Character Relationship Map: Because They're Young

Characters

• Neil Hendry (played by Dick Clark) — protagonist

  A novice history teacher at Harrison High, Neil is also a former college football star whose career ended in a car accident that killed his brother and sister-in-law. He takes responsibility for his n...

• Joanne Dietrich (played by Victoria Shaw) — supporting

  The secretary to Harrison High's principal, Joanne escorts Neil to his classroom and becomes close to him. She learns about his past and his care for Eric, challenges him when she thinks he gives too...

• Griff Rimer (played by Michael Callan) — supporting

  A Harrison High student and former Conway student, Griff has a record of delinquent behavior and leers at Anne, whose reputation was damaged by their past encounter. He tries to change for her but lat...

• Anne Gregor (played by Tuesday Weld) — supporting

  A Harrison High student whose reputation was damaged by a sexual encounter with Griff the previous summer, Anne is wary when he seeks to renew their relationship. She helps Buddy with English and is p...

• Buddy McCalla (played by Warren Berlinger) — supporting

  A student and football player at Harrison High, Buddy needs an athletic scholarship because his father has left and his mother cannot afford college tuition. Neil tutors him in history and agrees to c...

• Frances McCalla (played by Linda Watkins) — supporting

  Buddy's mother, Frances hides her promiscuity from him. When Buddy returns home and hears her drunkenly flirting with a man, he is traumatized and runs away. After Buddy's discarded sweater is found,...

• Patcher (played by Chris Robinson) — supporting

  The leader of the Conway High toughs, Patcher tries to crash Harrison High's dance but retreats when Griff confronts him. He later takes part in Chris's robbery, disabling the alarm, but botches the j...

• Eric Hendry (played by Stephen Talbot) — minor
• Chris (played by Rudy Bond) — minor

  A butcher who works with Griff at the market, Chris warns him to stop stealing cigarettes because he is capable of bigger things. Later, Chris is involved in a robbery with Patcher and recruits Griff...

• Principal Donlan (played by Wendell Holmes) — minor

  The principal of Harrison High, Donlan cautions Neil against becoming involved in students' personal problems and says discipline is the principal's responsibility. When Griff's father threatens to su...

• Mr. Rimer (played by Philip Coolidge) — minor

  Griff's father, Mr. Rimer threatens to press charges against Harrison High after Buddy beats Griff. His complaint leads Principal Donlan to suspend Neil and promise that Buddy will be expelled. The pl...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Mr. Rimer → Griff Rimer (Family Father And Son) — Mr. Rimer intervenes on Griff's behalf after the school fight.

  After Griff is beaten, his father threatens to press charges against the school for what happened to his son.

• Principal Donlan → Griff Rimer (Professional Principal And Student) — Donlan's authority over Griff ultimately includes support for a probationary outcome.

  Donlan is the principal at Griff's school, and Griff's father threatens legal action after Griff is beaten. Donlan later agrees to testify on Griff's...

• Anne Gregor → Griff Rimer (Romantic Former Sexual Encounter) — Their troubled history leaves Anne wary of Griff and fearful for her reputation.

  The plot says Anne's sexual encounter with Griff the previous summer damaged her reputation. Later, Griff forces himself on her at her house, and she...

• Buddy McCalla → Frances McCalla (Family Mother And Son) — Their relationship is damaged by Buddy's discovery and repaired through Frances's apology.

  The plot identifies Frances as Buddy's mother. Buddy runs away after hearing her drunkenly flirt with a man, but they later reconcile after she apolog...

• Neil Hendry → Anne Gregor (Professional Teacher And Student) — Neil helps Anne speak up despite her fear about her reputation and scholarship prospects.

  Anne is a Harrison High student, and Neil brings her to Donlan's office so she can tell the truth about Buddy and Griff's fight.

• Neil Hendry → Principal Donlan (Professional Colleagues) — Their professional relationship is strained by disagreement over Neil's involvement with students.

  Donlan is Harrison High's principal, and Neil teaches there. Donlan warns Neil not to involve himself in students' personal problems and later suspend...

• Neil Hendry → Griff Rimer (Professional Teacher And Student) — Neil's concern for Griff culminates in his comforting him and agreeing to testify on his behalf.

  Griff is one of Neil's students, and Neil later finds him wounded after the fight with Patcher at school.

• Neil Hendry → Buddy McCalla (Professional Teacher And Student) — Neil supports Buddy academically and athletically.

  Neil keeps Buddy after school to tutor him in history and later helps him with football.

• Neil Hendry → Joanne Dietrich (Romantic Interest) — They develop personal trust and share an emotionally intimate conversation.

  Neil invites Joanne to join him and Eric at a football game, and later confides in her about the accident that killed Eric's parents.

Story Dynamics

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

• Patcher → Chris (Alliance Robbery Partners) — They work together in the robbery, which fails when the alarm sounds.

  During the robbery, Chris knocks out the watchman while Patcher disables the alarm; Patcher's mistake sets it off.

• Griff Rimer → Chris (Alliance Criminal Associates) — Chris's criminal connection draws Griff toward the planned robbery.

  Chris warns Griff at the market to stop stealing cigarettes, and Griff later asks Chris to include him in the next robbery.

• Griff Rimer → Patcher (Alliance Criminal Associates) — Griff briefly seeks involvement in Patcher's criminal activity, but their association turns violent.

  Griff finds Patcher collecting robbery money at Chris's apartment and asks to join the next job. Patcher later confronts Griff with a switchblade at H...

• Buddy McCalla → Griff Rimer (Conflict Antagonists) — Their conflict escalates into a school fight that threatens Buddy with expulsion.

  After Griff calls Anne dirty, Buddy attacks him, and the boys fight at school.

• Buddy McCalla → Anne Gregor (Social Supportive Classmates) — Anne offers Buddy academic support, and later agrees to tell the truth about the fight.

  At the dance, Buddy confides his difficulties with English, and Anne offers to help him.

• Neil Hendry → Frances McCalla (Social School Contact) — Frances turns to Neil as a trusted adult connected to Buddy's school.

  After Buddy disappears, Frances goes to Neil for help finding her son.

Story Analysis

A new teacher's commitment to troubled students is tested by their family crises, risky choices, and a violent school confrontation.

Plot Progression

1. A Teacher Takes Responsibility — Neil begins teaching at Harrison High and meets students whose personal difficulties complicate his strict professional boundaries. At home, he struggles to care for Eric while carrying guilt over the...
2. Trust and Temptation — Neil supports Buddy's academic and athletic ambitions and pushes for a school dance open to everyone. Griff earns respect by confronting Patcher, while Joanne warns Neil about the risks of getting too...
3. Choices Turn Dangerous — Griff's attempt to change falters after his encounter with Anne, and he becomes involved in Chris and Patcher's planned robbery. The robbery fails, while Buddy's discovery about Frances drives him to...
4. Truth Under Pressure — Buddy's distress leads to a fight with Griff, and Donlan suspends Neil under pressure from Mr. Rimer. Joanne helps Anne find the courage to speak, while Buddy and Frances reconcile.
5. The Schoolhouse Showdown — Griff tells Donlan the truth, but Patcher brings a switchblade to the school and attacks him. Neil raises the alarm, police apprehend Patcher, and Neil and Donlan support Griff, who receives probation...