The Scapegoat

A teacher who loses his job and discovers his doppelgänger, he steps into Spence’s life to navigate a failing business and a tangle of family relationships. He is quick-witted and adaptable, but his decisions reveal a willingness to sacrifice morality for survival. His impersonation drives the plot and blurs the line between victim and villain.

Spence's neglected wife whose growing alliance with John/Johnny reshapes family dynamics. Her choices become pivotal as she agrees to dangerous schemes to salvage the family's fortune. She ultimately risks her life, enacting a tragic sacrifice to protect those she loves.

The chauffeur to the Spence family who observes and facilitates the growing deception. He acts as a practical intermediary due to his close proximity to both the household and Standing's ploy. His loyalty and awareness heighten the stakes as the ruse unfolds.

Spence's sister who harbors resentment toward the impostor and blames him for a friend's suicide. Her antagonism intensifies house tensions and complicates Standing's position. She embodies the moral fault lines within the family dynamic.

Spence's younger brother, capable yet lacking self-confidence. He represents the potential the family needs to rescue the business, while highlighting the gaps in leadership. His presence underscores themes of inheritance and masculine aspiration within a constrained social order.

Spence's mistress and sister-in-law whose relationships add emotional complexity to the power dynamics around Spence. Her involvement contributes to the web of loyalties and betrayals that drive the plot. She embodies the intersection of desire and propriety in a tightly wound social circle.

Caretaker of Spence's mother who becomes a perceptive ally to Standing. She sees through the disguises and acts as a voice of clarity in a rapidly unfolding deception. Her observations help steer the final confrontation and resolution.

Spence's young daughter, a symbol of domestic innocence who briefly encounters the impersonation. Her observations underscore the personal cost of the adults' schemes and the way deception penetrates the private sphere. Her presence highlights the vulnerability of the family unit.