Ethan is a grocery store clerk in New Baytown, working at a business his family once owned before his father lost their fortune. Though initially content with his modest life, he faces mounting pressure from his community to reclaim his ancestors' prestigious status. He projects an affable, humorous exterior but privately thinks deeply about morality, society, and his own potential.

Mary is Ethan's devoted wife, a woman who grew up in poverty but seeks greater financial security for her family. She recently inherited money from her late brother, Dennis, and urges Ethan to invest it to improve their social standing. She is content with her role as a homemaker but relies heavily on her husband to manage their public and financial interests.

Danny is a former member of an illustrious local family who was expelled from the Naval Academy and subsequently lost his social standing. He now lives in a shanty, completely dependent on alcohol. He maintains ownership of a valuable parcel of family land but refuses to sell it, holding onto it as the last remnant of his identity.

Margie is a twice-divorced woman who relies on her first husband's alimony to survive in New Baytown. She worries about growing older and losing her appeal, which drives her to secretly date various men in town to secure her financial future. She possesses a mysterious aura, performing tarot card readings and claiming descent from an accused witch.

Alfio Marullo is a Sicilian immigrant who built a lucrative business empire in New Baytown after starting out selling produce from a cart. He owns the grocery store that once belonged to the Hawley family. He possesses sharp business instincts and often criticizes Ethan for being too generous with the customers, though he privately respects his clerk's honesty.

Mr. Baker is the town banker and a prominent figure in the local ruling class. He believes strongly in aggressive capitalism and taking risks to generate wealth. He constantly pressures Ethan to stop accepting his working-class fate and to leverage his family's money to reclaim his historical position in New Baytown.

Allen is Ethan and Mary's 14-year-old son. He actively desires wealth and status, hoping to win money to buy his father an automobile so the family stops facing mockery. He shows little interest in manual labor or helping at the grocery store, preferring to focus on television contests and popular culture.

Ellen is the 13-year-old daughter of Ethan and Mary. She complains about her family's lack of money and occasionally exhibits behavior that her father finds overly dramatic. She has a curious habit of sleepwalking and shows an unconscious attachment to an old Chinese stone kept in the family's heirloom cabinet.

Joey is a bank teller at Mr. Baker's bank and a popular resident of New Baytown. He is well-liked for his sense of humor and serves as a friendly morning companion for Ethan. He frequently discusses the mechanics of banking and casually shares stories about bank robberies with his friend.

Stonewall Jackson Smith is the daytime police officer for New Baytown. He patrols the streets and keeps track of the local residents, often stopping to chat with workers like Ethan about town events and neighborhood safety.

Wee Willie is the night police officer in New Baytown. He is known throughout the community as a notorious gossip who keeps a close eye on anyone wandering the streets after dark, often teasing residents about their late-night activities.