The Day After

A dedicated hospital physician who takes charge as patients overwhelm the limited resources; he navigates dwindling supplies, chaotic scenes outside, and the moral weight of making life-and-death decisions. He bonds with Nurse Nancy Bauer and becomes a focal point of medical hope amid the collapse.

A University of Kansas professor who provides critical fallout information via radio broadcasts, outlining the danger of outdoor exposure and the spread of radioactive dust. His voice becomes a lifeline of scientific reality as panic spreads.

A pre-med student hitchhiking home who becomes entangled with the Dahlberg family, seeking refuge as the world falls apart. He exhibits resourcefulness and fear in equal measure as radiation threats loom.

Jim Dahlberg’s daughter and Denise’s fiancée Bruce’s partner; she confronts panic and danger, ultimately exposed to fallout while seeking safety and connection with loved ones.

A diligent farmer who hosts a wedding rehearsal for Denise; his family’s safety becomes precarious as squatters move into ruined homes, illustrating the collapse of social order.

Denise’s fiancé who witnesses the growing panic and disruption in society; he embodies the fear and urgency of impending disaster among civilians.

A compassionate nurse who bonds with Oakes under pressure; she ultimately dies from meningitis, highlighting the human cost of catastrophe.

Airman stationed at a Minuteman silo who flees toward safety but succumbs to radiation poisoning, symbolizing the perishing of the everyday military and civilian alike.

Mother in the Dahlberg family who endures the chaos surrounding her, representing parental concern in a world unraveling at the seams.

A doctor encountered in the medical environment; part of the network of professionals trying to stabilize patients amid shortages and danger.

A member of the Oakes family; her presence underscores the family dynamics and concerns for loved ones during crisis.