Macabre

A wealthy physician who coldly orchestrates a long-running scheme to claim the Wetherby inheritance. He isolates his wife Alice during her difficult pregnancy, keeps his mistress Sylvia Stevenson nearby, and uses calculated moves to secure money after her death. His later revelation of the fake kidnapping and alibi exposes a chilling willingness to sacrifice others for wealth.

Nanny and caretaker for Marge Barrett, she anchors the domestic sphere around the child. Loyal to Barrett yet wary of the mounting danger, she supports the household’s routines while navigating the tense atmosphere surrounding the family.

The town's police chief who harbors a longstanding enmity with Barrett. He becomes a key figure as the investigation into the missing child and the family’s past unfolds, challenging Barrett’s facade of respectability.

Barrett's nurse assistant who supports him through the present crisis and tries to persuade him to relocate his life with Sylvia. She remains involved as the tension grows, and ultimately uncovers crucial details about the scheme.

The elderly, wealthy grandfather whose death after witnessing the staged events accelerates the conclusion. His heart condition intensifies the stakes and underscores the fragile line between appearance and reality in the family’s affairs.

The cemetery caretaker who appears in the town’s graveyard scenes, lending an atmosphere of finality and ritual to the unfolding mystery.

The chauffeur involved with Nancy during a secret affair in the months leading to the present. His relationship with Nancy adds to the web of romantic and financial entanglements driving the plot.

Alice, heiress and wife of Barrett, dies in childbirth under troubling circumstances that Barrett later exploits to consolidate power and fortune within the family.

Alice's sister-in-law who, despite being blind, enjoys a life of independence and sexual freedom. Her pregnancy and secret life intersect with Barrett's schemes and the town's gossip.

Mortician who assists with Barrett's fake kidnapping ruse and later shoots Barrett, revealing his own remorse. His role is pivotal in exposing the mechanism of the crime.

The daughter who bears the burden of the family’s ambitions and the town’s expectations. Her pregnancy and illicit life contribute to the motive for the inheritance scheme.

The young widow who becomes Barrett's mistress and a focal point in the emotional and financial dynamics of the plot. Her presence heightens the tension around Barrett's plan.

The three-year-old daughter who disappears and is believed buried with Nancy’s coffin, only to be found alive in a hidden room, revealing the cruel deception at the heart of the plot.

The local preacher who embodies the town’s moral veneer and participates in the midnight funeral that frames the confession of the tragedy.