Ruthie - A retired snake charmer, Ruthie is the "talker" (what rubes might call a "barker") for her son, Gabriel, who performs a strong man act. Anyone who can wrestle Gabriel to the ground wins five dollars-a prize Ruthie has never had to shell out. She became Henry Scudder's lover during his brief tenure with the Hyde & Teller Company.
Now, with the arrival of Scudder's son, Ben Hawkins, Ruthie once again finds herself drawn in emotionally. Ever pragmatic, no matter how much she tries to extricate herself from her relationship with the charismatic young Ben, the further entangled she becomes. (HBO.com)
