A thirty-five-year-old jazz musician whose life is cut short just as he is on the cusp stardom, Floyd “Schoolboy” Barton is the central, tragic figure of the play. Floyd recorded a song in Chicago that became a hit while he was serving three months in prison. Recently released, he has an interested manager and a letter from the record company inviting him to record more songs. However, getting to Chicago turns out to be a Sisyphean task. Every time he rolls the boulder up the hill, it crashes back down. Like other tragic heroes, Floyd is neither entirely virtuous (as Vera sees him) nor fully malevolent (as Louise sees him). He is flawed and imperfect. Floyd’s tragic flaw is pride, and his overconfidence in himself and his destiny results in selfish and unscrupulous behavior. Prior to the events of the play, he leaves Vera for a woman who he believes will better support his career. He makes promises to Red and Canewell to convince them to come with him to record. He participates in the robbery in which Mrs. Tillery’s son is killed. Underneath Floyd’s smooth demeanor, he is desperate to pull himself out of obscurity and live the life he feels he deserves.