INTRODUCING THE FAMILIES (Part 3): The Williams & The Vitalis

Now back to our program. I had to take some time here since there's some extensive backstory with the Vitali/Williams family. Only one more to go before we actually get to story, so let's get movin'!

NATHAN WILLIAMS

Darnell Williams

Nathan acts as the auto plant liaison between corporate headquarters and the factory floor. He has a close friendship with Lucas, and has been for many years.

Nathan is remarried after losing his wife many years ago. Marrying Eva Carey (Anna Carter's adopted sister) meant the rather challenging prospect of bringing together two families.

Nathan craves routine and normalcy in his life, and is a devoted father to his own son, Allen, to Eva's three children with Jason Vitali, and to his young son with Eva, Anthony.

EVA WILLIAMS

Renee Jones

Eva Williams is a paparazzo-turned-investigative-reporter-turned-schoolteacher (got it?) with a great sense of adventure. Her greatest struggle to balance motherhood with her ambitious nature. Having divorced Jason Vitali, Eva left her career as a TV journalist in Chicago to return to her hometown of Two Harbors, where she met, and eventually married Nathan Williams.

Eva's transition to high school teacher is a tough fit, but she's up to the challenge, even with drama unfolding in her new career.

Her close relationship with her eldest son, Trey, whom she gave birth to as a teenager, is a close, confidant kind of relationship, and she often relies on him more than on Nathan.

JASON VITALI

Robert Kelker-Kelly

Jason is an aging party boy with a lot of resentment and dangerous past. Married to Eva for many years, their marriage ended extremely badly and has left Jason with very little except a bad reputation and a big child support bill.

Jason's drug and alcohol intake are the root of a lot of his troubles, and he currently resides in Chicago, getting by driving taxi and being involved in shady activities the rest of the time.

He is uninvolved in his children's lives, though he hopes to eventually find a way back into Eva's life, for better or for worse.

TREY VITALI

Nathan Owens

Trey is Eva's first-born son, and often times closest friend. He is not in contact with his father, Jason.

Trey has recently begun as a full-time surgeon at the hospital, and is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best in state. His newfound income means Trey can now move out of the family home. This isn't going over so well with his mother.

Trey's become fast friends with Dr. Stephanie Carter, but is there more in the air?

NINA VITALI

Jasika Nicole

 Nina is a local university student, studying environmental law, she is heavily involved in conservation, as well as the university's Environmental Protection Group.

She is an ex-girlfriend of Colin Davis, and still maintains a friendship with him, though he lives far from home. Their breakup was acrimonious, but Nina refused to be bitter, and still holds a great respect for him.

Nina is a busy woman, like her mother. She rarely is home, but tries to be with her family as much as possible. She attempts to be there especially for her younger sister, Maya, who she sees as struggling with her education and self-confidence.

MAYA VITALI

Kyla Pratt

Maya, Eva and Jason's youngest daughter, is an emotional young woman. In high school, with wildly fluctuating grades, Maya's attention span goes no farther than the end of her own nose. Every crisis is a life-ending one, and she concerns herself more with boys, friends, and clothes than with her schooling.

Hoping to help steer her the right way, Maya's older sister Nina attempts to guide her and be there for her as a confidant. Sometimes it's a successful move, other times not.

Maya's relationship with her mother is as good as can be expected, what with Eva teaching at her high school, but her relationship with stepfather Nathan is a bit more strained at times.

ANTHONY WILLIAMS

Terrell Ransom Jr.

Eva and Nathan's youngest son, only 8 years old. A smart young kid, he's an energetic and sweet kid, though a bit of a handful for his already-overworked mother and father.

INTRODUCING THE FAMILIES (Part 2): The Davises

Now it's time to take a quick look over the Davis family. A complex mess of a family, their control over the Atlantic Motor Co. is absolute and they, by extension, are involved in every aspect of life in Two Harbors in one way or another. Meet the Davis family.

JACKSON DAVIS

Peter Bergman

A respected leader in the business community, Jackson has a stranglehold over his family, with loyal wife Marian by his side.

Jackson is chair of Atlantic Motor Co., and has placed many of his children in commanding roles in the business, hoping to groom them to take over the company later in life, but particularly his eldest son, Bradley.

MARIAN DAVIS

Tonja Walker

Marian is the always impeccably-dressed wife of Jackson. Marian heads up numerous charities around Two Harbors and running a small art gallery as well. Marian's a bit reserved and comes off cool to those outside her inner circle, but is always the image of charm when needed.

 

 

BRADLEY DAVIS

Trevor Donovan

Brad Davis is being groomed by his father, Jackson, to take the reins as CEO of Atlantic. But there's one little problem, Bradley, town party boy and playboy, isn't all that keen to take the reins.

Brad, deeply in love with his fiancee, Hailey Carter, is at odds with his family over the union, which they disapprove of.

JENNIFER DAVIS

Twins with Robert (Robbie), Jennifer is the most business-oriented member of the family, involved in heading up European operations for Atlantic, Jennifer is a go-getter and is gunning for the top spot in the company, but knows it's uphill battle since Jackson has his heart set on Brad taking the reins.

Jenn is emotionally reserved, like many of her siblings, but has the added bonus of having an acid tongue to die for, as well as an incredibly perceptive mind. She uses this to her advantage to get what she wants.

ROBERT DAVIS

PJ Brennan

The much more emotionally-available twin, Robbie is much more socially awkward than his brash and quippy sister, though much kinder than his twin. Equally stoic as Jenn, Robbie is focused on making his way up in his family's company, though Jackson sees him as mealy-mouthed and unfit for the job at hand, preferring Robbie's older brother Brad.

Robbie is in charge of Marketing for Atlantic, and excels in his work. However, his personal life is another matter. Never having been on many dates, his success with women is minimal at best. He socializes more out of necessity than desire.

