LEAD - MR. HENDERSON, 50s A staunch man with a subtle flare for the dramatics. His presence is overwhelming - somewhat commanding - with an air of pretension. He makes some egregious claims about how he expects his restaurants to be run and what the people working within them should look like, but at the end of the day he realizes that building a team is better than an empire of disloyal workers.

LEAD: RILEY, 20s. A thoughtful and endearing waiter committed to doing his job and proving his worth, even if that means pretending to be the head chef. He’s more concerned with being helpful than he is worried about his role in the ruse.

LEAD - JAMES, 30s Driven by his desire to win at any cost, James puts pressure on Lily to sell her shop to make way for a life-changing redevelopment deal. He’s probably not used to hearing no, and while Lily makes her position clear, James refuses to see the value of her shop – it’s worth to the community – placing money above all instead. He’s not inherently a bad person but working in the cutthroat world of business has corrupted his priorities. He has many opportunities to do the right thing, but ultimately gets his just desserts when love wins out over ambition.

LEAD - LILY, 60s. Down to earth, happy and content with her life until James rocks her world. She’s owned the ceramic shop for over 30 years and while the business is successful, she prides herself in its success as a community staple above everything. She has a naturally nurturing essence, and is something of a “mother” to all who come into her store. She is kind and thoughtful, and approaches everyone and everything with a gentle hand.

LEAD - GERALD, 60s A staunch and steely man who doesn’t have much patience. He’s not interested in anything other than “how much is this going to cost me?” and “how much am I going to make?” He’s all business all the time and when James doesn’t close the deal, he has no issues sharing his disappointments, even going as far as questioning his skills and abilities.

A building inspector who prefers to play by the book than play with people’s lives, even when he’s tempted to give into James’ bribe. He’s hesitant to keep looking for “something” worthy of a violation to shut Lily’s shop down, but James persuades him to go “above and beyond” to do his job. He’s apologetic when he gives Lily the citation, instantly regretful when she admits she’ll lose her business if they get shut down, and eager to make things right when he decides to start a fundraiser to save her shop.

LEAD - Alex: Male, 30s. Living with ALS and using a high-tech wheelchair. Portrayed as intelligent, calm under pressure, and dignified. WARDROBE: Casual but neat; an everyday look that suggests practicality and focus on comfort due to his condition.

LEAD - Janet: Female, 30s. A bank teller with a dismissive and prejudiced attitude. Portrayed as narrow-minded, scornful, and lacking empathy. WARDROBE: Professional bank attire; conservative and well-kept, reflecting her workplace environment.

SUPPORTING - Janitor: Gender Neutral, 30s. Former tech student, now working as a janitor. Portrayed as observant, knowledgeable, and compassionate. WARDROBE: Standard janitorial uniform, simple and functional.

SUPPORTING - Mr. Harrison: Male, 50s. The Bank Manager, initially disinterested but later insightful. Portrayed as business-oriented, pragmatic, and ultimately fair. WARDROBE: Formal business suit, conveying authority and experience in the banking sector.

Please submit actors of Okinawan or Japanese descent. Miko (or to Erika Oba) is one of the most resilient people you will ever meet, but is also haunted by her past. A child during the war of Okinawa and a teen and young adult during American occupation Oba fought, hid and stole to survive and if that wasn’t hard enough, immigrated to Canada with her husband and built out an entire life and strawberry farm here. One she thought her children and children’s children would love and take over for her. But her daughter’s and granddaughters’ lack of interest in the farm has convinced her she must keep it alive, despite ongoing wildfires.

Looking For Speakers of Okinawan or Japanese descent. Hotaru or "Mr.H" as he is affectionely known, is an Okinawan-Canadian farmer, He laughs louder and harder than most and with his wife back in Okinawan and his kids living in Mainland Japan, Obaachan is Mr. H's closest friend.

A determined and creative professional who faces adversity when her innovative idea is stolen. She takes a stand for herself, leading to personal and professional growth.

LEAD - Boss(Jenn): Female 40s. Unethical and manipulative, she steals Jess's idea. Faces consequences for her actions as Jess stands up against her. WARDROBE: Professional, possibly with an intimidating edge.

SUPPORTING - Client (Mr. Jenkins): Male 50s. A client who values integrity and supports Jess, leading to a transformative moment. WARDROBE: N/A.

SUPPORTING - Jess’ Dad: Male 60s. A loving and wise father who provides unwavering support to Jess in her challenging journey. His guidance and encouragement become pivotal in Jess's decision to stand up for herself and pursue her own success. WARDROBE: Casual, portraying a warm and supportive father figure.

SUPPORTING - Jack: Male 5-6 years old. Jess's son, symbolizing the importance of family and personal values. WARDROBE: Casual.

LEAD - Colleagues: Various Genders, 20s-40s. Employees who witness the confrontation and make a significant choice to stand with Jess. WARDROBE: Professional.

Melanie, a Realtor, possesses a polished and sophisticated appearance, with well-manicured features and fashionable attire that exude an air of elitism. She carries herself with a sense of authority and superiority, often using dismissive gestures to convey her disdain towards individuals she deems unworthy. Melanie's core desire is to maintain her sense of power and control, often by exerting her authority over others. She is cunning in her ways of undermining those she deems beneath her. The climax occurs when she is forced to confront the consequences of her racism and ultimately faces defeat in her attempts to block Robyn from purchasing the house.

LEAD – ROBYN – 40s: Robyn is a striking African American woman with an elegant presence. She carries herself with grace and confidence. She has a calm demeanor and rarely engages in confrontations. However, she struggles with the impact of racism on her self-worth and sense of belonging. She faces overt discrimination from individuals like Melanie but finds strength to combat it. The climax occurs when she is forced to stand up against Melanie's racism, asserting her right to view the house and be treated fairly.