On the Edge of Innocence

An impulsive 17-year-old who pushes boundaries and resists authority. His swagger masks insecurities about family and belonging, and his defining moment comes from risking everything to stay beside Zoe. He can be both charming and reckless, but shows capacity for loyalty and protection.

A 17-year-old with manic-depressive tendencies, she struggles with anger and medication. Her initial distrust of the institution gives way to vulnerability as she bonds with Jake. Her personal growth centers on learning to channel her intensity toward connection and recovery.

A teen with anorexia nervosa who destabilizes the charts and routines of the ward. She becomes a crucial ally, offering a moral counterpoint to the drama and illustrating how serious illness intersects with friendship. Her presence tests the limits of care and loyalty.

A volatile teen whose aggression and mood swings pull others into dangerous situations. He embodies the volatility of adolescence within an institution that struggles to keep pace with his energy. His actions catalyze both conflict and moments of kinship among the group.

A gay teenager dealing with family issues, sometimes clashing with the system and peers. Luke's sensitivity provides a counterpoint to the hospital's rigidity and broadens the spectrum of youth experience depicted.

A patient with an imaginary friend who embodies the inner life of the ward. Sammy's presence highlights how imagination can be both a coping mechanism and a social signal within the group.

A physician at the institution who upholds treatment protocols and enforces rules about patient interactions. His stance on romance and progress underscores the show of authority and its limits.

Zoe's mother, anxious and protective, who seeks treatment as a path to safety. Her concern reflects the familial pressure that accompanies mental health struggles.

Jake's father, a successful and influential lawyer whose priorities and affairs complicate his relationship with his son. His actions reveal how parental status can shape, and sometimes undermine, a youth's path.

Zoe's father figure who attempts to help but ultimately turns her in to the authorities. His decision highlights the limits of paternal involvement in the face of danger and escape.