The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection includes the following character notes:
'CHARLIE WILSON: 50's. Farmer and a close personal friend of Kennedy's. They have known each other since the war. (They both saw action at Tobruk) Wilson is a widower, his wife died not long after their son was drowned in a quarry on their property. Wilson has always held himself responsible for his son's death and the prospect of the quarry being opened up again, has engendered a crisis he is unable to cope with. He is morally a well adjusted, respected member of the community, and his actions towards Hughes in the early part of the story come as a surprise to all who know him.
'A quiet almost introspective person; there should be no hint of malice in his personality. What he does, he is driven to do, by the guilt he feels concerning the death of his son.
'HUGHES: About 30 to 35. He works for the Egil Oil Company and is in charge of draining the quarry on Wilson's land. He is physically tough but would never resort to violence, when he is faced with a difficult situation would use shadey [sic] legal methods to "Solve" [sic] the problem. He is amoral in his dealings with people and is therefore thoroughly dislikeable. (Should drive).
'NELL KENNEDY: Stock character.
'JAMIE WILSON: Wilson's son aged about seven or eight when he died. (one [sic] flashback film scene, no dialogue)
'ELSE WILSON: Charlie's wife also shown in two flashback scenes. (few lines). [sic]
'CONSTABLE A: Few lines.
'CONSTABLE B: Few lines.
'CONSTABLE C: No lines. Must be able to perform a fall down an embankment. Suggests casting a stuntman/actor for this role.'
