Character Relationship Map: Monkey Business

Characters

• Barnaby Fulton (played by Cary Grant) — protagonist

  An absent-minded research chemist who accidentally ingests a rejuvenating serum, causing him to act like a twenty-year-old. He dates his boss's secretary, accidentally re-doses himself, and ultimately...

• Edwina Fulton (played by Ginger Rogers) — protagonist

  Barnaby's wife who drinks the rejuvenating serum and becomes a prankish schoolgirl. She impulsively calls her old flame, accidentally re-doses herself, and initially mistakes a babysitter's infant for...

• Oliver Oxley (played by Charles Coburn) — supporting

  The commercially minded boss of the chemical company who commissions the youth elixir. He attempts to purchase the formula from a rejuvenated Barnaby, accidentally drinks the contaminated water, rever...

• Lois Laurel (played by Marilyn Monroe) — supporting

  Oliver's secretary who accompanies a rejuvenated Barnaby Fulton out on the town during his youthful spree.

• Hank Entwhistle (played by Hugh Marlowe) — supporting

  Edwina's old flame and family lawyer who receives an impulsive phone call from her after she drinks the rejuvenating serum.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Oliver Oxley → Lois Laurel (Professional Employer And Secretary) — Lois works as Oxly's secretary; the plot also identifies her as Barnaby's companion during his youthful outing.

  Lois Laurel is identified as Oliver Oxly's secretary.

• Edwina Fulton → Hank Entwhistle (Former Romantic Interest) — Edwina's serum-induced call to her former flame leads her mother to mistakenly suspect that Edwina wants a divorce.

  The plot describes Hank as Edwina's old flame and says that, under the serum's influence, she makes an impetuous phone call to him.

• Barnaby Fulton → Oliver Oxley (Professional Employee And Boss) — Oxly presses Barnaby to produce a commercially valuable youth formula, then negotiates for it and offers him a new contract.

  Barnaby is a research chemist for the Oxly chemical company, and Oliver Oxly is described as his commercially minded boss. Oxly tries to buy Barnaby's...

• Barnaby Fulton → Edwina Fulton (Family Husband And Wife) — The serum temporarily disrupts their domestic life, but the experience ultimately renews their affection and marriage.

  The plot identifies Edwina as Barnaby's wife. After their accidental re-exposure to the serum and the resulting confusion, they prepare for an evening...

Story Dynamics

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

• Barnaby Fulton → Lois Laurel (Social Companion During Youthful Spree) — Lois accompanies Barnaby during his serum-induced youthful outing; the plot does not establish a romantic relationship.

  While acting like a 20-year-old after taking the serum, Barnaby spends the day out on the town with Oliver's secretary, Lois Laurel.

Story Analysis

An accidental youth serum turns ordinary domestic and workplace pressures into comic chaos before Barnaby and Edwina renew their marriage.

Plot Progression

1. The Accidental Elixir — Barnaby pursues a youth formula under Oxly's commercial pressure. Unseen contamination of the water cooler combines with Barnaby's experiment and makes him act young.
2. Youthful Misunderstandings — Barnaby goes out with Lois, while Edwina takes the serum and behaves like a schoolgirl. Her impulsive call to Hank is misread as a sign that she wants to leave her marriage.
3. The Contaminated Return — Barnaby and Edwina return to the laboratory intending to destroy the formula, but drink it again in coffee made with cooler water. Oxly tries to buy the formula while Barnaby is affected.
4. The Infant Confusion — Edwina mistakes an infant in her care for Barnaby transformed by an overdose and joins Oxly in seeking an antidote. The contaminated cooler also causes Oxly and scientists to regress, while Barnaby ma...
5. A Renewed Marriage — Edwina discovers that the infant is not Barnaby. At home, Oxly offers Barnaby a new contract as the couple prepare to spend an evening together with their marriage renewed.