The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):
'CONSTABLE DAVE SMYTH Early 20's, big, burly and tough-looking. He worked briefly on the wharves before joining the police force. As the story opens, he has just completed initial training and he is still full of enthusiasm and idealism for the job. He is soon in trouble because of his family background and his hot temper.
'WILL SMYTH Dave's father. A wharfie and militant unionist who believes his son has become "a lackey of the capitalist classes" by joining the police. Through his son's activities, he loses the friendship of his mates. But, when it comes to the crunch, blood proves thicker than mates or credos.
'ALF GALLAGHER Will Smyth's mate. An ageing wharfie who finds solace for his loneliness in drink and in reminding all and sundry of his great days when he worked as rigger building the Sydney Harbour Bridge - high up, earning big money. He has invented this past and now almost believes in it himself.
'JOHNNY HART Aged 30-35, a hard man with convictions for burglary. No friend of the police, and a cold man with more than a streak of cruelty. Car driver.
'PAT GALLAGHER Alf's son, aged 25-30. Not very bright and easily led astray by Johnny Hart.
'JOE SWITHIN Aged 40-50, bespectacled garage proprietor and fence. Very professional in both occupations. He dobs Johnny into the police to save money on a business transaction with Johnny.
'ANITA Young gold-digger who keeps Joe Swithin happy. Attractive in an obvious way.
'CAROL HENNESSEY Dwyer's fiancée. A nurse, good-natured but nobody's fool.
[Note: The accent in 'fiancee' has been added in black ink.]
'JANE WILTSHIRE About Carol's age, also a nurse, but with a rich father who gives her all she wants. She wants Constable Dave Smyth.
'TINY Aged 40-50, very tall wharfie. A decent bloke.
'BOB Wharfie - Tiny's mate.
'OLD MAN Aged 65-80. He witnessed a robbery and shivers in the cold.
'YOUNG MAN About Dave Smyth's age. Well-spoken, he sees a drunk in danger of falling from a high building and runs to Dave Smyth for help.
'MICK PETERS' GIRLFRIEND Decorative.
'BARMAN
'CUSTOMS OFFICER
'TWO WHARFIES
'ONE WHARFIE
'FORK LIFT DRIVER'.
