Four of the Apocalypse

A professional gambler who becomes the reluctant leader of the group. He uses cautious pragmatism to navigate danger and maintain the bond between Bunny, Bud, and Clem. Stubby’s resolve to confront Chaco blends with a growing sense of responsibility and a wary hope for eventual justice. Beneath his hard exterior lies a mix of loyalty, desire, and a constant cost of choosing violence as a solution.

A pregnant prostitute whose presence unsettles, yet anchors the group with a quiet resilience. She navigates deception—being mistaken for Stubby’s wife by the Quakers—while maintaining a grace under pressure. Her bond with Stubby deepens into love, even as she endures trauma and faces a perilous childbirth. Her strength and vulnerability shape the emotional core of the journey.

A disturbed but gentle Black man whose mental clarity is tested by the group's ordeals. His fragile psyche deteriorates after Clem’s death, and he becomes haunted by the ghosts of the ghost town. Bud’s loyalty to the group remains inconsistent yet essential, revealing the human fragility beneath frontier bravado.

An alcoholic yet good-hearted member of the quartet whose quick reactions help the group survive. He is coerced into a dangerous situation at Chaco’s hands, and his later death from infection marks a turning point for the survivors. Clem’s vulnerabilities and acts of courage illustrate the cost of their long journey.

A roaming, dangerous bandit who becomes the principal antagonist. He tortures a deputy, manipulates others with threats and peyote, and ultimately confronts Stubby in a deadly showdown. Chaco embodies the brutal brutality of the lawless West and the seductive lure of power through violence.

The town lawman who arrests Stubby upon arrival and later effectively controls the fate of the travelers by exchanging a wagon and horses for Stubby’s stake. He represents official authority that can be compromised or used for personal gain in a frontier town. His actions set the tone for how justice is administered on the road.

An old pastor friend of Stubby who appears at pivotal moments, offering a moral counterpoint and spiritual rituals. He baptizes the newborn Lucky and embodies a fleeting beacon of mercy amid violence and vengeance. His presence highlights the struggle for redemption in a brutal landscape.