Virgil Wander

Virgil Wander is the protagonist of the novel. He is introduced after surviving a horrific car accident and is lucky to be alive. He is middle-aged and has lived in Greenstone for most of his life. Virgil is well-known and liked through the town. Virgil works for the city and runs the Empress, a movie theater. It is common for people in Greenstone to work multiple jobs.

Virgil has several pirated movies in his collection at the Empress, which came with the theater when he bought it. Virgil is nervous about having the illegal films and makes arrangements with an attorney to return them to the film studios. Virgil wants to do the right thing whenever he can.

Virgil is a conscientious man who likes living alone. When his doctor recommends that someone stay with him until Virgil recovers from his head injury, Virgil invites Rune, a...