Ian A retired biochemist, in his sixties or early seventies. Has been employed in sensitive international negotiations requiring serious diplomacy but can now afford to show some trace of impatience with people and types that have caused him difficulty. He uses the Gilbert & Sullivan reference in Scene 1 to establish a friendlier rapport with Sally than had at first looked likely.
Sally Early twenties, attractive. A junior newspaper reporter and member of a small environmentalist group. Her initial rather tarty appearance is intentionally deceptive. A spark of affinity develops with Ian, not erotic but enough to give Kevin some slight excuse for jealousy.
Julian Slightly older, an aspiring managerial type, informally the leader of the group, smooth and manipulative; the odd occasion when his basic decency shows through is surprising even to himself.
Kevin About Sally's age and her boy-friend, fellow-member of the group. An electrician or some such artisan, with a sense of social inferiority that he would never admit but leads to aggressiveness and unreasonable jealousy. Stubborn but with great integrity that causes agony when he realises he is in the wrong.
Elsie Middle-aged, motherly owner of a Scottish bed-and-breakfast house.
Time
The near future
Set
To avoid unnecessary time-lags between scenes, the setting should be composite to represent Ian's sitting room, Julian's flat, Kevin's bed-sitter and the Scottish B&B.