At the center of The Waiting List is a bus station outside a small town. Every bus that pulls into the station is full, so the line of waiting passengers keeps growing. Included in the line are Emilio, a young engineer, and Jacqueline, engaged to be married to a Spaniard. Also waiting are Regla, a medicine woman, and Ciego, a blind man. The only hope of getting somewhere is the broken- down bus sitting in the station. Eventually the stationmaster fixes it, but it collapses again. The stationmaster announces that there is no solution and the station must close. Emilio suggests they all stay and repair the bus themselves. The group decides to take on the task of fixing the bus and the station, developing a bond that prevents them from leaving. Emilio and Jacqueline become enamored of one another, as do Regla and the stationmaster, while Ciego has a secret he is forced to reveal. Selfishness gives way to tenderness and concern.