A Black man in his late thirties, Lincoln is the older brother who currently works as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator at an arcade. Once a highly successful three-card monte hustler, he abandoned the illegal trade after the death of a friend and now seeks a safer, legitimate living. Kicked out by his wife, he sleeps in a recliner in his brother Booth's cramped apartment, acting as a cautious, pacifying presence against Booth's volatile energy.

A Black man in his early thirties, Booth is Lincoln's younger brother who deeply desires to replicate his older brother's past success as a street hustler. Lacking Lincoln's natural talent for cards, Booth excels instead at shoplifting, stealing items to project an image of wealth and masculinity. He is highly insecure, fiercely guarding his pride, and intensely focused on proving himself to his girlfriend, Grace.

Booth's girlfriend, who is currently studying to become a cosmetologist. She represents Booth's ultimate prize and his primary motivation for wanting to achieve financial success and masculine dominance. Her shifting devotion causes Booth immense anxiety and fuels his need to project confidence through stolen luxury items.

Lincoln's ex-wife who kicked him out of their shared home prior to the events of the play. Her absence heavily influences Lincoln's current living situation, as it forces him to sleep on a recliner in Booth's cramped apartment. Her past interactions with both brothers remain an unspoken point of tension in their shared history.

A former friend and crewmate of Lincoln from his days running three-card monte games on the street. Lonny served as the crew's draw for customers until he was violently shot and killed next to Lincoln. His death profoundly changed Lincoln's life trajectory, prompting him to swear off cards completely.

The brothers' mother, who abandoned the family when Booth was eleven and Lincoln was sixteen. Before she left, she gave Booth a $500 inheritance hidden in a stocking and instructed him to look out for his older brother, leaving a lasting impact on how Booth views his familial role.

Lincoln and Booth's father, who named his sons as a dark joke before abandoning them two years after their mother left. He was frequently drunk and openly conducted extramarital affairs, sometimes involving a young Lincoln in his chaotic lifestyle before departing and leaving his older son with a $500 inheritance.

A frequent patron at the arcade who regularly pays to "assassinate" Lincoln using a blank-firing gun. He takes the historical reenactment seriously and often whispers philosophical remarks to Lincoln about identity and performance right before pulling the trigger.