Ladies Who Do

A retired officer who wields insider information to profit on the stock market. He unscrupulously uses the telegram once it’s discovered to gain £5,000, offering Mrs. Cragg a share and exposing his moral flexibility. He is calculating and pragmatic, underestimating how the cleaners will outsmart him when information is turned against power.

A sharp-witted charwoman who becomes the group’s chief organizer. Initially skeptical of finance, she grows into a determined leader who rallies her fellow cleaners to gather information and resist eviction. Her practicality and sense of community drive the effort to challenge Ryder’s plans.

An ambitious, unscrupulous financier who wants to demolish Pitt Street to build an office block. He manipulates others with pressure and money, aiming to secure a quick profit while keeping residents complacent. His arrogance is his downfall when the cleaners’ own plan turns the tables on him.

Ryder’s business partner who negotiates deals and guards his own position. He is pragmatic and calculating, but his alliance with Ryder falters as the scheme spirals and the pressure mounts. His departure signals the fragility of elite partnerships under strain.

A fellow charwoman and ally in the information-gathering effort. She contributes street-smarts and humor while remaining loyal to the group. Her practical insight helps the plan adapt to changing circumstances.

Another member of the cleaning crew who joins the information network. She adds cautious skepticism and steady persistence to the operation. Her participation helps ensure the plan remains grounded in street-level realities.

One of the Pitt Street residents who contributes to the fundraising effort and the defense against eviction. Her experience with the group’s dynamics helps maintain morale and cohesion. She embodies communal spirit in the face of corporate pressure.

Ryder’s investor and the symbol of the financial establishment’s pressure. He embodies the cold, risk-averse investor who backs out as the plan threatens to unravel. His withdrawal demonstrates the precarious nature of leverage in urban finance.