Three on a Match

A showgirl who has found stability after reform school. She is protective of Junior and pragmatic, mentoring Ruth and supporting Robert. Mary’s loyalty to friends and her own desires creates tension as she navigates love, marriage, and a past she wants to leave behind.

A stenographer by trade who nonetheless cares deeply for Junior. She serves as a steady, principled anchor among the trio, balancing ambition with responsibility. Ruth’s steady demeanor helps navigate the chaos sparked by Mary and Vivian.

The most affluent of the three, yet deeply dissatisfied and caught in a cycle of addiction. She becomes entangled with Michael Loftus and the criminal underworld, ultimately sacrificing herself to save her son. Vivian’s vulnerability and reckless edge drive much of the tragedy.

A successful lawyer who marries Mary and wants stability for his family. He hires Ruth to look after Junior and is drawn into the melodrama through his love for Mary and his concern for his son. Robert embodies a protective, middle-class figure who confronts deceit and danger.

The young son of Robert and Vivian, a symbol of innocence caught in adult schemes. He becomes a target in the kidnapping plot, and his safety is the catalyst for Vivian’s ultimate act. Junior’s vulnerability underscores the stakes of the adults’ decisions.

A gambler who flirts with Vivian and uses her to maneuver against Robert. He becomes entangled in debt and threats, leading to a violent confrontation with Ace’s gang. Michael’s duplicity drives the plot toward its grim climax.

A gangster who holds the purse strings for the kidnapping plot and the debts of Loftus. His gang enforces money demands and ultimately escalates the violence surrounding Junior’s disappearance. Ace embodies the criminal force looming over the protagonists’ world.