Harry is a 42-year-old husband, father of three, and charter boat captain struggling to survive the economic devastation of the Great Depression. He is a pragmatic man of action who relies on his self-sufficient nature to navigate a world that caters to the wealthy. Though he harbors severe prejudices and projects a harsh, stoic exterior, his primary drive is to protect and provide for his family at all costs.

Marie is Harry’s fiercely loyal wife and the mother of their three daughters. Having previously worked in the sex trade, she is entirely unbothered by societal judgment and remains thoroughly devoted to her husband. She provides the only true emotional sanctuary for Harry, maintaining their home and offering him constant validation, love, and physical intimacy.

Richard is a wealthy tourist and established novelist who considers himself an expert observer of social inequalities. Despite his intellectual posturing, his life is defined by illusion, entitlement, and superficiality. He frequently relies on alcohol to cope with his own insecurities and uses his status to manipulate those around him.

Helen is Richard's wife, a woman trapped in an emotionally barren and deceptive marriage. Disillusioned by her husband's arrogance and infidelity, she seeks an escape from her life of quiet misery. She begins looking toward other men for the genuine connection and stability she lacks at home.

Albert is a poor Key West local, known as a Conch, who struggles to feed his family on meager government relief wages. He frequently escapes his sense of inadequacy by spending time and money at the local bar. Despite his financial desperation, he maintains a rigid moral compass that complicates his involvement in illicit jobs.

Eddy is a perpetually intoxicated Key West local who works sporadically as Harry's deckhand. He relies entirely on rum to avoid the harsh reality of his extreme poverty. Unreliable and easily swayed by those around him, he depends heavily on Harry for small cash handouts and basic survival.

Mr. Johnson is a wealthy, privileged tourist who hires Harry for an extended fishing trip. Incompetent at fishing but highly entitled, he represents the careless upper class who exploit the working poor without regard for the financial ruin they leave behind.

Mr. Sing is a wealthy Chinese middle-man who profits handsomely from illicit smuggling operations. He views human life strictly as a commodity, demonstrating a ruthless business mindset that forces locals into incredibly dangerous legal situations.

Wesley is a deckhand who works alongside Harry during illicit cargo runs across the Gulf Stream. He lacks Harry's extreme stoicism, freely vocalizing his pain, fear, and frustration when their dangerous operations go wrong.

MacWalsey is an economics professor taking an extended leave in Florida. Widowed years prior during the 1918 influenza epidemic, he is a quiet, observant man who offers a steady, genuine contrast to the arrogant men in the local tourist circles.

Freddy owns the local bar that serves as a central social hub for both impoverished Conchs and wealthy vacationers. He carefully balances his loyalties, trying to help his struggling friends while catering to the rich patrons who keep his business afloat.

Bee-lips is a young local lawyer deeply involved in Key West's criminal underworld. He acts as a smooth-talking liaison between desperate local boat captains and foreign militants looking to secure transportation.

Willie is a fellow charter boat captain operating in Key West. He shares a quiet, unspoken solidarity with the other struggling locals and actively works to protect them from upper-class interference and government scrutiny.

Helene is a local millionaire married to Tommy Bradley. Operating with a sense of untouchable wealth, she frequently engages in affairs with various men in town, embodying the decadent, unrestrained lifestyle of the wealthy elite.

Henry is a Harvard graduate wholly reliant on a trust fund. When bad bank investments threaten to significantly reduce his financial security, he proves entirely unequipped to handle the potential loss of his privileged status and contemplates drastic measures.

Wallace is a wealthy, unmarried composer who owns one of the luxurious yachts anchored in the marina. He harbors a deep disdain for many of his fellow elites, viewing their chaotic marital arrangements with contempt.

Roberto is a large, aggressive Cuban militant heavily involved in financing a revolution. He shows absolutely no hesitation in using lethal force to secure his group's escape and protect their stolen funds.

Emilio is a young, polite Cuban militant dedicated to financing a revolution in his home country. He speaks idealistically about freeing his nation from tyranny, ignoring the violent criminality his group relies on to achieve those goals.