Character Relationship Map: Starman

Characters

• Starman / Scott Hayden (played by Jeff Bridges) — protagonist

  An alien visitor who clones a human body from Scott Hayden's hair and takes the form of Jenny Hayden's deceased husband. He travels with Jenny to the Arizona rendezvous, uses his spheres to protect an...

• Jenny Hayden (played by Karen Allen) — protagonist

  A recently widowed woman whose home is entered by the alien Starman after his spacecraft crashes nearby. Initially frightened and resistant, she helps him travel across the country, grows to trust and...

• Mark Shermin (played by Charles Martin Smith) — supporting

  A SETI scientist and government official involved in the investigation of the alien visitor. He criticizes George Fox for treating the Starman as a hostile target, reminds him that Earth invited conta...

• George Fox (played by Richard Jaeckel) — supporting

  The National Security Agency director overseeing the response to the alien visitor. After learning that the spacecraft was headed toward the Barringer Crater, he orders the Army to capture the Starman...

• Fox's Assistant (played by David Wells) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Fox's Assistant → George Fox (assistant)
• Mark Shermin → George Fox (Professional Government Colleague) — They participate in the official response to Starman.

  Mark Shermin is described as another government official involved in the case alongside National Security Agency director George Fox.

• Starman / Scott Hayden → Jenny Hayden (Romantic Partner) — Their relationship develops from fear and coercion into mutual love and acceptance.

  Jenny and Starman have sex while hiding in a railroad boxcar, and Jenny accepts his explanation that she is pregnant with their child.

Story Dynamics

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

• George Fox → Starman / Scott Hayden (Conflict Pursuer) — Fox directs the principal institutional threat against Starman.

  George arranges for the Army to capture Starman, dead or alive, after identifying his trajectory to Barringer Crater.

• Mark Shermin → Starman / Scott Hayden (Alliance Secret Ally) — Mark changes from investigator to protector and escape facilitator.

  After learning Fox plans to vivisect Starman, Mark resolves to help him escape rather than let Fox capture him.

Story Analysis

A stranded alien and a grieving widow form a bond while escaping a hostile government and racing toward an interstellar rendezvous.

Plot Progression

1. A Hostile First Contact — An alien scout vessel reaches Earth after responding to Voyager 2's peace message, but the government shoots it down. Starman survives and creates a human body from Scott's DNA.
2. Three Days To Arizona — Starman sends a warning home and reveals that he must reach Barringer Crater within three days. Jenny initially resists, but language lessons and miraculous powers begin changing their relationship.
3. Flight Across America — Authorities pursue the pair, Jenny is shot, and Starman protects and heals her with his spheres. Their reunion at a roadblock confirms their growing commitment to the journey.
4. A Gift Of Life — While hiding in a boxcar, Starman tells Jenny that she is pregnant with their son. A detour to Las Vegas provides the money and Cadillac needed to continue toward Arizona.
5. The Crater Farewell — Fox orders a military capture, while Mark decides to help Starman escape. At the crater, an alien ship heals Starman, receives him, and leaves Jenny with his final sphere.