Easy Money

Monty is a hard-living, impulsive family man whose vices threaten his daughter’s wedding and financial security. He loves his wife Rose but his gambling, drinking, and drug use generate chaos at home. The inheritance challenge forces him to confront his self-destructive patterns and present a stake in his family’s future. His journey blends comedy with a genuine struggle for restraint and responsibility.

Monty's best friend, a loyal if morally flexible ally who provides counterpoints to Monty's excesses. He often fuels or tempers impulsive decisions with his blunt humor and street-smarts. Nicky's support helps Monty endure the year-long test, even as he challenges him to stay true to his commitments. The friendship adds a layer of camaraderie to the comedy and stakes.

Kathleen is the wealthy, snobbish mother-in-law who runs a department-store empire and hates Monty's lifestyle. She uses wealth and status to control her daughter's fate and pushes the inheritance test to its extremes. Her later ruse of faking her own death reveals a willingness to manipulate family for outcomes she desires. Her actions raise questions about motive, power, and the limits of parental influence.

Rose is Monty's devoted wife who loves him but becomes the emotional anchor amid domestic tension. She navigates the friction between Monty's misadventures and Kathleen's control, hoping for stability for their daughters. Her patience and loyalty are tested as the family drama unfolds around the inheritance test. She seeks a balance between love and practical survival in a challenging environment.

Clive is Kathleen's nephew and a rival who does his best to undermine Monty's chances of inheriting the fortune. His schemes emphasize class and social climbing, creating additional pressure for Monty to prove himself. The confrontation between Monty and Clive highlights the power struggle within the inheritance plot. Clive's efforts fail under the weight of the year-long challenge.

Attorney who explains the will and administers the test, presenting the terms that Monty must meet. He serves as a catalyst for the moral experiment, watching the clock and the stakes with clinical detachment. His involvement heightens the tension between virtuous behavior and the lure of money. He embodies the law’s role in shaping the family’s drama.