Sammy is a 38-year-old working-class man living in Glasgow who experiences sudden, total sight loss following a violent altercation with the police. Deeply cynical about authority figures and bureaucratic systems, he prefers to handle his challenges independently. He uses a makeshift walking stick crafted from a severed mop head to make his way through the city, often masking his immense vulnerability with profanity and aggression.

Helen is Sammy's girlfriend, a bartender at Quinn's bar who goes missing following a serious argument about Sammy's criminal past. She is a divorced mother who lost custody of her own children. Her prolonged, unexplained absence creates a profound sense of instability for Sammy, as she represents his primary source of tenderness and companionship.

Ally is a defense lawyer and former convict who specializes in representing working-class individuals against the state. He understands the legal system from the inside out and speaks the same Glaswegian dialect as his clients. He attempts to help Sammy secure compensation for his sight loss by organizing evidence, though his persistent approach clashes violently with Sammy's paranoia.

Peter is Sammy's 15-year-old son from a previous marriage. He displays a deep loyalty to his father despite Sammy's criminal history and chaotic lifestyle. Reversing traditional family dynamics, Peter offers his own personal savings to assist his father and expresses a desire to run away with him.

Boab is Sammy's next-door neighbor in their apartment building. He casually obliges Sammy's requests for tools and materials, providing a saw and helping him dig through cupboards to locate white gloss paint so Sammy can create his makeshift walking stick.

Keith is a school friend of Peter who assists in taking photographs of Sammy's injuries for what he believes is an insurance claim. He willingly participates in Sammy's secretive plans, bringing youthful energy to a tense situation.

Charlie is a friend of Sammy who is suspected by the authorities of being a violent political dissident and Scottish nationalist. The police use his association with Sammy as leverage during their questioning.

Davie is a man detained in the same police cell as Sammy. Because of the intense pressure from the authorities, Sammy views him with deep suspicion and worries he might be an undercover informant placed there to extract a confession.

Tam is an acquaintance of Sammy from the local drinking circuit. He holds intense resentment toward Sammy because the police recently entered his home and interrogated his wife as part of their investigation into Sammy's activities.

Alex is a drinking partner who buys Sammy a pint at the pub but noticeably avoids delivering it personally. This avoidance fuels Sammy's feelings of alienation and demonstrates how the community is distancing itself from him.

Herbie is a drinking buddy who interacts directly with Sammy when he visits the local pub following his sight loss, offering a small moment of normal socialization.

Jackie is a figure from Sammy's past who involved him in an illegal gambling operation. This association ultimately resulted in Sammy serving an eleven-year prison sentence.

The Leg is an old drinking buddy from Sammy's past. When Sammy contemplates fleeing Glasgow for a fresh start, he considers looking up former acquaintances like The Leg.