LOU (LOUISE) WEXLER - a bubbling bundle of energy; married to Bill, owns a diner; mid-30s, attrctive, intelligent, and well-respected; energetic hospitality personified; speaks with a slight southern drawl which is warm and wlecoming, never hillbilly harsh
BILL WEXLER - retired marine, served in the First gulf War; married to Lou, owns a trail guiding business; mid-to-late-30s, taller than the other men and wears his hair in a typical military style; has an air of authority that is impossible to miss; doesn't take orders from the boys, but his philosophy concerning women is generally to do as Lou says
DAVE FOX - a typical married father of two, husband of Barbie Jo; in his 30s, a butcher; speaks with a southern drawl; painfully average in looks and intelligence, but has cultivated a great sense of humor to compensate; loves his wife and children, but finds his mother-in-law occasionally just too much to deal with
BARBIE JO FOX - the beleaguered wife of Dave and daughter of Verna Belle, mother of two children; attractive but frazzled; works fulltime at the diner; tries to make everybody happy and speaks with a warm, southern accent
JIMMY WEAVER - considers himself the "lady's man" in town; mid-20s, cute, and charming; not terribly smart, a real down-home farm boy; dating Darlene but wary of commitment; speaks with a distinct southern drawl
DARLENE FULMER - early 20s, blonde, and "built;" wears short skits and tight sweaters, a typical rodeo queen; accepts everything at face value and makes up in heart what she lacks in smarts; loves everything to do with Christmas and just wants to make the world a better place; speaks with a typical southern drawl
BOB/NARRATOR - a truck driver in his 50s or 60s, as well as a "road warrior / philosopher;" formerly a high school English teacher; a husband and father; sees every obstacle as a new challenge and an opportunity to observe people; may speak with or without drawl
MARY SUE ARCHER - late teens to early 20s; arrives in town on the evening bus withonly a satchel at her side; pregnant, with long dark hair and a southern drawl; alone in the world and used to being ignored; believes in the inherent goodness in people
MARK RILEY - 20; first-year medical student and only son of the town doctor; young, thin, and not quite handsome; has never dated but has a secret crush on Darlene; speaks with subtle southern drawl
CHARLIE REYNOLDS - 30s to 60s; the town banker; a quick walk-on role to get things going; an old friend of Lou; possibly doubled with Jimmy or Dave
