Sunset Junction

Transplanted country boy Johnny-Ray Webster, 17, is discovered homeless, sleeping behind a dumpster outside Sunset Vintage, the local second-hand store.  After being caught stealing clean clothes, Johnny is hired by store manager Mrs. Sanchez, 50, a wry Mexican immigrant who has an amusing way with words and, some serious problems with her grown kids.  The store’s many features reap surprising perks for Johnny—-but at the phone booth across the street his lonely calls home go unanswered.  

Sandy Sand, 28, is an aspiring clothing designer eventually spotted by a stylish backer, Diane Whitehouse, 40, who is partnered with the ebbing swinger Ron Faconi, 50.  

Ron is the local mini-mogul with a hillside house overlooking Silverlake Reservoir.  His interests including holding working artist Saijo’s, work hostage–or in Ron’s words “representing” him.  Saijo, 30, is learning the hard way that art and commerce had better mix or else he won’t survive.   

Sharing the duplex where Sandy lives are a young couple, Lenny, 24, and his boyfriend Carlos, 25, cohabiting for the first time.  Lenny’s night job as a bar back at the local gay bar, and Carlos’ day job cutting hair at Mac’s Salon means that they never have enough time to be together.  And while the Lenny’s away, Carlos plays...and gets caught when patrons at Lenny’s bar start sharing pictures on their iPhone.  

For Carlos, his barber chair at Mac’s is the vortex of all the Sunset Junction gossip.  His wields much influence match-making, spreading rumors.  Carlos proves to be a dangerous guy.  

The local coffee house is run by Nelson James, 29, whose old friend Clutch, 30, shows up on a Harley hog after a long absence.  The pair go way back, from surfing as kids to playing in a blues band that Clutch hopes to revive.  

But Nelson has a job—his successful little coffee house.  Besides, he’s also looking after his brother Chester, 15, a bright, totally cyber-connected (and obviously gay) kid, who gets harassed at school—much to Clutch’s indignation.  When Clutch intervenes to rescue Chess from a sidewalk altercation, he steps on the toes of the local gangsters, unwittingly setting up some tragic events in the final act.  

Jan Whiting, 55, is a regular at Nelson’s coffee house.  She owns a stunning Victorian home in nearby Angelino Heights, and rents out rooms to the stray characters she adopts.  Clutch rents a room from Jan, but he gets a big shock when he’s introduced to Jan’s other tenant, Jasmine, 23.  

With her scary facial tattoos and a dozen piercings—-above the shoulder!—-there’s no question that Jasmine has relegated herself to the fringes of society.  But she’s sweet and surprisingly vulnerable–just the opposite of her intimidating girlfriend, Reggie, 38, a mannish lesbian who seems to stalk Jasmine day and night.  It is not until the last act that we discover the genuine poignancy in their relationship...but by then it’s too late.