1969

A bright yet conflicted college student who flunks out and faces the pull of conformance versus escape. He hides sarcasm behind a laid-back exterior, and his choices reveal a deeper restlessness with the era's pressures. Ralph's arc includes a jail stint after attempting to steal draft files and a complicated relationship with his friends and sister.

Impulsive and eager to break free from draft pressure, Scott seeks adventure on the road and is quick to romanticize escape. He invites Beth to travel with him and pushes for a border-crossing plan that tests his loyalty. His actions reveal both charm and recklessness in a turbulent era.

Ralph's sister who becomes involved with Scott, seeking connection and autonomy during a time of upheaval. She navigates her own desires while remaining part of a family under strain. Her choices influence the group’s dynamics and the path they decide to take.

Scott's older brother, training the role of duty as he ships off to Vietnam. His absence looms large in the family, and his fate becomes a catalyst for the story's emotional turning points. Alden embodies the real cost of war and the fragility of plans.

The family patriarch who tries to keep order amid confusion and conflict. He navigates the tension between traditional expectations and the changing values of his kids. His reactions anchor the family’s stability during a summer of upheaval.

Beth and Ralph's mother, balancing concern for her children with the evolving social climate around them. She supports the family while wrestling with how to guide a generation through protest and personal choice. Her perspective adds a maternal lens to the unfolding events.

The mother who carries the weight of her children’s futures and the family’s reputation. She embodies a practical, protective stance that clashes with the teens’ longing for freedom. Jessie acts as a stabilizing voice amid the chaos of a town at war with itself.