A 44-year-old former sportswriter turned real estate agent living in Haddam, New Jersey. Divorced for seven years, Frank has adopted an attitude of emotional detachment designed to shield him from further pain after the tragic loss of his son Ralph. He is setting out on a Fourth of July road trip with his troubled teenage son, Paul, hoping to rescue the boy from a downward behavioral slide.

Frank and Ann’s 15-year-old son, currently dealing with the chaotic transition into adolescence. He has recently exhibited alarming behavior, including a shoplifting arrest and an altercation with a security guard. Often sarcastic, snide, and emotionally guarded, Paul relies on defense mechanisms to mask the deep emotional pain stemming from his parents' divorce and the death of his brother.

Frank's ex-wife, who has remarried and relocated to the affluent suburb of Deep River, Connecticut. Unlike Frank, Ann appears to have moved forward from their marriage, though she shares his deep concern over their son Paul's troubling behavior. She maintains a firm boundary with Frank, often keeping him at a distance when he attempts to revisit their shared past.

A gruff and pessimistic man from Vermont looking to relocate his family to New Jersey. Hoping to provide a better educational environment for his daughter, Joe finds himself utterly unprepared for the competitive suburban housing market. His constant indecision, underlying prejudice, and frustration make him a challenging client for Frank.

Joe's wife, who shares his dream of moving to New Jersey but handles the stress with more subdued anxiety. The grueling process of viewing dozens of homes while living out of a motel takes a physical and emotional toll on her, making her susceptible to sudden doubts about the move.

Frank’s energetic, staunchly Republican business partner who runs the day-to-day operations of their birch-beer stand. Now in his sixties, Karl is ambitious and stubborn, having previously gotten into financial trouble trying to aggressively expand the business before Frank bailed him out.

Frank's girlfriend, who lives on the Jersey shore and carries her own emotional baggage from a husband who vanished without a trace. She genuinely cares for Frank but remains guarded due to his enigmatic communication style.

Frank and Ann’s surviving daughter, who lives with her mother and stepfather in Connecticut. She shares a brief, playful interaction with her father when he arrives to pick up Paul for the road trip.

Frank and Ann's deceased son, who died years earlier from Reye's syndrome. Though he is no longer alive, his tragic passing remains the defining trauma that fractured his parents' marriage and deeply affected his surviving brother Paul.

Ann's new husband, with whom she lives in Connecticut. Frank harbors intense resentment toward him, viewing him as a symbol of Ann's definitive move away from their shared past.

Frank’s long-lost stepbrother who happens to run into him in Cooperstown. Affable and effusive, Irv has been married twice and carries a strong desire to reconnect and reminisce about their shared childhood.

A young woman working as a chef at the inn where Frank and Paul stay. She is initially guarded but accepts Frank's invitation for a drink, prompting a moment of self-reflection for Frank regarding his priorities as a father.

A retired engineer who is selling his home in Penn’s Neck following the death of his wife. His property borders a white-collar prison, and Frank views him as somewhat untrustworthy in his business dealings.

The patriarch of a mixed-race family renting one of Frank's properties in Haddam. A Vietnam veteran, Larry is often defensive and antagonistic during their interactions regarding rent collection.

Larry's wife, who lives in Frank's rental property. She is visibly put out by Frank's persistent attempts to collect the rent money from their family.

A real estate colleague and former lover of Frank's who was recently murdered. Her sudden, violent death and the town's quick return to normalcy fuel Frank's existential anxieties about the impermanence of life.

Sally's former husband and a man Frank knew in school. He abandoned Sally without a trace, leaving her emotionally suspended between letting go and holding on.

A truck driver Frank encounters at a motel where a violent crime recently took place. He shares the gruesome details of the local murders with Frank during an awkward late-night conversation.

A security guard patrolling the affluent neighborhood where Ann and Charley live. He lightly harasses and interrogates Frank upon his arrival in Connecticut.

A renowned ophthalmologist Ann brings from New York to assess her son's condition. He is confident and highly skilled, though his self-assured style slightly grates on Frank.

An old friend of Frank's from a support group for divorced men. He runs into Frank during his aimless drive around Haddam on the Fourth of July.