The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):
'WILLIAM HARRIS A widower who has never recovered from the death of his wife. Became neurotic after she died. Gave up work - declaring it was too much of a strain. Is probably trying to keep the past alive. Insists on retaining all the ageing furniture that he and his wife owned..even [sic] though there is not sufficient space in the smaller house he now occupies. He has become completely self-centred.. e.g. [sic] wants his daughter, Sheila, to devote her entire lift [sic] to his needs.
'He has a persecution complex - arising from his self-absorption. Hates Fred Jenkins - the man who tried to take his daughter away. When he tries to burn Jenkins' house down, he sees it as a right and proper act of punishment.
'SHEILA HARRIS Has a full sense of responsibility towards her father; but finds him too demanding, too much of a strain. When she is living with him, she has practically no life of her own. She is perpetually harrassed..worn..sees every day as a burden. [sic]
'Fred Jenkins is not really her type; but - understandably - she accepted his invitation to live with him. He was easy-going, amusing - a man without grievances... However, her father made such a fuss that she left Jenkins.. on [sic] the understanding that she would return after persuading her father to go into a home...
'FRED JENKINS Was not very serious about Sheila. To him it was just one more affair. Obtained a replacement almost as soon as she had gone.
'He is a natural con man. An Australian with not a great deal of education, but a flare for words and phrases. He is good-natured and humorous..likes [sic] the sound of his own quips, but doesn't laugh at them and rarely looks for applause.
'He is a man without malice - even when provoked. On the other hand, he has no depth of sympathy for anyone. The opening scene - where he makes fun of Harris - is an example of his indifference to people's feelings. Later he refuses to 'put Harris in' as the man who tried to burn his home; but even this reflects a somewhat irresponsible attitude; because, at this point, Harris must be classed as a danger to the public.
'RHONDA Takes over from Sheila - and is more typical of the type of woman Jenkins installs as 'temporary de facto'. She has a bright personality, sex appeal, but is not over-intelligent. Feels malice towards her predecessor - Sheila.
'JACK BEAUMONT A laconic type. Doesn't talk much. A natural foil for Jenkins. There is an easy affinity between them.
'GREG STOVER & BERT WALES Two tough young laborer types. They are bad youths; but good mates. Team well together. Wales is the brighter of the two and tends to be the leader.
'YOUTH An average young man. Normally quite unaggressive; but is exasperated when Harris accuses him of behaving like a lout.'