COLIN DAVIS (JACKSON DAVIS IV)

Zack Conroy

Colin, neé JJ, is the black sheep of his family. Living in California for university, and involved in many environmental protection groups in college, Colin is a major thorn in Jackson's side. He is quick-tempered and passionate, things that bewilder his siblings.

His close relationship with Marian is also a mystery to his siblings and to his father. Even while living away, Colin and Marian talk on the phone weekly. The family dismisses this as understandable thanks to Colin being the only family member living outside their home.

Colin has a competitive streak in him with his eldest brother. But is it just a professional competition, or something deeper?

JORDAN DAVIS

Dylan Patton

Jordan, youngest son, is always seeking the attention of his parents. Even away at boarding school, Jordan's attempts to be noticed by his parents doesn't go unnoticed. Unfortunately, his bad behaviour is what gets the attention from his parents. Will it jeopardize Jordan's academics in the long run?

INTODUCING THE FAMILIES (PART 1): The Carters

Just so we keep everything in tact, I'll be introducing everyone piece by piece. Tonight, we'll begin with the Carter family. Blue collar factory worker family headed by Lucas Carter, factory worker at Jackson Davis' Atlantic Motor Corp. I use actual actors as sort of an avatar for the characters, just to give everyone a visual of what I was going for

Meet the Carter family right now!

LUCAS CARTER

Robert Newman

A simple, blue-collar guy, Lucas has worked at the Atlantic Motor Corp.'s central factory in Two Harbors, MN for the past 30 years. A guy who just wants to provide his family with the best life he knows how. His girls are his life, and he wants to protect them from harm, even if it costs them their happiness.

He resents the presence of the rich Davis family in his life. Working as the president of the local auto worker's union, Lucas has spent his life dealing with the Davises, and in particular Jackson Davis, CEO of Atlantic, and their relationship is far from friendly. This goes back even farther for Lucas, as the two knew each other in high school, when Lucas dated Jackson's now-wife, Marian.

Lucas is a man who's fought hard to get ahead to make a life for his family, and maybe a little bit to keep up with Jackson, his adversary.

ANNA CARTER-CAREY

Bobbie Eakes

Part-time waitress at local diner, Anna's main priority is her family. She's a very traditional sort of woman, and has resisted the thought of pursuing her own dreams all her life.

Anna's impulsive tendencies have remained buried for a long time, but come out when her children or husband (or marriage) are threatened, leading her to act out in surprisingly brash ways, despite her demure, conservative nature.

Anna is extremely loyal to her family, sometimes to her own personal detriment. She longs for a better lifestyle, but is too proud to ask for help, and too concerned for her husband's confidence to risk going to school and pursuing her own goals at the risk of alienating her husband. She resists the feelings of resentment in her, but isn't prepared to fight for what she wants for herself.

Anna has never got on well with Marian Jackson, and with good reason. Her husband used to be in a relationship with Marian in high school and into college. Anna blames Marian and Lucas' breakup for Lucas never completing college. Marian is one of the only people she knows that can truly raise her ire.

KAYLA CARTER

(uncast)

Though off-canvas, the Carters' eldest daughter still in her parents' and siblings' hearts and minds at all times. Kayla has moved from Two Harbors to New York to attend college and hasn't returned since, due to disputes with Anna. Kayla finds Anna too invasive in her life and feels her mother puts pressure on her to be someone she isn't.

Kayla is a liberated sort, and a thorn in the side of her parents.

STEPHANIE CARTER

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood

Stephanie is an extremely thoughtful, intelligent young woman. Very unlike her mother (probably on purpose), Stephanie is very clear-headed and rarely acts without thinking things through. On track to finish med school, she will soon become a doctor and is intent on working as a surgeon at Lakeview Memorial Hospital in Two Harbors.

Stephanie thinks highly of her family, and is proud of her blue-collar roots. Unlike her sister Hailey, Stephanie wants for a simple life, and is in no hurry to find a man. Her mother insists she'll end up an old maid, but Stephanie knows love will come in time and doesn't let her mother's well-meaning nagging get to her.

Stephanie often acts as a sounding board for her younger, less-secure sister, Hailey. Stephanie relishes the opportunity to advise Hailey, and the two sisters are close. This bothers Anna somewhat, but she resists the urge to interfere, as Stephanie provides at least something of a window into Hailey's state of mind, which Anna doesn't want closed off to her.

HAILEY CARTER

Brittany Underwood

Hailey is much more traditional than her older sisters. Concerned with her looks and boys all through high school, she was a handful for Lucas and Anna. The baby of the family, and "mama's little miracle", Hailey was born prematurely and barely survived her first month. Anna spoilt Hailey rotten, which drove her older sister Kayla nuts. She and Hailey rarely speak and are civil even more rarely.

Steph, though critical of Hailey's vapid nature, understands her sister better than most anyone else. She often acts as liaison between Anna and Hailey, and hopes to guide Hailey to a more well-rounded place in her life.

Hailey doesn't share her mother's impulsiveness, but Hailey does have a strong desire to move up in the world and away from her blue-collar life. She believes she's found that life with her fiancé Brad Davis, whom her family disapproves of. Drawn to his traditional good looks, money, and status, he's actually her second choice in a mater after his younger brother Colin Davis. However, her relationship with Colin soured in high school and they barely speak. Still, he lingers on Hailey's mind when she's with Brad, and their similarities act as reminders to Hailey of Colin. This makes Hailey feel incredibly guilty, and causes her to overlook some of Brad's less favourable qualities.

Despite her family's protests (especially after witnessing some of Brad's less charming moments), Hailey insists on continuing with her wedding plans. But will her feelings for Colin eventually take over and ruin her life with Brad?