Cast
DR. FRANK, 69, is a retired army colonel, who was drafted during the Vietnam War, where he became a pioneer in battlefield surgery and visionary cardiothoracic surgeon when he returned stateside.
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A widower, having lost his wife to Cancer 30 years earlier, Frank never remarried; his world now revolving around his work at the hospital, his many interests and hobbies, and his son, a US Marine currently deployed in Afghanistan. Cardiothoracic surgeon, professional SCUBA diver, and underwater photographer, this alpha male personifies the words master and commander in every possible way…and he’s a Texan.
LARRY, 38, cardiopulmonary physical therapist, lives with his longtime girlfriend, Maggie, in Woodside, Queens, the same working middle class neighborhood that he grew up in.
Larry was a fireman in another life but retired from the department after putting in his twenty years, with the loss of his father, and the cumulative impact of 9/11/2001, starting to take their physical, emotional, and psychic tolls on his being.
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Once a rising star in the FDNY; Larry had a number of high-profile saves and even more that didn't make the news. A fireman's fireman, who could pull himself up the pole using only his arms, he was on the fast-track to becoming an officer. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Larry pulled a mutual with his best friend, Pete, swapping tours, so that he could study for the upcoming lieutenant’s exam.
Pete never made it out of the towers. Still guilt-ridden and missing the camaraderie of the firehouse, Larry often wonders what a comeback might look like as he struggles to find the meaning in why he was saved, and his friends are gone.
MATTHEW aka “MATTY,” 38, Frank’s son, a staff sergeant in the Marines, leads a “peacekeeping” unit in Kabul, Afghanistan. Confident and effortlessly cool, Matty knew love from the instant he was born. He loved his mom dearly and worships his dad, choosing to enlist in the military (Marines), and ultimately planning to follow in his footsteps as a thoracic surgeon. As a surprise for his dad, Matty has organized a father-son trip to Machu Picchu when he returns from the Middle East.
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Only weeks away from discharge, Matty’s unit gets ambushed in Kabul City Centre during what was supposed to be a “routine” day tour. Although they’re able to successfully fight their way out of the city and reach their pickup, Matty and his fellow Marines die in an explosion, when their Blackhawk is shot down in an RPG strike.
MAGGIE, 39, Larry’s girlfriend and Wisconsin transplant, Maggie moved to New York City after she and Larry met on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico. She instantly fell for his handsome face, strong physique, and charming sense of humor, but it was only after they returned home that she discovered the jewel in Larry’s crown, his huge heart and his love for helping people that makes her fall in love with him over and over again.
Larry and Maggie have been together for over a decade but each time it seems like they’re ready to take their relationship to the next level, one of them finds a reason or excuse to take a step back.
VERONICA aka "RONNIE," Frank’s Wife, Matty’s Mom, died at age 37 after a brief but agonizing battle with pancreatic cancer. Frank’s high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Ronnie was his most trusted confidante, and the one person he turned to in his rare and fleeting moments of doubt.
ASCENSION, female, 55, Peruvian, great mother of 5, not such a great wife and ex-wife, UNESCO guide and shamanic healer, mother of 3, and godmother to many including children of previous guests of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
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Smart as a tack and strong as a bull, Ascension’s superpower is her light and love for Machu Picchu and her Incan heritage that radiates through her existence. An eternal optimist with an unshakeable faith in Mother Earth and all of her planetary inhabitants, Ascension is a master at finding the silver lining in every cloud she encounters and the goodness in every person she meets, regardless of their personal challenges or demons. She seems to have a particular affinity for those who have lost their way, both literally and figuratively…like Frank…and Larry.
