Franklin is an eighteen-year-old from an affluent family in Toronto who struggles with severe anxiety and a deep sense of alienation. Highly intelligent but fiercely resentful of the expectations placed upon him by his parents and teachers, he decides to escape into the Canadian wilderness to claim his own autonomy. He regularly uses alcohol, specifically vodka, to cope with his feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to conform to a predetermined path.

Mary is a highly competent and self-sufficient woman living hidden away in the Canadian wilderness. She possesses extensive knowledge of survival craft, navigation, and nature, which she shares in a practical, direct manner. She maintains strict boundaries about her past and her reasons for living in isolation, keeping her personal belongings completely off-limits to others.

Mr. Crabbe is Franklin's father, a successful corporate lawyer who provides his family with a highly affluent lifestyle. He holds politically conservative views and expects his son to follow a conventional path toward financial success. He drinks frequently throughout the day, a habit his son views with deep cynicism as a prime example of adult hypocrisy.

Mrs. Crabbe is the conventional wife of a wealthy corporate lawyer, living a comfortable but emotionally hollow life in Toronto. She is frequently tearful and relies on prescription medication to cope with the daily stress of her household. She struggles to connect with her son, viewing his unhappiness as a personal rejection of the advantages they provide.

Mr. Peters is a twelfth-grade English teacher who refuses to accept the superficial educational standards of his school. He dresses eccentrically and insists that his students think for themselves rather than just regurgitating expected answers. His subversion of the standard curriculum makes him unpopular with other faculty members and suspicious to affluent parents.

Nurse Owens is an older, experienced medical professional working at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. As a mother who has raised several children of her own, she understands the turbulent nature of adolescence. She speaks frankly but compassionately, offering practical guidance on what it means to take responsibility for one's own life.

Dr. Browne is a psychiatrist assigned to evaluate Franklin upon his admission to the hospital. He attempts to uncover the truth about his patient's injuries and experiences but relies on tactics that cause instant friction. He views teenagers as easily manipulated, which directly conflicts with his patient's intense desire for autonomy.

Mr. Grant is a physical education teacher and coach at Franklin's high school. He disciplines students for substance abuse while exhibiting physical signs of long-term alcohol abuse himself, such as broken capillaries on his nose. He represents the systemic hypocrisy that drives students to distrust authority figures.

Mr. Frazier is the high school principal, known to the students as 'The Beet' due to his bald head and ruddy complexion. He lectures students about substance abuse while sporting nicotine-stained fingers. Because he belongs to the same social club as wealthy parents, he frequently lets privileged students off without real consequences.