Clay is a 20-year-old African-American man riding a New York City subway train. Dressed in a three-button suit and striped tie, he projects a polite, educated demeanor and describes himself as a "great would-be poet." Beneath his carefully constructed exterior, he harbors a deep frustration regarding the societal expectations placed upon him as a Black man.

Lula is a 30-year-old white woman who approaches Clay on the subway. She eats apples continuously and exhibits a highly erratic, dramatic personality with rapid mood swings. She alternates between intense flirtation and making pointed, presumptuous remarks about Clay's background, openly questioning his clothing choices and racial identity.

A diverse group of white and black subway passengers sharing the train car with Clay and Lula. They act as a collective background presence on the sweltering New York transit system. The group readily laughs at public spectacles and conforms to the dominant social currents within the train car.

An intoxicated passenger riding in the same subway car as Clay and Lula. He injects himself into Lula's public antics, joining her in a loud dance routine that escalates the tension within the confined space of the train.

An African-American passenger who boards the train later in the ride. He carries books, signaling an educated background similar to the profile Lula initially associates with Clay.

An African-American worker employed on the New York City subway line. He performs his duties with a casual, working-class demeanor, briefly interacting with passengers as he moves through the aisles.