Closing the Ring

A mother whose careworn demeanor masks a long-repressed history of love triangles with Teddy, Jack, and Chuck. She spent years in the house Teddy built, mourning him and resisting change, while insisting she remained faithful. The revelation of her past reshapes her relationship with her daughter Marie and the rest of the family.

Adult Eleanor is connected to Jack's affections and Belfast roots; the 'Irish tart' figure who figures into the wartime love triangle. She remains a symbol of loyalty and the life she chose across decades, influencing the present through memories of the past.

A loyal friend who helped build a house with Teddy and Chuck, and a man who has always loved Ethel. His unspoken devotion frames the story and culminates in a heartfelt confession that reshapes the family’s history.

A young farmer whose life intertwines with Ethel's and her companions as they form a bond before the war. He unofficially marries Ethel with Jack and Chuck as witnesses, and his memory lingers through the house he helped build and the ring that survives the final bombing.

A U.S. Army Air Force veteran who shares a life with Ethel, then dies in 1944 alongside the other men. He represents the lasting impact of war on personal relationships and the drive to protect loved ones.

Ethel’s daughter who delivers the funeral eulogy. She embodies a coming-to-terms with her mother's past and the hidden stories that shape their family’s present grief and understanding.

Eleanor’s grandson who travels to Michigan to return the ring, bridging the Atlantic divide between Belfast and the Midwest and sparking the revelation that reshapes the family history.

An elder figure who digs for wreckage on Black Mountain and carries the weight of a fifty-year secret. He reveals that he promised to deliver the ring to Ethel, a pivotal thread connecting the two timelines.

The younger version of Ethel who falls in love with Teddy and becomes a witness to the early union of the trio. Her storyline foreshadows the adult Ethel’s enduring grief and resilience.

A youth who stands with Teddy and Chuck as a witness to Ethel’s choice and the formation of a lifelong bond. His presence foreshadows the adult Jack’s steadfast loyalty and hidden love.