding he...

• Dana (played by Tessa Thompson) — supporting

  Dana is a friendly waitress who meets Lauryn after Lauryn's car is towed and she is left distressed in Chicago. Dana invites her out of the rain, offers her a place to stay, and introduces her to Ruby...

• Brooke (played by Ashley Roberts) — supporting

  Brooke is a dancer at Ruby's who becomes resentful when Lauryn quickly emerges as the club's new star. Alongside Carmen, she tries to sabotage and intimidate the newcomer, making her an antagonist to...

• Carmen (played by Julissa Bermudez) — supporting

  Carmen is a dancer at Ruby's whom Lauryn watches perform impressively on stage before beginning her own work there. As Lauryn gains attention and becomes the club's new star, Carmen joins Brooke in re...

• Brenda (played by Karen LeBlanc) — supporting

  Brenda is the owner of Ruby's, the club whose dances are rooted in burlesque. She hires Lauryn as a bookkeeper because of Lauryn's skill with numbers, later allows her to dance there, and ultimately w...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Russ → Brenda (Professional Club Colleague) — They are connected through the operation of Ruby's.

  Russ works as the disc jockey at Ruby's, while Brenda owns the club and hires Lauryn there.

• Brenda → Lauryn Kirk (Professional Employer) — Brenda gives Lauryn her first job at the club before she becomes a dancer.

  Brenda hires Lauryn as a bookkeeper at Ruby's because of Lauryn's skills with numbers.

• Lauryn Kirk → Russ (Romantic Interest) — Their relationship develops from creative collaboration into a romantic connection.

  The plot states that Lauryn and Russ's relationship progresses, and Lauryn happily embraces Russ after her successful second audition.

• Lauryn Kirk → Joel (Family Siblings) — They are siblings whose relationship is strained by Lauryn's departure but ultimately becomes supportive.

  Lauryn says goodbye to her brother Joel before leaving Glenwood, Indiana, and later argues with him about her decision to dance in Chicago.

Story Dynamics

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

• Carmen → Brooke (Alliance Sabotage Partner) — They form a temporary alliance against the newcomer.

  Carmen and Brooke jointly try to sabotage and intimidate Lauryn after Lauryn becomes Ruby's new star.

• Lauryn Kirk → Brooke (Conflict Professional Rival) — Brooke treats Lauryn as a threat to the existing club hierarchy.

  Brooke resents Lauryn's success and joins Carmen in trying to sabotage and intimidate the newcomer.

• Lauryn Kirk → Carmen (Conflict Professional Rival) — Lauryn's success threatens Carmen's established position at the club.

  Carmen is already an impressive dancer at Ruby's, while Lauryn later becomes the club's new star to Carmen's chagrin.

• Dana → Lauryn Kirk (Social Friend) — Dana provides immediate friendship and practical support during Lauryn's crisis.

  Dana, a friendly waitress, invites Lauryn out of the rain and offers her a place to stay when Lauryn cannot return home.

Story Analysis

An aspiring dancer learns to pursue her artistic identity while honoring family responsibilities and accepting support from a new community.

Plot Progression

1. Leaving Home Behind — Lauryn leaves Glenwood with Joel's reluctant blessing to pursue a Chicago dance audition. Rejection, a towed car, and isolation leave her without a clear path forward.
2. A New Stage — Dana offers Lauryn shelter and introduces her to Ruby's. Brenda hires her as a bookkeeper, while Russ discovers that Lauryn's natural dancing could work on the club stage.
3. The Hip-Hop Breakthrough — Lauryn struggles with Ruby's sensual routine but finds her voice when Russ plays hip-hop. Her success makes her the club's new star and creates hostility with Carmen and Brooke.
4. Family Or Ambition — Joel discovers Lauryn performing and reveals that the family garage is in financial danger. Lauryn sacrifices her stage career to return home, until Joel sees her joy in dancing and supports another a...
5. A Second Chance — Lauryn returns to Chicago and succeeds at the audition with Russ's encouragement. Her return to Ruby's becomes a celebration rather than a goodbye, bringing the club community together through dance.