Asian Girl

The enigmatic Asian Girl emerges as a haunting apparition from David's past in Vietnam, perhaps existing between life and death. Only David perceives her ethereal presence when she first glides into the household. By the close of Act I, she becomes visible and tangible to him, a touch anchoring her to his side. Her significance eclipses that of his family, as David clings to her desperately. She embodies a source of turmoil for Ozzie, Harriet, and even Rick, representing a reality they cannot accept. In Act II, her presence becomes undeniable to the others, and in a climactic moment, Ozzie strangles her, concealing her lifeless form. With her departure, the family collectively exhales, relieved of the burden she symbolized.

David

David stands at the play's core, the eldest son of Ozzie and Harriet, brother to Rick. He returns home from the ravages of Vietnam, bearing the scars of blindness and psychological trauma from the horrors he witnessed and endured. Despite their wishes for normalcy, his family remains oblivious to his torment and his yearning for Zung, the Vietnamese girl he left behind. As the play unfolds, David encounters the spectral embodiment of this woman, challenging his fragile existence with his family. Their superficial facade crumbles under the weight of his disability and anguish. The family's discomfort with his reality escalates, leading to a grim suggestion from Rick—that David should end his life. The implication of his suicide, with their complicity, hangs heavily in the air.

Father Donald

Father Donald serves as the spiritual beacon for the family, though Harriet clings to his guidance most fervently. Summoned by Harriet, he tries to reach out to David regarding his connection to the Asian Girl. Yet, David repels the priest's attempts with violent resistance, wielding his cane as a weapon to drive Father Donald from their midst. After the confrontation, Father Donald becomes unreachable to Harriet, severing their spiritual link.

Harriet

Harriet, the archetypal suburban mother, devotes her life to tending to her household's needs and nurturing her husband and children. Her steadfast reliance on Father Donald's counsel falters when David returns from Vietnam, irrevocably altered. Struggling to comprehend his rejection of their home, Harriet's attempts to connect with him end in frustration as she demands he conform to the family's expectations. Her disdain for his relationship with the Asian Girl is palpable, expressed through harsh racial slurs. While Ozzie's disturbing behavior unnerves her, Harriet finds solace in her routine, ensuring Rick's perpetual supply of treats. Ultimately, she stands behind Rick's chilling proposal for David's death, aiding in the act by providing practical support to keep her home pristine.

Ozzie

As the patriarch, Ozzie grapples with the disquiet David's return instills within him, a reminder of his own wartime memories and lost youth. Sharing Harriet's prejudice against the Vietnamese woman, Ozzie is bewildered by his son's ordeal and emotions. Though he yearns for the illusion of a harmonious family life, his inner turmoil frequently erupts in unsettling ways. David's ongoing presence magnifies his frustration, leading to bizarre behavior, such as reporting his own family to the police under false pretenses. The crescendo of his agitation culminates in the strangulation of the Asian Girl's apparition, after which he aligns with Rick's fatal plan for David.

Rick

Rick, the younger brother, navigates life with self-absorbed ease, largely indifferent to his brother's struggles. His youthful charm belies a self-centered nature. With guitar in hand and a penchant for photography, Rick captures moments with an unsettling knack for ill-timing. He demands constant attention and nourishment from his mother, seemingly oblivious to the family's deeper strife. As the play reaches a crescendo, Rick's egotism peaks when he physically assaults David, then persuades him towards suicide. He provides David with a razor, actively urging him to carry out the tragic deed.

Zung

See Asian Girl