The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):
'BOBBY DUNCAN: 12 years old (well nearly). A likeable lad and usually well adjusted to the disappointments he's had on his previous birthdays, but this time he decides it's once too often and he runs away, only to regret it as soon as he does, running away isn't all that it's cooked up to be.
'BILL DUNCAN: 30 years old. Bobby's father, a hard working man with a stubborn streak, like a lot of parents, he can't understand why Bobby doesn't understand that disappointments are part of growing up. The trouble is, Bill's forgotten what it was like to be a boy.
'LOUISE DUNCAN: 29 years old. Bobby's mother. Like her husband, hard working, unlike her husband she does understand what it's like to be Bobby's age, but she also understands the problems her husband faces, so she finds herself caught between the two.
'JOHN PRITCHARD: 11 years old (11½ really). Like Bobby, likeable. He's used to disappointments and doesn't expect things to change. He's always talking about running away, but would never do it on his own. Allows himself to be led by Bobby in most things. He also finds out that running away isn't all that it's cooked up to be.'
