Lovers, Liars and Lunatics

Paddy is a compulsive optimist in a brittle marriage who wants out with money and freedom. His affair with Gloria sets the catalyst in motion, revealing a calculated willingness to manipulate others for a clean break. He embodies a blend of charisma and self-preserving greed that ultimately accelerates the tragedy.

Elaine is a sharp, contemptuous wife who discovers the affair and plans to leave with Paddy’s money. She orchestrates moves that complicate the robbery and demonstrates a readiness to exploit chaos to her advantage. Her instability under pressure becomes a key driver of the night’s violence.

Gloria is Paddy’s secretary and mistress, using money and cunning to get what she wants. She hires Louis and Justine to rob the Raynes, then shifts motives as the situation spirals out of control. Her appetite for cash and control keeps the scheme in motion even as the plan falls apart.

Louis is Gloria’s younger brother, a dim-witted thief who bumbles through the burglary. His lack of street smarts creates comic misfires and dangerous situations alike. He becomes trapped in the night’s escalating chaos along with the rest of the family.

Justine is Louis’s inept girlfriend, equally inept at crime and doomed by reckless moves. Her impulsiveness leads to moments like shooting herself in the foot and complicating the robbery. She becomes a liability whose actions accelerate the catastrophe.

Julian is one of the Raynes’ sons who enters the tense scene and is soon tied up with the rest of the family. He represents the collateral damage of family dysfunction and the way a family night spirals beyond control. His presence heightens the sense of being trapped inside the house.

Gunner is the other son who borrows the cars for a late date with Sally, bringing new complications into the plan. He ends up fatally slipping on the kitchen counter during the chaos, a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.

Sally is Gunner’s date who becomes entangled in the night’s fiasco. She tries to escape the chaotic situation but is ultimately caught in the violence and even meets a tragic end when run over by a police car in the chaotic aftermath.

Policeman #1 is part of the two officers who threaten to blow the situation out of proportion and eventually close in on the chaotic scene. He helps reveal the tragedy that has unfolded and contributes to the final arrest.

Policeman #2 enters as the other observer-courier of the night, adding to the procedural element of the ending. He helps confront the aftermath and capture the last remaining characters.