Bus Stop

Act One

About thirty miles west of Kansas City, a blizzard is raging. Grace, the proprietor of the diner, and her teenage waitress Elma are busy preparing for the next bus to stop. Grace reveals that she is somewhat lonely after her husband left, but is thankful for Elma’s company. Grace teases her about not having time for boyfriends--something Elma clearly has no experience in. Elma muses about flunking her classes so that she won’t seem so smart and intimidating to the boys, but Grace stops that thought immediately: “You’re a good kid and ya got good sense.”

The town sheriff Will Masters comes in. He tells the ladies that the highways are blocked, all phone lines are down, and the Topeka bus is on its way. He’s grouchy about the storm, but thankfully takes the coffee Grace gives him. Grace muses about who the bus driver will be (but she clearly knows and is thankful that it will be Carl). Suddenly, an anxious young woman dragging a battered suitcase enters. Her name is Cherie, and