Ten North Frederick

A rebellious son and trumpet player whose affair with Ann ignites a hidden marriage and a web of personal and legal threats. His artistic ambitions collide with the Chapins’ rigid social code. He becomes a catalyst for the family crisis and the bribe-driven dilemma surrounding his future.

Distinguished attorney and patriarch whose political ambitions drive the family’s fate. He battles alcoholism, guards his public image, and gradually recognizes the personal cost of his choices. His relationships and decisions ultimately reveal the hollowness behind his public success.

A shrewd, politically driven wife who uses wealth and social influence to steer Joe’s career and protect the family’s standing. Her past with Lloyd surfaces as the story exposes how far she will go to secure power. Edith embodies the tension between public virtue and private maneuvering.

Joe and Edith’s daughter, secretly married to Charley, whose actions precipitate the family’s downfall. Her choices reflect youthful rebellion and the cost of pursuing love within rigid social confines. Her later departure to New York marks a personal independence born from disillusionment.

Ann’s roommate and a model who enters a complex relationship with Joe. She embodies the allure of a life outside the Chapin circle and the ambiguity of true happiness within a mutually desired arrangement. The ruby Joe gives her becomes a symbol of shared, fleeting joy.

A corrupt power broker who manipulates political outcomes to protect his own interests. He pressures Charley into a bribe-and-annulment scheme and embodies the darker side of political influence. Slattery’s influence underscores how money can override justice and accountability.