With everyone out of her room, Violet takes off her dress and lies down on the bed in her slip. A hotel singer croons a song as Violet falls asleep. Young Vi rises from behind the bed and catches sight of her father. In a fantasy dream sequence, Vi's face is restored and she dances with her father. Then the Old Lady from the bus dances with her father, after swigging down a quick bourbon. The father leaves when Monty comes in and dances with the Old Lady. Finally he dances with Young Vi and reaches over and picks up Violet's diary, which lies on the nightstand. Young Vi disappears. Violet jolts awake and sees Monty reading her book. She considers speaking, but instead lies back down and pretends to be asleep. As Monty thumbs through her diary he reads Violet's reflections about Flick, whom she finds attractive. Monty realises that ever since Violet has come along, things between Flick and himself haven't been the same; Monty regrets the day they ever met Violet on the bus. Flick enters, wondering why Monty hasn't waked her. Quickly, Monty hides Violet's diary. She wakes up, dresses, and the three go out on the town. The scene shifts to a Memphis Dance Hall where Violet, Flick and Monty are all out on the dance floor showing off for one another as a music hall singer croons a song. Flick goes to buy some sodas. While he is gone, Monty dances closely with Violet and his hands wander a bit. When Flick returns and catches sight of this, he sets down the sodas and storms out. Violet lets go of Monty and rushes after Flick. Violet catches up with Flick who is returning to the hotel. He tries to talk with Violet, asking if her scar hurts. He touches her face, but before he can get any closer, the landlady appears and doesn't move until the two go to their separate rooms. Violet climbs into her bed and sleeps. Monty crashes into her room. They kiss and the lights fade as he joins her on the bed. In a flash back, Billy Dean Elam is following Young Vi home. Vi gets him to confess that people have found out he is a virgin and have dared him five dollars to have sex with her. She consents and asks him to be gentle. In the present, Monty is telling Violet about his motorcycle. Monty falls asleep on Violet. Flick is standing out on the street sipping from his flask. ACT TWO Flick, Monty and Violet are aboard the bus as it pulls into Fort Smith, Arkansas. The bus driver announces that this is the last stop for the soldiers. The civilians have ten minutes to use the facilities. Monty wakes up and leaves the bus to buy Violet some candy and soda; he's been buying her snacks all day. Flick stays to say good-bye to Violet. The two exchange addresses. Flick tries to make it clear that Monty thinks she's nothing but "a piece of ass." Flick is jealous; he could have gone back to her room last night before Monty did, but he didn't have the nerve. He's lonely and looking for someone. He hoped that Violet would have been that person, but he was wrong. Violet tells Flick that she is fond of him, but she needs to continue her journey. Violet goes to the bus bathroom. Monty returns and Flick asks him to leave her be. Flick doesn't want to hear any of Monty's nonsensical charm-talk, but Monty begs his friend to help him say good-bye to Violet properly. They both hear Violet getting sick in the bathroom; she says it's from all the candy and soda. They all say goodbye rather awkwardly. Monty begins to walk away, but then turns back and asks Violet to come back and meet him at the bus station on Sunday after her healing. He offers to buys her ticket. Violet doesn't believe one word he says. No man has ever wanted her for anything other than sex; why should it be any different now? They get off the bus and she continues on her journey. The scene changes to the Preacher's chapel, where Violet's "saviour" is working miracles. A choir is singing and everything is just as Violet had hoped it would. The proceedings suddenly stop when the Preacher becomes angry that one of his lighting specials isn't focused on him. Thinking Violet is the lighting operator, he screams at her and fires her. She tells him that she's come to be healed. He tells her that the "healing" doesn't happen until the televised show tomorrow. He sends Violet off to deal with his assistant who handles all the scheduling. Violet is taken aback because this isn't what she expected. Alone with the preacher's assistant, Virgil, Violet thinks back on how her father carried her down to the mountain to the doctor's office to have her face fixed after the axe hit her. As she sees this scene going on her mind, she shows Virgil all the slips of paper that explain her need and have all the Bible verses which must speak for her. Virgil dismisses her saying that "all suffering has a purpose." Violet rushes off to find the Preacher in his chapel. She confronts him with numerous Bible quotes. In the course of their discussion, Violet realises that the man she put so much faith in is nothing but a fraud. He offers to pray with her to find
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