Car Wash

A determined young employee who pursues a radio contest prize and hopes to win back his estranged girlfriend Mona. He brings optimism and a practical, if sometimes naive, energy to the day as he navigates romance and workplace chaos.

A waitress across the street and T.C.'s girlfriend, caught between loyalty and the allure of a better life. Her relationships illuminate themes of love, longing, and the fragility of connection in a crowded, chaotic day.

The car wash owner who worries about business and margins while juggling a troubled home life. He flirts with Marsha to escape personal pressures, highlighting the tenderness and tension that coexist in his role as boss and father figure.

A middle-aged foreman trying to mentor Abdullah while raising two children and fending off his parole officer. He embodies practical leadership and the stress of balancing family, work, and civic responsibility.

A tall Black revolutionary and recent convert to Islam who brings a radical edge to the crew. He challenges Daddy Rich's preaching and undergoes a tense arc that tests loyalty and the line between reform and crime.

A flamboyant, cross-dressing character who delivers sharp, humorous retorts and defies stereotypes. Lindy’s presence adds drama and wit, challenging others’ expectations about gender and courage.

A Native American staff member known for a distinctive hat and a comic, easygoing vibe. Goody provides light-hearted moments amid the day’s tensions and serves as a cultural counterbalance within the group.

A self-styled superior figure who refuses to get wet, representing a foil to the more egalitarian ethos of the crew. His attitude exposes class-based posturing within the micro-society of the car wash.

A musician who rehearses jazz-blues with Lloyd, aiming for an agent and an audience beyond the car wash. He embodies the dream of artistic success tied to everyday performance.

Floyd’s partner in the jazz-blues duo, a musician with ambitions tied to auditions after shift. Lloyd’s presence adds rhythm to the day and frames the broader theme of pursuing talent within constraints.

A young man resistant to returning to college, doubting that education will change his future. His stance reflects tensions between personal pride and practical routes to advancement.

Justin’s girlfriend who urges him toward education, representing the push-pull between traditional expectations and personal dreams within a couple.

The elderly shoe shine man and a Daddy Rich follower, offering wisdom and a sense of history to the car wash’s diverse crowd.

A scheming, energetic Latino worker whose quick wit and street smarts add tension and humor to the day’s events.

Gas pump operator who worries about social perceptions and his own health. His lighthearted anxieties contribute to the ensemble’s dynamic.

A flamboyant gospel-entertainment quartet performing for Daddy Rich, embodying showmanship and the era’s showbiz culture within the car wash milieu.

A colorful, observational figure who interacts with the day’s events from the street outside the car wash, adding urban texture and humor.