'CHARLES SIMPSON: Data processing businessman. Self-made and proud of it. Very efficient, hard working, honest in his dealings. Happily married but the one big tragedy in his life was the drowning of his five year old daughter, Mandy, five years before the story opens. He's never completely got over it and on her birthdates and the anniversaries of her death tends to take to the drink and become morose. He had a nervous breakdown after the tragedy. A man without enemies and a contemporary of Peters, having known each other since childhood days. DRIVES.
'YVONNE SIMPSON: Charles' attractive wife and also a friend of Peters; but Yvonne is more conscious of her 'position' than Charles, tends to worry about always putting on a good 'front' and is generally more shallow than her husband. But she's a good, faithful wife, pushy, wanting only Charles' success and happiness. There's a bit of a women's libber lying dormant in her and when Charles' [sic] is down in hospital, it surges to the fore and she's instrumental in breaking up the friendship between Peters and Charles. She's never really approved of Peters, though she's willing to use him when necessary. Early 30's.
'BOB HUDSON: Roughneck father of the missing child, Angie. Motor mechanic and could earn a good living at it but likes to drink too much, gamble too much ... and spoil Angie too much, to the point of neglecting Kay, his wife, and his other four children, though he'd be surprised if this was pointed out to him. Not too many brains and about as subtle as a bull-dozer. No use for Police; Takes [sic] the law into his own hands when Angie is missing and is, [sic] completely unrepentent about it. Early 30's.
'KAY HUDSON: Bob's long-suffering wife and mother of Angie. She's a quiet woman who rarely complains, battles on, apparently subjugated by Bob but showing a flash of spirit occasionally which usually surprises him. She does her best, really believing she took Bob 'for better or worse' when she married him. But the silent resentment of his obvious favouritism to Angie builds up over the years, finally bursts loose and ends in tragedy ... She's really a tragic figure, uncomplaining, dowdy. About 30.
'ANGIE HUDSON: 10-year old [sic] daughter of the Hudsons. Normal enough kid, revelling in the gifts her father showers on her and sensing that she's his favourite and that he even cares more for her than Kay.
'DOCTOR: One scene.
'BILL LEWIS: Simpson's business partner. Younger, a bit of a hustler, clean-cut type. Worries that Simpson's disappearance and subsequent bashing could affect 'The Firm'. Mid to late 20's.
'TOMMY: Kid in playground. About 10 or 11. Cheeky-faced, appealing. 3 scenes.
'2 UNIFORMED CONSTABLES'.
