Characters
Gus Klingman – 60s-70s: A crusty, taciturn, and compulsive neatnick “Yankee” widower who has lived in the same New Jersey Victorian house nearly his entire life. A retired stone mason, he dislikes travel, prefers a sparse and uncomplicated lifestyle, and is haunted by loud memories of World War II.
Amanda Cross – 60s – 70s: A vivacious, feisty yet ladylike grandmother and Tennessee native (a textbook “steel magnolia”) who is visiting her daughter and grandchildren in New Jersey. Open-hearted and warm, she gradually brings life, conversation, and cozy home decor into Gus’s isolated routine.