Brian (Bri)

Brian (Bri) is a thirty-three-year-old schoolteacher residing in Bristol, England. Renowned for his wit, Bri employs comedy, mimicry, and jest as a refuge from the stark realities of raising a child with spasticity. He shares a deep love for his wife, Sheila, and their daughter, Joe, yet feels trapped by circumstances, including an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent medical malpractice, which have thrust him into a challenging predicament. Bri is prone to mood swings and spontaneous emotions, feeling a profound jealousy towards Joe for monopolizing Sheila's attention. An aspiring painter who has lost his artistic inspiration, he turns to alcohol for solace, finding little satisfaction in his teaching profession. To Bri, God is whimsically imagined as a manic-depressive rugby player. Deeply cynical, he shuns any false optimism regarding Joe’s health. Despite orchestrating the elaborate farce he and Sheila use to cope with life with Joe, he is tormented by the question of why Joe must endure her condition, ultimately leading him to consider euthanasia.

Sheila

Sheila, at thirty-five, is Bri’s devoted wife. She is a nurturing and industrious woman, tending not only to Bri and Joe but also to a small collection of pets and plants. Years of hard work and unmet maternal aspirations have left her weary and somewhat devoid of humor. Sheila is introspective, placing significant faith in psychology and the subconscious's influence on behavior. She carries a profound burden of guilt over Joe’s state, attributing it to her past promiscuity and resulting fear of motherhood, which she believes might have impeded Joe’s healthy development. Although Sheila has limited tolerance for Bri’s self-indulgence, she participates in his humorous antics as a means of coping with their shared sorrow. Despite this, she harbors resentment towards Bri's cynicism and clings to her hopes, nurturing dreams of witnessing a miraculous transformation in Joe.

Josephine (Joe)

Josephine (Joe) is a ten-year-old girl, living with severe physical challenges. Although she appears physically normal, Joe is afflicted with spasticity, epilepsy, and multiple disabilities, rendering her almost entirely incapable of voluntary expression or activity. Her stiff limbs necessitate support, and she is highly susceptible to illnesses and seizures, requiring meticulous and continuous care. Her daily life includes attending a school for children with similar conditions, while her moments of engagement are confined to vacant gazes and faint vocalizations.

Freddie Underwood

Freddie Underwood, a friend from Bri’s college days, has become a prosperous industrialist, a dedicated socialist, and an amateur theater director. Despite seeming older than his thirty-three years, Freddie is hearty, likable, and eager to assist Sheila and Bri. As a cautious rationalist, he values law and order and views Bri’s and Sheila’s role-play with Joe as unhealthy and potentially harmful. He engages in theoretical debates with Bri, advocating against the notion of euthanasia.

Pamela Underwood

Pamela Underwood, Freddie’s wife, is a woman of fashion and decorum, preoccupied with maintaining appearances. She is repulsed by anything "N.P.A." (not physically attractive), showing no compassion for Joe, whom she dismissively labels the "weirdie." Characterized by her irritability and impatience, Pamela cannot comprehend Freddie’s inclination to support Bri and Sheila. Fundamentally self-centered, she is absorbed in her role as a devoted mother and takes pride in her husband and their three attractive children.

Grace

Grace, the sixty-five-year-old widowed mother of Bri, is a meticulous suburbanite who finds comfort in routine and minor pleasures. While she typically maintains a cheerful demeanor, she is also prone to periods of melancholy and self-pity, much like her son. Proud of her sacrifices for her family, she considers Sheila lacking in her roles as both wife to Bri and mother to Joe.