Brad Dourif played the role of Stephen in a stage production of the play. Dourif was asked to reprise the role for the film, but turned said offer down because he didn't want to work with Marjoe Gortner.
The name of the Texan rest-stop restaurant in El Paso, Texas was "Foster's Diner".
Marjoe Gortner convinced Indianapolis shopping center tycoon Melvin Simon to provide the necessary money to finance the film.
Mark Medoff adapted his own Off-Broadway play. Said play was expanded to provide more background information on the various characters prior to the major stand-off set piece in the diner.