Characters Discussed
Cherie
Cherie, an attractive chanteuse, slightly past her prime, who has been singing in a Kansas City nightclub but is now traveling west, allegedly for a film test at a Hollywood studio. She is hotly pursued by Bo Decker, who, having heard her rendition of “That Old Black Magic” at the nightclub where she entertained, was so completely captivated by her that he ended up losing his virginity to her. Now he insists that she must marry him, presumably to make him an honest man. Unsentimental about her fleeting affair with Bo, Cherie does not want to go off to live on Bo’s farm in Montana, although, as she considers her options, the prospect of marrying Bo seems to be a reasonable one for her.
Bo Decker
Bo Decker, a young, extremely innocent cowboy whose infatuation with Cherie consumes him. He will not leave her alone and is completely dismayed when she does not want to marry him. More financially secure than most of the men Cherie has met, and certainly not unattractive, Bo is a good catch, but it takes Cherie a while to realize that. Cherie enlists the sheriff’s help to keep Bo from pursuing her, but finally she accedes to going to Montana with him.
Virgil Blessing
Virgil Blessing, Bo’s surrogate father and traveling companion. Virgil is a lonely man who has devoted himself to rearing Bo, whose parents are dead. When Cherie comes into Bo’s life, however, Virgil gives his blessing to their forthcoming union and bows out as they leave together on the bus for Bo’s ranch in Montana. Virgil represents pure love, and he ends up literally being left out in the cold when the bus pulls out.
Dr. Gerald Lyman
Dr. Gerald Lyman, an egocentric former professor, given to drinking too much, who now spends most of his time on buses traveling aimlessly from one place to another. As the play develops, it becomes clear that his problem is nympholepsy. He tries to arrange an assignation in Topeka with the teenage Elma Duckworth but finally, in a rare moment of conscience, calls it off. Perhaps for the first time in a long while, he does the right thing. Although the audience is never told explicitly that Lyman is in trouble with the law, his concern about getting over the state line as soon as possible suggests that he is running away from something.
Grace
Grace, a middle-aged waitress who works long hours at the café where the bus stops. Grace is good-hearted and unattached. During the play, she sneaks off with Carl, the bus driver, for half an hour, taking him to her apartment above the café. As the play ends, Virgil has no place to go and the town is completely closed up, but Grace has had her satisfaction for the night, so she does not invite the forlorn Virgil to share her bed, although to do so would have been to provide a reasonable solution for both of them.
Elma Duckworth
Elma Duckworth, a high school student who loves literature and who romanticizes life. Innocent and nubile, Elma is Grace’s helper in the café. When Grace goes off with the bus driver, Elma takes over, going from customer to customer and eliciting information from all the passengers on the bus, serving the function of a one-person chorus. She and Dr. Lyman do a scene from Romeo and Juliet and she is almost drawn into his web, but his conscience apparently forestalls their meeting in Topeka.
Carl
Carl, the bus driver. Realizing that the blizzard raging outside will make it impossible for...
(This entire section contains 694 words.)
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him to keep his schedule, he seeks comfort in Grace’s bed.
Will Masters
Will Masters, the sheriff, a tall, hefty man with a stubbly beard and a scar on his forehead. Cherie turns to him for protection when Bo’s pursuit bewilders her. It is he who first tells Grace that the bus that is about to arrive will not be able to make it to Topeka because the road is blocked by drifting snow. His role essentially is that of a conciliator between Bo and Cherie.
Characters
Last Updated September 26, 2024.
Virgil Blessing
Virgil, a cowboy and Bo’s long-time companion, serves as a father figure due to
his significantly older age. Although he has never married, Virgil possesses
more experience with women than Bo and offers him guidance on how to interact
with them.
Carl
Carl is the bus driver. Grace is fond of him, and while he reciprocates her
interest, it appears to be merely a casual fling for when he is in town. He
avoids answering questions about his marital status.
Cherie
At just nineteen, Cherie is dressed in sequins and sandals, attire unsuitable
for the weather and situation. Her makeup is excessive, with too much lipstick
and eyeliner. She is on the bus because Bo is taking her to a Montana ranch,
intending to marry her, although Cherie contends that he has kidnapped her.
Having dropped out of high school at twelve to take care of her five older brothers and two younger sisters, Cherie matured too quickly. Despite being involved with men since she was fourteen, she still harbors romantic aspirations. Her dream is to fall in love and get married. Although she displays hostility towards Bo, she genuinely desires romance and tenderness from him. She wants him to accept her for who she truly is, not out of obligation or idealized notions.
Bo Decker
Bo, a twenty-one-year-old cowboy from Montana, is deeply infatuated with
Cherie. He is outspoken and assertive; in his first appearance in the play, he
promptly declares his ownership of a ranch, his rodeo awards, and his feature
in Life Magazine, demanding respect and attention.
Bo and Cherie have been intimate, and he misconstrues this as love, deciding they must marry to avoid impropriety. When Cherie seems to reject him, Bo confides in Virgil about his deep loneliness. His approach to women is characterized by loudness, strength, and stubbornness. Insecure about his image and emotions, he often behaves like a bully. However, by the play's conclusion, Bo has matured enough to show his gentle side to Cherie, leading her to agree to marry him.
Elma Duckworth
Elma, a high school student working as a waitress at the diner, is a bright but
lonely girl who catches Dr. Lyman’s attention when he arrives on the bus. Naive
and inexperienced, Elma fails to recognize Lyman's deceitful nature and ill
intentions. Starved for male attention, she is flattered by his interest.
Ultimately, she discovers that Lyman was attempting to seduce her, as he has
done with many young women before, and realizes she has learned a valuable
lesson about men and life.
Grace
Grace is employed at the diner. She is in her late thirties or early forties
and resides alone above the establishment. Previously married, her husband
eventually left her. Despite her loneliness, she claims to be content with her
occasional sexual encounters with Carl, the bus driver. However, by the play's
end, when Carl refuses to disclose whether he is married, she realizes her
dissatisfaction with their relationship.
Dr. Gerald Lyman
Dr. Lyman is another passenger on the bus. Around fifty years old, he is
already intoxicated as the play begins. An alcoholic, he has been married and
divorced three times. Eager to leave Kansas, it is later revealed that he is in
legal trouble for loitering around schools and young girls. His tendency
towards pedophilia is evident in his attempted seduction of Elma, the young
waitress at the diner. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that he
requires serious psychological assistance.
Will Masters
Will serves as the town sheriff, dedicated to maintaining order. A deacon at
the Congregational Church, he is respected by Elma and Grace, who reassure
Cherie that the sheriff will protect her. He compels Bo to take responsibility
for his actions.