Clapham Junction

A screenwriter who just finished a gay-themed script that is rejected for being 'too gay.' His ambition collides with fear of judgment, driving him through a tense dinner party and encounters that reveal unspoken desires. He obsesses over acceptance and the public gaze, while a chance meeting with Julian hints at a clandestine life.

A 14-year-old schoolboy who privately explores adult sexuality, watching Tim and pursuing contact. He enters Tim’s life with bold curiosity, ultimately seducing him and crossing lines of age and consent. Theo’s precociousness and determination create a startling moral tension that threads through the night.

A 29-year-old man who becomes entangled with Theo after being drawn to his curiosity. He resists at first but is ultimately pulled into an intimate encounter, complicating how consent and boundaries are navigated in a tense, morally ambiguous situation.

A waiter at the civil partnership who becomes involved with Will. Alfie is vulnerable and trusting, but he succumbs to violence after Will’s influence draws him into risky situations, culminating in a brutal assault and his death.

A partner in Gavin’s long-term relationship who pursues sexual encounters outside their union. He meddles in deception, uses cocaine in the pantry, and fabricates stories about a lost ring, testing the boundaries of fidelity and honesty.

Will’s partner, who navigates the fallout of Will’s infidelity. He offers support and tenderness but must confront the fragility of their bond as secrets emerge and trust erodes.

A man Robin encounters in a public space who later appears at a dinner party, triggering tension and memory of earlier clandestine encounters. His presence underscores the film’s themes of hidden lives and the complexity of male sexuality.

Theo’s mother, protective and anxious for her son. She is determined to return home and checks on her child, reacting strongly when she senses something is amiss and confronting the boundaries of parental control.

Roger’s wife, distressed by Alfie’s beating and the night’s upheaval. She embodies a moral voice at the dinner party, advocating compassion and dignity amid the scandal.

Roger’s wife who challenges the idea of forcing sexuality into others’ faces. She provides a sharp social critique during the dinner and observes the room with a discerning eye.

Host of the dinner party, unhappy in his marriage and contemplating his own options. He navigates a night of conflicting desires with a blend of charm and self-interest.

A young man whose presence at a club and in the park triggers the film’s exploration of aggression and control in the gay community. His actions reveal the darker side of desire and the impact of others’ judgments.

A minor figure on the periphery of the night’s events, whose existence highlights the randomness of encounters on Clapham Common and the broader social map of the evening.