The Wet Parade

A determined, compassionate woman who cares for her family and becomes a moral anchor as Prohibition destabilizes their lives. After her brother's death, she vows to fight alcohol abuse and guides those around her toward steadier paths, including her partnership with Kip and her evolving relationship with a world turned upside down.

Maggie May's father, a heavy drinker whose decline destabilizes the family. His withdrawal ends in suicide, a turning point that motivates Maggie May to oppose alcohol abuse and advocate for reform and resilience.

Pow Tarleton's son who runs the hotel and later joins the U.S. Treasury to combat bootlegging. He pursues a life with Maggie May, faces danger from criminal networks, and ultimately embraces responsibility and family.

A hotel owner whose family participates in the Prohibition-era economy; his actions, sometimes harsh, illuminate the violence and moral ambiguity of the time as families try to survive the changes Prohibition brings.

A glamorous nightclub figure involved in the speakeasy scene; her relationship with Roger and her own ambitions illuminate the allure and danger of celebrity culture during Prohibition.

A veteran Prohibition agent who partners with Kip to raid speakeasies; his dedication and eventual death underscore the personal costs borne by those enforcing the law.

Pow Tarleton's wife, whose attempt to retrieve illicit liquor leads to brutal violence and a pivotal tragedy that starkly highlights the era's brutal costs.

Kip's federal superior who embodies the push to enforce Prohibition despite resource constraints and public skepticism about its effectiveness.

A college friend and journalist who anchors social life at the hotel; his WWI service and career reflect the era's news culture and the tension between vice and virtue.

Supportive, social presence in the hotel circle; part of the broader social web of Prohibition-era New York that frames the story's events.