Bernie Price Character Analysis in I Am the Messenger

Bernie Price is the third person Ed helps for the Ace of Spades. He is an elderly man who owns an old theater that shows classic movies. He rarely has customers and frequently sleeps while working. He bought the theater because he used to love going to the movies on dates. Ed helps him by allowing Bernie to relive a part of his youth by seeing Ed and Audrey watch a movie together. It is in Bernie’s theater that Ed sees the film of his own actions, which helps him realize the extent to which the man with the cards is involved in his life.

Bernie Price Character Timeline in I Am the Messenger

The timeline below shows where the character Bernie Price appears in I Am the Messenger. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Purpose, Success, and Meaning Theme Icon

...the card, an old movie theater. The theater appears completely empty, until he finds an old man sleeping in the back room and wakes him up. The man excitedly says Ed is... (full context)

Ed introduces himself to the old man , but the man says he already knows Ed’s name, because he was told Ed... (full context)

...any movie he wants, and Ed selects Cool Hand Luke. The man introduces himself as Bernie Price. (full context)

Ed introduces Audrey to Bernie, and they settle down in the theater for the movie. Ed hopes Bernie feels happy... (full context)

Ed asks Audrey if they can invite Bernie to watch the movie with them and Audrey agrees. Bernie initially refuses to interrupt them,... (full context)

Bernie falls asleep but the movie reel needs to be changed. Audrey wakes him and he... (full context)

Audrey helps Ed back to his seat because he can’t walk. Bernie begins playing Cool Hand Luke again, but Ed can only think about the words “They... (full context)

Two days after Christmas, Ed visits Bernie at the theater. He asks Bernie about the movie titles on the Ace of Hearts.... (full context)

...of Gavin and Daniel. He sees the Christmas lights, his mother’s disappointment and love, and Bernie’s old cinema. He sees all this in the mirror, as well as Ritchie by the... (full context)