The Characters

MAC is a fiercely loyal, self-reliant outsider whose rough humor and uncompromising nature masks a lifetime of struggle – from a poverty-stricken childhood to struggles in the Marine Corps to working the streets as a scrap metal collector. Driven by a deep hatred of poverty and a desire for success, he faces each day’s hardships with grit and wit, ultimately stepping up to lead his friends through danger as he searches for a shot at a better life.

GUNNY is the embodiment of a disciplined former Marine—poised, loyal, and respectful unless provoked—whose steely calm and confidence mask a turbulent past on the streets of Washington, D.C. and a lifelong struggle to fit into civilian life after twenty years of service and trauma. Haunted by his failures and driven by hatred of drug dealers, he faces each day with dark humor and unwavering resolve, ultimately stepping up as a stabilizing leader for his friends as he dreams of escaping hardship to open a diner where he can finally belong.

STACY is a fiercely passionate, unapologetic woman who wears her love for Mac on her sleeve, never hesitating to claim him as her own and always taking charge of their relationship. Despite a tumultuous past—including a broken engagement, family estrangement, and a stint in jail—she channels her strength into protecting those she loves, revealing a loyal, endearing spirit that emerges most powerfully when the people she cares about are threatened.

ESPY is cunning and resourceful whose air-brained, forgetful persona is a carefully crafted ruse, masking both her sharp intelligence and a deeply personal vendetta against the Cartel. Driven by pain and a longing for justice, she navigates the criminal networks while struggling with her desire for a normal life, ultimately becoming the team’s linchpin as she balances her secret motives, strategic brilliance, and growing attachment to the team.

LJ, a street-smart Army veteran from Washington, D.C., is Gunny’s childhood friend whose tough upbringing, brushes with the law, and deep-seated trust issues have shaped him into a quiet but assertive presence. Though he longs for a peaceful, simpler life, a duffle bag full of money tempts him to fully commit to their risky venture, revealing his desire for something better.

SONYA is the uncompromising, iron-fisted leader of the gang, connected to the Cartel as she moves from city to city establishing new operations, all while exuding an air of authority and wealth that sets her apart from her peers. Groomed from a young age and armed with a Wharton degree, she tolerates no incompetence or disrespect. With everything at stake after Snake loses the shipment, her focus is on retrieving the money and escaping their incompetence—no matter the cost.

ESE is loyal to the gang that became his only family after a rough childhood in East L.A., channeling his desperation for respect and love—especially from Sonya—into a relentless drive to prove himself, even as his lack of empathy and education leave him volatile and often in trouble. His obsession with winning Sonya’s heart and redeeming himself pushes him to the edge, forcing him into a do-or-die quest for the stolen money.

SNAKE is Ese’s right-hand man, a misfit whose offbeat energy and wandering eye make him the butt of jokes and disrespect among his gang, fueling his desperate but unfulfilled desire to be seen as someone worthy of respect. Despite a troubled upbringing marked by family abandonment, abuse, and a string of failures, Snake masks his low self-esteem with bravado, but as he repeatedly fumbles critical opportunities, he spirals from would-be boss to a defeated young man.

PEPETO is a cold and calculating enforcer raised in a Guatemalan Cartel, lives for the task at hand—using any means necessary to get the job done—his ruthless efficiency and taste for luxury masking a chilling indifference to violence that began with his first kill at thirteen. Though he commands respect with his quiet authority and impeccable style, Pepeto’s only real attachments are to his family and mistress.