Tess
Tess is a girl from small town America who goes to New York City to find herself. When she arrives, she is prudish and reserved, but after warming up to her community, she becomes more indulgent, and she ends up becoming a black-out drinker when she is upset. She learns her limits the hard way, and she learns about her own propensity toward jealousy and wrath, not to mention her attempt to get a raise by prostituting herself to her boss.
Jake
Jake was raised by Simone, a bartender, from the young age of 8. Jake is now in the restaurant scene and he lives big, being very indulgent and enticing, which makes Tess fall in love with him. She came to New York to meet a man like Jake, and now that she has found him, Tess and Jake start sleeping together, but Jake is not interested in Tess the way she is in him, and besides, he might be sleeping with Simone.
Simone
Simone is a quickly burning-out woman in her late 30's who has been an avid part of the sexy New York underground as a bartender. She knows what it's like to have fun with the coolest people, and she feels she is part of that community, but she also struggles with self-esteem and she feels poorly about her own aging. She raised Jake.
Howard
Howard is Lily's boss. In an experiment in unethical behavior, Lily sleeps with Howard, asking him to give her a promotion for the sex. He agrees, but after the deed is done, he admits to her that he is promoting her like he promised, but he is sending her to a new restaurant in another part of the City. So, Howard accepts her resignation instead.
