CHARACTER DESCRIPTION A 12-year-old girl, open, sincere, and unguarded, moves through the world with innocence and trust, showcasing her naivety. She shares a genuine bond with her stepsister, Noor, embodying the family and childhood Noor never had. STORY FUNCTION Almani functions as the child left unscathed by the family's darker reality. She has been sheltered from the truth of the family dynamic and has only experienced Daryl as the loving father figure he presents himself to be. Because of this, Almani holds an idealized view of her family and believes in the stability and love that Noor knows is not entirely real. Her presence highlights the divide between the family Noor experienced and the family Almani believes she has. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Lydia: Almani’s first and only daughter. She is deeply attached to her mother, and some might even describe her as a “mama’s girl.” Lydia is her primary source of comfort and security, and Almani trusts her implicitly. Daryl: Almani sees Daryl as her father. He has been nothing but supportive and loving toward her and her mother, and she is deeply grateful for everything he has provided for them. To Almani, Daryl represents the kind of father she believes everyone should have. Noor: Almani loves Noor and looks up to her, hoping that one day she can be like her. Although Noor is often distant and withdrawn in her interactions with the world around her, she has always been kind and loving toward Almani. Almani doesn't fully understand what weighs on Noor, but she knows Noor cares for her and sees her as someone she can look up to. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS Ability to portray warmth, innocence, and genuine emotional openness while maintaining a grounded, naturalistic performance. The actor should create believable chemistry with Daryl, Lydia, and Noor, particularly conveying Almani's trust in Daryl, attachment to Lydia, and admiration for Noor. Must be able to portray moments of confusion or uncertainty subtly, as Almani is largely unaware of the deeper family conflict surrounding her.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION A man remembered by most as warm, charismatic, and deeply devoted to his family, yet he carries a darker reality known only to his oldest daughter, Noor. Although he is charming and familiar on the surface, he is complicated beneath it, capable of genuine affection while causing profound harm. STORY FUNCTION Daryl’s absence anchors the centre of the story. He isn’t the protagonist, but he is the reason the protagonist has a choice to make. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Noor: Daryl’s relationship to Noor, to say the least, is complicated. Because Noor is his eldest and only child, he took a lot of his aggression out on her. Despite this, their relationship wasn't defined solely by cruelty; Daryl could also show love and affection, creating a complicated bond that left Noor struggling to reconcile the father she loved with the person who hurt her. Lydia: Daryl was deeply in love with Lydia and became a father figure to her daughter, Almani. He took them both in when he was still struggling from his own divorce, but made it his mission to provide for both of them. Lydia has seen glimpses of Daryl's aggressive, complicated side, especially with Noor, but she chooses to turn a blind eye for her own stability and her daughter's. Almani: When Almani came into Daryl’s life, he took her in as his own. Unlike his relationship with Noor, Daryl never shows Almani his aggressive side. He treats her with tenderness, patience, and care, becoming the loving father figure she knows him to be. In many ways, Almani feels like a second chance for Daryl—a chance to be the father he was never able to be for Noor. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS - Ability to portray warmth and affection convincingly - Ability to communicate subtle shifts in behaviour - Ability to portray duality and contradiction - Comfortable with restrained, naturalistic acting - Ability to create unease without becoming overtly threatening - Ability to portray genuine familial affection toward both Noor and Almani - Strong emotional control and subtlety - Ability to convey meaning through body language, silence, and facial expressions SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - strong improvisational skills - comfortable working with intimate/emotionally difficult material - ability to take direction and adjustments - establish believable father and daughter chemistry - experience with naturalistic film acting

A funeral attendee who approaches Noor to offer condolences on her father's death. Well-meaning and unaware of Noor’s complicated relationship with him, they offer quiet, sincere sympathy. Seeking a naturalistic, understated performance that conveys warmth and compassion. This role has one line of dialogue.

Old-Head’s whole world consists of his shack in the woods and his beloved battery powered doggy, Pablo. He prefers to sleep on his problems, and refuses to ever get out of bed unless you give him a damn good reason to. Old-Head finds danger hiding in every corner, and sees his fear as the key to his prolonged survival. He’s frustrated by what he doesn’t understand, which these days, seems to be just about everything. *Hispanic performer preferred, but open to all ethnicities*

Rapunzel is a crazy old geezer screaming at the clouds. He’s a prophet and a truth-teller. You can’t fool the man whose watchtower sees it all. He has no filter and doesn’t need one; better say it straight or not say it at all. Any breath could be his last, so don’t waste his time. And if there’s one thing he can’t stand, it's those damn youngsters.

