Massoud is a retired Iranian air force colonel who fled his home country after the revolution. Accustomed to wealth and elite status, he now works menial jobs as a trash picker and convenience store clerk in California. He purchases a foreclosed Corona bungalow at auction with his remaining savings. He plans to flip the property to restore his family's financial dignity and project affluence for his newly married daughter.

Kathy is a recovering cocaine and alcohol addict residing in a Corona beach house she inherited from her father. She works as an independent house cleaner and struggles to maintain her emotional stability following her husband Nick's departure. When county officials mistakenly evict her over an unpaid business tax she does not owe, she fights to reclaim her property.

Lester is a field training officer and deputy for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department. He executes Kathy's eviction but quickly takes pity on her, helping her move her belongings into a storage shed. Though married with two children, he experiences deep dissatisfaction with his domestic routine. He inserts himself into Kathy's legal conflict, using his authority to offer her assistance.

Nadereh is Massoud's wife. She experiences severe depression after losing the high standard of living provided by her husband's former military career in Iran. She reacts with immediate anger when Massoud reveals he spent their remaining funds on the bungalow. She often displays strong sympathy for people facing hardship, instinctively offering care to those in distress.

Esmail is the teenage son of Massoud and Nadereh. He operates a paper route to contribute to his family's strained finances and enjoys playing video games. He maintains a strong moral foundation and frequently questions the fairness of his family's actions, particularly regarding the ethical implications of occupying a wrongfully seized house.

Connie is a legal professional recommended to Kathy by Lester. She investigates the county's eviction error and discovers the local government sent tax bills to the wrong address. She attempts to resolve the property dispute legally by issuing formal requests to the new owners.

Carol is Lester's wife. She met Lester in a college ethics class where her strong humanitarian interests initially attracted his attention. She now manages their household and two children while dealing with a deteriorating connection to her husband.

Nick is Kathy's estranged husband. He moved to California with Kathy for a fresh start but abandoned the marriage eight months prior to her eviction. He favored rational, aggressive programs over traditional recovery methods.

Frank is Kathy's brother, who works as a car salesman on the East Coast. He gifted Kathy and Nick a large car when they moved to California. He represents the heavy expectations placed on Kathy by her family, often expressing exasperation over her past struggles.

Soraya is the daughter of Massoud and Nadereh. She recently married a well-educated Persian man from a respectable family. She speaks fondly of her upper-class childhood in Iran, which pressures her parents to maintain an illusion of wealth.

General Pourat is a former military colleague of Massoud. He organized weekly social gatherings for military officers in Iran and serves as a mental anchor for Massoud's nostalgia regarding his past authority.

Doug is a friend of Lester. He owns an isolated fishing cabin lacking running water and electricity. He lends the property to Lester while openly questioning his friend's recent personal decisions.

Lieutenant Alvarez is an internal affairs officer with the San Mateo Sheriff's Department. He investigates civilian complaints regarding police conduct and scrutinizes Lester's questionable actions in uniform.