Harold Lauder, pubescent adolescent with the world on his shoulders, is - as far as he is concerned - the hero at the end of the world. His love interest Frannie Goldsmith, will want him as much as he wants her sooner or later. That is until Stu redman comes into the fold. Harold is an intelligent kid but green with envy and the most insecure boy who ever lived, even before the flu decimated the human race.It is not made clear whether Harold dreams of Mother Abigail, or of the Walkin' Dude, or either at all but this serves to make the viewer question him and his agendas once it is made clear that Frannie will never have any interest in him.