To play the role of a woman in her mid 30s. WHITE . A young mother and widow who has been dealt a rough hand but carries herself with remarkable poise and resolve. Following her husband’s role in the death of a police officer, Audrey and her three young boys become frequent targets of both the police and the criminals he left behind. Fiercely protective of her sons, Audrey does whatever she can to hold the family together, often forced to make impossible choices as she navigates the dangerous aftermath of her husband’s death. She eventually remarries Marcelo, her late husband’s attorney. NB: This role will be cast to match the Performer potentially playing Audrey; the potential Performer is described as follows:
Eyes: Large, intense blue-green eyes
Hair: Naturally strawberry blonde or warm golden-blonde
Skin: Fair, porcelain complexion
Height: around 5'5" (165 cm)
Build: Slender, willowy, and petite build. LANGUAGE / ACCENT: The Character must be able to speak standard American English with a generic American accent. Appears in Episodes 101 (SOC), 102 (Actor), 103 (SOC), 104 (SOC), 106 (SOC), 107 (Actor) & 108 (SOC). This role is currently budgeted for EASTERN CANADA hires ONLY (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto).

18-24 to play 17, open ethnicity. Alycia is a bold, direct, and outwardly confident teenager who knows how to charm when she wants to, but she struggles to connect deeply with people. She’s plagued by the belief that vulnerability leads to hurt; therefore, she actively avoids closeness at all costs. She’s flirtatious, attractive, and a social chameleon, allowing her to get what she wants out of people. Alycia begins our story seemingly content; however, when the childhood experiences that kick-started her fear of closeness creep into her present-day life, she must face her insecurities head-on to forgive herself for the situation that shattered her innocence.

8-14 to play 9yrs old, Wasian (to match performer cast as ALYCIA). Young Alycia is adorkable and unapologetically herself. Under her awkward but vibrant exterior, she has just begun to quietly crave acceptance and popularity among her peers. We meet her on a playdate with her crush, and even though they hang out, she believes that he will never really like her. In the joyous afterglow of playing with her crush, she meets a friend online with the screen name “jellybean614”, who she begins to open up to. Jellybean614 earns her trust, and in the process, Young Alycia is taken advantage of in a way that will haunt her for years to come. Must be comfortable with improv. Please note that performers will NOT be exposed to the mature themes/content in the script.

18-24 to play 19, open ethnicity, Sean is Alycia’s Tinder match who seems, on first glance, entirely too cool for school, until we realise he’s not as slick as he makes out to be. He’s endearing, good-hearted, and figuring his life out, just like anyone else. Going into his date with Alycia, he just wants to get to know her better. While Alycia believes he is just another boy taking advantage of her, by the end of the story, he helps her realise that she can be seen for who she truly is.

Open ethnicity, Jean is the cool aunt type and a born hustler. Despite some financial instability and having to make it work on her own, it is clear that Jean has lived a full and vibrant life. She’s a maid by day and Uber driver by night. While she is direct, even stern, she warms to Alycia when she picks her up on the side of the road. She’s tough, real, and one of the first people to show Alycia how to be who she really is.

White or East Asian (to match performer cast as ALYCIA. Alycia’s mom is horrified to discover what happened to her young daughter. Out of fear, she instructs Alycia not to tell a soul about what happened to her. 2 scenes.

8-14 to play 9, open ethnicity. The cutest boy in the class and Alycia’s crush; we meet him in Alycia’s backyard, messing around with a camcorder. They play Simon Says, pretend they’re news broadcasters, and run around playing tag. Must be comfortable with improv.

The Groom. Charmingly maladroit and introspective, Roy is a lover who wears his heart on his sleeve. He says what he means and often ends up with his foot in his mouth. He holds himself in a constant battle between gentle sincerity and masculine domination. NOTE: This role involves male and female intimacy and implied nudity (intimacy co-ordinator on set). ACTRA or Apprentice only please.

The Best Man. A strapping bucko with the face of a shaving cream advertisement and the shoulders of Rock Hudson. Warm, dashing and unrelentingly supportive. NOTE: this role requires same sex intimacy and implied nudity (intimacy co-ordinator on set). ACTRA or Apprentice only please.

Ethnicity: All. Stubborn, blunt, and humorous. Clive has a rough exterior and no patience for being patronized. He's observant and self-reliant, with a quiet vulnerability that he rarely allows others to see.

Ethnicity: All. Brandon is caring, patient, and easygoing. He uses humour to keep things light but can become stubborn when he feels someone needs his help.

Catholic priest. Compassionate, patient, humble, and comfortable with people. He genuinely believes in God's mercy. As the confessions continue, he becomes increasingly emotionally exhausted and disturbed while trying to maintain his composure and faith.

Innocent, childlike, honest, talkative, and slightly nervous. The Kid is comfortable enough with the Father to joke and laugh with him.

A woman who cheated on her husband and deeply regrets it. Ashamed, frightened, and desperate to keep her confession secret. She is emotionally vulnerable and increasingly desperate when asking the Father for help.

A tall, scrawny, and brutally honest hypocrite. A regular churchgoer who has committed violent acts without feeling much genuine guilt. He is initially hesitant and uneasy, but becomes increasingly frightened and overwhelmed as he struggles to confess to murder.