Rusty Godowsky is Myra's sacrificial bull in her campaign to destroy the traditional American male and realign the sexes.

Rusty Godowsky is a recently come-of-age all-American boy studying acting at the Buck Loner Academy. In the character of Rusty, author Gore Vidal demonstrates that even the most strapping young man might be physically strong and self-reliant, but he might also find men sexually interesting.

Rusty grew up in Detroit, where he excelled on the football field and in the back seat. The son of Catholic Poles, Rusty learned traditional views of women, love, sex and relationships. He lost his virginity to an older, more experienced girl when he was 13. At 19, he is old enough to have a wild side and been in trouble for it, but still young enough to be fresh-faced and virtuous.

After a back injury cut short a promising football career, Rusty drifted aimlessly and ultimately ended up in California. Through some bad acquaintances, he was busted for auto theft and possession of marijuana, and put on probation. After these scrapes with the law, Rusty's parents have disowned him, and he is entirely on his own.

Convinced he has what it takes to be a star, Rusty has enrolled in acting classes at Buck Loner's academy, while working as an auto mechanic. With cash and an affection for marijuana his biggest issues, he is prone to getting drawn into the wrong crowds engaged in ill-fated, often pot-related, get-rich-quick schemes.

Helping to keep Rusty focused are Mr. Martinson, his probation officer, and Mary Ann Pringle, his adoring girlfriend. Mary Ann is hopelessly in love with Rusty and keeps a close eye on him because of his reputation as a ladies’ man. Not that his eyes won’t wander, but Rusty is, in fact, equally in love with Mary Ann.

Things have gone well for Rusty at Buck's academy, where he is a favorite of Buck himself. In Rusty, Buck sees himself years earlier and believes Rusty might have what it takes to be a star, so long as he stays out of trouble. Buck has had more than one call from Rusty’s probation officer, and more than one tough follow-up conversation with Rusty.

Rusty is, without question, the most attractive young man on campus. He is just over 6 feet tall, weighs 174 pounds, and is built, according to Buck, “like a stone wall.” He has curly, sand-colored hair and side burns, pale blue eyes, and long black eyelashes. He typically wears a simple checked shirt; faded blue jeans or chinos; and desert or cowboy boots.

Given his work hours and limited cash, Rusty has a light class schedule, which includes a posture class. Of course Rusty notices but is not immediately concerned when Myra takes over the class on her arrival at the academy in January. Myra, on the other hand, is particularly taken with Rusty the very first day. They speak briefly afterward, and Myra immediately hatches her plot to capture him.

During the next two months, Myra deftly manages her relationship not only with Rusty but also with Mary Ann, who is also in the posture class. Myra begins by antagonizing both of them through her incessant criticism of Rusty’s posture. Mary Ann – initially, at least – and Rusty both find Myra cruel and suspect she wants to go to bed with him (after all, they think, that is what every other woman wants).

Over time, Myra maneuvers to build a strong friendship with Mary Ann and completely confounds Rusty with an unsettling barrage of mixed behaviors and messages. Fundamentally, Rusty fears Myra and neither likes nor trusts her. Despite Myra’s picking on him, Rusty is certain she wants him sexually. He does not understand why Mary Ann fails to see Myra for what she is, and their budding friendship dismays him.

Myra appears to confirm Rusty’s suspicions one afternoon when he reports to her office, per a scolding he received from her in class earlier in the day. At the end of a deliberate series of compliments, criticisms and commands from Myra, Rusty has removed his shirt, and Myra has yanked down his trousers and undershorts. The horrified Rusty clings to the wall with embarrassment as the delighted Myra gleefully inspects the first object of her desire. At the end of this session, Rusty is thankful to escape with Myra seeing -- and touching -- only his backside and glad that his male honor is only half lost. Myra, meanwhile, is more emboldened than ever.

In the week ahead, Rusty appears visibly terrified of Myra. He attends one posture class but is more sullen than ever. He stays close by Mary Ann, does not say a word and avoids eye contact. Observing the impact of their time alone in the office, Myra is delighted her plot is working exactly as planned. Meanwhile, Rusty has another scrape with the law but spares Mary Ann the incriminating truth. In a letter to Buck, which Myra reads, Rusty’s probation officer explains what has happened and says one more misstep will put Rusty back in jail.

As a few more days pass, Rusty senses Myra being less harsh in class. At Mary Ann’s insistence, the three have dinner together. Myra is more charming than ever, and they have an enjoyable evening, despite pointed comments from Myra that underscore, in their view, her very UNnatural views on love, sex and proper masculine behavior. Myra’s dinnertime warmth lulls Rusty back into a sense of comfort with her and causes him to think she is simply different from any woman he has ever known.

The next day in posture class, Rusty is back to his confident, animated self, and Myra is extraordinarily affirming. After class, Myra is at the door as he leaves; he makes direct eye contact and flashes his brilliant smile. Myra pulls him aside and his grinning face goes pale as Myra harshly criticizes his performance . She concludes with a declaration that he needs special attention and that she is prepared to administer it at the infirmary at 10 o’clock that night. Myra leaves abruptly before Rusty can appeal.

Rusty goes to work at the garage and calls Mary Ann. He is scheduled to work until 9. Then he was going to shower and pick up Mary Ann at 10 so they could attend a party. The naïve Mary Ann assures Rusty her good friend Myra only wants to help him. She insists Rusty meet Myra at 10, and she will look for Rusty around 11, at which time they will go to the party. They hang up, and Rusty spends the afternoon rehearsing his tactful escape when Myra puts the moves on him.

Shortly after 10, Rusty arrives at the infirmary but quickly proves he is no match for the shrewd Myra. His head spinning amid veiled threats, a very thorough physical examination and indelicate questions about his sexual prowess, Rusty concludes this is her way of demanding sex and finally offers to “ball her.” Myra, according to plan, scoffs at Rusty. She quickly turns the tables on her unwitting victim, who ends up bare-assed, bent over and tied down to a gurney. He then watches in horror as Myra straps on a large dildo and prepares to mount him. Myra then proceeds to symbolically transforms Rusty from bull to steer.

Months later, Rusty and Mary Ann have broken up, and Rusty has just moved out of the home of Letitia Van Allen, a Hollywood agent known as much for her sexual appetite as she is for her ability to help rising male stars. Rusty, now known as the extraordinarily masculine Ace Mann, is now the number one male star in America and the role model for millions of America’s young men. Oh, yes, he is also a complete but closeted homosexual.

Quotes:

"I thank we gawn git on mahty fahn, Miz Myra." (p. 30)

"I broke four ribs and even so finished the last half." (p. 67)

"I work out some, not like I ought to ... used to ..." (p.70)

"There's only room for one star in any bed" (p. 86, as reported by Mary Ann)

"... There are some guys -- some guys I know right at school -- who'll sell their ass to some fruit for twenty bucks, just because they're too lazy to get a job." (p. 140)

"(A man) should ball chicks, that's how he should act." (p. 143)

"... Just the thought of boffing some hairy boy makes me sick all over." (p. 148)

"I guess I can go four or five times but mostly we just go a couple times because, you see, we have to get up so early ..." (p. 172)

"Ain't been no complaints." (p. 177)

"Do you want me to ... well, to ball you?" (p. 181)

"Ball ME? How? (p. 181)

"I can't. Honestly I can't. It's too big." (p. 183)

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