Tom is a 33-year-old World War II paratrooper living in Westport, Connecticut. He works at a charitable foundation but feels pressured to earn more money to support his growing family. Beneath his conventional, middle-class exterior, he struggles with repressed traumatic memories from combat and hides a secret wartime affair.

Betsy is a young suburban housewife who manages the Rath household on a tight budget. She increasingly resents their small, flawed house, viewing it as a physical representation of their thwarted hopes. She actively encourages Tom to pursue a more lucrative corporate career and advocates for direct, honest communication.

Hopkins is the highly successful, wealthy senior executive at the United Broadcasting Company. He is famous for his relentless work ethic, managing countless projects alongside a massive mental health campaign. His dedication to his career comes at the direct expense of his personal life and family connections.

Gardella is a working-class elevator operator who served alongside Tom in World War II. He acts as a living reminder of Tom's darkest secrets, having witnessed the harsh realities of Tom's combat experiences and knowing details about his time in Italy.

Florence is Tom's 93-year-old grandmother. She lives in a massive, expensive-to-maintain family estate that slowly drains her remaining wealth. She clings to the genteel, aristocratic pretensions of the past and stubbornly refuses to sell her home.

Helen is the estranged wife of Ralph Hopkins. She lives in isolated luxury while her husband maintains an apartment in New York City to focus on his work. Her grand home serves as a physical reminder of the emotional sacrifices made for corporate success.

Susan is the teenage daughter of Ralph and Helen Hopkins. She rejects her father's intense corporate values and claims to have no interest in making money, preferring to focus on parties and socializing.

Edward is the longtime butler employed by Florence Rath. Following her declining health, he adopts a hostile, uncooperative attitude toward Tom, asserting his own right to the estate.

Ogden is a corporate executive at the United Broadcasting Company directly under Ralph Hopkins. He manages Tom's day-to-day tasks and delivers blunt, critical feedback on his work.

Maria is an Italian woman who lived in a bombed tenement building in Rome during World War II. She and Tom shared a passionate, temporary romance before he was deployed to the Pacific theater.

Hank was Tom's closest friend during the war. They survived harrowing ambushes together, donning enemy uniforms to escape, before a tragic accident occurred during a later battle.

Saul Bernstein is a probate judge tasked with handling the execution of Florence Rath's will. He is highly pragmatic and worries about the logistical and community disputes surrounding the valuable property.

Sims is the lawyer handling Florence Rath's estate. He is an old family acquaintance who fought alongside Tom's father in World War I and provides Tom with unvarnished truths about the family's financial history.

Dick is Tom's boss at the charitable organization. He values Tom's work and tries to offer small raises to retain him, though he cannot compete with corporate salaries.

Walker is a human resources executive at the United Broadcasting Company. He administers psychological and biographical tests to applicants, evaluating their conformity to corporate standards.

Bill is an acquaintance of Tom's who provides the initial tip about the lucrative public relations opening at the United Broadcasting Company.

Antonio is a local real estate developer who sees immense profit potential in dividing up the large Rath estate. He represents the encroaching wave of post-war suburbanization.