Chance is a 29-year-old aspiring actor and sex worker who returns to his Gulf Coast hometown of St. Cloud, Florida. Driven by an intense fear of his fading youth and receding hairline, he relies on his looks and charm to navigate wealthy social circles. He aims to secure a movie contract by leveraging his current relationship with an aging actress, hoping to finally win back his childhood sweetheart.

Alexandra is a wealthy, aging movie star fleeing Hollywood after what she believes is a disastrous comeback premiere. She travels under an elaborate alias, relying on younger male escorts, hash, and vodka to forget her intense anxieties about growing older. She uses her wealth to demand companionship and maintain a facade of control, though she frequently suffers from drug-induced memory loss.

Heavenly is a young woman in her mid-twenties who serves as the idealized objective for Chance Wayne's return to St. Cloud. Once ambitious and deeply in love with Chance, she now feels emotionally hollow following a traumatizing medical procedure arranged by her powerful family. She is treated as a political prop by her father, who demands she model absolute purity for his segregationist rallies.

Boss Finley is a fiercely conservative political boss who commands St. Cloud through intimidation and wealth. He obsesses over maintaining an image of racial and sexual purity to support his platform, using his own daughter as a living prop. He ruthlessly controls his family and leverages local authorities to silence any perceived threats to his power.

Tom is Boss Finley's volatile, eager-to-please son. Lacking academic ability or natural talent, he compensates by running aggressive local youth clubs and acting as his father's violent enforcer. He harbors deep resentment toward Chance and actively seeks out opportunities to physically intimidate him.

Miss Lucy is Boss Finley's aging mistress, living permanently in a luxury suite at the Royal Palms Hotel. Frustrated by her stagnant relationship and aware of her own fading youth, she finds petty ways to publicly humiliate Boss Finley while observing the town's unfolding dramas with cynical amusement.

George Scudder is the medical director at the local hospital and a compliant member of the local elite. He uses his medical credentials to assist Boss Finley in maintaining the family's public image, earning a prominent place in the politician's inner circle and an engagement to Heavenly in the process.

Aunt Nonnie is the sister-in-law to Boss Finley and a compassionate aunt to Heavenly and Tom Junior. She fondly remembers chaperoning Chance and Heavenly during their youthful theater days but now fears the violence that Chance's return might provoke.

The Heckler is a local resident determined to expose Boss Finley's political hypocrisy. Despite the physical danger posed by Boss Finley's violent supporters, he attends the rally to loudly question the politician's exploitation of his own daughter.

Bud is one of Chance Wayne's former peers from St. Cloud. He shares the conservative prejudices of the town's elite and treats Chance with cold, standoffish disdain upon his return.

Scotty is another member of the St. Cloud local elite who grew up with Chance. He takes pride in his local stability and is openly dismissive of Chance's fabricated tales of Hollywood success.

Dan Hatcher is the assistant manager at the Royal Palms Hotel. He discreetly coordinates with Boss Finley and Tom Junior to monitor and pressure unwanted guests to leave the establishment.

Fly is a Black member of the Royal Palms Hotel staff who assists Chance on Easter morning. Later, he searches for Chance on behalf of the hotel's tense management.

Stuff is the bartender at the Royal Palms Hotel, wearing a uniform that Chance originally designed during his own time as an employee. He quietly observes the town's unfolding dramas from behind the counter.

Edna is one of Chance Wayne's former peers who ignores him when he attempts to entertain their group with a song.

Violet is another of Chance's former friends from St. Cloud who participates in the collective rejection of his return to their social circles.

Charles is a servant in Boss Finley's household who manages errands for the volatile politician.