Grandma is an 86-year-old woman who raised her daughter as a single mother on a farm after being widowed at age 30. Having been relocated to the city by her wealthy daughter, she experiences severe neglect and is forced to live in degrading conditions. Left in a sandbox on the beach, she initially communicates only through animalistic noises before realizing she has an audience, prompting her to articulate her frustrations and reclaim her dignity.

The Young Man is a handsome, 25-year-old actor from Southern California. He spends his time on the beach executing continuous calisthenics, occasionally pausing to smile and wave at the other characters. He lacks a formal name from his studio and displays a surprisingly childlike, eager-to-please demeanor, making him the only person willing to offer Grandma warmth and basic human respect.

Mommy is a 55-year-old woman who orchestrates the family's bizarre trip to the beach. She concerns herself entirely with appearances, ceremony, and maintaining total control over her environment, often telling others what to do and how to feel. She treats her elderly mother with callous disregard, treating her like a burden while staging a rigid, emotionless mourning ritual.

Daddy is a 60-year-old wealthy man who acts as a passive follower to his domineering wife. Having provided financial security for the household, he has relinquished all decision-making power and frequently whines about minor physical discomforts. He relies entirely on Mommy for direction and emotional soothing, refusing to take any responsibility for Grandma's care.

The Musician is a hired outsider brought to the beach to provide a prescribed emotional soundtrack for the family's gathering. Operating solely on the contradictory instructions of the squabbling family members, the Musician plays intermittently, supplying a manufactured sentimentality to the otherwise cold environment.